Swelling, Reduced Blood Flow

Dear Dr. Meletis,

In February 2003, my husband was told he had Multiple Myeloma, a bone marrow cancer. In October 2003 he had an autologous stem cell transplant which was successful. Two weeks after the transplant he came down with Guillain-Barre syndrome which we were told was contracted in the hospital from bacteria. For 9 months he was paralyzed and on a vent for 4 months. He has recuperated from this except for mild foot drop. He can walk but can’t lift up his toes. He has numbness from the knees down. In August 2004 before coming home he had a urinary blockage and they operated. Three days later he came down with a DVT. He was on Coumadin® for a year. He no longer takes it. For the last 3 years since the surgery he has suffered with scar tissue in the right leg and swelling in the upper thigh and around the buttocks. He had surgery in June 2006 to try to open up the artery with a stent. Two stents were put in but only gave him minimal blood flow. We are told nothing can be done. He has scar tissue from the knee to the upper thigh. I have been trying EDTA for the last 2 months. My questions is: Is there anything he can take for swelling, to help blood flow and something that might eat away at the scar tissue or diminish it in some way? I have heard Nattokinase may help. Will it? He is in pain when he walks and the swelling hurts by his testicles. His multiple myeloma is still in remission, but he takes Lyrica® 150 mg twice per day for pain from the Guillain-Barre syndrome. This is the only medication he takes. When we ask our primary doctor about supplements he really does not know about them, only drugs. We believe that supplements can help. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank You, Mrs. B.