Leg and foot pains

[Ransburg]

Has anyone who is on Flecanide/Tambacor been suffering unexplained sciatica, burning tingling leg and foot pains or Peroneal nerve compression symptoms? Also any men experiencing sexual performance issues?

[nikonBlue]

Oh my word, you could be talking about me! I have been on flecainide for about 3 years and in the last 3 months the leg and more recently foot pain is awful. I was putting it down to the cancer drug exemastane that I take but reading your post, it might be the flecainide

Why it should cause this unrelenting pain after all this time is a mystery. 3 months ago I started having regular af episodes again, sometimes daily. I can't help but wonder if there's a connection. Hope the guys on here can help with the other question.

Stay well,

Blue 😊 X

[Jhcoop55 in reply to nikonBlue]

I take Flecainide and have had some sciatic pain over the past year. Based on a google search I came upon some large studies of a few thousand patients that reports that the number of patients with sciatica is nominal. Seems that this may only be a casual relationship with no specific evidence that Flec causes sciatica. Check with your specialist though

[TenorJK in reply to nikonBlue]

I have been on Flecainide over 9 years and have never had those symptoms , the only side effect I have is itchy skin and when they increased the dose was dizzy and breathless so went back to original dose and was fine.

Each drug affects different people in different ways and they all have lists of possible side effects which is most annoying to say the least. Best of luck Jo

[Fearnie]

Hi, I am not on either Flecanide or Tambacor, but I am on Dronedarone, Bisoprolol. I presently have 'foot drop'. I can't raise my right foot. I have had the symptoms for two months and they have not as yet been truly diagnosed. I have had an MRI on my spine and X-rays on my knee, neither have produced an explanation. Tomorrow I am going for nerve compression tests. Peroneal nerve compression is suspected. The pain initially was horrendous, especially around my ankle, but also with sciatica symptoms. For some unknown reason it has eased. (I have posted previously about nerve pain medication and have been prescribed Gabapentin 100mg, but I haven't taken any!).

I don't suppose this answers your question, but your symptoms do sound like mine.

I also have some ED.

[Rellim296]

I used to take 100mg of flecainide twice a day and was fine for two years. After that my toes started to feel numb. I used to wake in the morning feeling as if I'd been wearing a pair of shoes that were too small. When the flecainide was increased to 150mg x 2 six months later the feeling rapidly spread to heels and then ankles. I was able to give up daily flecainide a year later, but three years on I still have the weird feet. They feel unpleasantly tight, as if wrapped very firmly in cling film. I notice it less when wearing socks.

I don't have any of the other issues you mention.

[jennydog in reply to Rellim296]

Rellim296 we have discussed this foot problem previously, suspecting drugs especially flecainide. I finally found out what was causing my problem. Two herniated discs in my neck causing severe stenosis, essentially compression of nerves. My mobility and dexterity are badly compromised. Apparently it's very common and involves c5/6 and 6/7 discs between neck vertebrae. I have had a 2 stage discectomy with fusion. This involves 2 plastic discs, a titanium plate, 4 screws and 6 detection markers.

Only an MRI scan picks up the problem. I had no problem with neck movement and no pain there. Apparently 20% of people have no pain and the other 80% are in agony. The longer the problem goes undetected, the poorer the outcome.

[Rellim296 in reply to jennydog]

Yes, I remember discussing this. Not many people seem to have a reaction of this sort to flecainide but nobody in the medical world that I have mentioned it to seems to find it of interest and worth investigation. It escalated noticeably when the flecainide dose was upped and my GP at the time thought flecainide was probably responsible. It is no worse and no better than it was a few years ago.

Of late I have been reluctant to take flecainide which might be useful to me and I think I should now pursue the possibility of the numbness being caused by something else, especially in view of the comment BobD makes.

