Leg pain : Recently I’ve been... - Advanced Prostate...

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Leg pain

Break60 profile image
32 Replies

Recently I’ve been experiencing leg pain, heavy feeling legs, and loss of endurance/easily tiring when walking a distances. Legs are painful to the touch in interior side. It started in right calf and worked it’s way up to thigh. Is this a sign of deep vein thrombosis caused by hormone therapy?

Could it be caused by switching to estradiol patches?

Bob

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Break60 profile image
Break60
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32 Replies
Longterm101 profile image
Longterm101

How long have you been on the patches??? What is your dose?

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to Longterm101

Started patches in January after trelstar vacation ( see profile). Started with four .1 mg patches per week and dropped down to three per week after first blood test showed T of 10 and declining Psa . E2 is definitely above “ normal “ range as I expected. Latest blood test (5/31) shows T at 7 and Psa at .1 so still declining. I had blood tests for protein related to blood clotting and it was in normal range but started wearing compression stockings , which provide pain relief and help facilitate walking.

This is all new to me as I work out 4-5 x per week . I’m on a trip overseas which required a lot of walking which is new to me. My workouts don’t involve much walking. Mostly stationary cycling and weight work. It’s a bit scary thinking I might get blood clots in legs.

Bob

6357axbz profile image
6357axbz in reply to Longterm101

Tap on his name and read his profile. He answers your “patches” questions there.

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

It may be lymphedema, or a DVT, or just weak valves or skeletal muscle weakness (which is needed to pump blood back to the heart). They can check for a DVT with an ultrasound, but if it's in both legs, it's probably not that.

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to Tall_Allen

TA

I’m in France, this occurred on Sunday and the ER I went to didn’t have ultrasound on weekends.

They did a blood test looking for a protein which is an indicator of blood clot and it was normal. So they didn’t ask me to stay over til Monday, but recommended constriction stockings.

The problem is in right leg. I don’t have weakness in my muscles which they tested for.

Why would this develop suddenly? I read that all cancers and HT specifically increase risk of DVT. By valves you mean heart valves I assume?

I also had an EKG at the ER which was normal.

Bob

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply to Break60

No, I mean valves in veins that don't close off completely.

Break60 profile image
Break60

Nal

I totally get it! See my reply to TA.

Break60 profile image
Break60

TA and Nal

Well I’ll be! Who knew! ( you guys of course but not us mortals).

So how does one determine that valves are a problem? And what does one do about it?

tango65 profile image
tango65

You need to have an ultrasound study of the venous system of your legs. If there are thrombi they could treat you with anticoagulants, if this is only a problem with the venous valves there is not too much that can be done. Your symptons may be caused by insuficience of the valves in the deep venous system.

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

If there were thrombi they could travel to the lungs a cause an acute pulmonary embolism which could be fatal, depending on the size of the embolus.

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to tango65

Thanks much for the info!

dlestercarlson profile image
dlestercarlson

I have a similar problem, especially the week after Chemo. I had a pulmonary embolism about a year ago. I found out when you are getting ChemoTherapy you are at a greater risk of getting blood clots. My doctor now has me on Eloquist which is a blood thinner. When my legs are weak I also use "Plasma Flow" which I put on my legs. This massages my legs, keeps the blood flowing and helps get rid of the soreness. Don't put off getting help with this, it could be a serious problem.

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to dlestercarlson

Thanks I definitely am on it!

spouse21 profile image
spouse21

Thank you for posting this, Break60 because it's helpful for others on this board. My husband an I are planning a trip overseas in September. I'll make sure he wears compression stockings. Let us know what happens. It's scary having medical issues overseas. Hoping this clears up with totally.

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to spouse21

Glad to help! I never thought it would be an issue because I’ve never had this kind of problem before. The calf pain actually started a couple weeks before my trip and I had physical therapy for it. I thought it was a muscle injury caused by doing leg curls with too much weight. Vein problems weren’t even on the radar.

Longterm101 profile image
Longterm101 in reply to Break60

Too much golf 😉😉😉😉

Feel better and please keep us posted on your progress

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to Longterm101

Gotcha! 🤕

Longterm101 profile image
Longterm101 in reply to Break60

How are you feeling today

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to Longterm101

I’m well thanks!

Chiquis profile image
Chiquis in reply to Break60

I agree with spouse21,100%.

