The blue discoloration can also be seen as a symptom of injury, extreme cold weather exposure, or various health conditions. Blue toe syndrome is attributed to irregular circulation, reduced arterial flow, and a diminished venous outflow. When there is a lack of oxygen and required nutrients due to the blockage of blood flow, toes turn blue or purple. Whether it is caused by trauma or an existing health condition.
If your patient have a sudden burst of pain in his/her foot, check his/her toes for a blue hue of the toenails or skin. This could be an indication of blue toe syndrome, a serious health condition that could see the loss of a toe or foot (gangrene).
Causes of Blue Toe Syndrome
Blue toe syndrome causes are linked to the obstruction of blood vessels running through the foot. This barrier can derive from one of the three major states of decreased blood flow to the foot tissues, a reduction in the flow of blood from foot tissues, or from the existence of irregularities found in the circulation of the blood.
Any one of these issues can cause the foot and its digits to lack essential oxygen and nutrients. This can lead to the death of the tissues, resulting in a blue discoloration.
1. Embolus
The veins or arteries of the foot can become blocked due to an irregularity in the blood, known as an embolus.
This is usually caused by the buildup of plaque in the arterial lining, also known as atheromatous plaque. What begins as fat deposits on the blood vessel wall, can loosen and become emboli as it travels through the bloodstream. A large plaque arrangement can block the vessel, resulting in blue toe syndrome.
2. Aneurysms
A bulging pouch filled with blood that develops on the wall of a blood vessel is called an aneurysm. It can occur at any place in the body where a vessel has a weak spot. As it increases in size, it not only increases the chance of a rupture of the small sac, but it can also block the flow of blood. This can result in a shortage of oxygen to the toes and result in blue toes or blue toenails.
3. Cardiovascular Manipulations
The manipulation of the blood vessels can cause existing emboli to block the flow of blood within the vessel.
Blue toe syndrome can also be stimulated by drugs such as anticoagulants and thrombolytic medications. It is also seen with infections, pheochromocytoma (a noncancerous tumor of the adrenal glands), secondary syphilis, pancreatitis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (the formation of tiny blood clots throughout the bloodstream).
Blue Toe Syndrome Symptoms
While the conditions that cause blue toe syndrome are commonly seen in the elderly, this condition can be seen anytime after the age of 40 with the following symptoms:
- Sudden appearance of cyanotic (blue) toes.
- Swelling of foot and affected toes.
- Pulse in the foot despite circulation problems.
- Severe pain across the foot.
- Skin discoloration with a lace pattern that can appear anywhere.
Diagnosis of Blue Toe Syndrome
Because the toes turn blue, the syndrome may seem to be an obvious and easy diagnosis. However, other health conditions also have blue toes as a symptom, so more testing is required. A blockage in the blood vessels is determined with a loss of pulse in the affected area.
To start the diagnosis, the underlying cause or location of the blockage must be determined. To see if there is an aneurysm or plaque buildup, imaging tests such as a CT Scanning (computerized tomography) or an US (ultrasound scan) may be performed.
In some cases, vascular testing with a peripheral angiogram test may be done but can cause further complications. A medical history and a composition of the existing symptoms are also key in the diagnosis.
Allopathic Treatment for Blue Toe Syndrome
The treatment of this purple toe syndrome will depend on the diagnosis findings.
In allopathic medicine, there are three main options used for this condition.
1. Stenting
As the most commonly used form of treatment, stenting involves the surgical placement of a mesh tube within the blood vessel. This is intended to resolve the blood flow constriction by keeping the vessel open. It will also prevent future blockage, but clots from that place could be moved further to other part/organs.
2. Bypass Surgery
A bypass will allow a smooth blood flow by surgically creating a new passageway within the artery. This is done by placing a healthy blood vessel from one part of the body and attaching it on either side of the blockage in order to force the blood to flow around the obstacle, but remember that the cause of the disease is still present and need proper treatment.
