Help me diagnose

Background and symptoms: I've been suffering from lower leg pain in both my legs (from knees to feet) for the past 4 years. The symptoms are mainly extreme pain, fatigue/ exhaustion with activities, and pins and needles and burning sensation most of the time, but no skin psoriasis, swelling, or other physical symptoms. This problem started all of a sudden after a long flight (approximately 8 hrs) on a plane where my seat was mechanically damaged, and I couldn't recline it; the guy in front of me reclined his seat entirely, so I didn't have any space to move my legs properly. I requested him, as well as the air hostess, to change my seat to no avail. The pain started after I got off the plane and increased exponentially as I walked through the airport. Since then, it's been a disaster. I don't have these symptoms anywhere else in my body, not even in my upper legs or anywhere else in my body. Before this flight, I never ever had this type of pain in my life.
Diagnosis so far: My initial treatment was done in the US. US healthcare is crap, but I didn't know until I got a first-hand experience. My dumb primary care provider put me on 200/400 mg Ibuprofen and then switched to acetaminophen of low strength despite my terrible symptoms. He didn't give me any stronger painkillers or local anesthesia despite my thousand requests; they just kept saying that it was an unusual pain throughout all our meetings. After 3 months, he realized that it's getting even worse so he thought it could be nerve issue so he gave me gabapentin and later switched to pregabalin which were also of very very low strength. Later, he told me to take only multivitamins as my reports (by that time, I had done blood tests, urine tests, an MRI of my lower legs and back, and CT angiogram of my legs) were ok. During this entire period, I consulted a few doctors of different specialties, but they said that as the reports are fine, we can't help you. Also, the wait time to schedule any test or appointment is extraordinarily long in the US and it definitely exacerbated my condition. That time my symptoms include-- achy pain, shooting and burning sensation. I couldn't stand for more than 30 minutes at all and couldn't walk for more than 15 minutes without terrible pain.
I came back to my native country after about a year as by that time I was told by my medical care team that I might be able to fly now and since then I consulted a few doctors of different specialties. My physical therapist suggested that the symptoms relate to arterial disease like intermittent claudication but, my test reports are normal. My Ultrasound says 30-40% blood flow reduction in the anterior and posterior tibial artery, but the Vascular surgeon said it's normal. I did the same tests in the US earlier, and the Vascular surgeon in the US said the same thing and also said that apart from the pain, nothing else matches with vascular problems, especially as I don't have any physical appearance similar to vascular disease. I was given Naftidrofuryl oxalate - a vasodilator for 2 months, which didn't abate the pain at all, so I believe it's not a vascular issue. I got all sorts of blood tests (HLA B27, RF factor, C reactive protein, CPK, lactate, uric acid, D-dimer, CBC test, almost any kind of blood test imaginable) and imaging tests(MRI, ultrasound, CT angiogram) done along with nerve tests (EMG and NCS). These tests have been done routinely and multiple times in different hospitals in 3 different countries, and the results are fine every time. The only tests I couldn't get done are called myositis metabolic panel and muscle biopsy because it's not available where I'm now. My neurologist also said that it's not a nerve issue. Recently, 2 ultrasounds were done by my Rheumatologist and he found just a slight inflammation in my calves but the other suggests that I have pretty good inflammation in my tendon and joint in my foot. My rheumatologist now says that it's peripheral spondylo arthritis. According to him, peripheral spondylo arthritis is observed through ultrasound or imaging tests rather than blood tests, hence nothing shows up in my blood tests reports. I asked him if it could be due to any infection but he denied that and said if it were due to any infection, then it would be found on a blood test by now. I know that ultrasound is a subjective thing that depends on the person who's performing it(technologist/doctor) but I'm just so confused and skeptical. I still have those symptoms- achy pain, burning sensation. Although sciatica is mostly found in one leg but I have these symptoms in both legs. I took pregabalin for 6 months, but it didn't help me at all. My EMG and NCS are also fine. My MRI which I got done here in my country suggests I have mild sacroilitis though the doctors said it's fine and not necessarily a dangerous sign as i don't have any symptoms. I talked to him about Small fiber neuropathy and he said that muscle biopsy isn't done here in my country and isn't sure if it's what my case is.
I find it very weird that due to a bad flight, I developed arthritis/ sciatica/ neuropathy all on a sudden. Does anyone relate to my symptoms? Has anyone ever had a similar experience? I need some suggestions, please!

Have you seen a chiropractor? I had leg pains that shot down my legs and kept me up at night. Chiropractor adjusted my back and voila no more pain. Was a pinched nerve. Good luck hope you feel better soon and forever.

@bbk186 I have had a lot of the same problems as you with the doctors. About 14 years worth. Long story short, I have CPPD. My third Rheumatologist diagnosed it. He looked at old x-rays of my knees and spotted the distinct markings of the crystals that a dozen osteo docs missed. My symptoms were the same as yours, knees down. It's now everywhere since I wasn't treated long ago. My blood tests were normal. It shows up on regular x-rays but you have to mention it as it is easily missed. Good luck.

@jonijean can you tell me exactly what to say to the technologist during the xray? Also how did you get rid of it?

Have you seen a chiropractor? I had leg pains that shot down my legs and kept me up at night. Chiropractor adjusted my back and voila no more pain. Was a pinched nerve. Good luck hope you feel better soon and forever.

Have you seen a chiropractor? I had leg pains that shot down my legs and kept me up at night. Chiropractor adjusted my back and voila no more pain. Was a pinched nerve. Good luck hope you feel better soon and forever.

@bbk186 there’s no cure. He started Plaquenil 6/5/2026 but it takes 6 months maybe a year to really work. Colchicine is the go to but it didn’t work for me. I’m taking Celebrex which helps but at 72 years old you have to be careful. Ibuprofen is a wonder drug but has consequences. My CPPD is chronic which means I don’t swell up like some do so I was dismissed. I Also have osteoarthritis which is a subcategory of sorts for CPPD. I would talk directly to the doctor ordering the X-ray because I asked a tech once to look for the crystals and they ignored I’ve found only one rheumatologist that even knows what it is. Let us know.

@jonijean I was given a shot of Humira and caught cold after that. I wasn't convinced because the doctor said that I have to take this injection twice every month for the rest of My life. How about you?

@bbk186 I know it lowers your immune system making you more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. I've never had it. It's not used for CPPD. If he's giving you Humira for inflammation caused by an overactive immune system, it takes a while to start working.

@samclembeau I have a request to you. Since chiropractor helped you and I don't have any qualified ones here, can you give me a link to any YouTube video which is similar to yours.