Foot pain

lynn57buckingham

I have osteoarthritis in both knees. The pain has got worse over the past 6-7 years, & my life is becoming more & more 'on hold' & restricted. I work 30 hrs a week in a supportive work environment. About 5 weeks ago I started to get a painful toe, which spread to all my left toes & upper foot, & my left leg swelled immensely. I had already been treated (not very successfully) for a thrombophlebitis on my left lower leg. I have been off work for 3 weeks, at the recommendation of my kindly manager, not my GP. I don't feel better, although the swelling has gone down a bit due to 40mg furosemide daily, I feel generally more & more unwell. I am beginning to wonder when I will ever be able to get myself back to some sort of normality. I feel extremely low too. Anyone have any thoughts on this please?

stickywicket

Hello Lynn. It's good to meet you though I'm sorry about the arthritis. It can, indeed, make us all feel low from time to time but, right now, I think the bigger problem might be the thrombophlebitis. I have to say I know nothing about it other than my Mum used to get phlebitis (without the 'thrombo' bit) and the docs always took it very seriously. It could be that the foot and lower leg pain is more due to this than the arthritis and, if you are feeling generally unwell too, I think you should get it checked out again. It might be that you need stronger meds.

On the other hand, if it is the arthritis that is the culprit, you need some pain relief. I've never heard of furosemide so I googled it and I find it's a diuretic. If the swelling is due to excess fluid it will help but I don't see it helping arthritis pain.

I really think you should get a doc to look into this, Lynn and, if the one you saw before doesn't take it seriously, then please see a different one in the practice.

Meanwhile we are all here to support you. We understand the 'down days' - that's one thing we can help with.

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's nice to meet you and I hope we will be able to help. My feet are troublesome thanks to psoriatic arthritis, and my ankles and knees due to OA. The nett result is that I can no longer spend any length of time on my feet so don't. I do what I can sitting down (including food prep, ironing and cleaning). I am very lucky in that I am self-employed and so can tailor my work to suit me.

I agree with Sticky in that something does not sound right here and I think a chat with another doctor would be a good idea. Different docs have different takes on things and you may find one who is more clued-up, or better-informed or just a little more caring. It's not surprising you are feeling low - daily pain and discomfort grinds away not only at us physically but also mentally. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on. DD

lynn57buckingham

Hi, & thank you for your replies. I will talk to my GP again this coming week about the pain. I forgot to mention I am prescribed pain relief; paracetamol: 2 tabs three times a day + codeine phosphate: 2 tabs of 15mg each up to four times a day. The Co.Phos is fairly recent & I find I have to limit them to twice a day otherwise I feel really strange & get headaches.
I was on this forum some time ago & have just re-joined; at that time I was seriously thinking of getting a buggy or wheelchair, as I feel my limits are restricting my husband's activities, although he never complains. It would be good to go out together more & share activities such as weekly shop & walking our dog.
I feel I am giving in if I get a buggy/wheelchair, but the advice people gave me previously was go ahead & live more. How do others feel about this? When does giving in become living more?
Sorry to lead on to a new subject, but I have been churning this over for a couple of years now.
It's good to have people to talk to again who understand the daily issues of life.
Best wishes to you all, Lynn

dreamdaisy

The gadgets and gizmos are there to help us do more and do it better. I bought a 4 wheeled seated rollator last year (aged 52 and 3/4) and it's been an absolute boon. On the crutches I could last about twenty minutes in town, now I can last a couple of hours because the walking is easier and I have a seat whenever I need it (which is often!) I can queue again so no more leaving a purchase on the rails because the queue is too long. It's been so good I am considering upgrading to a much better quality one.

Do I want to use one? No. Do I need to use one? Yes. My 89 year old mother (who was visiting recently) refused to use it because she felt self-concious about it but she had to because one day she was so wobbly I refused to let her lean on me - if we both went down I couldn't get her up! After that I couldn't get it back from her - but she's not going to get one.

Scooters can be hired from town centre mobility schemes, wheelchairs can be hired from the Red Cross. They help so they are worth trying.

