severe nocturnal heel pain

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, and Happy New Year.

I'd like some advice, please - recent onset, acute nocturnal heel pain in a 90 year old man, this is experienced only whilst in bed. He has heart failure, which was under control until Christmas when he had extreme worsening of shortness of breath and sudden onset ankle oedema (seen by a GP and prescribed Furosemide). Fractured pelvis 2 years ago, but well rehabilitated. Bullous Pemphigoid dx about 6 months ago (I couldn't control the itching/blisters/erosions with herbs) and he eventually started oral steroids (which I'm sure have contributed to the rapid worsening of his heart condition). I feel fairly sure the nocturnal heel pain is due to arterial insufficiency and would like any advice from folk re alleviating this. He currently has Crataegus and Convallaria in his mix (along with lung herbs for his chronic bronchitis). I was thinking Zanthox? Ginkgo? I've had a couple of patients with this acute heel pain before and I've found it difficult to control so would love to hear if other people have encountered it too.

Whilst typing this email I've received a phone call from this patient, describing the onset last night of pain in his big toes also. He describes the heel and toe pain as excrutiating and he got very little sleep last night. The Furosemide was stopped by the Doctor a couple of days ago as the oedema has now resolved. I wondered about a capsicum cream (in addition to a change to his internal mix) - I've had success in helping with nerve pain with this cream before, tho I realise that this pain is different, thougth it might be worth a go.

Thank you in advance.

Sue Salmon

Huddersfield

[Guest guest]

Hi SueHe is certain it is in the bone? No chance of cramping re electrolyte imbalance? How long does it take to come on? I find Rosmarinus useful in the elderly with failing heart and fluid accumulation. Not sure about it's use for heel pain, though!CraigDr Craig Homeopath. Phytotherapist166 Lansdowne Road. Claremont. 7708+27 21 671 4338 Hi everyone, and Happy New Year. I'd like some advice, please - recent onset, acute nocturnal heel pain in a 90 year old man, this is experienced only whilst in bed. He has heart failure, which was under control until Christmas when he had extreme worsening of shortness of breath and sudden onset ankle oedema (seen by a GP and prescribed Furosemide). Fractured pelvis 2 years ago, but well rehabilitated. Bullous Pemphigoid dx about 6 months ago (I couldn't control the itching/blisters/erosions with herbs) and he eventually started oral steroids (which I'm sure have contributed to the rapid worsening of his heart condition). I feel fairly sure the nocturnal heel pain is due to arterial insufficiency and would like any advice from folk re alleviating this. He currently has Crataegus and Convallaria in his mix (along with lung herbs for his chronic bronchitis). I was thinking Zanthox? Ginkgo? I've had a couple of patients with this acute heel pain before and I've found it difficult to control so would love to hear if other people have encountered it too. Whilst typing this email I've received a phone call from this patient, describing the onset last night of pain in his big toes also. He describes the heel and toe pain as excrutiating and he got very little sleep last night. The Furosemide was stopped by the Doctor a couple of days ago as the oedema has now resolved. I wondered about a capsicum cream (in addition to a change to his internal mix) - I've had success in helping with nerve pain with this cream before, tho I realise that this pain is different, thougth it might be worth a go. Thank you in advance.Sue SalmonHuddersfield

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue

Incipient pressure sores I'd think - I'm sure you're completely right about

arterial insufficiency. I'd agree re capsicum cream, but just thought I'd share

with you that when I was nursing (back in the good old days when nursing wasn't

a dirty word) we used to massage all pressure areas with a lotion made of

arachis oil and isopropyl alcohol several times a day. Perhaps if you used a

combination of infused oil (capsicum, ginger, rosemary come to mind) with maybe

a Calendula tincture? I'm sure the massaging did as much good as the lotion, but

I do recall that patients who were rubbed with different preparations (ie

creams) didn't do quite as well. The rationale is pretty clear: the alcohol

stimulated the circulation and the oil kept the skin hydrated.

