Joint pain: my lower back and legs is incredibly painful.

@chuckiepoo1
I take 600 mg ALA (for small fiber neuropathy pain) and asked my gastroenterologist and surgeon if ALA causes stomach issues and they said ‘no’. I do have gastritis and esophagitis diagnosed via endoscopy and I take Omeprazole for it. It is due to taking too many NSAIDS for too long. Coffee, acidic foods/beverages can aggravate your stomach, especially if ingested later in day before bedtime.

@ginger123
It sounds like you have something going on in your lumbar spine that is pinching peripheral nerves and radiating to your legs/feet. I have severe spinal stenosis and sciatica/radiculopathy which impacts my legs and feet with nerve pain and muscle weakness/numbness which impacts walking and standing for long periods. An orthopedic doctor that specializes in spine should be a good place to go for MRI. You may need physical therapy to help with function and may benefit from taking alpha-lipoic acid for nerve pain. I, too, went to a podiatrist at first for pain on feet but was only able to confirm arthritis in big toes and give orthotics for flat feet which didn’t get to the source of my problems of radiating nerve pain. A neurologist can test you for small fiber neuropathy (punch biopsy) and do EMG/nerve conduction testing to determine large fiber nerve impact. The neurologist could also send you for a MRI of your lumbar spine if you want to cover all of this with one specialist. Good luck!

Thank you! I’ve forwarded your comments to my PC doc. I’ve been through the same process and will now focus on my spine for a diagnosis and treatment. Many thanks.

Yes, I have an appt mid April with a sports med ortho specialist. He’s very good.
Thank you for your comments.

Pain in the back of the legs can be a symptom of sciatica, even a bulging disc in your back. Pain can radiate in the legs with sciatica - the actual pain is far from the source. Have you asked your Dr?

I'm so sorry about your spouse. I admire your devotion. Do you have anyone who can help you? It's a lot to take on, and at 83 and in pain yourself - well you don't have to do it all alone.

All the best friend. Joe

I experience similar pain. I have been dx with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - CRPS - as well as small fiber neuropathy in both feet and legs, and sciatica on the left side and stenosis on the right that follows a different path of pain. I see a
marvelous pain management doctor. I watched both parents and my older brother go through more than one back surgery and still have pain. I won't go that route. I have bad reactions to many meds. I use lidoderm 5% pain patches, lidocaine-prilocaine cream and am now on Low Dose Naltrexone for pain. I also have a spinal cord stimulator implanted. I've just given some of my pain situations and what I am finding somewhat helpful, not that you have what I do, but just to give you some ideas what you might ask your doctor about.

Hello I was following this thread and the advice given for low back and shin pain. My heart and prayers for this lady and her husband. I too have this same pain and have gone to so many doctors trying to get answers with many MRIs. I am interested in the Naltrexone. There are not many medication’s that I’m not sensitive to. I’m wondering if there are any side effects to this one I’ve tried without success gabapentin and Cymbalta. Thanks for letting me jump on here.

Anyone try Jovi patches?

Beginning at a dose of 1.5 mg I had heart palpitations. I stayed off it for a week and tried again. I started again. I was OK. I went up a week later to 3.0. Had more problems. I was put back to 1.5. After a week I went up to 2.0. This time I stayed at that level for 2 weeks. Then I went to 2.5 for 2 weeks. Next came 3.0 for 2 weeks. When I went up to 3.5 I had some problems and went back to 3.0 for another week. Stayed at 3.5 for 3 weeks. Just a week ago I went to 4.0. Will stay on that for another 2 weeks. The final dose is 4.5mg. I have some pain relief but I read it can take up to 9 months for the full effect to take place. The pain I have can be relieved by pain management but it is a Workers Comp case and they just keep denying procedures delaying pain relief right now for cervical problems. Sleeping causes neck and head pain. I especially do not like headaches, not that I like any pain but I have a lower tolerance for headaches. My faith sustains and encourages me to carry on looking forward to pain relief. I believe in Jesus's healing and have had such in different times in my 80 years.

Thank you so much. I am so sensitive to meds but like you looking for answers. I pray our Lord will bless you and bring you healing. I too lean on Him . I don’t understand this journey, but pray He brings me answers. I am 67 and was very active and walked 5 miles almost daily. I loved working in the yard and even mowing our family cemetery. Now I can’t walk very long without terrible pain in the muscles beside my shins and sensitivity to heat and fabric against my legs. Thank you for taking the time to reply to me. Bless you