Author Topic: Foot Pain  (Read 972 times)

Offline Easyscor

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 10908
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #15 on: November 29, 2013, 08:10:54 PM »
After a long illness (approximately three months spent mostly in bed both here and the hospital) my girlfriend is experiencing foot pain that is keeping her up nights.  She describes it as a 'burning sensation from her toes to the arch of her feet'.  It's keeping her up nights and neither of us are sleeping much.  Me because of work obligations and taking care of her.  Her from the constant pain.  I've been thinking that it's a circulatory problem and the nerves are being a PITA but we're in week two of this and watching her suffer is ripping me apart.  Her doc says he doesn't think it's a clot because it's in both feet instead of one but, due to the time of year, we cant get in to see him until next week. 

We've tried heat (makes it worse), ibuprofen (same result), regular aspirin (no luck), RICE (If you don't know what that is never mind), and everything I can possibly think of.

It's gotten better since we've weaned her off of her anti nausea meds but it's still distracting enough that she can't sleep more than an hour or so a night.

Any ideas gang?

Thanks in advance

That describes a type of nerve damage similar to carpel tunnel in the wrists. If that's right, they'll probably tell you it's caused from long term use of shoes that are too tight. They'll offer surgery, but the success rates aren't particularly good because the surgery can make it worse. I refused the surgery and wondered if I made the right decision but after a year of only wearing comfortable walking shoes, I knew I'd made the right choice for me. It didn't hurt that I could pretty much stay off my feet for the first three months.
Easy in-game again.
Since Tour 19 - 2001

Offline guncrasher

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 17419
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #16 on: November 29, 2013, 09:12:22 PM »
I have diabetes and also have the same pain as you have described.  mine is caused by my safety boots as they have steel soles and metatarsal guards.  they are very hard to bend and cause my feet to cramp up as I have small feet by industry standards, size 8.

all I can do other than quit my job is take aleve as it is the only thing that really helps me, that and walk bare footed at home.  talking to my gf who worked in pediatrics at kaiser for 25 years, she says it could be all kinds of different things and the best thing is to go back to your doctor.


semp
you dont want me to ho, dont point your plane at me.

Offline Brooke

  • Aces High CM Staff
  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 15737
      • http://www.electraforge.com/brooke/
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #17 on: November 29, 2013, 10:50:04 PM »
Semp, I have no idea whether or not it would help, but did you ever try larger-sized boots and then wearing extra-thick socks (or a thin inner pair of socks and a thick outer pair)?  I used to do that for my hiking boots, which were also very hard to bend.

Offline guncrasher

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 17419
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #18 on: November 29, 2013, 11:55:20 PM »
Semp, I have no idea whether or not it would help, but did you ever try larger-sized boots and then wearing extra-thick socks (or a thin inner pair of socks and a thick outer pair)?  I used to do that for my hiking boots, which were also very hard to bend.

doesnt work brook my size is actually 6 :o :o :o.  should have seen the DI at the MCRD in san diego when he asked me my boot size 6w.  he brought me back a pair of dusty boots after 20 minutes of search  :uhoh.


semp
you dont want me to ho, dont point your plane at me.

Offline Bear76

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4169
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #19 on: November 30, 2013, 12:38:30 AM »
Dicho has she had a diabetes check recently? What Gyrene is describing is neuropathy. I have neuropathy bad, it sucks there's not much you can do for it. You feet burn and hurt all the time, yet they feel dead to the touch. My Dad had it my older sister has it they both had and have diabetes. I don't have diabetes but the doctor said I have the neruropathy.. Go figure.  The only thing they could do for me was prescribe anti depressants like Lyrica. However since I am not depressed... The friggin Lyrica depresses me.  :lol So screw that I dumped the meds and I just live with the pain, it's constant and it sucks.

I have the exact same problem. Have you tried Gabapentin (sp)? It has a lot less side effects than Lyrica and it works.

Offline guncrasher

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 17419
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #20 on: November 30, 2013, 01:19:44 AM »
I have the exact same problem. Have you tried Gabapentin (sp)? It has a lot less side effects than Lyrica and it works.

vouches for that.

semp
you dont want me to ho, dont point your plane at me.

Offline Shuffler

  • Radioactive Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 27323
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #21 on: November 30, 2013, 12:17:20 PM »
Is she diabetic?
80th FS "Headhunters"

S.A.P.P.- Secret Association Of P-38 Pilots (Lightning In A Bottle)

Offline Shifty

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 9377
      • 307th FS
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #22 on: November 30, 2013, 12:38:52 PM »
I have the exact same problem. Have you tried Gabapentin (sp)? It has a lot less side effects than Lyrica and it works.

