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Hot and swollen feet

pwoody profile image
45 Replies

Good afternoon. Can anybody help please. I have AF and high blood pressure. I take Amlodipine, Bisoprolol, Digoxin, Apixaban, Simvistatin and Lansoprazole (the latter for acid reflux which after reading all your posts, am seriously considering trying to come off it as I have been taking it for years). However, my main question is that for the past 3 months I have been suffering from stiff, slightly swollen and most of all, burning feet, especially the right one. I have had blood tests for diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, rheumatism and arthritis, all of which have proved negative. I have been given three different types of medication for neuropothy none of which have had any effect. In the last two weeks I have been diagnosed with a vascular problem on my left leg, but the consultant said this had nothing to do with the problem in my feet. I am wondering if any of you good people have suffered with this problem. I have suggested to the GP it could be down to the medication I take, he said he didn't think so but that is why I would like to hear any of your experiences to pursue it further. Amlodipine, Simvastatin and Lansoprazole I have taken for years, the other 3 since I was diagnosed with AF 18 months ago. It is really getting me down and is worst at night. Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

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pwoody
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45 Replies
bigking profile image
bigking

Sounds an awful lot like neuropathy. I have had it for years in feet, although always in both. Pretty easy to tell, non-stop burning, pins and needles feeling, and every now and then the always enjoyable jolt that runs through them. I too have the medication and the only one that helped was Lyrica. Good luck with that...horrid weight gain, among other side effects. I refuse to use it. I just have gotten used to the discomfort I guess. The swelling is probably caused by the heart medications.

heartmatters1 profile image
heartmatters1 in reply tobigking

Hi bigking. My husband, who has AF & high BP was on all the medications you are on except the statin. He too has very swollen feet & legs (tight). He came off the Digoxin as it was making his legs & feet worse. His consultant did say it might! So it might be worth investigating that with your your medic. His swelling has gone down a bit . He has also gained so much weight, although he is trying to cut down, but nothing is helping. Is is also finding it difficult to play golf due to his aches & pains. He is so frustrated!

Good luck, hope you find a quick solution

Ally

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toheartmatters1

Thank you for your reply. Your husband's symptoms seem very similar to mine and I too feel it is one of the medications so I am definitely going back to my GP. I can cope with it during the day but not at night.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply tobigking

Thank you for your reply. My GP has prescribed three different types of medication for neuropathy but non of them have worked. I will have to go back and see him.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply tobigking

Thank you for your reply. Mt G|P has prescribed three different types of medication for neuropathy but none have made any difference, will have to go back to see him again.

Love100cats profile image
Love100cats

I was having problems with my feet at night but I've got a special pillow which gives graduated support from feet to knees and I have been a lot better since using it. In my case I think it was circulation with a bit of excess fluid.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toLove100cats

Thank you, any suggestions are worth a try.

There is a link between statins and peripheral neuropathy according to some research. I don’t know whether stopping them reverses the neuropathy.

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to

Yes, I think it could be any one of the medication I take and there lies the answer. Thank you for replying.

pwoody profile image
pwoody

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I feel sure one of the medications I take is causing this and will need to go back to my GP to look into this further.

Bertiedette profile image
Bertiedette

Amlodapine is a well known culprit for causing your legs to swell.

My legs went down dramatically after switching to losartin for my blood pressure.also to nebivolol from bisoprolol for heart rate. Maybe not for everyone but both meds changed my life for the better.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toBertiedette

Yes, it is back to the doctors to pursue this further. Thank you for your reply.

Pretty much any or all of your list of drugs can cause swelling of the ankles/feet.

Time to get your GP to start changing things

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to

Will do, thanks for your reply.

grandmadogs profile image
grandmadogs

I was moved from amlodipine to ramipril because of swelling in my feet and ankles which was always worst at night.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply tograndmadogs

Thank you. It is back to the doctors to get this sorted out once and for all.

Morzine profile image
Morzine

Hi my friend and I both have afib......your question rang bells........she had swollen feet and very red and one was worse.......the digoxin seemed to be the culprit and once her tablets were sorted it was so diferent. Maybe go see GP

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toMorzine

Yes, I am the same, one foot is worse than the other and I am now convinced it is one of the medications that I take and will definitely go back this week to my GP to get it sorted out once and for all. Thank you so much for your reply.

Morzine profile image
Morzine in reply topwoody

Yes do go cos m friend suffered ages as her GP wouldn’t change the dosage, it was nay when she got a cardio appointment it was changed.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toMorzine

Thanks

ILowe profile image
ILowe

You say the problem started three months ago. So what changed? This question does not always give an answer, but is worth asking.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toILowe

Nothing as far as I can see, but thank you for your reply.

Hilly22 profile image
Hilly22

Tell me about it! I do sympathise. Travelled to Italy a couple of days ago and my normally slim(ish) ankles are three times their usual size. Must be the travelling and the heat combined. I put it down to Amlodipine ... it’s renowned for causing swelling. When I was also on an ace inhibitor (perindopril) the problem wasn’t nearly as bad, as that has a diuretic effect.

I do hope you can find the answer 😊

Grayjay profile image
Grayjay in reply toHilly22

Drink plenty of water, feet up ,don't get Dehydrated.

