Pain in right hip, leg and ankle and swelling in ankle

by Rosetta
(West Frankfort, Il. US.)

Eighteen months ago, I had a heart cath. While putting a stent in an artery, my artery was punctured. I remained in the ICU overnight for observation. The next morning, the doctor came in with a male RN and put a cardio belt on me to make sure I didn't start hemmoraging. The RN tightened the belt around my hips and the doctor told him to tighten it more. At the same time the belt was being put on me, a nurse was putting something in my IV which made me not feel anything or care about anything.

When the IV medication wore off, my right leg was hurting me so badly I couldn't stand it and I called for the nurse to remove the belt. He stated that the doctor's orders were to leave it on for X amount of time. I said, "I can't help what the doctor said, I want this belt off of me". When the belt was removed, I could feel the blood rush down my leg. Since that time, I've had hip, leg and ankle pain and swelling of my right ankle. An MRI shows that I have 2 bulging discs and I feel certain all of this pain was caused by the cardio belt putting pressure on my spine.

When I went back to talk with the doctor, he didn't think my pain was caused by any of the above information. I do.

I would like to hear your thoughts on what I've told you.

RESPONSE

Hi Rosetta,

Sitting at the other end of the internet it is difficult for me to give an objective analysis as to whether or not the events associated with your cardiac catheterization and the problems afterwards are related.
BUT, as a casual observer I would say this to you. If you had none of these symptoms prior to having the cardiac belt applied to your waist/hips and after removal of the belt you now have these problems, I would certainly think there must be some "cause and effect".
Obviously, I do not perform cardiac catheterization but the purpose of the belt would be to control excessive blood flow and could theoretically cause damage to the arteries going down to your feet as well as the veins that bring the blood back up, as well as possible damage to the nerves. This might occur from over compression of the belt or depending on your anatomy even normal compression might damage some of these vessels if you happen to be "thin and boney" as an example.
If you have been having these problems now for 18 months, it is pretty safe to say they are not going away on their own.
The best advice I could give you would be to get a second opinion in your area by a doctor not associated with the first doctor. I do not know how bad the swelling is in your ankle, but it does signify a reduction in blood flow back up to the heart and if that can be remedied it would certainly be in your best interest.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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