Arterial Thrombosis Or Something Similar

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Been having problems with my right foot, this morning walking just for five minutes brings on pain and stiffness in my calf, leading to pain down the tendon and on to the ball of foot also toes.
Means that at a brisk pace I limp after 10 minutes or so.
On the bike ben suffering for months with pain and numbness in ball of foot also pain in calf, means after some time I have to stop for five minutes to wait for it to subside.
The symptoms are identical to what I had after losing my spleen, blood platelet count increases and blood clots.
Had it fixed with an operation, but its back, I think.
Today doctor says that I have a weak / non existent pulse on top of my right foot, referring me to a vascular specialist.......
Happy days.

[Bonefishblues]

Sorry to hear that, hope all resolves itself soon.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Seeing surgeon on 27th, need to sort it.
Been living with numbness for many years but its come on much worse with stabbing pain in calf.
Without doing any extreme exercise which is normal for my training I would probably not notice much, if I was to restrict walking to 3 mph might never show up either.

[crazydave789]

good luck.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Seen the big cheese.
My symptom's are almost identical to what I had before my op in 87.

My problem is not life threatening.
I don't have artery disease.
Etc etc.............

But I am going to have stress tests on a treadmill......which is the only place it will show up, to determine whether its artery or other problem.

My simple test today were very similar to what I have had before and they both struggled to detect good blood flow in my bad foot (top instep).
Only shows up brisk walking in just 200 yrds today.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Just been for a scan of my leg.
Ultrasound of gut through groins to beyond knee.

There is what the technician calls calcification behind the knee (source of original thrombosis which developed after splenectomy in 82), also some evidence in the groin.

Friday to further treadmill test / see the consultant.
Would not of thought that they will be looking any further after finding restriction, which is vascular not external pressure.

Causes -
Possible well likely splenectomy which caused the original problem in 82.
High BP well suffered from that for 30 odd years.
High cholesterol, its normal 5.5 at the mo, but you go on anticholesterol meds if you also have family history and high BP.

I saw the detail on the screen of what looked liked blocked pipes
Least I am not imagining it.
Discomfort walking from car park to the hospital, 200 yards.

[crazydave789]

hope they come up with a suitable treatment plan.

[Bonefishblues]

+1, at least it's now fully diagnosed, by the sound of it.

[reohn2]

You have my sympathy N.A..
Earlier in the year I had an intramuscular haematoma in my calf shortly after surgery for an inguinial hernia and thought it was a thrombosis all healed up now though
Good luck with the treatment and get well soon

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Thanks for your concerns.
Its local to original problem in my leg, technician said its local calcification, but there is some in the groin also.

Lots of questions to the consultant on Thursday for a follow up.
Hard work trying to get anything from the medical staff on why what how.
More later in week.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Not the consultant but the vascular nurse practitioner today.
Measured blood pressure in arms and ankles.
The ratio from arm to leg should be 1:1.
At rest I am fine but after a treadmill test of say 250 metres, the pressure dropped in affected leg 160 to 120, good leg was 180 to 200 post exercise.
She said your a bit unusual as I walked at only 5 k an hour which is slow for me (7.5) and 18 % gradient on the tread mill

Anyway, bad news is that no operation unless my limb is threatened etc, due to risks of I assume to be dislodging any debris.
So back on statins and blood platelet reduction.
The scan earlier in week showed that around the affected area of calcification which is the site of my original problem that was fixed in 87, blood vessels have grown to pass more blood.
It can't be fixed unless I get symptoms whilst resting.
Exercise and meds will help to keep me going but it may well not improve that much.
Fortunately my cycling is not affected that much, walking is not good at a fast pace especially going up hill.
I believe that the site of operation on my artery has caused scar tissue, that's why I have problems here again.
Body aorta is good, thigh is good, slight calcification in groin, behind knee is main restriction.
Claudication is the symptom, cramping from lack of blood in exercise in the calf.
Getting old...............

