Can Sleep Apnea cause foot pain?

[linda b]

I know many physical ailments have been attributed to sleep apnea, but searching for just the right bit of information is sometimes very time consuming, so I thought I would bring this up as a new topic.

I've had ocassional problems with intense pain on the TOPS of my feet at night over the past couple of years. It doesn't feel like cramping, more like nerve endings firing off repeatedly. I had always associated it with taking water pills that lowered my potassium. However, I recently learned that some people who take Advair have "leg and foot cramps". Now I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is a nerve problem or cramping, a potassium problem or an Advair problem or could it be somehow related to sleep apnea?

Has anyone else had problems with this type of pain and what did you do about it?

[Goofproof]

I have diabetes, it has caused nerve damage, when my sugar is high,(out of control) I have those same shooting pains, it feels like being poked with a needle deeply at 15 to 20 sec intervals. Makes you grit your teeth, and doesn't go away until the sugar level drops off usually last 2 hours until the insulin knocks the level down.

I haven't noticed XPAP to be the cause. Jim

As far as water pills I take Lasix 40 mg, twice daily, and to counteract it 20 meq potassium, twice a day. I take so many pills a day, I emptyed the potassium and forgot to take it for a week. I found that I got real weak, and my heart rate felt different. I restarted the potassium and in two days I stopped having changed heart rate. It's a fine line we have to thread sometimes.

[Guest]

After using CPAP with a humidifier for about a year-and-a-half I have developed a few problems, one of which is foot pain which has lingered for the past two months. I've used a mask that covers just the nose as well as nasal pillows. Nasal pillows give a better seal. I'm not on any medications and have not been diagnosed with any other medical problems. I started CPAP because of an inflamed optic nerve which was discovered when I saw a doctor due to changes in vision. She suggested a sleep study and on my last checkup which came after about 11 months of CPAP use, the nerve was better.

I've researched this and can't find many things about CPAP being the CAUSE of foot pain but I've developed pain on the top of my feet, more so on the left foot, just outside of the center of the foot. It feels like I've pulled or strained the area but it's not constant. With shoes on, it's barely noticeable, but when barefoot, waking in the morning or getting up from relaxing on the couch, the first few steps bring intense pain in the area.

I've also developed tingling in one of my big toes as well as my hands. It feels as though there is swelling in my hands because they are stiff. I also developed earaches early on which went away if I went without my machine for a few days. I barely notice the earaches anymore, maybe I've just gotten used to them.

I slept without my machine the past few nights and my foot pain is getting better. I'm going to try a few more days to see if it disappears. I want to be sure that CPAP is the cause so I can argue with the doctor if he insists otherwise. When I brought up the earaches to one of the doctors, he gave me sinus spray to try to treat any lingering congestion or allergy symptoms. I can't use nasal sprays (flonase, nasacort, etc) for more than a day or two without developing nosebleeds which I mentioned but the doc wanted to try it anyway. I abandoned the spray after two days because, as I knew would happen, I got nosebleeds.

I will be seeing a different doctor but I want evidence that CPAP is causing the foot pain before I do. So far, it seems like it is the cause.

[avi123]

I know many physical ailments have been attributed to sleep apnea, but searching for just the right bit of information is sometimes very time consuming, so I thought I would bring this up as a new topic.

I've had ocassional problems with intense pain on the TOPS of my feet at night over the past couple of years. It doesn't feel like cramping, more like nerve endings firing off repeatedly. I had always associated it with taking water pills that lowered my potassium. However, I recently learned that some people who take Advair have "leg and foot cramps". Now I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is a nerve problem or cramping, a potassium problem or an Advair problem or could it be somehow related to sleep apnea?

Has anyone else had problems with this type of pain and what did you do about it?

It sounds like Diabetic Foot Neuropathy.

There is no cure. I take Neurontin capsules totaling 800 mg daily to ease the pain.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-cond ... n-20033336

[Wulfman...]

AVI123,

You just replied to a nine-year-old post (the one that started this thread).

Could also be a possibility for the "Guest" who resurrected it.

After using CPAP with a humidifier for about a year-and-a-half I have developed a few problems, one of which is foot pain which has lingered for the past two months. I've used a mask that covers just the nose as well as nasal pillows. Nasal pillows give a better seal. I'm not on any medications and have not been diagnosed with any other medical problems. I started CPAP because of an inflamed optic nerve which was discovered when I saw a doctor due to changes in vision. She suggested a sleep study and on my last checkup which came after about 11 months of CPAP use, the nerve was better.