[momist in reply to jennydog]

Hi jennydog. Giving a 'like' to your post seems the wrong thing to do, but I agree that there are more likely causes of foot pain than the drugs we happen to be taking. My first AF attack was only back in May, and I'm not yet on any drugs for it at all, but I have recently developed pain in my feet (I'm blaming arthritis). Maybe, just maybe, I should straighten up my head position, or perhaps it's now too late.

[teach2learn in reply to jennydog]

Hmmm, I am no longer on fleccainide, but have had increasingly numb feet and lower legs after lying down. I've been chalking it up to wearing compression stockings most of the day then lying down without letting my circulation fully return to my lower legs, but also have a lot of spine problems and back pain (and been in several rear end auto accidents), so the cervical spine may be something worth checking out. Once my legs have been on the ground awhile, or with massage, the numbness is mostly gone, however. How does elevation affect yours?

[Rellim296 in reply to teach2learn]

I particularly notice the sensation at night, even if I'm wearing bedsocks.

[jennydog in reply to teach2learn]

@ teach2 learn. Only an MRI scan will show a neck problem. My spinal surgeon said that it was " very common. We see a lot of it."

The discectomy involves a 2 or 3 inch cut in the front of the neck. They move your trachea to the side and suck the discs out, replacing them with plastic. You can see it done on Google. As such it's not too bad at all.. It's the disability prior to the operation that remains a problem.

[BobD Volunteer]

I suspect we are all the same but why do we always blame our drugs or primary condition when something else pops up? Would we have got that regardless? I know that since first diagnosis of AF I have aged nearly 14 years and accept that most of the new aches and pains are down to anno dominii with the possible exception of some tendon pain which I proved by experiment to be statin related. It seems unlikely that side effects would appear a long time after commencing a particular drug so best investigate further.

[Bud5 in reply to BobD]

True. Something for all to consider.

[Rellim296]

I have an open mind about the feet. It could be flecainide as they got significantly worse when the dose went up but it could be something else. They feel annoyingly odd but don't exactly hurt and have just stayed the same over four years. They tend to be cold, thanks to atenolol, and I take some care to prevent them getting very cold - or too hot as athlete's foot is as unwelcome as chilblains are. Loads of things to go wrong! I haven't had any open sores but the skin does tend to be dry if not moisturised.

[jennydog]

Hidden I understand that it's the disc at c5/6 that cause the pressure on the nerves to the arms. My left arm is badly affected. The booklet supplied to me by the Spinal Surgeon states that the longer the nerves are compressed the less likely they are to spring back. I was warned that the operation to replace the discs was unlikely to improve my disability, it would prevent further deterioration. If anything my arm/ hand are worse now.

My big problem is that it was week 86 from GP referral before I had a diagnosis and I deteriorated throughout 2016. Orthopaedics in our local hospital did not recognise the problem but fortunately a Neurologist sent me to Liverpool where I was diagnosed within 10 minutes.

If I were you I would enquire about having another MRI scan done to see what's happening now.

[jeanjeannie50]

I take 2 x 100mg Flecainide and Warfarin, when in bed I often get a dull ache in my lower legs. I've always blamed the Warfarin as I had it before I took the Flec.

Jean

[EngMac]

A chiropractor with appropriate training may be able to help, especially the sciatica. I have learned that there are at least 6 chiropractic specialities over and above generalist chiropractic education. I have also learned that often nerve health problems have been a long time in the making and it could take a lot of chiropractic care to make a difference. And then a chiropractor may not be able to help now that the drugs have had their impact.

Some on this forum say they have tried chiropractic care but was it by a qualified chiropractor specialist and for the necessary length of time to give it a really good try and then the necessary maintenance treatment to insure continuing long term, improved results. Worth a check in case chiropractic care can help. Usually other medical specialists will not recommend chiropractic care even though chiropractors have the most expertise.

[Bud5]

I have spondilitis and it can very well be genetic..

[Bud5]

Can you see a different Dr.. I have AFIB and a auto immune disease sounds like you should be evaluated.