Codeine is a powerful med and can be addicitive so you are doing well to keep it under control. I have co-codamol tablets which are a combination of codeine and paracetamol. They come in varying strengths - have you ever tried them? DD

lynn57buckingham

Thank you for your reply DD. No, I haven't yet tried co-codamol. I was thinking of asking my GP if I can change to them. I love your story of your Mum! My Mum is in her late 70's & is better at getting around than me; she is an absolute star. My Gran (Mum's Mum) is the person I seem to take after in many ways. She refused a wheelchair until (in my fitter days) we were taking her on holiday, & with her GP's input we managed to persuade to her to have a wheelchair. She loved it once she got it, & we took her all along Scarborough seafront in it, which she couldn't have done without it.
I suppose I am answering my own question really. It's just that 'What if I see someone I know' feeling. Yet it's daft, as I know my friends will support me. I feel so old at 57.
I will perhaps go & hire one & try it out.
Have a pleasant evening, Lynn

stickywicket

It's not daft at all. I wish I could gather together all the threads we've had about just that. Everyone hates using a wheelchair at first and I, for one, felt a complete fraud. And this really is daft - once in it I was scared of getting out in case people thought I didn't need it if I could stand up.

Believe me, it has opened up a new world for me. We go on 'walks' in the countryside on which I walk as much as I can then ride. Like you, I didn't want to be seen by people who knew me. What helped me get used to it was using it away from home at first where I was unlikely to see anyone I knew. I wouldn't be without it now.

lynn57buckingham

You are really helpful. Thank you. I am speaking with my GP on the telephone tomorrow (these days it's much easier to get a telephone consultation than a person to person meeting) & will discuss things with him, then have a review in my mind of everything.
It's good to have people to share thoughts (& fears) with.

knuckleduster

Hello Lynn

Like DD I too use a 4 wheeled rollator with a seat and find it very useful.
I can walk with a stick but am slow due to my hip replacement leaving me with an unstable gait. Mine has got a roomy bag which is great for all the shopping, coats, cameras, etc and it's still very easy and light to push once loaded up.

Hope your doctor can prescribe you with some more effective painkillers. Just a thought, have you had x-rays done on your feet? I know fluid can be very painful and my doctor put me on water tablets which didn't do much, but I found drinking more water did.

Janet xx

dreamdaisy

Hello Lyn, a thought has occurred to me: what do you think when you see someone in a wheelchair, regardless of whether you know them or not? Do you think anything at all? I'm sure that the first time may be very awkward but only for you. Nobody else will bat an eyelid. DD

lynn57buckingham

Hi all. I will ask my GP about an xray tomorrow. And yes, I am guilty of not drinking enough, recently trying to improve this. I am happy to be constantly reminded by anyone about this. I am also starting with the help of my sister the Slimming World programme to lose some weight.
Re: what do I think when I see a person in a wheelchair? I think they an indivdual with thoughts, needs, preferences, and a life to lead just like everyone else. I see them as a person, not a wheelchair. I have worked in the care environment most of my adult life, with older people & now with adults who have learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions, fragile x syndrome & downs syndrome. So I should understand that I have rights too. However it is not so easy to accept. I see your point on this one. Perhaps I am insulting others by being so cautious about using a support vehicle myself.
That is food for thought. :!:

GraceB

Hi,

whether you get a wheelchair or a scooter, you need to 'bling it up'! I'd go for a scooter if it were me having to make the choice. But - with loads of bling so people knew it was me coming towards them.

I've currently got walking sticks and elbow crutches all of which are now showing signs of age so am thinking about getting new ones. Needless to say, they'll be 'blinged up'.

Try several options before you make a final decision.

As for what other people think - blow them! Whatever you get, if it makes life easier for you and means you can still get out and about, does it really matter what strangers think?

Also, as the others have said, speak to your GP about x-rays and more effective pain relief/dullers.

Good luck - let us know what you decide?

GraceB

Loulou11

Hi I must say what ever makes your life easier and fulfilling is worth it, I'm 42 now and use my wheelchair and scooter when I need to and have been for the past 7 years. Don't worry about what others say or think it's your life and if they were in your position what would they do??