I've researched this and can't find many things about CPAP being the CAUSE of foot pain but I've developed pain on the top of my feet, more so on the left foot, just outside of the center of the foot. It feels like I've pulled or strained the area but it's not constant. With shoes on, it's barely noticeable, but when barefoot, waking in the morning or getting up from relaxing on the couch, the first few steps bring intense pain in the area.

I've also developed tingling in one of my big toes as well as my hands. It feels as though there is swelling in my hands because they are stiff. I also developed earaches early on which went away if I went without my machine for a few days. I barely notice the earaches anymore, maybe I've just gotten used to them.

I slept without my machine the past few nights and my foot pain is getting better. I'm going to try a few more days to see if it disappears. I want to be sure that CPAP is the cause so I can argue with the doctor if he insists otherwise. When I brought up the earaches to one of the doctors, he gave me sinus spray to try to treat any lingering congestion or allergy symptoms. I can't use nasal sprays (flonase, nasacort, etc) for more than a day or two without developing nosebleeds which I mentioned but the doc wanted to try it anyway. I abandoned the spray after two days because, as I knew would happen, I got nosebleeds.

I will be seeing a different doctor but I want evidence that CPAP is causing the foot pain before I do. So far, it seems like it is the cause.

But, to the guest who resurrected it........

You can probably come up with ANY ridiculous reason (cause and effect) for things going on in your body.
I've seen examples of this kind of nonsense for years.
Maybe you need to put the mask on your feet and see if that helps.

And, have a blood draw to see if you have issues with diabetes or other medical problems.
Trying to blame a machine that is supposed to keep your blood oxygen levels better at night while you sleep is just plain STUPID!!!


Den

.

[avi123]

Den

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those guests are nuisance!

But for a long time have you not posted here as a Guest after posting here for 2 decades?

[Wulfman...]

Den

.

those guests are nuisance!

But for a long time have you not posted here as a Guest after posting here for 2 decades?

Generally speaking, I don't have a problem with "guest" posters.
There were various reasons I guest posted (like from a computer at work) and it usually put my registered name below the guest user name I used.......which is now my registered name (now that I'm retired). It's not like I was trying to hide or be anonymous. And, back then, there wasn't all the "captcha" stuff you had to fill in to guest post, either.
But, many guests just seem to post "strange" things and don't register.......probably for that reason.


Den

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[avi123]

Thanks Den for your reply. Why do you add the dot?

[Wulfman...]

Thanks Den for your reply. Why do you add the dot?

It's to add a space below my name/sig.
I've noticed a few others do it occasionally, too. ("Captain Midnight" comes to mind at the moment)


Den

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[avi123]

Den, when I check the Members list I see a Wolf who started on Wed Jan 05, 2005 10:35 am, Is it not you?

[Wulfman...]

Den, when I check the Members list I see a Wolf who started on Wed Jan 05, 2005 10:35 am, Is it not you?

Nope.

This is my original user profile. July 07, 2005.

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1951


Den

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[avi123]

Den, when I check the Members list I see a Wolf who started on Wed Jan 05, 2005 10:35 am, Is it not you?

Nope.

This is my original user profile. July 07, 2005.

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1951


Den

.

And you have posted 12345 posts?

[Wulfman...]

Den, when I check the Members list I see a Wolf who started on Wed Jan 05, 2005 10:35 am, Is it not you?

Nope.

This is my original user profile. July 07, 2005.

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1951


Den

.

And you have posted 12345 posts?

Under that username. I thought the number was kind of "cool" and I also thought I was going to "retire" from the forum.
Didn't work out.......


Den

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[Lucyhere]

Den, when I check the Members list I see a Wolf who started on Wed Jan 05, 2005 10:35 am, Is it not you?

Nope.

This is my original user profile. July 07, 2005.

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1951


Den

.

And you have posted 12345 posts?

Under that username. I thought the number was kind of "cool" and I also thought I was going to "retire" from the forum.
Didn't work out.......


Den

.

Really Den... you mean to tell me that there are people who post with different usernames? For shame!

New people who find this forum are very fortunate that it "didn't work out"!

[Wulfman...]

Really Den... you mean to tell me that there are people who post with different usernames? For shame!

New people who find this forum are very fortunate that it "didn't work out"!

Yeah........can you believe THAT? Incredible.
But, at least all of mine ( a grand total of 2 ) are all essentially the same.

Been wonderin' where you've been hiding. Haven't seen much posting from you lately. Hope everything is well with you.


Den

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