Strange feet - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

molitor · 06-06-2007, 07:09 AM

Hiya...

I've piecing the bits of the puzzle together at the moment and since i've had this symptom on and off for a while, well I take it that its a symptom of something I thought i'd ask.

I often lay in bed at night with only a light sheet or 4tog ****t over my feet. Its almost like the covers irritate my feet and they feel really heavy??

Sometimes my feet are really really warm almost burning and the soles of my feet look pretty dark pink

Sometimes when wearing shoes even if they are loose my feet feel restricted and it annoys me so much I have to take my shoes off

I often have well nearly every day have a numb like sensation in my feet, like they aren't really my own and that they belong to someone else??

Oh and I also get strange quite painful throbbing sensations in my big toe on and off. Just like I get in my thumbs..

Do any of you guys get these troubles??

mnewhall · 06-06-2007, 07:17 AM

hi molitor,

I know exactly what you are experiencing. I have a condition called Raynaud's phenomenon that affects my hands and feet and my ears. Hopefully the following info will give you a little more info on it.

What is Raynaud's?

Raynaud’s (ray-NODES) is a disorder of the small blood vessels of the extremities, reducing blood flow. When exposed to cold, the blood vessels go into spasms, which may cause pain, numbness, throbbing and tingling. Emotional distress may also trigger such a response.

The fingers are usually the primary affected areas, although toes, nose, ears and other extremities may be involved. In a typical case, fingers turn from white or blue (or both) within minutes of cold exposure then become red when they warm up. These color changes, which may vary from person to person, are an exaggeration of a normal response to cold exposure. A normal cold response in the hands is a blotchy red and white pattern. Raynaud’s-type color changes are distinctively different.

The disorder has been called Raynaud’s “phenomenon,” “syndrome” or “disease.” Although physicians have used these terms to identify different types, today the words are used interchangeably. There are, however, two major kinds of Raynaud’s that are important to recognize:

Primary Raynaud’s, the most common type, is not linked to another underlying medical condition or disease. There is no apparent cause for the phenomenon to occur. Primary Raynaud’s is not usually “disabling” in the typical sense, but sufferers can experience great discomfort and pain – requiring lifestyle adjustments to minimize exposure to cold and stress.

Secondary Raynaud’s is the term used when Raynaud’s is associated with another medical condition or disease, often of a rheumatic nature such as scleroderma (also known as systemic sclerosis) or systemic lupus erythematosus. Often, Raynaud’s symptoms are the first sign that such an underlying connective tissue disease exists. Patients with the secondary form are more likely to suffer more serious problems from Raynaud’s, such as skin ulcers (which can cause serious long-term damage to the blood vessels), or even gangrene.

wishing you well,
michelle

StephanieAnne · 06-06-2007, 10:24 PM

I have feet issues I bought a pair of crocs and they are perfect my feet have lots of room no more squashed feet and the holes let in fresh air these shoes are the only thing that I wear now, I still have pains in my toes and foot the shoes help alot

in the winter when I am outside, I have to wear gloves from like Thanksgiving till spring, I live was up in central NY so it gets cooolllldd and my hands take the brunt of it, maybe a bit of reynauds??

who knows, I can just add it to the list

NarLyB · 06-07-2007, 08:37 AM

A very dear friend of mine gets a burning sensation in his feet and like you, sometimes feels like his feet are being constricted under a blanket.

He has Reflex Sympathetic Disorder. I don't completely understand it, but I do know that it can cause him a lot of discomfort and occasionally be down right painful. There have been times when his feet feel like they are on fire and he'll put them in a bucket of ice water to try to alleviate it.

I have MS (dx 1993) and have never had the burning sensation, but do sometimes have to leave my feet hanging outside the covers on the bed because they feel like the blanket weighs a couple hundred pounds.

molitor · 06-07-2007, 08:50 AM

Mmmn i've not heard of that condition before..

You mentioning about your feet remind me of exactly what I do with mine.. The blanket feels far heavier / aggravating so I end up with my feet with no covers on