Sudden chronic thigh and knee pain

[JamesK1970]

Hi All,

Has anyone experienced sudden on-set chronic pain from thighs radiating in to the knee, start a week ago Wednesday, GP has said it is viral and given me Co-codamol then I went back and other GP gave me Tramadol 50mg, so my Monday evening I was on 2 x 50mg Tramadol and 2 x 500mg Paracetamol 4 times daily, this still didn’t touch the pain, went back again on Friday and now on 10mg of Morphine Sulphate 1 every 12 hours. I have never felt so rough and I can’t believe a Viral can cause this much pain, the GP that put me on Morphine has arranged bloods to be done but there not until Thursday of next week, worried now that the results won’t come back until new year and I will be struggling in pain over Christmas, has anyone experienced this and if so how was it treated? James

[Mary-intussuception]

Hi James, did you intend to post this on Thyroid forum or on Pain Concern?

That does seem an awful lot of pain meds? ? If not working is there any point in taking them?

Are you managing side effects - constipation etc? And drinking lots of water?

Has your doctor mentioned topical relief such as Ibuprofen Gel? Or is there a reason you can't use this? Ask about this?

What about a topical local anaesthetic?

Have you injured a muscle recently?

Where I am, bloods only take a couple of days. Can you ask for an earlier appoinment?

I've never heard of this or the diagnosis - but if sudden onset it's acute rather than chronic isn't it or is it sub-acute? Has if been chronic pain for a while and suddenly become more severe? Is GP refering you to a Specialist when blood results in?

If latest meds don't help then I would call GP first thing Monday (or phone Out-of-hours or 111 now for advice) .

Just a few points you may wish to consider.

I have thigh pain, which can be horrendous when it comes , but mine isn't viral I don't think.

[Mary-intussuception]

James

I see that you posted this 4 days ago and had excellent answers.

It helps, if repeating a post to refer to previous one.

Make sure you are getting all the necessary blood tests as previously advised -

FreeT3

FreeT4

TSH

TPO (Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies )

Tg (Thyroglobulin )

also -

Vitamin D

B12

Folate

and Ferritin -

if you weren't given the blood form then call in and ask what bloods are being done. If you haven't had any bloods for a while might be helpful to have Bone ( calcium & Phosphorus ) tested, Liver & Kidney, Also FBC ( Full Blood Count ).

Make sure that you fast, drink water only and don't take your Levothyroxine until after the test that day.

Make sure you get an appointment for very early in morning. Just say it's best time for you. If you are having Cholesterol tested then you will most likely get early appointment, if not you may have to make some excuse.

Say you are really unwell and in pain so could you be fitted in early Tuesday - attend early Monday (prepared) to ask. Sometimes our nurse will fit you in if you're unwell, concerned - and ask politely!

Also ask for print outs of your last blood test results then share on here with full details (ranges and dates of tests) for comment.

If GP refuses all the bloods then ask to see an Endocrinologist.

I see that one person who replied on.your earlier post did have this condition.

Morphine can cause dry, hard stool, constipation and nausea. Impacted stools will cause malabsorption. Is there any point in taking it if it doesn't relieve the pain?

Plenty of water and a stool softener, such as Lactulose medicine, may be needed. Constipation can put pressure on the circulation and spine and exacerbate pain

[Hidden]

James.I have not heard of a virus causing symptoms like this before and you seem to be in a huge amount of pain. Sometimes bones fracture, forgotten the name for it but they just fracture with out any fall or obvious injury. Can happen sometimes when exercising or sometimes just happens. An arthritic knee can also cause thigh pain radiating down to the knee.I get this myself and it has often been painful enough to keep me awake at night.I think you need to push for an Xray. Is the area red, inflamed. I cant imagine how a virus could just affect one limb but your GP may know something I don't. can you keepme updated I would be interested to know whats is causing this and if it gets better.

[Hidden]

I have just been goggling 'localised virus infections' and can find nothing pertinent to this. I think you GP might be daft. Not an uncommon issue.

[MaisieGray in reply to Hidden]

Toxic synovitis, aka transient synovitis, can develop after having a viral infection, and can have a very local effect in one leg. It's primarily seen in children, and more often in males, but there are cases of adults developing it.

Septic/bacterial arthritis is inflammation of a joint such as the hip or knee, caused by a bacterial infection.