Stenosis - Bad Pain Down Left Leg

[skipspmr]

Bad pain down left leg when standing or walking. GP and PT suspect stenosis - will confirm by MRI next week. I'm a 3 year PMR on dead slow tapering (4 and 4.5). I'm wondering if this pain has anything to do with PMR. May be take a bid does of pred and see if anything happens?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'm sure the PT has grounds for suspecting it to be a stenosis rather than sciatic problems due to musculat problems - did they explain?

[Blearyeyed]

I would be tempted , personally, to remain on my current dose until after the MRI , just in case a larger dose could make a difference to them seeing other things that could be going on apart from the Stenosis they are looking for.

I'd try and have an easy week and use rest and a reduction in physical activities that affect it during the wait to help reduce the increase in pain. I'd also try using Paracetamol in the meantime to help control any associated non PMR pain. But you need to make your own choice.

You could discuss it with GP first to make sure that a temporary steroid increase will not get in the way if any other tests they may want to do on the day.

[Louisa1840]

I too have pain down my left leg which often stops me from walking. My rheumy thinks its a bursitis.

He has prescribed Mobic /Meloxicam for my underlying inflammatory arthritis with also Amitriptyline to help me sleep but he says it will also help with pain..

He says PMR always overlays an underlying inflammatory condition.

All I can say is that since being on the Meloxicam/ Amitriptyline everything seems to be a lot better including the pain in my leg - YAAY!

Hope yours improves soon.......

[Purplecrow in reply to Louisa1840]

Doc gave me Gabapentin for “nerve” pain. Helps hip bursitis and leg pain. Stenosis required surgery with immediate pain relief.

[Whippetygirl]

I had Lumber Spinal Stenosis operation August 2018, paid privately ( not insured) to see top Neurologist at the Alexandra Hospital, put me on his NHS list had op 2 weeks later. Operation was very successful, only lingering problem is numbness and weakness in left ankle due to nerve damage thanks to GPS offering only pain relief and physio and not taking it seriously. Going private was worth the private consultation fee and the fees for after care, which was second to none.

[HelenDaisy in reply to Whippetygirl]

I did exactly the same in Sept 2020. I paid for an MRI, which said 'See a neurosurgeon urgently'! Immediate relief from my surgery, but I still have numbness in my R foot, and some back pain still.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HelenDaisy]

As i said on the other thread - did you notice the age of the thread? Often you won;t get any reply if people are no longer particularly active on the forum.

[Whippetygirl in reply to HelenDaisy]

My left leg is still numb down through my knee to my ankle and I do have intermittent back pain , don’t feel it is the same problem, more like a disc problem which I feel is self inflicted as I still can’t get my head round to taking it easy and asking for help unless I know I can not physically do something. Four years post surgery, I feel for now it is something I have to live with as I have too much going on, awful problems with builders and cataract surgery.

[Purplecrow]

Sorry about Doc issue, but good on recovery from Stenosis pain. I had stenosis surgery and recovery was miraculous.

[Fran_Benson Partner]

@HelenDaisy and @Dad2Cue - if this is a non-PMR topic, do feel free to message each other if you are both happy with that. Best to keep the forum for PMR/GCA topics where possible. Thank you. Fran