My right foot is going cold at night while sleeping. Why?

Hello doctor,

I am a 50-year-old female. I have a history of back spasms, disk degeneration of the lower back and cervical issues. I probably had Raynaud (cold hands/feet) all through life. I had an issue on the lower right side with sciatica-type pain traveling through the lower back down the back of the leg to the right foot.

It progressed during the last few weeks after kayaking and sleeping on the floor with just a cheap foam mattress. My right foot went cold to touch at night when sleeping. Last night, I had the same with the leg. It was fine once I started moving. But still numb and goes down the back of the leg, but the foot is warm. No pain on walking. The right ACL had a complete tear on the right knee for five years. The doctor wants to leave it alone.

All blood work was normal two months ago (thyroid, etc.). Normal abdominal ultrasound that I felt yearly for family kidney cancer. My doctor took BP and did an ankle brachial index test. All are normal. My doctor wants me to take my BP and ankle BP on both sides during the night episodes.

All normal on both sides. Almost equal. We have heavy COVID-19 in our area right now. I debated going to the hospital but was hesitant. Unless it is an emergency, a lot of places are closing elective procedures. Do I need to get a Doppler ultrasound for blood clots? Or can muscle spasms, which I get used to, cause these issues? I am currently on Propanolol for ADHD.

Please help.

Hi doctor,

I do not do much since COVID-19. I used to go to the gym every day. I now just hang around the house and lie around. Finally, after we opened up, I started kayaking three weeks ago almost nightly. I could feel my lower back tightening and pain in my right glute at night. In the kayak I could tell when seating my back would hurt, especially my hips. Eventually, my legs and feet would go numb in the kayak.

Once I got them off the legs and moved them, I was fine. Today I did go to the ER. They were busy dealing with COVID patients and were very concerned with my safety of exposure. The ER quickly checked my foot pulses with his hand and examined both legs and feet. I listened to what I shared with you and said that it did not sound like a blood clot. He felt better that I had been taking the blood pressure of the ankles during the episodes and that it was normal.

I had a great pulse rate. He did not feel an ultrasound was necessary. I was in no immediate danger. I could still go hiking this weekend. He worried about my exposure to the virus in the hospital. But he did call in a second ER to take a look; both agreed with the same thoughts. Both were very experienced ER doctors. So I felt better. They had no answer why. Except probably my Raynaud's with the sciatica progression and me ignoring the spasms just set off a chain reaction.

Any thoughts?

Hi doctor,

I have zero medications for it. I have a high pain tolerance. I do have Lyme disease. Five years ago, I still had achy joints. I take high doses of vitamin C about five times a year to manage the Lyme. I was on antibiotics for six months. I had two other tick infections that showed up as active in the lab work. I was concerned about the foot/leg because I did not think a physical, cold-to-the-touch foot or leg could occur.

But as I ignored the symptoms of muscle spasms and radiating cramping from the butt that spread down my leg, I realized that I let it go too far. What causes the foot or leg to go cold when only sleeping? Leaves when I move around. That was scary. I am taking it easy. Just going to walk. No kayaking until things calm down in my body. I am seeing a chiropractor. The rest of the doctors are not really wanting to see patients.

Please help.