Pain in leg muscles, tendons, and knees after Bilateral PE on Eliquis

Posted by smasneri @smasneri, Jul 6, 2023

One month after massive bilateral PE and taking 5 mg twice daily. Experiencing constant and continual pain in legs, mainly behind both knees, in tendons, and some muscle flare ups. Have had two ultrasounds and a CT scan on both legs since I was diagnosed June 6 and they are negative. My D Diemer is .43 and all vitals strong and regular. Echocardiogram shows no strain on heart. We have ruled most everything else out. No trauma to legs, no cuts, bruises or strains. Is this related to the Eliquis? My local hematologist wants me on it for another 5 months, I won’t be able to make that unless this subsides. Anyone else out there having this issue? Recommendations?

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@megan1853

Thanks for the hug! I’m getting a third ultrasound to see what is happening with the DVT and to determine if it’s still present. Then my doctor and I can discuss further use of Eliquis.

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Well dang. #3 ultrasound of BOTH legs found a DVT in both legs. Size of 1/2 pencil.
On Eliquis.
Any suggestions for faster recovery?

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@suitstiffany

I have been on elquis for almost 2yrs due PE. I am very active person. I use to participate in tri races and running events. Since I have been on this medicine I have had continued muscle weakness especially on the right side leg. Currently in Pt for torn mensicus. I have developed muscle spasms in my left foot to where my toes will stretch out as far as they cab before relaxing. Hurts something awful. My I teach swimming and having trouble keeping up with my clients. I keep asking the doc if I can reduce the med or something. I just have chronic muscle weakness in my right leg and my lower back hurts right around the si joint. Im so over it and the pain especially towards the end of day
I miss running. I can still bike and swim but those are getting harder to do. This muscle weakness is no joke when one spends their lifestyle trying to do right with their body.

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Triathlete/marathon runner and agree elquis destroys muscles and causes a run down feeling. Never napped in my life now after long run or bike need a nap, other issue I have with it is feel cold and have chills. Looking at getting off of it and going to low dose aspirin. Many on it are having issues like what people on statins experience. Some on statins have a statin induce form a myositis wonder if elquis does the same thing.

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@timheart1

If I were you I would replace Eliquis with Garligin, a natural supplement made with garlic and ginger, both known blood thinners. I had problems w/ Eliquis too, replaced w/ Garligin years ago, 1/5 of the price too. No side effects. Garligin made by Natural Slim.

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I’m getting the laser test done soon so I’m gonna wait to see if there’s another issue going on before I make any changes right now. But I’ll keep your suggestion in mind…

Thanks

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I started with Eloquis in January after being diagnosed wit AFIB and noticed after a couple months that my joints began to become painful and overall I felt uncomfortable. Worst pain is in the hands, wrists and sometimes radiating up the arms. My neck also is painful when turning side to side. Lastly the ankles as well. At the same time I feel it dulls the mind and makes me less interested in activities even daily living.

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@ruth36

I’m getting the laser test done soon so I’m gonna wait to see if there’s another issue going on before I make any changes right now. But I’ll keep your suggestion in mind…

Thanks

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There is a blood test called anti-HMGCR antibody test you may want to try. It is used on statin patients who have same muscles issues. Getting one run in 2 weeks, Lab Corp has the test. Will be interesting to see if this shows anything with the muscle weakness.

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@edv

I started with Eloquis in January after being diagnosed wit AFIB and noticed after a couple months that my joints began to become painful and overall I felt uncomfortable. Worst pain is in the hands, wrists and sometimes radiating up the arms. My neck also is painful when turning side to side. Lastly the ankles as well. At the same time I feel it dulls the mind and makes me less interested in activities even daily living.

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I agree completely with this

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Yes I have the same issues including lethargy and difficulty maintaining a normal work rhythm. I can’t think clearly and my eyes are often blurry.
It’s a nightmare I’m going to go off them and use natural things like cayenne pepper, fish oil and tumeric which I was taking regularly prior to afib with no issues

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@edv

I started with Eloquis in January after being diagnosed wit AFIB and noticed after a couple months that my joints began to become painful and overall I felt uncomfortable. Worst pain is in the hands, wrists and sometimes radiating up the arms. My neck also is painful when turning side to side. Lastly the ankles as well. At the same time I feel it dulls the mind and makes me less interested in activities even daily living.

