Good to hear you’re walking again and that the strong legs are still in there underneath. Let me look up current evidence on recovery from statin-induced myopathy rather than rely on memory alone — this matters given your A-Fib and BP medications.

A good instinct — the discomfort sounds like degraded mitochondria, depleted CoQ10, and nerves slowly repairing themselves, all asking for support rather than rest alone. Here’s what the evidence supports, with one important safety question first.

Before anything else — which anticoagulant are you on for the A-Fib? This matters because if it’s warfarin, CoQ10 (the most evidence-backed supplement here) requires careful INR monitoring. CoQ10 may antagonise warfarin’s anticoagulant effect, potentially reducing its therapeutic efficacy . If you’re on a DOAC like apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), edoxaban or dabigatran, the picture is much cleaner — no clinically significant interactions have been established , though it’s still worth telling your GP.

For the myopathy — CoQ10 (Ubiquinol form)

The mechanism is elegant: statins block the mevalonate pathway, which also makes CoQ10, the molecule your muscle mitochondria need to produce ATP. Even though you’re off statins, your muscle stores need rebuilding. A recent systematic review found all randomized controlled trials showed improvement in statin-associated myopathy with CoQ10 supplementation , and a meta-analysis showed improvement in muscle pain, muscle weakness  and reduced creatine kinase. Typical dose is 100–200mg/day. Ubiquinol (the reduced form) is better absorbed in adults over 60. Take with fat-containing meal.

For the neuropathy — Alpha-Lipoic Acid + B vitamins

ALA is a potent antioxidant with the strongest evidence for nerve symptoms. Most clinical trials use 600mg/day, and most people notice improvements in pain, burning, and tingling within 3-5 weeks of consistent daily use at 600 mg. Maximum benefit typically develops over 2-3 months . One Mayo Clinic caveat: it’s risky to take this supplement if your body is low on vitamin B-1, also called thiamin… Taking high doses of alpha-lipoic acid supplements might cause dangerous side effects such as seizures in people with a thiamin deficiency . So pair ALA with a good B-complex containing benfotiamine (a fat-soluble B1 that crosses into nerve tissue), B6, and B12.

Magnesium and Omega-3

Magnesium glycinate or citrate (200–400mg) supports both muscle recovery and cardiac rhythm — worth discussing with your GP given the A-Fib, as some clinicians actively prescribe it. For omega-3, the warfarin worry is largely theoretical at supplement doses: fish and krill oils did not significantly alter warfarin time in therapeutic range (TTR) or bleeding incidence . 1–2g combined EPA/DHA daily is a sensible target.

Foods to lean into

Oily fish twice a week (sardines, mackerel, wild salmon — CoQ10, omega-3, vitamin D, B12 all in one); eggs (B vitamins, choline, vitamin D); organ meats if you eat them, especially liver (CoQ10, B12, ALA naturally); spinach and broccoli (ALA, magnesium, folate); nuts and seeds, especially almonds and pumpkin seeds (magnesium, vitamin E); beetroot (nitrates support circulation and the cardiovascular system you’re rebuilding); tart cherry juice (modest evidence for muscle recovery and inflammation). Protein intake matters — at 66 and recovering, aim for roughly 1.0–1.2g per kg bodyweight daily, spread across meals, to give muscle the substrate it needs.

What to actively avoid

Red yeast rice — this is a “natural” supplement marketed for cholesterol, but it contains monacolin K, which is chemically identical to lovastatin. You’d be re-dosing yourself with a statin. Grapefruit, which interferes with the CYP3A4 pathway many cardiac drugs use. And steer clear of high-dose anything without telling your GP — your medication list is the constraint, not your willingness to try.

One thought on the walking itself

Given your Qigong background, this is the moment for the silk-reeling principle — slow loading, listening to the tissue, allowing the body to reorganise. Progressive walking with gradient (which Eryri provides generously) is one of the best interventions for both mitochondrial recovery and small-nerve regeneration. You don’t need a supplement protocol to do its work in isolation.

When you next see your GP or pharmacist, the framing that opens the most useful conversation is: “I’m a month post-statin with residual myopathy and neuropathy. I’d like to trial CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid with a B-complex, magnesium, and omega-3. Can we check this against my current medications, and would a vitamin D and B12 blood level be worth doing?” That last bit matters — vitamin D and B12 deficiencies both mimic and worsen exactly the symptoms you’re describing, and you may already have data sitting in your record.