3. Allopathic Medications
This can include the use of anticoagulants or an antiplatelet aggregation medication. This form of therapy has a risk of recurrence of the condition.
With no treatment, a patient with purple toes syndrome may have gangrene set in and possibly lose a toe or foot. The tissues die with gangrene and require surgery to remove the tissue, known as debridement. Amputation may follow.
Homeopathic Treatment for Blue Toe Syndrome
The following are the most prescribed homeopathic medicines for Blue Toe Syndrome:
1. Crataegus Oxy
Crataegus oxy is effective for Blue toe syndrome and arteriosclerosis symptoms, like shortness of breath, exhaustion, weakness, and angina pectoris. Cardiac dropsy. Fatty degeneration. Aortic disease. Extreme dyspnoea on least exertion, without much increase of pulse.
Pain in effected parts/organ, muscles seem flabby, worn out, muscles dilated, Pulse accelerated, irregular, feeble, intermittent, angina pectoris.
Cutaneous chilliness, blueness of fingers and toes; all aggravated by exertion or excitement.
2. Aurum iodatum
Chronic pericarditis, valvular diseases, arteriosclerosis ozaena, lupus, osteitis, ovarian cysts, myomata uteri, are pathological lesions.
Senile paresis, heart inflammation. The person may feel cheerful, but also anxious and hurried. Symptoms worsen with warmth and exertion.
3. Aurum Metalicum
Aurum Metalicum is used for arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and an enlarged and weakened heart, along with nightly pains. The patient is also depressed and suicidal, and yet fears death. Common emotional feelings include loss, failure, grief, and self-blame.
Sensation as if there is something creeping inside the affected organ, immediately followed by a tumultuous rebound, with sinking at the epigastrium. Palpitation. Pulse rapid, feeble, irregular. Hypertrophy.
High Blood Pressure-Valvular lesions of arterio-sclerotic nature.
4. Baryta muriatica
Think about using baryta muriatica for blue toy syndrome and arteriosclerosis when there is an irregular and rapid pulse, exhaustion, shortness of breath, dizziness, and mental weakness.
The patient easily angers, symptoms worsen while sleeping and during springtime, Arterio-sclerosis and cerebral affections, Hypertension and vascular degeneration, Icy coldness of effected organ, with paralysis. Multiple sclerosis of brain and cord. Voluntary muscular power gone but perfectly sensible.
5. Natrum iodatum
Natrum iodatum is typically used for chest pain, heart inflammation, arteriosclerosis and Blue toy syndrome when there is also shortness of breath, dizziness, chronic bronchitis, chronic hay fever, and rheumatism.
6. Plumbum
Plumbum is useful for Delirium, coma and convulsions, hypertension, Blue toy syndrome and arteriosclerosis, pressure in the effected organ produces shooting pains, multiple sclerosis, Cardiac weakness, pulse soft and small, dichroite.
Wiry pulse, camp-like constriction of peripheral arteries, trembling, palpitations, abdominal cramps, constipation, paranoia, dementia, and chronic kidney disease.
Symptoms worsen at night and while someone is present.
7. Strontium Carbonicum
Strontium carbonicum is useful when Blue toy syndrome and/or arteriosclerosis, along with headaches, nausea, weakness, and vertigo. The patient will also feel flushed, and their heart feels smothered. Heat improves symptoms, while things worsen from walking, especially at night.
8. Vanadium
Vanadium is used for Blue toy syndrome or arteriosclerosis when there is a pressure in the affected organ, and that organ feels grasped and compressed, as if it is too full of blood. Its action is that of an oxygen carrier and a catalyzer.
Fatty degeneration of the liver, heart, and arteries, arteriosclerosis is often the result from arthritis, diabetes, or tuberculosis, porre (faeity and bakery) diet.
9. Digitalis
Digitalis symptoms are: slow pulse but primarily strong; great weakness of the cardiac and other organ’s tissue.
