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What Causes Cold And Stiff Leg While Sleeping?
Question: Last night my mother's right foot went ice cold and stiff while sleeping. She was aware that it felt cold, and it was cold to the touch and painful, but not tingly as when a hand goes to sleep, so to say. The foot felt heavy as if a rod was in it. She was lying on her right side at the time. She arose and by bracing herself (there was no feeling of support from that foot), made several trips around the bed until she felt the foot warm some and could begin to flex it. She has constant pain in her right calf which mimics symptoms she had in her left calf for which she had an endarterectomy four years ago. However, she never had problems with the foot going ice cold with that leg. What could the problem be with her foot?
Brief Answer:
Chronic lower limb ischemia
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
The problem is most likely caused by Chronic lower limb ischemia due to atherosclerosis. As she is over 90, her arteries are narrowed due to cholesterol accumulation in the arteries walls. This causes lack of blood circulation in some arteries, some gets closed.
The typical symptoms of such ischemia are pale, cold limb with pain and numbness. The pain usually appears after walking (depending of the distance we can set a level of ischemia).
Her symptoms can be also caused by arteries obstruction due to embolism. The difference is that the symptoms appear suddenly, the foot gets pale, pulse less, painful, paresthesia appears. If not treated the limb gets dark or black, pain goes away.
As your mothers foot has not gotten black and become warm, obstruction is less probable.
I suggest her to have arteries ultrasound of this leg and consult vascular surgeon.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr. Stanko. We'll proceed with a vascular surgeon as recommended. Until we have a plan, what is the risk to her foot, leg, body should mother continue to experience periodic loss of circulation to the foot? As you described, she has pain in the right calf and disruption in her ability to walk after a short distance, about three or four city blocks.
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
It is really hard to tell what is the risk. Please note that the process of arterosclerosis starts in the early twenties. Every single day a peace of cholesterol is stored in arteries wall. Depending of the diet, lifestyle this process is more or less advanced. In what condition are your mothers arteries it is hard to tell without an ultrasound.
So please consult vascular surgeon and discuss this after the test.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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