Foot swelling.. What would cause this? - Foot Problems Message Board

Dee74 · 03-21-2007, 07:48 AM

So, I have a few *issues*.. One being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.. which, I'm not saying I don't have it, but I just don't believe is the only thing that I have going on.. ANYway.. I also have degenerative disc disease with two herniated cervical discs.. these cause alot of pain and also a bit of numbness and tingling in my arms. Lately though, I've been having problems with my feet and I haven't the slightest idea what's going on with it.

For just about a month, the tips of both big toes have been numb.. though, not completely. But, I barely have any feeling left there at all. For almost 2weeks now, when I'm on my feet for longer than 10 minutes or so, the entire bottoms of my feet get really tingly.. as if they've fallen asleep and are just starting to wake up. It only lasts as long as I'm on my feet.. then it goes away completely (except for the big toes).

Every now and then, maybe two or three times a week, both big toes will suddenly start throbbing extremely bad.. as if I've stubbed the hell out of my toes. It's ALWAYS both toes.. They get really red and hot.. And that lasts maybe 10 minutes or so with no lingering pain.

Last night, I hadn't been on my feet in quite a while.. I had been laying on the couch watching tv. When I got up, my feet felt really tingly and, as weird as it sounds, "squishy" as soon as they hit the ground. So, of course, I sat down and looked at my feet. The bottoms were a deep reddish color on the fat pads around the top where my toes are and reaaaaally swollen around there. They were also cold and clammy. I thought maybe I was just laying funny and somehow cutting off my circulation.. I dunno.. they weren't hurting or anything, so, I just went to bed.

Now, this morning.. both feet are still swollen on the bottoms, though not as much. They're all splotchy red and puffy. Not AS tingly, but, a little bit. The thing is that now my calves feel slightly tingly as well. They're still friggin freezing though.. to the touch and also I just feel as if they're cold.

Does anyone know what could be going on?? I'm at a loss and I KNOW that if I go to my quack doc, she'll say the same ol' thing.. "well, you do have fibromyalgia and your body is just *off*".

I do have an appointment with my pain management doc/neurologist in two days. I'm just not sure I should wait until then, you know?

I'd love to hear any thoughts you may have on this

I AM flat-footed.. but, I'm not sure if that's relevant here.

Dee74 · 03-22-2007, 05:32 PM

No one has a clue?

Just an update..

I ended up having to go to my doctor yesterday afternoon because the swelling had gotten so bad. It was bad enough that they were getting really numb around the toes. She believes that it's Raynaud's Phenomenon and has put me on calcium channel blockers.
Truthfully, I don't believe that it what is going on. They are not responding to cold the way that Raynaud's causes.. nor are they turning white or blue.

They're no longer tingly, but, they are still red and swollen today. The swelling definately goes down a bit while resting. But, if I'm on my feet for longer than just a few minutes, they swell quickly and turn red and numb again.

I just want to say that I am in no way whatsoever overweight.. I don't have any serious heart problems (very mild mitral valve regurgitation).. I'm not diabetic (have been tested).. and I haven't injured myself.

I do still have my appointment tomorrow afternoon with my neurologist.. I just wish someone had a clue what could possibly be going on here

myjo · 03-22-2007, 09:05 PM

Hi Dee...I don't think anyone here can give you a diagnosis. Both those diagnosis you have are not understood very well and can manifest in different ways in different people. The degenerative disc disease you have can trigger some to develop fibromyalgia...but this isn't fully understood.
Has anyone ruled out cellulitis? If you've been diagnosed with Raynaud's which causes your peripheral arteries to constrict ( reducing blood supply to your extremities), you could have developed cellulitis.
This is a cellular infection not uncommon in those with conditions that reduce circulation. Have they ruled out gout?
Ask your doctor about these. Maybe make an appointment with a good podiatrist. Good luck. J.

myjo · 03-22-2007, 09:14 PM

Oh, one other thing....have you had any vascular studies done to check the circulation in your legs? Ask to see a vascular doctor. J.

Dee74 · 03-23-2007, 05:34 AM

Thanks for the reply, Myjo

The only thing that my doctor has said was about the Raynaud's. No cellulitis or anything.. Basically, it went like this..

I explained what has been and what was currently going on.
I showed her my feet.
She gets out a book and gets another doctor
Says "oh, I believe you have Raynaud's.. Here, take this prescription and come back in two weeks".

That was the cliffs-notes version. I'd never been diagnosed with Raynauds until that appointment.

I honestly and truly don't believe that's what it is.. I don't know, it's a gut feeling. Even though I slept with my feet elevated all night, the swelling still hasn't gone away and they're still going numb after I'm on my feet for a few minutes. I forgot to mention it in the other update, but, I don't have any tingling in my legs anymore whatsoever.

I didn't know what cellulitis is, so I looked it up.. it doesn't really sound like that either.. basically because I have no pain with it. Just the numbness, redness, and swelling. And it's only limited to the bottoms of my feet. I so wish we could post pictures in here.. but I do understand why we can't.

As for vascular studies, no, I have never had any of those either. I didn't mention this before simply because I didn't think that it was relevant, but, I've been having some issues with my hands turning bright red and having a burning sensation. This has been happening ALOT in the last few months and it's only getting worse. I actually took pictures of it and brought them to the doc with me.. again, she thinks it's Raynaud's too. I just.. I don't know.. I reaaaaaally don't think that it is.
But, now that you mention the word, 'Vascular'.. considering I have this other issue going on with my hands, too, it makes me wonder if that's not a possibility.

I'm sorry to bug everyone with this.. and I know that no one in here can diagnose me.. which is fine. I completely understand

I just thought maybe someone else has had this happen or at least maybe heard of it.

Oh well.. hopefully my neurologist will have a clue about the numbness.