Extra exertion increases its rapidity, but diminishes its force, so that the quick pulse becomes irregular and intermittent (marked symptom). The affected organ feels as if the blood stood still.
Weakness and numbness of the affected organ, and often cyanosis. The patient fears that the heart will stop beating if he should make any motion.
The Digitalis patient has sick feeling at the stomach after eating, disturbed sleep, apprehensiveness, deep sighing, slow respiration, dry cough, suffocative spells; in fact, dropsical conditions dependent on heart trouble, swelling of feet and ankles, anasarca, cardiac dropsy associated with slow pulse, urine suppressed or scanty.
The speciality of Digitalis is inflammation of the muscles especially heart muscle approaching insidiously and in sudden cases of myo-or endocarditis with the symptoms above outlined.
The first noticeable benefit is a steadier heart’s action and an increased flow of urine.
10. Cactus grandiflorus
Its well known characteristic symptom, “Sensation as if the affected organ(s) were grasped with an iron hand,” which clutches and relaxes alternately, is ever present to the mind.
It should be borne in mind that not all patients express themselves alike. A squeezed sensation may mean the same symptom. It has, however, other symptoms.
Cordites and pericarditis, Cyanosis and Gangrene may call for Cactus. It presents a better picture of rheumatic carditis than any other remedy. It seems to lie midway between Aconite and Digitalis.
It controls the inflammatory condition and strengthens the arterial muscle and heart’s contractions, and does not poison the affected organ and heart like Digitalis or Strophanthus.
There is great irritation of the nerves especially cardiac nerve and Cactus may be found to be the remedy for angina pectoris, hypertrophy of the heart especially in young people, intense palpitation and fluttering sensations about the heart.
Difficult breathing , suffocative , fainting, violent palpitation and inability to lie down are symptoms indicating the cardiac asthma or dyspnoea.
11. Kalmia latifolia
Kalmia is a remedy for toe and cardiac hypertrophy, especially after rheumatism, and has the symptom so common in heart affections, namely , “numbness of the left arm.” There is with Kalmia much pain and anguish about the affected organ about the heart, some dyspnoea, palpitation, and pressure from the epigastrium towards the heart.
The heart is irregular and intermits every third or fourth beat. There are shooting pains through the affected toe.
Kalmia is an excellent remedy for cardiac troubles when they have been caused by the suppression of rheumatism by external applications.
The pulse of Kalmia is slow, but not as slow as Digitalis. Their symptomatic value consists in pointing to a class of drugs rather than to an individual drug.
The minutiae of the pains should be studied. Acute pericarditis depending upon rheumatism will call for Kalmia; the sharp pains taking away the breath will call attention to it.
Hering says Kalmia has a most beneficial action in diminishing too rapid pulsation of the heart.
12.Spigelia
Spigelia is the remedy for the painful affections of the toe, arm and the heart. It stands at the head of the list for acute cordites and pericarditis.
There are sharp shooting pains, radiating pains, over the whole arm or leg, and to the spine.
There is palpitation worse from any movement of the arm or body, purring sensation felt over the region when placing the hand thereon. The pulse is intermittent, not synchronous with the heart beat, and the slightest motion of the arm or hands makes the patient worse.
All symptoms accompanying neuralgia call for Spigelia. Irregular and tumultuous action of the heart are well met by Spigelia. At times the heart beat is even audible.
Rheumatic endocarditis and Blue toy syndrome will often find its curative remedy in Spigelia, and it has a most beneficial action in angina pectoris. In cardiac inflammation it comes in after Aconite.
It corresponds well to chronic affections of the heart, particularly valvular disease and hypertrophy.
13. Cimicifuga
This is a homeopathic medicines for Blue toy syndrome and heart disease often indicated in heart troubles,especially when they supervene upon chorea or rheumatism of the bellies of the muscles.
The headache confined to the forehead or as if the top of the head would fly off is present and an indicating feature.
Pain down the arm or leg. The pains is apt to come in shocks. Insomnia is persistent.
