Thigh and knee pain

[Manaus]

Hi all

I have been diagnosed for 2 years. My main issues are thigh and knee pain, lots of burning and soreness and stiffness. Yes, I do get tired but not debilitating. I sometimes wonder if I have fibro when I hear how other people suffer. I am beginning to think that there may be something else going on but it can fit in with the symptoms although mildly. I have had bloods; back MRI and knee xray but all normal for my age.

Does anyone has the same level of symptoms?

[Hidden]

Yes, I really question my diagnosis of fibro. I get pain, but nothing that requires prescription meds, though I rarely go a day without paracetamol and if bad, cocodamol. I get tired and find that’s the worst, as if all my energy drains away.I have a goitre and I’m sure my problems lie more with my thyroid but because the bloods came back normal neither GP or Endocrinologist would do anything.

I count myself very, very lucky that I don’t have the severe pain of fibro. This time of year it’s tolerable, probably worse in cold weather but I do feel that now my GP sees the label of fibromyalgia any symptoms are put down to that.

Only help I’ve had from a GP was when I had a bad flare up of diverticulitis a few months ago—- I knew what it was, saw a new, young GP and told him what was wrong with me. Luckily he agreed and gave me antibiotics. But I did wonder if I hadn’t recognised the symptoms and just described abdominal pain if they’d have said painkillers can cause constipation , drink some fibrogel.

[Manaus in reply to Hidden]

That is my worry they put everything down to fibro.i never see the same gp twice and get fed up with going through it all with them. I have borderline thyroid so on no drugs, not that I want to be due to side effects.

I am trying to keep active as feel better after exercise. As you say we are lucky that we are not incapacitated.

[LeighBlyth]

I believe Fibro is a progression of pain when the body is unbalanced (based on my recovery). If you click on my profile you'll see my posts about my recovery and the theory that developed with it.

Everyone's symptoms are a bit different because everyone has their own individual trauma pattern that cause the pain and tensions in the body.

If you are not using the 5 (paired) main muscles of movement correctly, other areas of muscles try to compensate but they are then prone to stress, fatigue and pain.

Everything should start from your Base-Line muscles. Pelvic floor muscles the solid Base for all movement. Then the rectus abdominis muscles your central Line - from pubic symphysis to your ribs. Firstly focus on activating these muscles, stronger and longer with every in breath. It takes time to build a connection if you are not used to using them, go-ogle the anatomy and get to know your muscles.

Connecting your Base-Line to your legs are the gluteus maximus and rectus femoris muscles, when these muscles are functioning correctly the legs are 'aligned' with the body, positioning the leg so that the other muscles of the thigh can work as they should. If not - knee pain, hamstring problems, adductor and the other thigh muscles pain.

The gluteus maximus muscles are the largest muscles in the body.

The superficial muscle layer of the buttocks, overlaying several smaller muscles that are prone to pain-related syndromes.

"Buns of steel" - solid rocks anchoring your legs to your Base-Line.

Hands on buttocks. Feel these muscles contract and tighten.

The rectus femoris muscles - like a strong pole down the front of each thigh (part of the quadriceps muscles group but the rectus femoris is the only one that spans the hip and knee joints, attaching to the pelvis (hip bone) and tibia (shin bone).

Upper attachment:

Put your fingers on the ridge of bone at the front of your pelvis/hip bone. Feel down the ridge. The rectus femoris attaches here.

Bottom attachment:

Find the bony bump near the top of the front of your tibia (shin bone), then feel slightly above for the patellar ligament - a band of strong connective tissue leading to the kneecap. (bend and straighten your knee as you feel).   As you contract your rectus femoris you should feel movement, your kneecap 'lifting'.

I describe it as pulling my kneecaps up.

Focus on the rectus femoris muscles engaging along their full length - solid and strong.

Try working with these muscles, see if you can feel what condition they are in.

Become aware when the "wrong" areas of muscle activate instead - are these causing you pain?

[Manaus in reply to LeighBlyth]

I know that when my legs are bad, I can feel my back tensing and in my mind , I visualise that if my back didn't hurt my legs would be ok. It is understanding your body . It is funny that exercise does improve things so makes sense. We keep battling on.

[LeighBlyth in reply to Manaus]

Everything's connected.

Put a pebble in your shoe and your foot will be sore. Leave it there and your knee will start to hurt. And then your hip, then your back. A chain of pain spreading through your body as it becomes more unbalanced trying to avoid the pains.

Focus on your Base-Line first. "breathing with your Base-Line" longer and stronger with every breathe in. Strong pelvic floor, the rectus abdominis muscles two parallel stacks of muscle to be activated in sequence from your Base.

Then the leg connectors. go-ogle images for rectus femoris and find them, focus on them being the strong pole for your legs.

Then the trapezius muscles for the upper body, a blanket of muscle from the back of the skull, down your neck to the base of your ribs, shoulder to shoulder. The traps should be free to extend in all directions supporting the head and arms through a full range of movement.

It's no quick fix. But it fixed my pain.