Tender Red Toes Anyone?

[Soppybat]

Being on the usual cocktail of meds after 3 stents 6 months ago, I am experiencing a weird symptom and wonder if anyone has an answer: my toes are very inflamed and are sore to the touch... not chilblains or gout so anyone else experienced this? Symptomatic of what????

[Hidden]

What does your GP say it is?

[jeanjeannie50]

I believe this can be a sign of having covid. Google red toes and covid and see what you think. Let us know please.

Jean

[Dolphin14 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I was thinking the same thing

Covid Toes

[JPElephant]

I have Raynaud's phenomenon and I do get toes like this when it is quite bad. But, as jeanjeannie50 points out these might be 'Covid-toes', so best to get get checked and speak to GP.

[Soppybat in reply to JPElephant]

Ah, I have Raynauds too but didn’t make the connection. Thank you. Any tips?

[JPElephant in reply to Soppybat]

Ah ok, well this might perhaps be it. To be honest; I did recently get tested for covid, because of my toes looking like yours - luckily it was negative. For my Raynaud's, I take great care that my feet don't ever get cold, so keeping them warm and circulated well is key. I also lotion them a lot, to make sure the skin doesn't crack...but other than that, I don't have a great deal of advice, unfortunately...

[Soppybat in reply to JPElephant]

Thank you so much, your reply is really helpful. I don’t know much about Raynauds only that I have it! My fingers go dead and look like those of a cadiva frequently..... I had no advice or treatment given.

[JPElephant in reply to Soppybat]

I've had Raynaud's since I was a child, so I have to take extreme care that my hands and feet don't ever get too cold. Some medication can make it worse. I'd recommend always wearing gloves when temperatures are low, definitely always wearing warm socks, regular exercise to keep the circulation going, and yoga is also great for circulation, too - good luck to you!

[MountainGoat52 in reply to JPElephant]

My first thought was Reynauds. Although I don't get red toes, my toes are more or less permanently cold - only in summer or in a warm bed are they anything like warm. The situation has got worse since I started on medication after my HA and Bisoprolol is the culprit, even with a small dose such as I take.

[firstlight40]

I'd get it looked at by a professional. Maybe a side effect of one of the drugs you are on - what beta blocker drug/dosage are you on?

[Frank10]

I have the same my GP said it was related to meds I was taking and it’s chilblains I take bisoporol 5mg

[Kelling]

My feet look exactly the same as yours - I thought it was just because of cold feet, medications, or even age. As for a sign of Covid, I have had these almost since the beginning of my heart issues and have had both inoculations and have no symptoms of Covid whatsoever. I have no symptoms of Raynaud's in my feet but do have it in my fingers which did not begin for me, until the heart failure raised its ugly head. I am following this thread avidly.

[Rosei in reply to Kelling]

I am going to tell you something quite different, I had Raynauds for a few years, then all of a sudden I developed red toes and the palm of my hands went red when warm, I asked about three Doctors In our practice, the last one suggested I had Erythromelalgia, a bit of a mouthfu, there doesn't seem to be a short name nor to be any treatment. , if anyone knows of any treatment I'd be delighted to know.

[Soppybat in reply to Kelling]

The common thread suggests Bisoprolol could be the culprit so will check with GP tomorrow. Do you take it too?

[Soppybat in reply to Kelling]

I spoke to a GP last night who saw my photo. We decided to stop taking the Bisoprolol ( beta blocker) for a week and for me to monitor my bp. I hope also to rid the tiredness I experience. Sounds like a good plan as to drop one of many meds is in a good direction as all are toxins.

[Greenfarm]

This is interesting as I take Bisoprolol and experienced really cold toes that I found difficult to warm. My toes have also been quite painful at times but I have attributed this to arthritis - I have bunions, which again are arthritic. The pain only seems to affect my two toes either side of my big toe. The pain and discomfort is not present all the time. I’m an active 78 year old with permanent AF and three leaking heart valves. I take Apixaban ( no obvious side effects and Bisoprolol- which seems to cause runny nose and poor circulation.

[Tempo57]

Hi Soppybat,

My husband has the same problem with his feet. He’s had this issue each winter for the last 4 years. One particular toe gets extremely painful in cold weather and he’s been wrapping it up with a bandage. One GP told him it was Chilblains and gave him cream for it which did no good at all. It clearly was not Chilblains and I suggested he arrange to see a specialist because I thought it had the hallmarks of Raynaud’s.

