Burning pain in top of leg

[Beta70]

When I wake up in the morning, I have a burning pain in the top of my right leg which feels like pins and needles with boiling water poured over it. It is bearable and goes off after I have been up and about for around an hour. Then if I am immobile sitting in a chair for any length of time during the day it re occurs temporarily. I have seen both my GP and also been referred to the healthy legs clinic. I have had it scanned and been given a support hosiery stocking, and all professionals have ruled out it being a DVT. It's something I can live with normally but I am concerned as I am due to have an operation shortly, requiring a full anaesthetic. I spoke to my GP who wasn't at all concerned and advised me to go ahead. I trust her opinion but having had a TIA previously am feeling somewhat anxious. Any ideas?

[bridgeit]

Hi Beta, bear in mind that I'm not medically trained, my offerings are based only on life experience. I wonder if you have a nerve irritation issue; perhaps the sciatic nerve, although there are others in that area. Burning pain/pins and needles are classic nerve aggravation symptoms and don't usually worry medics unless they're accompanied by other symptoms, such as limb weakness.

You could think about asking your GP surgery to refer you to a physiotherapist, or an MSK clinic for an assessment, or visit a physio that's fully qualified in a private capacity if you have the resources. A physio should at least be able to work out if it's a nerve irritation and which nerve is affected as well as provide you with some exercises to alleviate discomfort.

Main thing is not to get anxious. The medics are not worrying, so you don't need to!

I hope you get some reassurance soon.

[Beta70 in reply to bridgeit]

Thank you for your most helpful reply. I was under a physiotherapist prior to lockdown due to osteo arthritis in both knees and he was really helpful. Time to ask for a re referral I think.

[Madlegs1 in reply to bridgeit]

just what I was wondering -- check out "Parasthesia meralgia"

I have it and it is a burning itchy feeling.

Apparently similar to sciatica.

Possibly caused by tight belt. Or seat belt accident.??

No real treatment apart from massage.

[Beta70 in reply to Madlegs1]

Thank you for your interesting reply. I will look it up.

[Scroll]

have it in my left leg predominately touch now and again in my right.

Believe it is caused by inflammation on the nerve, had it since my heart attack 4 weeks ago. Where I know I collapsed heavily on my left hand side. Since then because I am sleeping on my back in a raised position, unless I have the knee slightly elevated, with the extra pressure now being exerted on the hip I can have it extremely bad.

[Beta70 in reply to Scroll]

Thank you for your interesting response. I do hope you feel better soon and are responding to treatment. Best wishes.

[Scroll in reply to Beta70]

thank you, treatment is going well as is the support. As others have more or less implied the reaction I have had when I mentioned it is more or less suck and see :), leg is functioning, muscles seem good, good blood flow etc, a case of monitoring the situation as I exercise more and hopefully get to move away from my back.

[Khartoum7]

Hmmm....I know you say that a DVT has been ruled out BUT it was exactly the same for me and then they found a clot!

[Beta70 in reply to Khartoum7]

Thanks for your reply. Exactly what is concerning me!

[LaceyLady]

get your femoral arteries checked. My sister were blocked!

[Beta70 in reply to LaceyLady]

Thanks, but I had these checked at the healthy legs clinic. They did a scan.

[Beta70 in reply to LaceyLady]

I think I am going to ask to get them checked again as it was February had them checked before and its definitely deteriorated since then.

[LaceyLady in reply to Beta70]

also have you any bulges in the groin area? I’ve had a femoral hernia last December, huge hard lump like cricket ball!! Yup, emergency op!

[Beta70 in reply to LaceyLady]

No there are no bulges and both legs have been measured and the one with the burning pain measures exactly the same as the other one which is why they think it is definitely not a DVT. Thanks for your reply and concern.

[Skeets]

I had this sensation in my right arm and face so went to A+E as I’d had MI 3 months previously. I am now being investigated forTIA , consultant doesn’t believe it will be this. Waiting NRI results

However I had ‘ the virus ‘ 6 weeks before MI and had some research sent by a friend and the burning pins and needles is a known long virus symptom.

Definitely get checked but look for research if had virus

[Beta70 in reply to Skeets]

Could be as I had it early in January just before the burning started. I looked up Parathesia Meralgia as recommended by Madlegs and this looks like what it is. I will bring it up at my pre op visit next week where they will be doing an ECG and blood tests. Appreciate your reply.