The doctor has no idea what it could be...it is getting so bad that (and gets worse in the evenings) that she can barely walk. Anyone else know anything about this?
It could be a mixture of poor circulation and low metabolism. Many older people sit a lot, so don't generate a lot of metabolic heat. The circulatory system also gets harder when someone is old. Blood doesn't flow as readily. Hands and legs are the places most affected. The body tries to reserve the core area better. There is really only one solution beyond moving about more, and that is to wear warm socks and clothes on her legs. Maybe an electric throw over her legs would help.
She has only seen her general practitioner. He has now diagnosed (he came yesterday) neuropathy in her feet and given her a prescription. Waiting to see if there is any improvement.
Sorry to hear how your mom is feeling. Given her age, I wonder if she might have one of these conditions, I found from Google:
What causes your legs to be cold?
Other diseases that can cause cold feet symptoms include diabetes, arteriosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, and neuropathy of any cause. ... Raynaud's phenomenon features narrowing of tiny blood vessels as a reaction to nerve sensitivity to cold exposure, which causes cold feet symptoms.Dec 5, 2016
Cold Feet and Toes: Check Your Symptoms and Signs - MedicineNet www.medicinenet.com/cold_feet/symptoms.htm
Thank you so much for your answers. I google her symptoms often and asked the doctor about the things above. Neuropathy or peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's...It is strange because it is just her lower legs and feet. Things that help; the electric blanket that we put on her bed under her lower legs, one of those mini cycles that she can use when sitting on the sofa....Her legs and feet are not cold to the touch. She is sure that the anti-anxiety medicine they have given her (to help her sleep) helps but I can't imagine why and it is clouding her thinking which she has noticed and commented on.
You might want to check out hunting or hiking socks which are heavier and sometimes doubleknit. Just make sure they don't have fabric or yarn which could be scratchy and irritate her legs.
Another option is ballet dancer's leg warmers. I wear them when I shovel snow in bitterly cold or windy weather.
BTW, what kind of doctor has she been seeing for this issue? A neurologist? Vascular surgeon? Geriatrician? If she's seeing a PCP, you might want to consider seeing a specialist. Some PCPs are thorough; others are not - we've seen two who weren't worth the time we spent to see them.
What causes your legs to be cold?
Other diseases that can cause cold feet symptoms include diabetes, arteriosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, and neuropathy of any cause. ... Raynaud's phenomenon features narrowing of tiny blood vessels as a reaction to nerve sensitivity to cold exposure, which causes cold feet symptoms.Dec 5, 2016
Cold Feet and Toes: Check Your Symptoms and Signs - MedicineNet
www.medicinenet.com/cold_feet/symptoms.htm
Another option is ballet dancer's leg warmers. I wear them when I shovel snow in bitterly cold or windy weather.
BTW, what kind of doctor has she been seeing for this issue? A neurologist? Vascular surgeon? Geriatrician? If she's seeing a PCP, you might want to consider seeing a specialist. Some PCPs are thorough; others are not - we've seen two who weren't worth the time we spent to see them.