My husband has been complaining about leg pain for the past 2 weeks and I'm becomming concerned. He stopped ADT, Zytiga 2 months ago, plus he had a heart attack 3 years ago. So I will definitely push the Dr to check for DVT. The best to you.👍

bobdc6 profile image
bobdc6

I've had something like that, not pain, but more like discomfort, always accompanied by hot flashes. I was on 18 month Lupron/Casodex.

middlejoel profile image
middlejoel

Back to your original Q, I was on patches for 3 1/2 years and on occasion, my lower right leg would swell, never the left. In short order of about a month, it would revert back to normal. I did have ultrasound tests but they always came back normal. I believe that for me, the patches might have had something to do with the swelling however and so I always took the blood thinner Eliquis along with natto. The problem then was that every time my dog would jump on me, he would scratch me and I started bleeding. A good trade off,

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to middlejoel

Middle:

So why did you stop using the estradiol patches?

Bob

middlejoel profile image
middlejoel in reply to Break60

For 3 1/2 years they did their job keeping me at castrate levels and PSA below 1.0, but then in November 2018, even though I remained at castrate levels (below 50) but a bit higher than I had been getting, Psa increased and then continued to increase the next three times we tested it so we felt it was time to switch to Lupron in March. I was using 4 patches changed twice weekly and they worked great with no side effects.

CalBear74 profile image
CalBear74

Nalakrats, Tango65, Tall Allen, etc., have sounded the alarm and you should follow through on an ultrasound immediately. You must rule out DVTs. Have you changed blood pressure medications recently? If so, do you take amlodipine? A calcium channel blocker? Good luck.

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to CalBear74

Cal

Thanks.

I’ve never taken BP meds. I’ve been on Crestor ( rosuvastatin) for 20 years. I also have taken celecoxib for over ten years. My BP and lipids are excellent . I’ve scheduled a Doppler ultrasound for early next week at my home hospital. I’m wearing compression Stockings during the day. I’ve been walking daily on tours around the Bordeaux region so legs are getting a work out.

Bob

CalBear74 profile image
CalBear74 in reply to Break60

Given that you are on Crestor, have you been taking co-q-10 with it to lessen the potential for muscles cramping, etc. ? Rhabdomyolysis is always a concern for we who take statins. Here is what WebMD says about Crestor side effects, which may reflect an interaction effect with estradiol patches, thus a new issue that came after many uneventful years on Crestor.:

"Side Effects

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

A very small number of people taking rosuvastatin may have mild memory problems or confusion. If these rare effects occur, talk to your doctor.

Rarely, statins may cause or worsen diabetes. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks.

Tell your doctor right away if this unlikely but serious side effect occurs: foamy urine.

This drug may rarely cause muscle problems (which can rarely lead to very serious conditions called rhabdomyolysis and autoimmune myopathy). Tell your doctor right away if you develop any of these symptoms during treatment and if these symptoms persist after your doctor stops this drug: muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness), signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine)."

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to CalBear74

Cal

No I haven’t used co q 10. Since I’ve been on this statin so long it’s seems unlikely that it caused my current issue, but I’ll mention it to my urologist after the scan. Thanks.

Bob

CalBear74 profile image
CalBear74 in reply to Break60

Bob,

I was hoping to point out clearly but apparently I failed: when you started taking the patches as medication you were altering your hormonal system and perhaps thereby creating A drug interaction resulting in leg problems.

Co-Q 10 has long been used as a supplement with Statin drugs.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

Statins improve survival <==== your post

Break60

Break60•

2 months ago•20 Replies

Are you taking any statins now? They cause leg pain....sometimes...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 06/12/2019 6:20 PM DST

My husband has had the same symptoms ... both legs/feet/thighs. He had the ultrasound to rule out DVT, but ... like Tall Allen said, when it's on both sides, it's rarely DVT. He was on 2 diuretics for Edema that barely helped. Was put on Gabapentin. Didn't due much for the pain, but helped him sleep better. Starting Lymphatic massage next week. Hope you find something that helps you. We'll be following you closely. We'll also share with you what we find out.

Break60 profile image
Break60

Cal

Yes I didn’t see that connection at all . Thanks.

Bob

Break60 profile image
Break60 in reply to Break60

Turns out that I have “venous insufficiency” not DVT. Thank goodness. Long plane and bus rides plus lots of walking were main causes.

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