vascular calcification

[SuzyJaneG]

I recently had XRays taken as I have osteoarthritis and one of the comments made in the report was that I had marked vascular calcification in one of my ankles. My rheumatologist has not contacted me about this and I am wondering if some action needs to be taken as I understand this can affect the arteries, etc. I have GPA, diagnosed in 2007 and have been taking long term medication since then. I no longer take azathioprine but still take prednisolone (trying to taper down and am now down to 6 m.g) but since developing osteoarthritis three years ago have been put on methotrexate. I have been taking Calcichew D3 Forte since 2007 but my GP says this is O.K. I have many restless nights when the affected leg jumps involuntarily with the pain/discomfort starting from the ankle shoots up the whole leg over and over again.

Has anyone experienced this?

[U06334]

Hi Brenda

My mum had “restless legs” prior to recently having GPA.

I was diagnosed 10 years ago with cerebral vasculitis following a stroke and prescribed prednisone, calchichew, mycophenolate, alendronic acid etc. for 2 years and warfarin for life. I felt fine then, but gradually since then, I started getting awful “restless legs”, aching and tight muscles and tendons/ligaments (connective tissue?) and waking up with numbness or burning/icy feeling in my fingers, hands and arms several times every night. I am fit and exercise and eat a lot of veg and have never smoked. My GP cannot figure out what’s causing the symptoms so I am going to see a menopause specialist next, but I will ask about vascular calcification and post the findings. I hope your symptoms go away or at least improve - hang in there!

[SuzyJaneG in reply to U06334]

Hi UO6334,

Thank you for your reply and I will be very pleased to hear how you get on. I am worried that my problem might be because of calcium build-up in the arteries but it is well worth exploring all possibilities. Best wishes to both you and your mother.