Leg pain after ischemic stroke interrupts my sleep: Suggestions?

Hello @captainmidnight and welcome to Mayo Connect.

I'm sorry to hear of the right-sided leg pain that you are experiencing as a result of the ischemic stroke in February. You mentioned that your doctor prescribed a med but that it is not helping.

I'm wondering if you have been involved in any physical therapy PT). Has your doctor given you a prescription for PT yet? If not, I would encourage you to ask for one. There are wonderful PT professionals who can help with all sorts of pain related to neurological diseases or disorders such as strokes.

At Connect there is a discussion relating to ischemic stroke, I would like to invite some of the members, @gr82balive and @soloact, to join you this discussion. Here is the link to the Ischemic Stroke discussion group, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ischemic-stroke-28bd86/. You might find that reading these posts will help you better understand your condition.

If you care to share more about your stroke experience, what were the initial symptoms of your stroke? Is the right-sided leg pain your only post-stroke symptom?

Thank you Teresa. I had the stroke on 2/6/2019 during the course of an aortic valve replacement. I was fully functional before, but after surgery I was paralyzed on my right side, and I could not speak. I have had all of the rehab that the insurance company will pay for. I am now able to speak after a fashion, and I have limited use of my right hand and arm. But now I have right foot and leg pain and cramps that awaken me every couple of hours and I can't get back to sleep. My neurologist prescribed Neurontin, but it's not helping

Hi, @captainmidnight - you've been through a lot since the time of the aortic valve replacement.

That would be very hard to sleep with the foot and leg pain and cramps you described. Are you continuing to experience these? If so, have you connected with your doctor about a change in prescription or other treatment?

Hi Lisa, Yes, my symptoms remain unchanged. My neurologist has increased Neurontin (Gabapentin). No change in my symptoms. No suggestions by my doctors as to other treatment.

Hi, @captainmidnight - since your symptoms of leg pain are remaining unchanged with the increased gabapentin and you don't have other suggestions from your doctor at this time on treatment, I thought you might like to meet some others who have talked about ischemic stroke on Connect. Hoping they will provide some support and have some ideas for dealing with the leg pain. Please meet @jmjlove @lgalcott @lunnjoy.

I'd also like to introduce you to @jakedduck1 @mlmcg and @leslon, who may also have some thoughts on the pain you are having post-stroke.

maybe compression socks doing day because you may not be walking and on feet as much now. Helped my numb achy tried legs for a while after I had vein ultrasound. it showed i have some veins making new routes(my words can't remember the dr.) Now the socks and not helping the best so Dr can now prove to insurance to have vein surgery it is not for looking pretty. I am waiting on it now. Hugs.

Are stroke patients always fatigued

Hello @marie1958 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Can you share a bit more about your experience with stroke? Have you or a loved one experienced a stroke?

For those experiencing leg cramps and pain. I, too, had them. I saw a movement disorder doctor as I was having whole body internal vibrations. Initially, the cramps, etc were attributed to that issue. No diagnosis or help. So, then the thought was that there was nerve damage due to my CVST and DAvF. The cramps and spasms eventually were in both legs. At night I needed a walker by my bed so I could use it for stability when trying to walk out the cramps, etc. The cramping and pain got worse. Ten days ago, I decided to stopped taking my Statin drug for high cholesterol. I had read that it can cause leg cramps. Since then no more leg cramps and spasms. None of my docs suggested going off the Statin drug. It was the third Statin drug I had been on over the years. All of them caused problems for me. I will no longer take any Statin drugs. If you are taking any meds, check for their possible contribution to the leg cramps and pain. My best to all. I understand that pain.