I was put on 80mg Atvostatin mid Aug following a TIA/Afib episode and diagnosis. From mid September I started to suffer an intermittent throbbing, burning pain on the ball of my foot and last three toes. It comes on suddenly such as during the short 1 mile walk I’ve just completed. Bloods in Sept showed raised aspects of liver function with a request to repeat in a month. Mid Oct repeat tests show increased abnormalities, eg serum alanine aminotransferase 120 (reference range 0-40). Discussed with GP who advised to come off statins for a month, retest bloods and look towards taking a different statin. My gut feeling is it could be the statins as I haven’t felt great on them but is it? Could it be linked to GCA/ steroid use? I’m now on 5mg prednisolone. I had bloods taken on Friday in prep for my rheumatologist appointment this Monday. I stopped taking the statins on the 20th Oct and am still suffering intermittent foot pain. Will the statins be out of my system by now? It’s so hard to unpick what is going on with multiple conditions. I need the statins to help prevent another TIA or full stroke but are they causing liver problems? This getting older is no joy ride! Apart from the usual bouts of fatigue preceded by unrestful sleep I’ve been ok on the tapering of pred. Will see what inflammation markers are like on Monday.
Steroids, statins, strange query: I was put on 80mg... - PMRGCAuk
Steroids, statins, strange query
How do you feel now you are off the statins apart from your foot? A side effect of statins does include loss of sensation or tingling in the nerve endings of the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy) and tendon problems, so it is possible they caused your foot problem.
That was my thinking Piglette. Apart from my foot I feel ok. 80mg seemed a high dose but I suppose that was standard after the TIA. Bit concerned it’s like being between the devil and the deep blue sea re liver damage v stroke if the statins are causing the abnormal bloods.
I think that is the trouble with an awful lot of drugs. In fact a lot of people actually turn up in hospital due to the drugs rather than illness.
Interesting. After the TIA/Afib it took a while to get my head around all the drugs. In fact we adjusted the Bisoprolol. I started the statins a week after the anticoagulants and the Bisoprolol which is why I suspect the statins are the culprit. I got a sense that the GP wasn’t sure either, just have to come off the ones I’m on (that was in the guidance she quoted) and see how things go re improved bloods. I was happy about that but realised how hit and miss this all is and how different people react. Will be interesting to find out latest LFT about 10 days after last dose of statins.
They reckon you cannot take more than five different tablets without there being a problem interaction between the drugs. Mind you that can happen between two drugs, if the person prescribing does not know what they are doing. The trouble is doctors are really not taught very much about drugs apart from by Big Pharma.
I’m in that category - 5 different drugs (including statins when I go back on them) plus CaldiD and a Zoledronate infusion. This is due now but whether they’ll do it with the state of my LFT I don’t know.
Has the foot pain been investigated? There are a few things that spring to mind - Morton's neuroma, the dreaded metatarsal fracture and even inflammatory arthritis. It could be the statin but then it is usually bilateral. It may be coincidence - though if it is improving without statins, maybe not.
My husband mentioned Morton’s neuroma. He had a steroid injection for it once and then was ok. Not a fracture. If it continues I’ll follow up. It is extremely painful but does go away entirely as well. Very odd. Definitely just the left foot. I wouldn’t say it’s improving yet. I have a bout of it every day, worse after/during walking. Ok after a warm bath and sometimes after I’ve massaged it. It’s a painful mystery.
I had a small stroke July this year ( doing ok ) . Atorvastatin 80 mg given by the hospital , absolute nightmare . Upset tum ,walking painful just the same as when first diagnosed with poly . Bit of a rock and a hard place . Trying 10 mg pravastatin seeing how that goes, really don’t want them .
Funny enough had Morton’s neuroma a few years ago and injection worked really well .
A rock and a hard place indeed. I don’t want them either but I know I’ve no option if I want to ward off stroke. Cholesterol was high - did come down quickly with 80mg. Will see what a month without does. Hope the liver function tests normalise.
