Painful, cold knees and legs...

[Gnash67]

I have very painful (achey) knees for most of the time but have recently started getting throbbing pains in my calf and big toe, mainly at night and for around 5 minutes. It's happening around 3 times a month. In the last few days I've had a blueish tinge to my knees, both of which are very cold. I've been on dabigatran/pradaxa for 18 months and would of thought I'm over side effects - they were bad in the beginning, but soon went. I've a history of Afib, sick sinus syndrome and had a pacemaker in May 2020. I could only get a telephone consultation with my GP but he's thinking intermittent claudication and has referred me to a vascular surgeon for testing. Any one with similar experiences/opinions....

[Les5]

Have had a blue tinges in both legs and just recently on my lower arms have been to the vascular clinic. They called it spider vein. When asked what that was was told lack of oxygen in the blood. Spoke to cardiologist and they said due to part of my heart muscle damage . That this is what heart failure does but we can treat it with tablets. Well they don't work the legs and arms are still blotchy feet are ice cold .pain gets worse at night. Have been put on morphine to ease the pain . Back to the vascular clinic while my heart doctors decided what to do next.

[Gnash67 in reply to Les5]

Hi, thanks for your reply. It sounds like you're going through the mill. I hope they get it sorted and quickly for you. At the moment, my night-time pain is intermittent and passes after 5 minutes or so, hope my appointment doesn't take too long, all things covid considered. Good luck.

[S11m]

My "blue foot disease" aka peripheral cyanosis is much better now that they have inserted an additional atrial lead for my pacemaker.When I had gout in both feet they checked me out for vascular problems.

I was disabled for five years, but the atrial lead has enabled me to walk 5 km a day - and it helps.

Magnesium might help crampy muscular discomfort.

Do you get arthritic-y discomfort in any other joints?

[Gnash67 in reply to S11m]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Going from disabled to walking 5k is brilliant, very pleased for you. I thought gout - I'll discuss with them when I get my appointment. I have arthritic pain in my neck, elbows, wrists, fingers and knees, but I've only had it officially diagnosed in the knees! It's just a waiting game now. Good luck.

[Speakeazi]

I do have IC which is a symptom of PAD or PVD. To check if that’s your problem Dr will check the pulse in your ankles and your feet as well. Should arrange a Doppler scan with an expert. Pain at rest in calf can be a symptom of PAD.

Walking can help if you are able- I have also just had my medication changed to Rivaroxaban and this has really helped recent toe pain Plus drinking a lot of water and trying to exercise eat well etc etc.

You could look at reliable info on the circulationfoundation.org.uk website.

Let us know how you get on

Take care