Hilly22 profile image
Hilly22 in reply toGrayjay

Thanks Grayjay, good advice, which I’m going to take 😊. Luckily we have the most beautiful view of Lake Como from our room, and it’s raining today, and cooler, so a day in situ with my feet up is on the cards. Oh, and the tap water is ‘potabile’ 👍🏼 x

Grayjay profile image
Grayjay in reply toHilly22

Sounds lovely, have a great Holiday.x

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toHilly22

Thank you

Goldfish7 profile image
Goldfish7

Hi Amlodapine caused ankle swelling with me so no-longer on it as it was affecting walking. Sounds like you are on a lot of meds so I'm guessing it could also be affected by a number of side effects/drug interactions. It is probably worth you researching some of your meds online via you tube and other sites as there is a wealth of information out there via York Cardiologist and various sites looking at benefits and drawbacks of a lot of drugs. Armed with more information it may be possible for you to get your Dr to look at changing meds to hopefully a lesser number of tablets to reduce possible interactions and to ones which work better for you.

You may also find that there are other useful methods of trying to minimise your symptoms and regain health using diet, food supplements, breathing and relaxation methods, etc.which gives you more control of symptoms - although we all appear to have different triggers. I've found this site and a few you tube channels - particularly the York Cardiology channel very helpful in providing information and techniques to try to control my PAF. Hope you get sorted out soon so that you control your meds not the other way around.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toGoldfish7

Thank you for your valid reply.

eljayr profile image
eljayr

Amlodipine is probably the culprit, it had the same effect on me, this drug is banned in some countries due to the side effects. Ask for an alternative, there are loads of them. I came off it very quickly when I researched it online.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toeljayr

Thank you for your reply. I will pursue it further with my GP

radagast58 profile image
radagast58

I'm not a doctor but it sounds like you may have two distinct issues. Swollen legs which might be related to your cardiac medication and burning feet that does sound like peripheral neuropathic pain. Do you have any altered or loss of sensation in your feet? What medication have you had specifically for the burning feet?

Kind regards David

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toradagast58

Thank you for your reply. I do not have swollen legs, just my feet as the day progresses and when they get hot, especially at night. The balls of my feet and toes feel a little numb and tight. The medication I have tried is Methocarbmol and Pregabalin neither of which have made any difference. My GP will not prescribe Amitriptyline because of the AF. I think it is a trip back to the doctors to pursue the problem further

Ellembee profile image
Ellembee

I have experienced something similar since starting Apixaban but it is on the left foot worse than the right. I am about to try a different anticoagulant.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toEllembee

Yes I am thinking the same thing, so I will go back to the GP to pursue it further. Thank you very much for your reply.

radagast58 profile image
radagast58 in reply topwoody

I think you need a proper review of all of your medication. I think it's unlikely to be the Apixaban. Does your GP Practice have a visiting pharmacist?

I hope you can get this sorted

Stay strong

David

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply toradagast58

No they don't, but I will persist until I get it sorted.

maria68 profile image
maria68 in reply toEllembee

Just wondered if you have changed your anticoagulant and your feet have improved? I have burning and numb feet which seemed to start around the time I went onto Riveroxaban. I’m trying to change mine but cardiologist doesn’t seem keen.

Have you tried taking B12 vitamin? I have AF and an under active thyroid and a lot of people on that forum swear by B12 to ease neuropathy type pains. Mine improved to start with but are unfortunately not too good now the warmer weather is returning.

Di

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to

Thank you for your reply. Yes I have taken it for years so I am coming to the conclusion that the cause is one or more of the medications that I take.

hvkz profile image
hvkz

Hello pwoody, I've had painful, burning hot feet for many years and my son even rang in to a health line on a radio station once to see if their doctor had any ideas. The only help I found in the end was by trial & error ... & in my case: to cover them with lashings of vaseline or some kind of very thick cream - all over & in between the toes. I put a towel on a pillow at the end of the bed to raise my feet & don't cover them, until the cream starts to get absorbed & they start to cool down. I don't for a moment imagine that this will help you as it seems to be a totally unorthodox way of treating feet. But it works for me and after several days of this treatment, the burning diminishes, so that my feet seem almost normal again. Though, if my feet are really bad, I do the same with them during the day and have allocated socks (made from cotton or wool - definitely nothing synthetic) especially for them & they do seem to withstand the vaseline or creams fairly well (though I don't put them in the general wash, but use Ecover washing soap, not the stuff you put in a washing machine, for obvious reasons) ! Also, I buy trainers with air holes &, if I wear shoes/heels, they are made of leather. Needless to say, I have been on various medications for AF over more than 25 years now. During the period I've had to change medicines a lot of times & and over time I came to the conclusion that in my case none of them seem to contribute to the hot feet syndrome. Incidentally, first thing in the morning mine are usually bright red, even if they have been raised all night and, just recently, I discovered that walking for a few minutes on the level seems to make them get back to a normal colour. I hope that, even if you find my solution doesn't work for you, you find a some method that suits you as it is totally impossible to sleep with burning hot feet. Best wishes,

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply tohvkz

Thank you so much for your reply. I will certainly give it a try as you suggested. It would be lovely to go back to normal feeling feet.

barneyfrances profile image
barneyfrances

I had been taking Amlodipine for high blood pressure for many years, when diagnosed with AF last year my GP prescribed bisoprorol plus amlodipine , within a few days I found my legs were seriously affected - painful and sluggish vey leaden and difficult to walk ,my GP took me off Amlodipine as they are both BP lowering tablets and it resolved the problem.

Hope this helps

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply tobarneyfrances

Thank you for replying. I too have been taking amlodipine for years and was also put on Bisoprolol about 18 months ago due to AF. I have discussed my current problem of hot and slightly swollen feet with my GP at least four times now, but he does not think it is a side effect if any of the drugs I am taking, but I think it is and will have to pursue the matter further with him. My fingers are also staring to play up now. Thanks again for your helpful reply,

maria68 profile image
maria68

I have numb and a burning feeling in my feet. It started when I took my first anticoagulant. Also pins and needles in my hands at night. Cardiologist doesn’t seem concerned but I’m going to ask to change to an alternative one.

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