[MonikaT]

I find this thread interesting since I have had a lot of trouble with my legs and feet. I first went to my then doctor because of a bad split on my shin which refused to heal and turned into an ulcer, and subsequently had smaller ulcers on several of my toes. He was convinced that it was a result of type 2 diabetes, in spite of the fact that my blood sugar levels said otherwise. He sent me to a first specialist who checked out my arterial blood flow to my legs (OK) and then more or less said he could do nothing for me, but suggested that I should wear stronger pressure socks, only available here by prescription which he didn't provide,. Next he sent me to a wound healing specialist who diagnosed CVI and told me simply to continue wearing the strong pressure socks (available much cheaper and without prescription from the US) and apply petroleum jelly to the ulcers twice a day and keep the covered by non-stick dressings. This worked! When I went back to him after a few weeks, his comment was "So you believed me". Unfortunately the pressure socks don't work on the toes, but I found that horse chestnut works wonders in boosting the effect of the socks and my feet are now in much better shape. Basically the CVI causes edema, which weakens the skin and hinders healing, but also produces paraesthesia which greatly exaggerates the sensation and pain of injury, paradoxically with a degree of numbness, and tightness and/or pins and needles. I still have to be very careful with footwear since the slightest rub or irregularity is very uncomfortable.

If you have poor circulation in your arms and legs, then it is quite likely due to CVI (chronic venous insufficiency), which may make you more prone to side effects from drugs or supplements as well as the other symptoms discussed in this thread.

Like you, I'm diabetic (type II), I have good arterial flow, but I have varicose veins. My parents also had them. I also use horse chestnut as well as diosmin, but I still sometimes have issues with edema. I haven't had problems with ulcers, yet, but there is a doctor who recommends using a ring of petroleum jelly around the ulcer, then covering the ulcer with sugar and dressing it with gauze. I now have the suspicion it is the petroleum jelly doing the work.

I haven't tried this, but there is something else you might find helpful. I'm not sure what it is called, but there is a machine that uses waves of air starting at the feet and working toward the thighs. You put on these sleeves, attach a hose to each sleeve, turn on the machine, and it rhythmically compresses the legs to force blood to flow out of the legs the way it should. My mom had one, but her doctor prescribed it. I'm not sure what they cost or if they are readily available where you live. I'm in the states. I'm not even sure if a prescription is needed here. Often, a prescription is used here so insurance will cover part of the cost.

[julieTG]

I have a theory

Over the last few days I have started having a pain in the pad on the left hand side of my right foot and feet seem to have thinned,

At first I thought may have trod on something ?

Dont think it is though as left foot has just started tingling

I am starting too lose muscle from my lower back and I think its compression on the nerves as I suffer from tension and have a lot of this,

Thought I noticed it first time round but was not 100%

This time though , muscle stripping and growth is a lot faster ,

Ummm

Julie

[AnnieBL]

Like you, I'm diabetic (type II), I have good arterial flow, but I have varicose veins. My parents also had them. I also use horse chestnut as well as diosmin, but I still sometimes have issues with edema. I haven't had problems with ulcers, yet, but there is a doctor who recommends using a ring of petroleum jelly around the ulcer, then covering the ulcer with sugar and dressing it with gauze. I now have the suspicion it is the petroleum jelly doing the work.

I haven't tried this, but there is something else you might find helpful. I'm not sure what it is called, but there is a machine that uses waves of air starting at the feet and working toward the thighs. You put on these sleeves, attach a hose to each sleeve, turn on the machine, and it rhythmically compresses the legs to force blood to flow out of the legs the way it should. My mom had one, but her doctor prescribed it. I'm not sure what they cost or if they are readily available where you live. I'm in the states. I'm not even sure if a prescription is needed here. Often, a prescription is used here so insurance will cover part of the cost.

My first reaction was 'I don't have diabetes'. My fasting blood glucose level and A1C are well below the thresholds for even prediabetes, although at the height of my leg problems they were more or less at those thresholds. As a result of this thread I have been further researching peripheral neuropathy, and have learned that glucose spikes can cause this, even though fasting glucose levels and A1C are within normal ranges. Also that some of my other symptoms may be due to PN. I need to investigate this further but in the meanwhile am grateful to you for putting me onto this. Maybe my doctor seven years ago, now retired, was not so far off track after all.

A device such as you mention is available from the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog for $229.95. I have looked at it and wondered but my present routines seem to be doing a fairly good job. I am also eating a much better diet with considerably lower glycemic loads so as to avoid spikes, but fear that the previous nerve damage may be irreversible.