Bluey1 it sounds just like the problem that I had with my foot a couple of years ago. It came on after walking 3 or 4 miles. They said Morton's Neuroma at first, but after an ultrasound decided it was chronic bursitis. I had a steroid injection in my foot, but I have no idea if that actually did anything, because by that time I had started with really bad hip pain and couldn't walk far enough to test it out! The hip/shoulder pains were diagnosed as PMR, then rediagnosed as Spondyloarthropathy. I started on steroids and am still taking them, so they are presumably dealing with the bursitis. It was really horribly painful, made me want to shout out. After I had stopped walking it went away, but not immediately, carried on burning for a while! I hope that you get it sorted soon. The consultant said that the foot problem, and the three weeks of intense shoulder/neck pain that I had experienced just before it, were the start of my autoimmune condition.
oh Gawd Ashen, not another AI condition on top of my others. I will have to follow up if it continues. I have been assuming it’s linked to the cocktail of drugs I’m taking or possibly the GCA/steroids? It is extremely painful when it starts - throbbing, burning.
I had been taking 80mg Atorvastatin since March and developed horrible pain in my feet and legs. Have just been switched to Rosuvastatin and getting the same thing.
Hi Bluey. I can barely believe how your post mirrors my experience. One month ago I became dizzy upon getting up from sitting. I’m being seen by a new neurologist for Dysautonomia. Anyway I waited for it to pass and walked over to husband in the kitchen. I opened my mouth to talk and slurred my words and nothing made sense.,My right eye droopy and right side of face numb. Off to emergency with every test possible and it was TIA. I was put on plavix and same statin as you only 40 mg. I’ve finished my course of plavix/blood thinner and now on low dose aspirin. Scary time. I do not feel any side effect with 40 mg Lipitor (statin). My feet like many people on here are affected by plantar fasciitis and other pains especially after walking. I limit myself to 3/4 mile. Even with that my feet can get puffy. Compression socks work great to walk in and sometimes to do my tasks around the house. It’s possible your toe is arthritic and is complaining as you are walking. Best to you
So much going on as well as dodgy liver function tests. I can’t eat any healthier, very rarely have a small glass of wine and get regular exercise. I don’t over do things on any level. Mrs Moderate. It’s like my body is under attack!
I won't comment on statins, but suggest you have your foot examined by x-ray and/or ultrasound. My feet are the bane of my existence right now, which I've been blaming on arthritis, When I asked the doc for a referral to a podiatrist he arranged and x-ray and u/s in preparation. Low and behold I have a broken left foot (metatarsal). The break could be 8 months to 2 years old based on my recollections of incidents. I've seen an orthopedic surgeon and am using a low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) machine as a possible healing method.
As to all the other possible issues with my feet, I see a podiatrist tomorrow after being on a wait list for 6 weeks.
PIPs can cause abnormal liver function tests
What are PIPs?
November 22, I was asked to change from Sivastatin to Atorvastatin. After a month, I became ill, feverish, kidney pain, darkening urine. Liver function tests at 300 rather than the 30 max - in 3 areas. Diagnosed as Rhabdomyolysis (not sure of spelling). OK now, hopefully. Coincidentally, I have arthritis in left foot metatarsals after a break.
sorry typo should be ppi so lansaprazole/omeprazole to protect stomach when on steroids can cause odd liver function tests. My gp sent me off for all sorts of scans which really worried me until I read the information leaflet which clearly states that liver function tests might be abnormal
I have enteric coated steroids which I take with yoghurt. My bloods have generally been ok up until the last couple of months.
If Morton's neuroma is the problem, often it can be fixed by wearing the right inserts. It takes some time, but mine was completely gone in six months. The sensation is a burning pain that for me started after a consistent time of walking about 45 minutes, or especially walking uphill. Injections are often recommended, but my podiatrist said to stick with the inserts, and he was right. Also be careful not to walk around much in bare feet. Use a shoe with good support like the Hoka running/walking shoe, and the insert. A good running store could also advise you to some extent. Insert should be a part length, not full length insert.
I’m beginning to think it might be Morton’s Neuroma. Rheumi suggested this yesterday. Will follow up with GP. I already have custom made insoles and avoid high heels. It is extremely painful and I have a bout of it daily. The good news is the pred tapering is going well and the GCA is quiet. Just the bouts of fatigue preceded by occasional unrestful sleep…but as my wonderful rheumi says, ‘take it slowly, no point in rushing, you’re doing well at 5mg.’
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