Hip osteoarthritis causing calf pain

I am 85 and have total body osteoarthritis but the calf pain really is not related to that. The first calf pain I had was during directed exercise to strengthen my legs. Later my left foot looked very strange to me but the doctor did not see anything abnormal. Ultra sound was done and nothing was discovered. A couple of years later I underwent an angiogram to find that the artery on my left leg is almost totally blocked with plaque. The pain in that leg comes from a variety of things: PAD, atherosclerosis, peripheral neuropathy and more recently lymphedema. I hope your pain does not indicate any of that and I wonder if years ago had I had a premonition of this dilemma I could have done anything differently.

Have same symptoms plus cannot walk more than several steps following hip replacement 1.5.yrs. ago and slowly going down hill since
Have had many tests and. I'm supposedly good!
Wrong
I get awful, wake me up cramps. Noting helps except Diclofinic (spelling?)cream somewhat. I'm beginning to think it is the result of a
Nick to the femoral artery or damage to it, especially since I went to the ICU and also had a blood transfusion after the THR.
I note all the doctors are CYA and just gaff me off as I'm 71.
BUT don't give up. I hope this info helps in some l way.
Meanwhile easier to keep giving me test or retests $$

probably coming from your spine. The equada equina nerve root. I had really bad cramping in my mid-thirties. Some supplements fixed it for a while. I had both my hips replaced but the nerve dysfunction came from my lumbar spine region. Unfortunately, I didn't get to the world's greatest surgeon for another 20 years, and then I had permanent damage. The nerves were permanently crushed. Be aware -- doctors are not very attentive and will just run tests and not analyze them the way they need attention. That will be on you. Learn all you can in the meantime and be aggressive about your medical needs!

@loriesco

Hello,

Last year the neurologist ordered a full spine and brain MRI long with an EMG. All came back clean. Allowing the neurologist to rule out several disorders including cauda equina nerve root.

The cramping is only in my right calf. Walking is by far my best relief, physical therapy increases the atrophy and inactivity increases the cramping.

@nasbyevan Let me say "screw the neurologist!" haha. (I hope you take that with a modicum of humor). I was at the neurologist - the surgeon - who became the HEAD of the entire dept at UCSD for 17 years. He would have never given me surgery until I pooped on myself or had foot drop. I was on my way. I said, "okay, I'll go home and just take the opioids then".... to which he replied, "no, we'll send you to the Orthopedic surgeon!" I was disappointed as neurologists have 3 more years training than an orthopedic surgeon! I had had a MISERABLE 3 years getting refers to 3 other surgeons. I walked into the 4th surgeon who came in after I lost patience with the interns dumb questions (it had been 17 years of questions!) my prince charming said "you need immediate surgery." I said "do it." it was all in the Xray. He showed me how the vertebra were compressing at L3, 4, 5. I had ALL of what you had - every year for 17 years. By the time they rolled me into surgery, my nerves were crushed beyond regrowth. I HAD the EMGS and all the rest! I got my life back and I love my surgeon for giving me what I could get after his wonderful surgery. The neurologist would have never given me surgery. The orthopedic surgeon saw it entirely differently. See a GOOD orthopedic surgeon. The best you can research!

@loriesco the funny part about about screw the neurologist, I'm starting to feel that way. He prescribed me Carbidopa-levodopa aka Parkinson's medication. I went to the pharmacy once to pick up my prescription the pharmacist was baffled that it was for me in my 30s. This year I messaged the neurologist asking if I need fallow up appointment for more refills since I do not fit the criteria for the medication and he simply sent in more refills and told me the neurology department is out of options.
I'm working with my 4th orthopedic surgeon. Like the previous ones he's perplexed by my symptoms and how significant the atrophy is. He did an ultrasound found several inches of scar tissue turned chronic fibrosis throughout my right calf. He reached out to a world famous doctor in Spain who treats all the famous soccer players with calf injuries he said chronic fibrosis is to old to treat. Hopefully I can come cross a doctor who can look at my reports and know exactly what I have going on. Just have to stay positive

@nasbyevan wow, that is a horrible story but sounds just like mine! So you are going to just work around him! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been misdiagnosed – – maybe four or five. And it’s not the doctors who diagnose me it’s me bringing the research and information to them. For 30 years I’ve suffered with whole body inflammation being told that it’s osteoarthritis OA. I would periodically suffer so much. They would run tests for rheumatoid arthritis. RA about every five years. Then the arthritis doctor would tell me I don’t have RA. It’s just the OA. Two years ago there was a woman in this group that mentioned chart cherry capsules an over-the-counter supplement for inflammation. I bought them. They were $10 on Amazon the next day, the crushing pain in my hands was gone. After 30 years, my aching arthritis hands and whole body inflammation vanished. Turns out I have gout. I can’t tell you how many doctors arthritis specialist I’ve been to that were too lazy to look at more than the x-rays. They saw a bunch of osteoarthritis in the x-rays so they pronounced me with the diagnosis of OA and sent me home in pain and misery. It wasn’t the doctors who resolved my inflammatory pain issue. It was some stranger in the Mayo Clinic forum! You’re so right you just have to stay positive and keep on going, read the research and bring it to the doctors because they don’t go out of their way to do any work on your behalf. They seem to act like a clearing house these days there’s no corroboration or collaboration between the doctors working as a team to figure out our problems. I hope you find the results you’re looking for. Maybe you could try an MFR therapist for some relief good luck.!!! pS - try some iron supplements plus B12 supplements and see if that helps with your problem. I seem to have gotten quite a bit of relief from my neuropathy and cramping in my left leg. The nerve sheets can get damaged and B12 and other B vitamins are often recommended, but I read about the iron plus the B12. Interesting thing is that I was anemic, but the anemia showed up temporarily damaging my nerve sheaths. The combination together along with increasing circulation to the area through exercise and massage seem to work wonders. Never give up!