14. Aconitum Napellus
Among the homeopathic medicines for ischemia, arteriosclerosis and heart disease having a marked influence of the heart is Aconite. It has numbness of the arm and/or toe, tingling in the fingers, associated with heart disease.
Aconite produces a cardiac congestion, with anxiety, oppression and palpitation, worse when walking ; lancinating stitches occur, and also attacks of intense pain.
It is the remedy in uncomplicated hypertrophy of the affected organ; In pericarditis and endocarditis when the inflammation sets in with fever with the intense mental anxiety so characteristic of the drug.
15. Rhus toxicodendron
Rheumatic hypertrophy calls for Rhus. It is a palpitation of the affected organ and heart from over-exertion, with numbness and lameness of the arm or toe and shoulder.
Pericarditis or endocarditis from exposure to rain, getting wet, etc. These symptoms are worse on every change of the weather.
Uncomplicated hypertrophy of the heart such as comes in athletes, machinists, etc., calls for Rhus; and among other remedies for this condition may be mentioned Arnica and Bromine.
Pericarditis due to septic condition, and in heart troubles, as in all others, it follows Bryonia well.
16. Bryonia Alba
In affections of heart membranes – Bryonia is one of the most prominent remedies. It corresponds to the first or second stage of arteriosclerosis, Blue toe syndrome and pericarditis when of rheumatic organ and especially if pleuritic symptoms be present.
There are intense fever, frontal or occipital headache, and acute stitching pains which are aggravated by movement, and the friction murmur is always present.
It does not usually corresponds to pericarditis from Bright’s disease or pyaemia. Asclepias tuberosa is similar to Bryonia, but the symptoms are not so acute, the fever is not intense, the pain is pricking and extends to the left shoulder; there is a dry spasmodic cough and the pain is relieved by bending forward.
A valuable group of symptoms calling for Bryonia is the following : Cramp in affected organ and in region of the heart, aggravated by walking, raising one’s self or using the slightest exertion, even raising the arm. Heart beats valiantly and rapidly.
17. Convallaria
It is useful in valvular diseases of Blue toe syndrome and the heart with scanty urine, dropsy and great dyspnoea. It has so relieved the oedema in a number of cases that the patient could lie down. Dyspnoea, palpitation and oedema due to mitral disease have been relieved by it, feeble heart sound, anaemic murmurs over the jugular vein, pain in affected organ and in the region of heart and an uneasy fluttering; a sensation when exercising as if the heart stopped beating and then started up again, causing a faint, sick feeling.
This uneasiness about the heart should suggest its use in the condition known as cigarette or tobacco heart.
18. Lachesis
The snake poisons exercise as a marked effect the overall blood circulation, as well as on the blood itself. Lachesis produces a palpitation of the heart and a constrictive feeling in the cardiac region.
There is a smothering sensation in muscles and about the heart, waking the patient out of sleep. Patient can’t bear any pressure on the chest, on the affected organ. Pulse small and weak. It has more septic elements than the other venoms.
The pulse in affected toe/arm is slow, the patient is melancholic and all the symptoms are worse from stimulants and better walking or riding in the open air. It is a remedy that should not be overlooked.
Hypotension is marked. It has much pain and resembles herein Spigelia, but it comes in later in valvular affections. Lachesis has also the symptom that the affected organ feels too large.
Atheromatous conditions of the heart and blood vessels call for Lachesis,especially in old people when symptoms of dropsy are present.
19. Lilium tigrinum
It has a pain in the affected extremity as if grasped in a vise, which awakens the patient suddenly. There is much fluttering about the affected organ/heart, and faintness.
Sensation as if the arm/toe were grasped and then released. Lilium will be found useful in purely functional affections, independent of organic lesion.
There is much cardiac and systematic irritability by lying on the left side. Motion aggravates. Lilium is useful in conditions of nervous palpitation, and in functional vascular disorders in women with uterine disease.