However, keeping the area free of pressure is of equal if not more importance -

you can get sheepskin 'bootees' which cushion the heels and prevent the pressure

from being just on one spot. Also keeps it warm, of course. I'm sure you'd be

able to find them online if you search for aids to prevent pressure sores, or

some such.

Alison

>

> > Hi everyone, and Happy New Year.

> > I'd like some advice, please - recent onset, acute nocturnal heel pain in a

90 year old man, this is experienced only whilst in bed. He has heart failure,

which was under control until Christmas when he had extreme worsening of

shortness of breath and sudden onset ankle oedema (seen by a GP and prescribed

Furosemide). Fractured pelvis 2 years ago, but well rehabilitated. Bullous

Pemphigoid dx about 6 months ago (I couldn't control the

itching/blisters/erosions with herbs) and he eventually started oral steroids

(which I'm sure have contributed to the rapid worsening of his heart condition).

I feel fairly sure the nocturnal heel pain is due to arterial insufficiency and

would like any advice from folk re alleviating this. He currently has Crataegus

and Convallaria in his mix (along with lung herbs for his chronic bronchitis). I

was thinking Zanthox? Ginkgo? I've had a couple of patients with this acute heel

pain before and I've found it difficult to control so would love to hear if

other people have encountered it too.

> > Whilst typing this email I've received a phone call from this patient,

describing the onset last night of pain in his big toes also. He describes the

heel and toe pain as excrutiating and he got very little sleep last night. The

Furosemide was stopped by the Doctor a couple of days ago as the oedema has now

resolved. I wondered about a capsicum cream (in addition to a change to his

internal mix) - I've had success in helping with nerve pain with this cream

before, tho I realise that this pain is different, thougth it might be worth a

go.

> > Thank you in advance.

> > Sue Salmon

> > Huddersfield

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I always think of rutin supplements for leg circulation. When I was

training at the Bristol student clinic we had a run of patients with

restless legs who responded really well to rutin tablets.

Sally Owen

> Hi Sue

>

> Incipient pressure sores I'd think - I'm sure you're completely

> right about arterial insufficiency. I'd agree re capsicum cream, but

> just thought I'd share with you that when I was nursing (back in the

> good old days when nursing wasn't a dirty word) we used to massage

> all pressure areas with a lotion made of arachis oil and isopropyl

> alcohol several times a day. Perhaps if you used a combination of

> infused oil (capsicum, ginger, rosemary come to mind) with maybe a

> Calendula tincture? I'm sure the massaging did as much good as the

> lotion, but I do recall that patients who were rubbed with different

> preparations (ie creams) didn't do quite as well. The rationale is

> pretty clear: the alcohol stimulated the circulation and the oil

> kept the skin hydrated.

>

> However, keeping the area free of pressure is of equal if not more

> importance - you can get sheepskin 'bootees' which cushion the heels

> and prevent the pressure from being just on one spot. Also keeps it

> warm, of course. I'm sure you'd be able to find them online if you

> search for aids to prevent pressure sores, or some such.

>

> Alison

>

>

>>

>>> Hi everyone, and Happy New Year.

>>> I'd like some advice, please - recent onset, acute nocturnal heel

>>> pain in a 90 year old man, this is experienced only whilst in bed.

>>> He has heart failure, which was under control until Christmas when

>>> he had extreme worsening of shortness of breath and sudden onset

>>> ankle oedema (seen by a GP and prescribed Furosemide). Fractured

>>> pelvis 2 years ago, but well rehabilitated. Bullous Pemphigoid dx

>>> about 6 months ago (I couldn't control the itching/blisters/

>>> erosions with herbs) and he eventually started oral steroids

>>> (which I'm sure have contributed to the rapid worsening of his

>>> heart condition). I feel fairly sure the nocturnal heel pain is

>>> due to arterial insufficiency and would like any advice from folk

>>> re alleviating this. He currently has Crataegus and Convallaria in

>>> his mix (along with lung herbs for his chronic bronchitis). I was

>>> thinking Zanthox? Ginkgo? I've had a couple of patients with this

>>> acute heel pain before and I've found it difficult to control so

>>> would love to hear if other people have encountered it too.

