Aa
HELP! Constant achy pain in legs with no diagnosis
Hi, I'm hoping that someone can help me with my leg pain problem.
I'm a 28 yr old female, and have had pains in my legs for almost 10 years now. The pain is a constant ache which has gotten progressively worse over the last few years in particular, and is no pretty unbearable, and makes it impossible for me to concentrate or do work. It is worse in my lower legs and around me knees.
When they started off they were infrequent and I thought I had restless leg syndrome. Now it is constant, both during the day and at night and exercise or stretching does not help. I have been seeing a nuerologist, who has done nerve conductions tests, blood tests (including tests for auto-immune disorders, diabetes, thyroid function), and an MRI. All of these were normal. my B12 was in low end of the "normal" range but I have been getting weekly B12 injections now for 4 weeks and this hasn't helped. I have been on 300mg of Lyrica per day for 2 months now, which has not helped at all. When the pain is very bad it makes me VERY anxious, and I feel quite panicked.
I think that my neurologist is running out of ideas now- can anyone shed any light on this, or direct me to a doctor with particular expertise in this area. Happy to travel to a neurologist if he/she can help me!
Please let me know if you have any insights into this- it's really starting to take over my life and getting very unbearable.
I'm really hoping that someone can help- please let me know if you have any advice!
I'm a 28 yr old female, and have had pains in my legs for almost 10 years now. The pain is a constant ache which has gotten progressively worse over the last few years in particular, and is no pretty unbearable, and makes it impossible for me to concentrate or do work. It is worse in my lower legs and around me knees.
When they started off they were infrequent and I thought I had restless leg syndrome. Now it is constant, both during the day and at night and exercise or stretching does not help. I have been seeing a nuerologist, who has done nerve conductions tests, blood tests (including tests for auto-immune disorders, diabetes, thyroid function), and an MRI. All of these were normal. my B12 was in low end of the "normal" range but I have been getting weekly B12 injections now for 4 weeks and this hasn't helped. I have been on 300mg of Lyrica per day for 2 months now, which has not helped at all. When the pain is very bad it makes me VERY anxious, and I feel quite panicked.
I think that my neurologist is running out of ideas now- can anyone shed any light on this, or direct me to a doctor with particular expertise in this area. Happy to travel to a neurologist if he/she can help me!
Please let me know if you have any insights into this- it's really starting to take over my life and getting very unbearable.
I'm really hoping that someone can help- please let me know if you have any advice!
Needing to know the answer is the worst part of having an unusual illness...and waiting so long to get diagnosed. I've been there myself, so I can relate. It can be frustrating but hang in there, empower yourself with knowledge, and don't give up.
Yep I have had auto-immune lab work done but not Rheumatoid. Will look into the chamber as an option but right now I'm really searching for an answer for WHAT this is. I think I need that to mentally deal with it.
Check on the chem. panel. Have you ever had Rheumatoid or auto-immune lab work done?
If scuba diving worked, maybe you should try a hyperbaric chamber for pain control. You only need a doctor's order. This would be a bit unusual, but can't hurt.
If scuba diving worked, maybe you should try a hyperbaric chamber for pain control. You only need a doctor's order. This would be a bit unusual, but can't hurt.
Hi Foggy,
The pain is all over- both front and back of my legs. It's hard to specific exactly where it feels like it's coming from- it just seems to be radiating all over my legs.
I think I have had the chemistry panel but will check with my doctor.
Another two things I forgot to add
1) I'm a scuba diver, and diving is the only thing that relieves it!
2) I have also tried using Sifrol but it didn't do anything.
Any ideas?
The pain is all over- both front and back of my legs. It's hard to specific exactly where it feels like it's coming from- it just seems to be radiating all over my legs.
I think I have had the chemistry panel but will check with my doctor.
Another two things I forgot to add
1) I'm a scuba diver, and diving is the only thing that relieves it!
2) I have also tried using Sifrol but it didn't do anything.
Any ideas?
Is it the front of your legs or the back of your legs?
A chemistry panel is a series of labs that check on a variety of things that are not specific to something like a "Liver Panel" or "Rheumatoid Panel" or "Lipid Panel." A Chemistry Panel includes things like potassium, sodium, BUN/creat, etc.
A chemistry panel is a series of labs that check on a variety of things that are not specific to something like a "Liver Panel" or "Rheumatoid Panel" or "Lipid Panel." A Chemistry Panel includes things like potassium, sodium, BUN/creat, etc.
Thanks for the quick response!
The pain is in both legs and pretty much runs right down my legs from just above the knee to the ankle. My feet or arms are not affected. It seems particularly bad around my knees.
Yep my magnesium and potassium have been checked. I'm not sure what you mean by a "chemistry panel" though?
I don't have back pain, and my spine was fine according to the MRI. I've never had trauma to the back or feet.
I don't have any other medical conditions, and the only other medications (apart from Lyrica) that I take is the contraceptive pill (levelen).
No other specialists- just the neurologist. Not sure who else to try?
The pain is in both legs and pretty much runs right down my legs from just above the knee to the ankle. My feet or arms are not affected. It seems particularly bad around my knees.
Yep my magnesium and potassium have been checked. I'm not sure what you mean by a "chemistry panel" though?
I don't have back pain, and my spine was fine according to the MRI. I've never had trauma to the back or feet.
I don't have any other medical conditions, and the only other medications (apart from Lyrica) that I take is the contraceptive pill (levelen).
No other specialists- just the neurologist. Not sure who else to try?
Where exactly is the pain? Please be specific. You describe it as achy and constant.
Has anyone checked your magnesium and potassium levels along with a thorough chemistry panel (not usually done by a Neurologist but usually a PCP)?
Do you have any back pain? Have you ever had any trauma to your legs or back or feet?
What other medical conditions do you have and what other medications do you take?
Are you seeing any other specialists for this?
Has anyone checked your magnesium and potassium levels along with a thorough chemistry panel (not usually done by a Neurologist but usually a PCP)?
Do you have any back pain? Have you ever had any trauma to your legs or back or feet?
What other medical conditions do you have and what other medications do you take?
Are you seeing any other specialists for this?
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Neurology Community
Top Neurology Answerers
Allentown, PA
ON
Queensland, Australia
Queen Creek, AZ
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