20. Arsenicum Album
Like Lachesis, Arsenicum Album is more adapted to later stages of vascular trouble, when the course is downwards.
Arsenicum produces great irregularity of the heart and other cylindrical shaped organ(s), or the pulse may be quick and weak. It is especially useful in pericarditis or endocarditis after suppression of measles or scarlatina.
A grand remedy in cardiovascular disease depending upon constitutional causes like sepsis, also in affections of the heart depending upon fatty degeneration of the blood vessels.
Restlessness will be present, and oedema, puffiness of the eyes and swelling of the feet. Great dyspnoea, attacks of suffocations at night on lying down and particularly after midnight.
Phosphorus affects rather the right side producing a venous stagnation, and it is exceedingly useful in fatty degeneration in an organ. Arsenicum rather affects the left side, has more oppression of the chest in breathing, more orthopnoea and more anasarca. The patient cannot lie down or go upstairs.
21. Collinsonia
In functional disorders of the cardiovascular system, Collinsonia is an excellent remedy, especially when they are reflex from haemorrhoidal troubles or alternate with them. It has been found useful where there is much cardiac irritability, traceable to suppressed haemorrhoidal bleeding, the cardiac nerves seem irritated, and there is great sensitiveness in extremities and about the heart , fullness and oppression, difficulty in breathing and faintness.
It cured for the writer a case of severe constrictive pain about the heart in a man who habitually passed blood with this stools; upon the disappearance of the blood from the stools the heart symptoms commenced and when the flow of blood became re-established the heart symptoms disappeared.
Collinsonia entirely cured both conditions. A characterizing indications is a persistent, rapid n, but weak pulse; the action is excessive, but the force is deficient.
Collinsonia acts on the heart by removing obstruction or irritations in the liver, portal system, or kidneys, and by increasing muscular tonicity.
22. Strychnia
This is a pure and simple heart stimulant. Its only legitimate field is when paralysis threatens and during the course of any affection, you have dyspnoea, blueness of the fingertips and lips, sour eructations and symptoms of disturbed digestion. Here 1/64 of a grain hypodermically may bridge the chasm.
Its frequent and injudicious use is more than harmful and leads to an increased mortality in many affections. Caffeine is another powerful heart energizer, but is not a curative remedy.
23. Apis Melifisteda
Edematous. Synovitis. Felon in beginning. Knee swollen, shiny, sensitive, sore, with stinging pain. Feet swollen and stiff. Tired, bruised feeling. Numbness of hands, tips of fingers. Hives with intolerable itching. Edematous swellings. Swellings after bites; sore, sensitive. Stinging. Erysipelas, with sensitiveness and swelling, rosy hue. Carbuncles, with burning, stinging pain. Sudden puffing up of whole body.
24. Carbo Vegetabilis
Heavy, stiff; feel paralyzed; limbs, go to sleep; want of muscular energy; joints weak. Pain in shins. Cramp in soles; feet numb and sweaty. Cold from knees down. Toes red, swollen. Burning pain in bones and limbs. Blue, cold ecchymosed. Marbled with venous over distension. Itching; worse on evening, when warm in bed. Moist skin; hot perspiration; senile gangrene beginning in toes; bed sores; bleed easily. Falling out of hair, from a general weakened condition. Indolent ulcers, burning pain. Ichorous, offensive discharge; tendency to gangrene of the margins. Purpura. Varicose ulcers, carbuncles.
25. Anthracinum
Haemorrhages, black, thick, tar-like, rapidly decomposing, from any orifice. Glands swollen, cellular tissues oedematous and indurated. Septicaemia. Ulceration, sloughing and intolerable burning. Erysipelas. Black and blue blisters. Dissecting wounds. Insect stings. Bad effects from inhaling foul odors. Gangrenous parotitis. Succession of boils. Gangrene. Foul secretions.
P. S : This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
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Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS) ; senior research officer Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine; is a leading Homeopathic physician practicing in Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.
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