No Bear I haven't but thanks for the tip, I'll see if I can get a test script from the doctor.  :aok

JG-11"Black Hearts"...nur die Stolzen, nur die Starken

"Haji may have blown my legs off but I'm still a stud"~ SPC Thomas Vandeventer Delta1/5 1st CAV

Offline morfiend

  • AH Training Corps
  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 10470
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #23 on: November 30, 2013, 12:46:04 PM »
I have the exact same problem. Have you tried Gabapentin (sp)? It has a lot less side effects than Lyrica and it works.


  Lyrica is the trademake name for Gabbapentin, it is the same medication. However you may be right about it having less effects,generic brands are often quite different from the name brand.

   Binders,fillers and the exact chemical makeup are often different enough to make that much of a difference.



     :salute

Offline Dichotomy

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 12391
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #24 on: November 30, 2013, 03:16:35 PM »
Is she diabetic?

No Shuff,

She's been tested for everything.  We're going back to the doctor this week.  She's been a very sick young lady since September.  I'm just nursing her as best I can through the holidays and trying to avoid going back to the er. 
JG11 - Dicho37Only The Proud Only The Strong AH Players who've passed on :salute

Offline Gman

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3748
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #25 on: November 30, 2013, 07:46:02 PM »
Lyrica isn't Gabapentin, it's a common mistake.  Lyrica is Pregabalin, a much different medication, although it is sometimes prescribed for the same thing.  Pregabalin is more focused on nerve pain and neuropathy, where as Gabapentin is a much broader use medication, and works differently, although it is often prescribed as I said for the same thing, due to being cheaper than Lyrica.   They are both horrible drugs to take IMO, my father is on Lyrica for diabetes, and they tried Gaba with me for my systemic Lupus.  It sucks.  Big time.  Even low doses made me feel like a complete Zombie, far worse than any painkiller, as in I would drift off to sleep sitting at a desk, and wake up hours later with drool coming out of my mouth.  It does work for some people though, everybody reacts differently.

To the OP, I would go back or try and get a 2nd or 3rd opinion - I agree with the first responder that it sounded like gout to me right off the hop, and it wouldn't surprise me if a doc missed that, as IMO living in doctors offices the last 3 years, they do miss quite a bit of the simple stuff and really on blood/urine screens to do their diagnosing for them nowadays.  I feel sorry for you both, I know what constant pain can do, as I'm living with the one disease that causes probably the most constant pain, and the one they know the least about doing anything about it, plus the only major treatment, corticosteriods, I'm allergic to and go into a coma from high blood sugar reactions to.  So, I like others here, just live with the pain, and I've gotten accustomed to it, but that's taken years, so I know in the short term how awful life must seem to you both right now.  The only thing I can say is just keep swinging, and do what you all you can for her.  Just a quick question  - did your doctor discuss painkillers and the options both non narcotic and otherwise with you?  I'm very surprised they would send somebody home in that much pain that they aren't ambulatory without doing something about that.

Offline Shifty

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 9377
      • 307th FS
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #26 on: November 30, 2013, 10:12:15 PM »
It does work for some people though, everybody reacts differently.

It made me want to kick the living crap outta some co-workers. It seriously made me think violence was the answer to some everyday personality clashes at work. Luckily I kept my poise and quit taking the meds. Flushed the remainder down the toilet. I wont touch Lyrica again.

JG-11"Black Hearts"...nur die Stolzen, nur die Starken

"Haji may have blown my legs off but I'm still a stud"~ SPC Thomas Vandeventer Delta1/5 1st CAV

Offline xbrit

  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1670
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #27 on: December 01, 2013, 08:57:50 PM »
I'm also a diabetic with foot pain  that wakes me up all through the night, it feels like my feet are burning but there is also no feeling from the ball of each foot to the tips of the toes.
I have been taking gabapentin, to start with I thought it was making it a little better but now it's back to how it was originally.
I'm in retail so I'm on my feet all day, I got the most comfortable shoes I could find but to me it constantly feels like my socks are wrinkled up under my toes. I know they aren't, having taken off my shoes numerous times to check.
Sorry for sidetracking the thread but I needed to vent.

Offline Bear76

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4169
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #28 on: December 01, 2013, 09:53:25 PM »

  Lyrica is the trademake name for Gabbapentin, it is the same medication. However you may be right about it having less effects,generic brands are often quite different from the name brand.

   Binders,fillers and the exact chemical makeup are often different enough to make that much of a difference.



     :salute

I thought so too, but my doctor said there was a significant difference.

Offline Slate

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3242
Re: Foot Pain
« Reply #29 on: December 02, 2013, 08:30:02 AM »
  My wife had a Vitamin D deficiency which is common for older women and can lead to poor circulation and Arthritis. Only after seeing a different doctor did she find that out though. I hope your Girl is getting better soon. 
I always wanted to fight an impossible battle against incredible odds.