Unexplained Leg and Thigh Pain

[Bcol]

Morning all, not sure that this anything to do with the forum and I wasn't going to mention it until my long chat with the doctor yesterday morning. Since Thursday I have been suffering from excruciating pain in my right leg, which appears to start in/around my knee and which then radiates up to my thigh and down to my leg/shins. It's been so bad that walking has been very difficult indoors and not possible outdoors (Unhappy dogs 😢😢). I didn't think that this was PMR related but was a little concerned that that my replacement knee was starting to cause problems, it is over twenty years old. I had quadrupled my normal 2 co-codamol tablets up to eight a day but they seemed to have little or no effect. On Monday morning I gave in and rang the doctors and had an appointment the same morning.

I had a long and good chat with the doctor and he arranged for x-rays on my knee ( done same morning - very efficient) but we also discussed the lack of effect of the co-codamol and both suggested that taking extra Pred was a worthwhile experiment, if nothing else it was something we could then rule out. I put the co-codamol back to the usual dose and I took an extra 10mg (14.5mg total) on Tuesday morning and an extra 5mg on Wednesday morning, 02:00 ish as normal, and will carry on with the extra 5mg for a few days. Lo and behold this morning I was able to get up and down the stairs without crawling, and walk the dogs - short walk only 20mins around the block- but managed it, slowly, and without the horrendous pain which made it impossible and tearful the last few days. Not totally pain and aching free but a huge improvement.

So I guess the question is, is this PMR related or is the Pred just covering up something else or is it just coincidence and something is just mending on its own?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

If the extra co-codamol had no significant affect on their own, but the extra Pred did, then that probably answers your question.

But odd that’s it’s only one leg - guess X-ray is okay -can you recall doing anything else that might have triggered it?

Think it’s a matter of wait and see -and fingers crossed… but obviously keep monitoring and maybe step back down 2.5mg a time rather than 5mg in one go. No pun intended 😊

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

It is odd and as far as I know I have done nothing different to usual. Agree with the stepping down and fingers crossed.

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Update so far. I'm thinking that first improvement was, for whatever reason, a flash in the pan, as the following day I was back, pretty much, to where I started. I've persisted though and had three days of an extra 10mg now going to get back to where I was in 2.5mg steps and wait for the x-ray result. Back to hobling around with the walking stick. Grrrr.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

Okay…sure you’ll keep us informed of progress…or lack thereof!

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Will do DL and as I've just replied to MrsN. 🐇🐰

[PMRpro Ambassador]

How is your lower back? It obviously stems from something inflammatory or the pred wouldn't have had such a dramatic effect. I'm having low backache - don't think it is PMR that's doing it, just arthritic changes in the pelvis that in combi with PMR led to the awful sacroiliitis 6 weeks ago. That is still lurking but nothing like it was - but my pain is very much better after a dose of tramadol so I am going to give in and for the first time in my life take regular pain relief. Paracetamol does nothing and I don't want to use ibuprofen regularly.

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Hope things are going OK with you, it's been a rough few months. It's been odd, as my first thoughts were Sciatica but I've had no or very little back or buttock pain so I thought that probably wasn't an option. It will be interesting to see if the x-ray comes back with anything, but with the Pred working so dramatically I suspect it will be clear which will make me very happy.If you don't want to go to the Tramadol option have you tried Co-Codamol as it tends to be slightly less addictive but it doesn't suit everyone and it's had no effect on my pain this time and its usually very good with my OA. Whichever you decide there is no point in living in pain if can avoid it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

Don't do codeine! Makes me feel very peculiar as if I weren't peculiar enough! Morphine sends my BP crashing so it's no-no too! I was a bit apprehensive about the tramadol but quite impressed by the result. Comes as drops here - taken in a bit of water. Tastes like Campari!

I'm hoping one dose a day will do the trick - discussed it with the GP yesterday and will ask the rheumy when I see him next week. Not impressed with this aging lark ...

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Trouble is there is not a lot we can do about the ageing bit!!! My OH can't take Co-Codamol either, but the Tramadol works for her when she needs it.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Aging …better than the alternative! 🤣😂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Exactly what I was about to say!

