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AVM or Varicose Vein?
I already had an AVM diagnosed and removed from my left temporal lobe via a craniotomy a little over 5 years ago. Perhaps 12-15 years ago, I started noticing a small dark spot resembling a bruise on the arch of my left foot. Around the time that my AVM was diagnosed, I started wondering if maybe this spot on my foot was something similar. I could tell it was vacular because sometimes it was there, other times not, and if I pressed on it, it would disappear then reappear in a few seconds. That being said, I never gave it too much thought. At a regular follow-up with my GP a couple of months ago, I took off my shoe and asked him to take a look at the spot on my foot and asked him if he thought it may be an AVM. I had asked because my foot had recently started developing pains in the area surrounding the bruise. He pressed on it, felt around a bit, compared it to my other foot and came to the conclusion that it is a mild case of varicose veins and that unless they got far worse, he wouldn't bother doing anything to treat them unless they got far worse. Well, in the last few weeks, the swelling has not gotten any worse from a visual standpoint, but the pain has gotten worse and more frequent.
It used to be that I would get some dull aches in the arch of my foot about once or twice a week, but I am now having dull pain in my foot daily, and along with it, I am now getting sharp pains in the area surrounding the "bruise." I am fairly confident that the doctor's diagnosis of "varicose veins" is correct, but I would also like to be able to eliminate the possibility of this being an AVM because it it IS an AVM, then I think I may have something to worry about because having one in my brain and one all the way down in my foot makes me wonder where else these may be hiding in my body.
From what I understand, varicose veins can cause significant pain, and in many cases, are treated with injections of a strong saline solution. But the questions that I have for my fellow AVMers is this... Has anyone had their AVM initially diagnosed as varicose veins, only to later have it found to be an AVM? Being a "brainer," I am asking this question primarily of those of you who have AVMs in the limbs/extremedies. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Replies to This Discussion
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Shalon on -
Hey Jake. I would agree with your cause for concern. Any prior AVM and then "new" symptoms elsewhere could be signs of HHT, Rasa1 stuff, or whatever, and obviously indicate multiple ones. Is it totally rare? Yes. Does that makes us all look a little hypochondriace...sure. But I'd say we are entitled.
The one thing I think is opposite of an extremity AVM is how it disappears with pressure. I'm pretty sure that it should "increase" when pushed on (although not completely sure I'm not making that up. But I do seem to recall reading that somewhere. Gonna have to go research it now!) However, who knows for sure regardless?
I'd recommend chating with Melinda as she seems to be a smarty pants and very knowledgable about lower extremity ones. It may be a good start if you don't get some replies from some of the other extremity kids.
Good luck! And hopefully it's just us all being paranoid. But better safe than sorry.
Shalon
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Phillips on -
Was curious if you got a resolution to whether or not an extremity AVM has been misdiagnosed as varicose veins.
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Permalink Reply by Jake M on -
Hi Cindy,
Nothing yet. I do have another appointment with my GP next month and I plan on running it by him again and do what I can to get a referral.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Phillips on
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Thank you for the update. Please post when you find out. Hope you are doing well!
Jake M said:Hi Cindy,
Nothing yet. I do have another appointment with my GP next month and I plan on running it by him again and do what I can to get a referral.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Phillips on
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How did it go for you? Any answers to your questions?
Cindy Phillips said:Thank you for the update. Please post when you find out. Hope you are doing well!
Jake M said:Hi Cindy,
Nothing yet. I do have another appointment with my GP next month and I plan on running it by him again and do what I can to get a referral.
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Permalink Reply by Jake M on
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Hi Cindy and all,
Not much to report. i did have a follow-up with the doc and I did discuss my concerns. The only problem is that my usual doctor is no longer with the medical group, which was a surprise to me. On the plus side, his replacement seemed to takemy concerns a bit more seriously than my previous doctor. He said that there is a good chance that it is just varicose veins, but given my AVM history, he did not want to completely rule it out until we have had a chance to run some tests. When will the tests be? I have no idea at this point, but I would imagine it will take place some time in the next few months.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Phillips on
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Hi, Jake. Hopefully, it will just be varicose veins (= lesser of the two evils ;) ) but I do understand your concern and definitely believe you are doing the right thing in not just accepting their thoughts on it at face value! Months away = they don't seem to get in any hurry when we need them to... grrrrr. Keep pushing until you get test to verify things for you. Good luck!
Jake M said:Hi Cindy and all,
Not much to report. i did have a follow-up with the doc and I did discuss my concerns. The only problem is that my usual doctor is no longer with the medical group, which was a surprise to me. On the plus side, his replacement seemed to takemy concerns a bit more seriously than my previous doctor. He said that there is a good chance that it is just varicose veins, but given my AVM history, he did not want to completely rule it out until we have had a chance to run some tests. When will the tests be? I have no idea at this point, but I would imagine it will take place some time in the next few months.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Phillips on
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Any answer for you on this?
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Permalink Reply by Jake M on
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Not yet. I am in the process of switching doctors, so that slows things down a bit. My GP left the group so I had to start over with his replacement, who happens to be lousy. With the exception of the bruised look and a bit of swelling, the symptoms disappeared for a while. but they have just recetly returned and almost appear to have gotten worse, so I am definately going to have to find a decent doctor that doesn't frown on referrals.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Phillips on
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Good luck on this! Hopefully you'll get some (correct) answers soon.
Jake M said:Not yet. I am in the process of switching doctors, so that slows things down a bit. My GP left the group so I had to start over with his replacement, who happens to be lousy. With the exception of the bruised look and a bit of swelling, the symptoms disappeared for a while. but they have just recetly returned and almost appear to have gotten worse, so I am definately going to have to find a decent doctor that doesn't frown on referrals.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Phillips on
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Hi, Jake. Just wanted to drop in & see if you had ever received an answer on this yet or not. Hope all is well with you.
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Permalink Reply by Jake M on
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Hi, Cindy. I kinda dropped the ball on this post, didn't I? Well, it's probably because the doctors have left me hanging on this one. My primary care doc was the guy that initially made the determination that it was some varicosity and nothing to be concerned about. He did go ahead and refer me to a vascular surgeon to get a specialist opinion, who ultimately ended up saying that it certainly was not a varicose vein, but he also had no idea exactly what it was, but wasn't convinced that it was even vascular. I still find this amazing, seeing as how the bruise-like look on the bottom of my foot changes in size and shape, is more obvious if I am standing than if I am lying down, and if I press on it, the darkness disappears for a moment, then starts to come back. If it is not a vessel of some type, then what the heck is it?
After a bit of a break, my family is finally getting back to searching for a different family doctor, so hopefully wish a little luck I will be able to get a couple of new opinions on this one!
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