Leg Pain, Temperature Change, Swelling, No Pulse Posted: 09-08-07 11:25am
My daughter had a leg injury from a dirt
bike accident and no one can figure out
what is wrong with her.
Her lower leg is sometimes very painful
with swelling, it gets stone cold, changes
color, sometimes can't feel pulse in foot
and she gets some numbness in her toes. It
is not a continuous thing, it comes and
goes. When it first happened, the doctor
said it was an arterial spasm and he gave
her blood pressure medicine by IV and that
took care of the symptoms for about 6
months. They came back with a vengence
after 6 months and she spent a week in the
hospital trying to find out what was going
on with her leg.
We have had a CT scan, Dopplar, MRI, MRV,
MRA, blood flow studies, xrays, blood
workup and observation.
No one can tell me why my daughter's leg
is trying to die on her (that's the only
way to describe the symptoms she is having
in one fell swoop).
Does anyone out there have any idea what
could be causing this problem?
I'm getting desperate!!!!!
Thanks,
MB
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sillyakchick
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Posted: 09-09-07 11:48am
I suggest you have some compartment
pressure readings taken. It sounds like
it could possibly be compartment syndrome.
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mbooth16
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Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 9
Posted: 09-10-07 16:13pm
Thanks, I'll try that.
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mbooth16
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the Doctor Says No Posted: 09-12-07 23:22pm
The doctor says this is not what her
problem is. Any other ideas?
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sillyakchick
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Posted: 09-13-07 09:36am
Just a stretch--maybe he should send her
for nerve testing (EMG/NCV tests). How
does he KNOW that she doesn't have chronic
compartment syndrome?
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mbooth16
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Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 9
Posted: 09-13-07 09:49am
He says she is missing one or two key
symptoms. We have an appointment with a
new Orthopedic doctor on the 25th. I'm
hoping they may have an answer for us.
The only 2 tests that I can think of that
they haven't done yet are EMG and
Angiogram. They have done everything else
that I know of. I'm gonna ask this new
Orthopedic doctor about compartment
syndrome too. How do they test for that?
Thanks,
Mary B
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sillyakchick
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Posted: 09-13-07 10:14am
mbooth16
wrote:
He says she is missing one
or two key symptoms. We have an
appointment with a new Orthopedic doctor
on the 25th. I'm hoping they may have an
answer for us. The only 2 tests that I
can think of that they haven't done yet
are EMG and Angiogram. They have done
everything else that I know of. I'm gonna
ask this new Orthopedic doctor about
compartment syndrome too. How do they
test for that?
Thanks,
Mary B
When we test for it, we have the patient
run on a treadmill for 20 mins, then using
a syringeand a pressure monitor fluid is
drawn off. It's not too painful. I hope
they figure it out soon, that sounds
scary!
All the best.
Heather
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mbooth16
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Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 9
Posted: 09-23-07 02:13am
They did test her for that then the first
time it happened, but they didn't have her
on a treadmill first. Would that make a
difference? They were trying to keep her
off of it at that point because of the
blood pressure medicine they had given her
in the IV. Any other ideas? Or should I
get them to re-test her for this one?
I appreciate your help on this!!!!
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sillyakchick
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Posted: 09-24-07 09:15am
mbooth16
wrote:
They did test her for that
then the first time it happened, but they
didn't have her on a treadmill first.
Would that make a difference? They were
trying to keep her off of it at that point
because of the blood pressure medicine
they had given her in the IV. Any other
ideas? Or should I get them to re-test
her for this one?
I appreciate your help on
this!!!!
The running would increase the pressure in
the calf. That would simulate the feeling
of swelling she feels. Have you taken her
in when it is acutely swollen? Also have
they checked her heart? Is she a
diabetic?
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mbooth16
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 9
Posted: 09-24-07 09:35am
sillyakchick
wrote:
mbooth16
wrote:
They did test her for that
then the first time it happened, but they
didn't have her on a treadmill first.
Would that make a difference? They were
trying to keep her off of it at that point
because of the blood pressure medicine
they had given her in the IV. Any other
ideas? Or should I get them to re-test
her for this one?
I appreciate your help on
this!!!!
The running would increase the pressure in
the calf. That would simulate the feeling
of swelling she feels. Have you taken her
in when it is acutely swollen? Also have
they checked her heart? Is she a
diabetic?
Yes, we go each time it swells up. They
only tested her that very first time and
never again. No, they haven't checked her
heart or if she is diabetic. I'll ask
them to check that tomorrow. We have an
appointment then.
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sillyakchick
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Posted: 09-24-07 11:18am
That really sounds frustrating. I am
sorry for what you and your daughter are
dealing with. Keep me osted, and I will
continue to rack my brain for ideas.
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boogity
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 3
Daughters leg Posted: 08-07-08 21:25pm
I realize this is an old thread but since
it is still open I wondered.....
Has anyone considered Reflex Sympathetic
Dystrophy also known as RSD?
A Physical Medicine Specialist /
Physiatrist may be able to help.
Temperature changes, color changes,
circulation changes, pain all fit.
Just a thought!
