Nerve pain in foot

[On_porter]

Does anyone else get what is more than likely nerve pain in the feet? It comes and goes like a shooting pain but has been a lot more frequent recently and it's not nice. At the moment it's like above my little toe. But it moves around both feet - and usually it was in the middle towards the upper part of my foot. GP sent me for a scan but it's next to impossible to find damaged nerves as they're so intricate (like the lymphatic system!). They also gave me some pain killers but they make me so drowsy for over a day, I don't like taking them.

Anyone else have similar pain? I put it down to wearing level 5 (level 1 toe caps / level 4 feet/legs) compression for over 20 years sadly

[AnneBury]

My understanding is that long standing lymphoedema can become fibrotic, getting more solid. This can irritate nerves and can cause nerve pain. I cannot recall where I got this theory from! As I have had lymphoedema since childhood and am now retired, in the last few years I have been having Manual Lymphatic Drainage (monthly/private). My MLD therapist also does some bandaging and put on wraps, which I wear until the next morning.

This is my attempt to keep my lymphoedema swelling as well managed, and soft, as I can. Obviously I don't know if it's working because I don't know what I would be like otherwise. My MLD therapist says around my ankles is particularly solid and above my toes gets lots of pooling of lymph fluid - but the pooling is much softer than my ankles.

When I first went to the MLD therapist I said that I wasn't expecting my swelling to reduce - I wanted to put effort into avoiding fibrosis developing and do my best to manage the condition as I get older.

I wear below knee class 3 made to measure (Juzo Expert Strong) on both legs and made to measure class 2 (Juzo Expert) for both sets of toes. I do aqua aerobics and line dancing.

So far, so good, but like anyone with lymphoedema I have no idea what will happen - but after 58 years of lymphoedema in one leg and 40 years in the other I am trying (and hoping) for the best x

[On_porter in reply to AnneBury]

Thanks for the response. I wear compression / wraps and have done for over 20 years as I mentioned - I would say my lymphoedema is very well managed. Maybe it's fibrotic around my toes / in my feet. I'll talk to my MLD therapist about it!

[Abbie104]

Could it be sciatica? Even if it’s not, it might be worthwhile to check out stuff you can do at home for sciatica as it also is about the nerves and the pain is excruciating. For me, it tends to sit in the middle of my sole n can so painful that it’s difficult to put any weight on it, let alone walk. I do various foot stretches n use a foot roller/massager. Nothing makes the pain go away totally, though it turns it down enough that I can deal with it

[DeadfootMo]

Hello On_Porter,

Do you think you might have a trapped nerve? It may not be in the foot it could be elsewhere but the pain goes to the foot.

It may also be caused by ill fitting compression. I personally think compression isn't right for everyone, however, when it's your feet that is affected finding shoes for general everyday wear or boots for the winter could be a nightmare. So not only will your compression need checking over but also what you wear on your feet.

The middle toes on both of my feet have a habit of trying to curl under an adjacent toe and if it happens when I am walking it is painful. I have noticed that when I wake in the mornings most of the time my feet and legs are down, slimmer, but two hours later they are both swollen due to lymphoedeama. Several hours later on again, say in the evening I get a sharpish ache near my veins and again at this point my feet and legs have reached their biggest for the day.

I have also noticed that on my left side starting in my left buttock is a dull ache or tingle that goes right down the outside edge of my left leg and climaxes in my left foot. I think pregnant ladies get something called sciatica and I am beginning to think that this ache, which starts in my buttock is to do with the sciatic nerve.

So .i am at that stage where i am never truly relaxed in the evening.

I think you should get your compression checked out as well as your footwear.

Maureen

[Anne16]

Hi, I am 83 and was born with primary lymphoedema in both lower legs, feet and toes. I do get pain in my toes, but not every day. I think it is arthritis, which I have in both knees. However, like another lady has said, I get Sciatica just my right side which goes from my buttocks right down to my big toe which is the most painful thing ever. I do believe that my compression hosiery (knee hi made to measure Mediven) also cause pain especially when my toes are very swollen, as they are today in the hot weather.

MLD did nothing much for me and I found it too expensive anyway. However - I worked full time until I was 76, and this blinking lymphoedema has not really stopped me from doing anything I wanted/needed to, except for wearing pretty shoes and 10 denier tights/stockings, pretty dresses and skirts.