[Vorpal]

Sorry to hear that. I hope it improves. Good thing that you can still cycle

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Nurse said I can see the vascular consultant If I want, would he tell me anything different? No was the answer.
Risk might be that I would not be able to cycle if it goes wrong..............even if risk is 1:500 that's still a risk.
I was getting tests pre op 30 years ago, on a ward full of amputees through artery disease, gangrene etc, very sobering as some of them were younger than me now!
Could be worse

[peterb]

Natural Ankling - three years on - how has your vascular disease developed? Has your exercise regime stabilised or improved the condition? I was considered for surgery, but was advised that the risks were great and I should wait until walking was almost impossible. So far so good, more or less stable as long as I keep up with the daily exercising into pain, which I must admit sometimes gets me down.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

Natural Ankling - three years on - how has your vascular disease developed? Has your exercise regime stabilised or improved the condition? I was considered for surgery, but was advised that the risks were great and I should wait until walking was almost impossible. So far so good, more or less stable as long as I keep up with the daily exercising into pain, which I must admit sometimes gets me down.

My problem is a local one just below the knee, its not general artery problem.
After failing off bike and a period of inactivity (Jan 2018) I had symptoms of pain in calf and pain and numbness in foot, lack of blood supply when walking.
I was advised to exercise.
I was put on a anticoagulant.
I was also put back on a anti-cholesterol (non statin).
I stopped the anti-cholesterol (self withdrawal, probably a year earlier) in a bid to rid myself of side effects, lethargy etc.
I am also on a blood pressure med.

Only comeback when in pain in bed resting.................
Stent to risky.
Aug 2018

With more exercise the pain and numbness subsided.
I am at the moment pain free.........as long as I keep exercising.
In my opinion, walking on its own would not rid me of the symptoms.

At present I am-
Monday Cycling 2 hrs 40 min
Tuesday Treadmill 40 mins run and walk 4-10% gradient
Wednesday Woods walking 1 hr 10 min flat out
Thursday Treadmill again
Friday Cycling again

Earlier this year I started to have severe lethargy problems, pain when resting, going to bed and waking all over my body.
That subside when I move around.
But exercise after 1.5 hrs was very frustrating, could barely stay on the bike.
For the last three years still have lethargy and my endurance has dropped from cycling 20 hrs in 24 to struggling to stay on bike 1.5 - 2.5 hrs.
I can push high gears, but my strength is probably 80% of norm, 350w at 95 rpm down to 250 w at 75 max over an hour, you would notice that.
But high power with high cadence is non existent, I struggle to do over 60 rpm on the flat without pain.

I have had to keep exercising obviously for my health. (leg)
So three months ago I came off yet another anti-cholesterol med, I am about 6.2 at the moment which is not that high.
And three weeks ago I came of BP meds, so my norm of 80 / 125 say is running at 95 / 145 for the last three weeks, I am 62.
It can drop to 120 / 80 last night after cycle, resting heart rate in the morning is 45.

I have noticed the pain all over body including joints, from just doing nothing (resting) has gone, which I have been suffering for the last two years at least.
Up to now I cannot induce post exercise pain in muscles, which would normally not be a problem after 2.5 hours cycling, muscles obviously fit but I am down on power.
At the moment my exercise up to the first six months this year had been about 1000 miles normally this would be 2500.
As I am unfit then power is slow to come back, I hit 20 mph yesterday on the flat on the skip trainer which weighs in at 1/2 cwt mid ride.
I am not quite there yet but optimistic.

I am not on any anti-cholesterol meds.
I am not on any BP meds.
I am still on anti-coagulant meds.
I am hoping that my BP will stabilise as its just low enough not to give daily headaches.

I am not sure what state you problem is at but it sounds more dire than mine?
At least mine disappears with exercise.
Exercise of course opens up the arteries and they stay open afterwards.
Although walking on its own does not seem to keep symptoms at bay, I did a 2 hr walk with other half today and it helps to keep my BP down.
I think at the moment I need to do something everyday.
Average HR last night was only 135 over 2.5 hrs, I would normally be at 148, but it can drop with same performance maybe 10 bpm.
Monday will be a good test for me, it can be a bit up and down at the moment with my performance, but the bad off days might be behind me.
Lack of power meant that I got cold easy on bike in winter on the way home and struggled to function normally, even had to stop so I did not fall into hedge.
All BP and anti-cholesterol meds have side effects if you want to do endurance I have found.
What can you do apart from carry on, the alternative is frightening.

Improved, yes I I keep it up.