Feet (or Foot)

[Mark T]

I've been having ongoing issues with my left foot since January, where the toes feel a little spongy when walking. Lately when coming back from exercising my foot and lower calf feels a little pins and needly (not lots and not painful). It fades once I rest up a bit. I also tend to get a cramping feeling in my calf after about 15 minutes into a fast paced walk.

I poked the GP about this. My B12 levels have been confirmed ok and my Vit D should be on the way back up since I've been taking extra for the last month.

The GP said perhaps Diabetes Neuropathy, but given my control is generally good and I've only been diagnosed for a relatively short while, she thought that unlikely. She wants to give me a scan to see if there is any evidence of a trapped nerve.

Anyone had anything similar to this? Should I be looking out for anything else to mention to the GP?

 

[trophywench]

Has the doc tested the pulses in your groin and ankle - as it's a bit like PAD ?

 

[Mark T]

Has the doc tested the pulses in your groin and ankle - as it's a bit like PAD ?

My Nurse did my ankles at my last checkup, which was a month ago.

 

[trophywench]

No No - you need to be lying down, they test one then the other and depending on the difference, it diagnoses intermittent claudication or rules it out.

I'm not saying it is that! - but it just struck me it could be bearing in mind the lack of other obvious diagnoses - and it's quick, cheap and easy for a doc (or cardiac nurse, not a GP surgery one) - to check out before involving all sorts of other tests for other things.

I had and have no other symptoms, just the one leg that starts hurting after X amount of walking and hurts every time I do, although by walking further than X every day, it can be kept from getting noticeably worse.

 

[Martin Canty]

I wouldn't have thought Neuropathy as it's only one side.... Nerve impingement may be an issue, I had L4-5 &S1 last year & walking was a mess, best to get it checked out....
Try seeing if you can walk on your heels..... That was one of the tests my neuropathist (and Physical Therapist) did

 

[Mark T]

Yes, I can walk on my heels. Not the most natural thing to try doing though!

 

[mikeyB]

I agree with Marty, just on one side is unlikely to be neuropathy. Nerve impingement in the back is as good a bet as any.

 

[Mark T]

Assuming that's what it is, whilst I wait for my referral to go through. Is there anything that I should be doing (or not doing) in order to help things? Avoiding lifting heavy weights, etc. Or does that not matter?

 

[Martin Canty]

Hope you get a quick referral..... Personally I could not walk on my heels.... A year later (after some PT & a lot of yoga) things are great again....