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How Can swelling And Pain In The Lower Leg Be Treated?
My husband has periodic swelling and pain in his right leg extending from the knee down. A rash is also present in the ankle area. He is a diabetic and controls it with (A1C levels under 7.0) with Metformin. He also has degenerative and bulging discs in his lower back and saw a surgeon to operate on his back, but wouldn t do surgery until something was done with his swollen knee and leg. After making an appointment to see a joint doctor, his swelling and pain in his knee was gone, so he cancelled. Now he s thinking about going through with his back surgery and his knee and leg has flared up again. He is on Gabapentin for diabetic neuropathy. Why would he have neuropathy when his blood sugar levels stay under control? Could this swelling be due to side effects from medicines he takes?
Tue, 2 May 2017
Hello, Thanks for the query.
Diabetic neuropathy develops in most patients with diabetes. Even if the blood glucose control is fairly good, still neuropathy does occur. One of the reasons is long term exposure of high blood glucose in the peripheral blood around the nerve fibers. Hence, symptoms of neuropathy are the commonest in almost all diabetic patients. As regards the pain in the right leg below the knee, it is better to check the blood supply to that part. This can be done by a color Doppler test, because apart from neuropathy there may be an affection to the blood vessels affecting the blood supply. Please get that investigation in consultation with your Physician. Gabapentine does help in controlling pain and irritation, however, does not stop the condition. Strict blood glucose control is definitely very important. Thanks
Diabetic neuropathy develops in most patients with diabetes. Even if the blood glucose control is fairly good, still neuropathy does occur. One of the reasons is long term exposure of high blood glucose in the peripheral blood around the nerve fibers. Hence, symptoms of neuropathy are the commonest in almost all diabetic patients. As regards the pain in the right leg below the knee, it is better to check the blood supply to that part. This can be done by a color Doppler test, because apart from neuropathy there may be an affection to the blood vessels affecting the blood supply. Please get that investigation in consultation with your Physician. Gabapentine does help in controlling pain and irritation, however, does not stop the condition. Strict blood glucose control is definitely very important. Thanks
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