Describe Your Statin Leg Pain - High Cholesterol Message Board

donsabi · 01-30-2005, 06:09 PM

My pain is usually in the lower leg best described as and ache similar to a toothache that lasts for minutes and disipates. It will reoccur when sitting, standing, or laying down, walking, driving, almost anytime.
My cardiologist told me this is not statin caused pain. He said it should be in the thigh or buttocks.
Comments appreciated, thanks!

ARIZONA73 · 01-30-2005, 08:46 PM

Well, I understand what you're saying, and I've heard doctors say pretty much the same thing. But I don't exactly buy it. Statin pain can certainly manifest itself elsewhere. Peripheral neuropathy is one good example. My father ran into problems while he was taking Zocor, and he developed peripheral neuropathy in his left foot, which is certainly well below the thigh and buttocks. So much for that! And the doctor told him that his blood tests were all normal!

Why not take a break from statins, and then see how your leg feels? Stop taking it for several months and see if your leg feels any better. That's one way of determining whether or not statins are the cause of your problems.

HubbleRules · 01-30-2005, 08:51 PM

Donsabi,

I agree with Arizona73 - statins can cause muscle pain/atrophy in any of the skeletal muscles. For me, it caused a lot of pain and extreme weakness in both of my arms...

I also agree that stopping the statin to see if your pain diminishes is a good test - but don't be surprised if it takes a while for the pain to subside. For me, it took almost 10 months off Lipitor and on CoQ10 for my condition to noticeably improve.

Hope you respond quicker...

HubbleRules

Lenin · 01-31-2005, 06:27 AM

For me it was very definitely a burning ache in the thighs that lasted nearly a week when I first started Lipitor, then went away never to return in the 6ish years I;ve been taking the stuff..

My knees often hurt when I squat but then I attribute that mostly to wear and tear and a couple of torn cartileges.

Knock on wood, but my chronic back pain from mutilated discs has been BETTER with the Lipitor, but then that's probably just coincidental too.

vipergg22 · 01-31-2005, 06:19 PM

Permanent peripheral neuropathy in both feet after taking statins for 3 years , has not resolved itself after quitting . don't wish this on anyone .