>>> Whilst typing this email I've received a phone call from this

>>> patient, describing the onset last night of pain in his big toes

>>> also. He describes the heel and toe pain as excrutiating and he

>>> got very little sleep last night. The Furosemide was stopped by

>>> the Doctor a couple of days ago as the oedema has now resolved. I

>>> wondered about a capsicum cream (in addition to a change to his

>>> internal mix) - I've had success in helping with nerve pain with

>>> this cream before, tho I realise that this pain is different,

>>> thougth it might be worth a go.

>>> Thank you in advance.

>>> Sue Salmon

>>> Huddersfield

>>>

>>

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> List Owner: Graham White, MNIMH

[Guest guest]

Hello. My name is Sue haynes, I am a Podiatrist as well as a herbalist. Re yourman with heel pain. We see this frequently with heart patients who spend most, if not all, of the night sleeping on their backs. The heel is in contact with a relatively hard mattress for a possible 8 hours with little movement, the start of a bedsore. the skin is thin, lacking fibrofatty padding and ischaemic. Massage with a cream can improve the circulation but relief of pressure is the main problem, assuming there is not a ripple mattress. Deep large pieces of foam with a hole cut out so that the heel rests in the hole; a feather pillow; sheepskin heelpads (these can be difficult to locate but I have a phone number if required) gel socks, anything to redistribute pressure. The main aim is to prevent

the skin breaking as the consequent ulcer is difficult to heal. Hope this is of help, Sue Haynes.

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

I am

currently working with a 60 year old man who came to me with burning heels. He

insisted tests showed he wasnt diabetic, but when I checked his blood

sugar it was high .

He also has a

long history of restless legs (which interestingly had improved significantly

since the painful heels had set in), he drinks an awful lot of whiskey, has

gout and a diet very high in purines.

I gave the usual

diet and lifestyle advice, a liquid medicine to support circulation, nerves,

blood sugar regulation and address his irritable bowel. The Rx was Fe Avena,

Vib op, Xanthox, Gelsem, Cinnamonum, Gymnema, Quercus and Serenoa. I also

supplemented with B Vitamins and Ulmus and gave him an anti-inflammatory rub to

apply to his heels.

He had his 1st

follow up appointment a couple of weeks ago, his blood sugar had come down significantly

(to 6.5mmol/l) and his heel pain had reduced.

I hope this

helps in some way.

Best wishes

Ginny

Ginny Kemp BMedSc

(Hons) BSc (Hons) MNIMH MCPP

Registered

Herbal Practitioner.

[Guest guest]

It might also be worth checking for a UTI. I have a friend who is catheterised and she always knows when she has a UTI because her heels start burning - especially at night.Just a thought.

Chris

 

Hi Sue,

 

I am

currently working with a 60 year old man who came to me with burning heels. He

insisted tests showed he wasnt diabetic, but when I checked his  blood

sugar it was high .

He also has a

long history of restless legs (which interestingly had improved significantly

since the painful heels had set in), he drinks an awful lot of whiskey, has

gout and a diet very high in purines.

 

I gave the usual

diet and lifestyle advice, a liquid medicine to support circulation, nerves,

blood sugar regulation and address his irritable bowel. The Rx was Fe Avena,

Vib op, Xanthox, Gelsem, Cinnamonum, Gymnema, Quercus and Serenoa.  I also

supplemented with B Vitamins and Ulmus and gave him an anti-inflammatory rub to

apply to his heels.

 

He had his 1st

follow up appointment a couple of weeks ago, his blood sugar had come down significantly

(to 6.5mmol/l) and his heel pain had reduced.

 

I hope this

helps in some way.

 

Best wishes

 

Ginny

 

Ginny Kemp BMedSc

(Hons) BSc (Hons) MNIMH MCPP

Registered

Herbal Practitioner.

 

 

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