Does anyone have both peripheral neuropathy and venous insufficiency?

Posted by arflmi33 @arflmi33, Jan 22, 2025

As of now I have been diagnosed with both peripheral neuropathy and venous insufficiency, both in lower legs. Does anyone else have both of these? Can these two be related? Does this affect what treatment lotions (e.g. magnesium) can be used for the neuropathy? Is there any causal relationship of one to the other? Sorry for so many questions. This is kind of overwhelming at at the moment.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Profile picture for arflmi33 @arflmi33

BTW, I learned recently that if you have two issues like this, with no known cause, that it can be a good idea to be tested with an autoimmune disease screening panel (blood test). I actually had 4 diagnoses with no known cause, then my primary care doctor ordered an autoimmune panel, and it came back positive. HTH.

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What did your doctor suggest for treatment?

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Profile picture for bajjerfan @bajjerfan

What did your doctor suggest for treatment?

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I have to have many more tests to find that out, and see a rheumatologist, who I could not get in with for 6 weeks.

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Profile picture for bajjerfan @bajjerfan

For me it seems to have stabilized. My PCP who is also a vein specialist is finally getting around to maybe doing something about it. Funny thing I've noticed is that [in spite of or because of compression stockings] my left lower leg fills up with fluid and swells and feels hard to the touch. At night while asleep the fluid drains back out. The issue is more prevalent with the left leg than it is wih the right leg.

I believe that I have both PN and diabetic neuropathy. I had pain in my left side chest and it was sensitive to to touch from clothing. Also I used to itch like mad all over esp. later in the day. Both the itching and chest pain have gone away since I started using PreGabalin. Unfortunately being pre-diabetic caused some nerve damage in my right lower leg resulting in foot drop.
Nothing to do with the lower back pain IMO.

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I hope you can get answers. It’s difficult to be treated with this ailment.

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Hello Everyone,

I placed myself in this category to find a support group for Veinous Insufficency. I also suffer from Small Fiber Neuropathy, Morton Neuroma and some other minor contributories. I was about to start Veinous Ablation on many veins but got nervous, causing my BP to rise and couldnt follow through with it. If anyone is suffering from this medical assortment, please feel free to contact me.

Thx,
RM

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Profile picture for seacrab @seacrab

Hello Everyone,

I placed myself in this category to find a support group for Veinous Insufficency. I also suffer from Small Fiber Neuropathy, Morton Neuroma and some other minor contributories. I was about to start Veinous Ablation on many veins but got nervous, causing my BP to rise and couldnt follow through with it. If anyone is suffering from this medical assortment, please feel free to contact me.

Thx,
RM

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@seacrab
What is causing your vein insufficiency? How would ablation help with blood flow?

Have you been medicated to improve blood flow and are you getting physical therapy and exercise to help improve blood circulation?

Have you had your oxygen and iron levels checked? Have you had extensive bloodwork to determine what may be behind your cardiovascular/vein issues?

REPLY
Profile picture for seacrab @seacrab

Hello Everyone,

I placed myself in this category to find a support group for Veinous Insufficency. I also suffer from Small Fiber Neuropathy, Morton Neuroma and some other minor contributories. I was about to start Veinous Ablation on many veins but got nervous, causing my BP to rise and couldnt follow through with it. If anyone is suffering from this medical assortment, please feel free to contact me.

Thx,
RM

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@seacrab
Are you working with a nutritionist/dietitian to determine what changes in diet, supplements and hydration could help support your vascular system health? Are you drinking a good amount of water each day to help with blood flow? You need to have at least 50% of your weight in ounces of water each day. So if you are 150 pounds, you need a minimum of 75 ounces of water each day. Adding electrolytes may help you retain some of the fluid in your body.

Do they know what the cause of the insufficiency is?

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Profile picture for dlydailyhope @dlydailyhope

@seacrab
What is causing your vein insufficiency? How would ablation help with blood flow?

Have you been medicated to improve blood flow and are you getting physical therapy and exercise to help improve blood circulation?

Have you had your oxygen and iron levels checked? Have you had extensive bloodwork to determine what may be behind your cardiovascular/vein issues?

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@dlydailyhope

Thanks for replying!