He managed to get an appointment with a consultant a month ago, who told him it was Raynaud’s Syndrome. Your toes look very much like my husbands do. He was not prescribed any medication but told to keep his extremities warm in cold weather by wearing thermal socks. His fingers also go white in cold weather and again he was told to wear gloves at all times when outside. The consultant said the answer is to prevent it from happening in the first place and take precautions as soon as the weather begins to get cold by wrapping up well and wearing thermal socks and gloves. Dress in layers too. It only happens during the winter months....as well as this cold spring we’ve had.

Good luck and I hope it clears up by itself with care being taken. T57

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Soppybat,

I live with Raynaud's phenomenon, migraine and vasospastic angina.

All inter related as all caused by the blood vessels constricting.

The cold is a trigger in particular for my vasospasms.

My Raynaud's phenomenon has improved since I started taking the Calcium Channel blockers to treat my vasospastic angina.

Beta blockers can make vasospasms worse including the symptoms of Raynaud's and vasospastic angina.

I keep warm all the time. I wear lots of thermal layers including leggings and several long sleeved vests.

My shoes are lined with fleece liners.

I always wear socks in bed too!

I also wear silver threaded gloves inside my gloves.

I also keep moving and find yoga helps my circulation.

I avoid caffeine and any other substances that can cause vasospasms such as pseudoephedrine found in over the counter cold remedies.

The Scleroderma and Raynaud's Society are a good source of special keeping warm products.

"SRUK Shop" srukshop.co.uk

I suggest you discuss your toes with your GP especially if you are taking beta blockers as there are alternative medications that you can take.

[Soppybat in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you so much....very useful info. Will check with GP.

[Hidden]

Hi, I have the same problem but only my right foot. I had a lot of surgery to my leg and ankle years ago but this is new since my HA. The culprit is bisoprolol. When Iwas taken off it by my doctor all was back to normal, no cold but burning feet especially at night. Also tingling in my hands disappeared. Feel so much better off it.Unfortunately whilst trying to contact my consultant (who I have never met) and not seen anybody at all since my HA 8 months ago, I had a message from his office saying that I had to go straight back on the Bisoprolol. So red foot is back, feeling rotten again and still waiting for an appointment!

[Soppybat in reply to Hidden]

Thank you...I am also on Bisoprolol....will check this out as I get tingling in my hands and arms too.

[Hidden in reply to Soppybat]

So many posts on here about bisoprolol, almost every day. That's how I recognised the side effects. I have been telling my surgery for months how ill I was feeling, and finally got to talk to an understanding doctor.I will repost again after seeing my consultant and hopefully change to a different drug.

All the best.

[staffbull]

At present going through same now on antibiotics and medication for gout still awaiting tests after one week of severe pain and unable to walk no definitive diagnosis Apparently after reading sites in internet as desperate for answers some meds can cause symptoms due to retention of Uric acid

Just waiting for call from insurance gp as still inflamed after finishing course of meds to treat quite frightening to say the least especially dealing with things alone

Bucket of cold water eases things a bit

Hope keeping fingers crossed I would toes as well but pretty stiff wish you better days and hope we will both be up and running soon 👍

[Soppybat in reply to staffbull]

Thanks to this site, I realise my red toes are caused by my Raynauds Syndrome...I hadn’t made the connection and like you, alone and no one for a shoulder to boo on! I get gout too but only when in Greece. ... when I had a heart attack in Greece last September, I also had gout as couldn’t put foot to ground after ICU....was given injection and told to drink red wine and NO beer by the specialist! Gout is so painful....I sympathise greatly.

[S11m]

Yes - I had red toes, gout, peripheral cyanosis, peripheral oedema cellulitis, heart failure, obesity etc.

As you can see in the photo, it affected my foot as well as my toes. I was disabled, but, following the insertion of an additional atrial lead for my pacemaker, I can now walk, and my toes look normal.

[JK5AEO]

Could be caused by Rivaroxaban or Bisoprolol.

[Hidden]

Hi try nebivolol and if you are on calcium channel blocker sometimes they they cause swollen toes! I am not sure redness is due to cold or blocked circulation. Anyways try changing alternatives and adjust dosages. My Cardio told me you need to adjust a little bit , with your own body accordingly.

[Bug146]

I get exactly the same in cold(er) weather - swear it’s the Bisoprolol.

[Maisywhippet]

Hi, I had very similar symptoms a few years ago due to a beta blocker..can’t remember which one...eventually a patch of skin on one toe actually peeled off and was so painful so I was told to stop tabs immediately, took weeks to heal..so please don’t let it get to that stage!!

[Dougal77]

Hi, I also had stents earlier on this year and I am experiencing sore red toes. Did you manage to sort yours?