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I’ve been on Eliquis for five months now 5 mg in morning and at night. Lately I’ve noticed I wake up tired, And I’ve lost interest in activities. Spring time was always my favorite time of year and I loved being outside planting vegetables and flowers.. This year I just can’t concentrate on doing it.
I’m scheduled for the ultrasound on my legs to see what’s going on with that, also getting fluid just in my right foot..my legs, especially my right leg feels stiff, very hard and painful when I bend to walk or go downstairs.. seems like just the effort of walking around using my cane is tiring, I get exhausted. Just going to get groceries or go to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions makes me exhausted. It seems like I had more energy when I first came home from the hospital after my heart attack then I do now….try to explain that to the doctor, but she doesn’t understand…

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@timely

@tybehr

I’m addressing two of your comments.

One, about getting Afib after Covid vaccine.

I was diagnosed with Afib on. 4/01/23 with electrocardiagragm at Internist.
Saw cardiologist on 4/07/25.
He confirmed it and put me on Eliquis and blood pressure med.
His main focus was to have a sleep study set up and did not want to see me again even until that was done.

Got Moderna Covid vaccine on
4/11/23. Ended up in hospital on 04/16/23 with shortness of breath.
Had cardioversion done on 04/18/23 which did nothing for Afib.
Back in hospital one month later with Afib and 2nd cardioblationnwhich did nothing m.

So, I went from just having found out to have arrhythmia to being hospitalized 2 1/2 weeks later with an arrhythmia attack.
Cardiologist that I saw on 04/07/23 seemed not concerned about my Afib.
So, did the Moderna vaccine make the arrhythmia worse?

What was your timeline?

2) I lately have terrible back of knee pain at night only in both knees, ankle pain and foot pain.
lower hip pain. Hard to stand in one spot as knees give out.
Better in AM.
I was blaming this on taking Letrozole at night.
I started Letrozole on . 3/18/24.
Have had pain on and off with it since then.

Had never known about Eliquis knee pain.
Did not have knee pain like this til Letrozole.
Perhaps combination of Eliquis and Letrozole working together is causing these severe problems now.

What do you plans to do about your Eliquis pain?

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I stopped taking Eliquis for 5 days (this is the longest time I was ever off Eliquis, Cardiologist okayed it, when I was having Dental surgery. no time limit, just get back on as soon as I finish with the surgery). My knee did get better, meanwhile I also visited my primary. Xray and Ultrasound shows that I have a Baker Cyst. Some kind of fluid deposit in the back of my knee. What causes? No answers! So systemically, ordered to see an Orthopedic and Physical therapist. Still wake up with pain in the calf as if I've been running Marathons.
So far, even my C Clinic Doctor agrees that Moderna Corvid Vaccine activated this. I was a perfect picture of health including a heart exam, in March 2021, just before the Covid Vaccine.
4/17/21 got Moderna Vaccine.
5/7/21, end up in ER for the first time in my life.
5/15/21, 2nd Covid Vaccine, didn't make the connection.
6/17/22 2nd Trip to ER, since then, I suffered Afib continuously.
6/28/24 I had an ablation, it stops, but once in a while, I can feel my heart rushes. I was advised that Ablation is not a cure all. Afib could come back.

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@rattris

There is a blood test called anti-HMGCR antibody test you may want to try. It is used on statin patients who have same muscles issues. Getting one run in 2 weeks, Lab Corp has the test. Will be interesting to see if this shows anything with the muscle weakness.

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Wonder if you’ve had the antibody blood test done yet. If so, what were the results?
I got the ultrasound test done on both my legs and it looks like everything came back normal. At first. I thought I had a blood clot.
Haven’t heard back yet from the cardiologist so I don’t know if she’s seen the test results yet or not.
I would love to be able to stop the cholesterol med for two or three weeks to see if I can feel a difference in my legs, seems like they’re getting worse, very hard to walk and bend my legs. But first I wanna get some concrete information that the cholesterol med does have side effects and it’s not my imagination before I ask the cardiologist if I could stop taking it. .. A lot of times I don’t think the doctors realize much about side effects. At least most of them don’t.

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