I went to the GP today and told him I think it's pain from the varicose veins. He said no, he thinks it's something in the bones so he ordered an xray. The bones are fine so he says he saw some swelling. He ordered an ACE bandage and anti-inflammatory meds and I got a note for a chair for a week at work.

I have an appt next Monday with the vein doctor. I know it's the veins because the pain is worse in the left foot where the worst looking veins are.

I have a lot of vacation time in April so I can get some rest and maybe get these veins taken care of.

Debbie, I could tell at work if I wanted to, but I don't want it to get around. People are naturally gossips and it could keep me from job promotions in the future.

I am always amazed that doctors would say swelling does not hurt! The foot has ligaments that can compress nerves when swollen!
They seem to enjoy invalidating your pain and symptoms all the time.
At least that is MY experience.

The anti-inflammatory patches called Salonpas work on spots without exposing you to oral drugs which go everywhere.

So do consider that as well. Many doctors are unfamiliar with OTC products:

http://www.salonpas.us/

I've used the original patch (the one with methyl salicylate in them) for years now with success. I've just started with the new arthritis ones for an elbow strain, and discovered they don't stick very well. I put the small original ones stacked in twos just above the ankle, on the front of the calf and they prevent much of the swelling I get sometimes. The original type are very inexpensive, too, which makes them attractive.

Just for the record I find aspirin more useful than NSAIDs for inflammatory things. But it has to be used carefully and may affect bleeding in some patients. I use AlkaSeltzer original formula for this purpose, pain.

Salonpas are great. I cannot believe I survived as long as I did without them!

Yes, they are amazing ...I had a huge swelling on my left Achillies tendon, from being hit from behind with a shopping basket. It was extremely painful and wouldn't go away.

I went to a podiatrist and they said take ibuprofen...pfffffTTTTT..
I had been doing that for weeks. Then I was subbing at a new pharmacy and there was a box of Salonpas samples there!
I took 7 home with me and put one on the egg sized lump where my shoe rubbed...man that was so painful then. I used one each night and by the end of the week, the lump shrank and I was pain free! I have recommended them ever since!

They come from Asia and have only been in US for about 10 yrs now. A box of 40 patches runs about $5 now! Still a deal.
once you open the envelop I'd suggest putting them in a ziploc to keep fresh.

I'm only going to take the pill at night because I take so many meds already. The bandage made it worse so that's out already. I didn't show my note at work today and I won't unless I feel like I need it.

I'll think about the salon pas but since I am on my feet so much I wonder if they'll really help? I'll let you all know what the doctor says next week. Varicose veins are hereditary for me and I don't want them to get as bad as they are for my sister. Her's are all over her legs and she is in a lot of pain but doesn't want to have surgery for them, not even laser surgery. My insurance would cover it so I'm checking into it anyway.

I went to see the vein doctor today and he says that it doesn't look like my varicose veins are bad enough to need any sort of surgery, thank goodness. He prescribed compression stockings so I'll see if that helps. I buy new comfort shoes often hoping to help but it is only temporary. I'll try Salon Pas and see if that helps too. I might need to get a letter from the MS neuro so I can have a chair at work, but that will be a last resort. My feet and legs are so painful with the left foot being the worst. I wonder if it has something to do with MS pain?

Pain in the feet can be due to Peripheral Neuropathy starting up.

You can have other things wrong when you have MS.

The most common causes of PN is impaired glucose utilization (which begins before diabetes type II) or low B12.

My PN started in my feet, when I was around 30 (before my son was born) and was due to hypothyroidism. It also was in my hands and I recall the first signs was having my hands go numb while driving. My job was 100% standing, and we rarely even got a lunch break, so years of 13 hr days, and long weeks, were tough, and I thought that was the cause back then. I've learned alot since then!

There are over 100 causes of PN... it is sneaky and difficult to understand.

Hi and thanks for your continued support to everyone. I have a question about salonpas, Just what are they. I am waiting to have a joint replacement, the ball of the foot big toe joint. would this help me until I can get the time to do this surgery. My foot and ankle doc. doesn't appear to be wanting to do this surgery, even though he recommened it. I am waiting for an Appt. Let me know about Salonpas. thanks ginnie

You can read about Salonpas patches here:
http://www.salonpas.us/

I use the original little ones and have for about a decade now.
they have methyl salicylate in them, and work well.

I've just started with the larger more expensive Arthritis ones,
which come in packs of 5 only and cost about $8 at WalMart.
They are stronger, larger, and have shown in studies to be very effective. They are even approved by the FDA...for inflammation. This is a rare FDA approval for an over the counter remedy.
The new Arthritis ones are brown, larger, and don't stick well if you have any lotions or creams on the skin. So make sure you clean the skin before applying.

If you are not going to do the surgery now, I don't see any reason to not try either or both of these. (unless you have an allergy to methyl salicylate or aspirin).

I will say the adhesive in the Arthritis patch is nicer than the old original ones. I cut them in half for smaller places and keep in a tight Ziploc. The box says to use them up within 14 days, so the active agents must diffuse into the air over time.

Salonpas come in many forms. Some with capsaicin and others with just menthol. I don't use those. Only the ones with methyl salicylate.

This is Salonpas original:
http://www.salonpas.us/product/salonpas-original/
very inexpensive at about $5 for 40 of them.

This is the Arthritis one:
http://www.salonpas.us/product/salon...-relief-patch/
It is stronger, thinner and larger.
My box looks different from this pictured, but the ingredients
are the same. So they may have changed packaging somewhere
along the line.

For the ball of the foot, I'd use the Original first, and put around
the arch under the ball of the foot. I find putting it on the bottom of the foot useless, as the skin is too thick for the medicine to diffuse into
it. I have sesamoid bones that inflame my tendons and that is how I use it...around the joint.