[Broseley in reply to Bcol]

I have had similar pains radiating from my right knee. Physio thinks it stems from my lower back as knee XRays are clear. But like you, no back or buttock pain. Pred sorted the pain out, but I still get numbness and tingling in my right foot and calf if I sit or lie in certain positions. I personally think it must be a nerve trapped somewhere in my knee.

[Constance13 in reply to PMRpro]

Nothings to do with Bcol’s post (sorry for butting in Bicol 😙) - but what dosage do you take of Tramadol, Pro?I’m in dreadful pain at the moment with the RA and, some time ago, my doctor suggested I take Tramadol - he prescribed 50mg. It did b…er all, so I went back to Cocodamol. I took the Tramadol for a week just to give it a chance.

[Bcol in reply to Constance13]

Morning Constance, no problem. My OH has Tramadol for her Fibro and when she needs it takes two 50mg's. I'm thinking of "borrowing" some to see if its an improvement on my Co-Codamol.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Constance13]

Don't know to be honest - it comes as drops here, 15 or 20 drops they said.

I use 20 drops - and a plough through the Italian data sheet says 20 drops is 50mg. So I have been using 50mg once a day, twice a day for a short time at the start.

This morning I woke early at about 4am with NO backache but felt it was too early to take the tramadol prophylactically and went back to sleep. By 7.30am it was really quite bad and I took it immediately and got a hot water bottle, remaining in bed to read, By the time I got up at 9am it was working pretty well,

[MaritimeMags]

Have you heard of a condition called Meralgia Parasethetica? I have had PMR over four years but was also diagnosed with this two years ago. Symptoms are a pain with a burning sensation (not all the time) from knee up side of right thigh. Painful to touch.Like you I have tapered right down - I am sure we all get pains as we grow older and, yes, I find it hard to decipher whether they are caused by PMR or are just old age pains. 🙂

[Bcol in reply to MaritimeMags]

Hi MM, no I hadn't and thanks for the information. I've looked up the information regarding Meralgia Parasenthenica and as much as it would be nice to have a diagnosis I don't think those symptoms match mine. Think I've got to wait for the x-ray results and then back to discussion with the docs.

[MrsNails]

Morning - sorry only just catching up - sorry to hear about your knee/leg - afraid nothing useful to add but hope they get to the source of it very soon.

Have a Good Easter 🐣

MrsN 🌼

[Bcol in reply to MrsNails]

Thanks MrsN, patience at this point and then I guess back to docs next week. Have a good Easter as well. 🐇🐰

[jls93]

Sounds mechanical. Lower Extremity : Pelvis - hip- knee- ankle- foot are like a series of links in a chain. Forces that cross these joints and muscles forces for day to day activities are multiples of our body weight depending on the joint...always was a shocking surprise to folks I was educating. Well described in medical literature " closed chain forces at_______" Closed chain" is the technical expression used when your foot is on the floor. pretty amazing the demands of daily life. Hope this helps.. "De-mystify" a possible contributor to your dysfunction and pain... Gravity is always present. sorry if too technical, it is alot to process . hang in there, be well

[Grammy80]

I can only add that recently...a week or two...I've been experiencing the same thing. Haven't seen the rheumy for my monthly visit yet, but the neuro-ophthalmologist said, "It is probably part of your whole autoimmune package." The are sudden sharp and I feel like my shins are gong to split....I have more shin than thigh. I am doing more, but it isn't cramps, it is pain. I'm just getting my pred down ....we'll see. Take care💕💕 a day at a time....

AND before someone else makes the joke.....yes, I have more thigh than shin.😂😂

[Bcol in reply to Grammy80]

Hi Grammy, that's interesting and your description of the shin pain is spot on. Take care and stay safe. 💕

[Bcol]

Update here, is I've been referred further up the chain for an appointment with a knee revision specialist. Not had an actual date yet and as relatively mobile again, have no desire for replacing a replacement knee, particularly as I don't think that is the problem. Hey ho we will see.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

Know where you are coming from re another op so long as you can keep mobile and relatively pain free. Let’s hope they can find out what issue is, and sort it out.

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Beginning to think I might have something that someone else mentioned. IT -Band Syndrome, seems to fit my symptoms pretty well. Never heard of it until today.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

I thought it was more related to runners -are you/did you used to be one?

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Used to play a lot of sport many decades ago, but do (did) a lot of walking with the beasties and they do mention that. May not be that at all but if fits symptoms better than a poorly knee.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

Worth following up…