I think my issues are genetic, weight flux, vitamin depleation and age. My mother had horrid varicose she says came from pregnancies.

Ive had my blood checked and i had anemia from iron issues. Im recovering from that. Found out from my Endocrinologist that thyroid levels, in my case didnt contribute to small fiber neuropathy. This means the neuropathy is most likely from the veinous insuffiency. I say that bc i had an entire Rheumatology panel done and tested negative for everything. I havet had kids but weight has been up and down since childhood. The ablation will reduce muscle swelling, pain, super heavy leg 'syndrome' and foot issues.

Cardio wise, everything is great except for swinging BP issues and my stress from White Lab Coat Syndrome, depending on the Dr. I was so stressed out, i had to be referred out.

PT and exercise are helping to a point bc of Mortons Neuroma.

I take iron, d3 and ive significantly amended my diet to include high iron. Ill be discharged feom Hemotology soon.

I hope this is helpful. Let me know. I am struggling with this vein thing. I thought it would go smoothly for me.

SeaCrab

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Profile picture for seacrab @seacrab

Hello Everyone,

I placed myself in this category to find a support group for Veinous Insufficency. I also suffer from Small Fiber Neuropathy, Morton Neuroma and some other minor contributories. I was about to start Veinous Ablation on many veins but got nervous, causing my BP to rise and couldnt follow through with it. If anyone is suffering from this medical assortment, please feel free to contact me.

Thx,
RM

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I have both venous insufficiency (diagnosed by ultrasound testing) and peripheral neuropathy (diagnosed by EMG). I see a cardiologist and a neurologist. Neither one thinks these two medical problems are connected and neither one has found a cause for either one after much testing. But, I do think they may be connected. I have read that venous insufficiency may cause or exacerbate PN. True or not, there seems to be a current debate. I have always eaten healthy, kept a healthy weight, and exercised often and well. So, they have no idea why either of these have happened. But... I have noticed that when I wear compression sleeves on my lower legs every day, my PN symptoms improve a LOT. I stick with that for now. And I walk as much as possible as that seems to help everything. I hope you can find some helpful options to ease your situation.

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Profile picture for dlydailyhope @dlydailyhope

@seacrab
Are you working with a nutritionist/dietitian to determine what changes in diet, supplements and hydration could help support your vascular system health? Are you drinking a good amount of water each day to help with blood flow? You need to have at least 50% of your weight in ounces of water each day. So if you are 150 pounds, you need a minimum of 75 ounces of water each day. Adding electrolytes may help you retain some of the fluid in your body.

Do they know what the cause of the insufficiency is?

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@dlydailyhope

I'm not working with a nutritionist. I'm using fitbit w/ a deficit. Im taking all the supplements that i need to and I drink as much water as i can handle. I supplement my small fiber neuropathy with "EB-N6". So far, its not doing as much as I thought it would and im definately in more pain than when i started. Also, the neuropathy was the only issue as no other nerve diseases were found. As I type this i can feel my feet stinging, buzzing and heat.

They didnt explain a cause for the veinous insufficiency. As for the list of internet causes, they are all common. The condition itself is common. I havent researched the genetic aspect but i will and will post it.

SeaCrab

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Profile picture for arflmi33 @arflmi33

I have both venous insufficiency (diagnosed by ultrasound testing) and peripheral neuropathy (diagnosed by EMG). I see a cardiologist and a neurologist. Neither one thinks these two medical problems are connected and neither one has found a cause for either one after much testing. But, I do think they may be connected. I have read that venous insufficiency may cause or exacerbate PN. True or not, there seems to be a current debate. I have always eaten healthy, kept a healthy weight, and exercised often and well. So, they have no idea why either of these have happened. But... I have noticed that when I wear compression sleeves on my lower legs every day, my PN symptoms improve a LOT. I stick with that for now. And I walk as much as possible as that seems to help everything. I hope you can find some helpful options to ease your situation.

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@arflmi33
Hello,

Very interesting. I recall feeling the the neuropathy before the leg vein symptoms: swelling, heavyness tight calves and feet. No Drs of mine have suggested the two were related but i think that if widening veins put pressure on the muscle fibers that carry the nerves, the nerves would be pinched? I think Ive done all the testing i can do at the moment.

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