Fibromyalgia or something else? Pain in thigh and entire left leg+knee

Posted by maniess @maniess, Mar 25, 2019

Hello, I have a history of fibromyalgia, but this pain is a bit different. It’s started a few days ago and gradually got worse. Started as a pain in the buttocks, and it hurts when I put pressure on my leg with my hand. It is also stiff to the touch. I can describe it as being an ache and that it’s been run over by a car. Is this simply just another bout of fibromyalgia, or maybe something more? Quite worried, any help would be appreciated

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@maniess Welcome to Mayo connect we help but dont diagnose here ,its funny about your symptoms in the last several weeks I have something similar I have fibro but it didnt feel like a fibro What I found out the Dr told me it was my sciatica nerve became inflammed from something Dr said just twisting can cause it It still hurts but not nearly like it did I would see your Dr about it I saw my Chiropractor as I said its still sore Wishing you well

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@maniess Hi, and welcome to Connect. As @lioness indicated, we are not professionals but people with shared experiences, trying to help each other and make suggestions.
My first thought was the same as what lioness mentioned, sciatica. I have only had some very mild, short-lived bouts with it, I think when I was pregnant many years ago, but it does originate in the buttocks or hips and radiates down the leg. If you go to a doctor for it you, and that is the diagnosis, you will probably be sent to a physical therapist for some exercises that will help.
I actually went to an orthopedic doctor for cortisone shots in both of my hips today for bursitis. I can sometimes feel bursitis pain down my leg also, so it is another possibility.
Good luck with it, and please let us know what you do find out. Thanks.
JK

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I have had similar pain a few months ago. At first, I thought it was my back, because I have had sciatica in the past, but my back did not hurt.
Then I thought it was my office chair and I switched out. That did help with pain behind my knee, but did not help with upper thigh/hip pain. I have been told that I have some arthritis in my hip, but it did not feel like arthritis. But I did decide to buy some new shoes and that did help with the pain. So I don't know if the pain was caused by unsupportive shoes (which probably twisted my leg slightly) or if the new shoes helped with the arthritis, but I'm glad that it was an easy and fairly inexpensive way to stop my leg ache.

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@maniess Of course, try to get an actual diagnosis from your doctor. It’s been a while - did it resolve? One to consider as part of a differential diagnosis is Myofascial pain of which stiffness and soreness of whole regions can occur. If so, stretching and exercise and trigger point release can help.

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I'm 65yrs old I have had Fibro for 36yrs then about 8 yrs ago stared with Osteoarthritis everywhere. I had the same last yr then couldn't lift one leg in front of the other without each leg feeling like a massive weight and awful pain down through my groins on both sides. I was waking up in the night with pain on the outside of the hip and down my leg on which ever one I was laying on. Turns out it was my low back even though that wasn't painful only when I bend over first thing in the am especially brushing my teeth position over the sink. I had the nerves ablated at the pain clinic and was great for a yr. I just had it redone so waiting for the optimum effects which can take up to 6 weeks. Before I had that 1st treatment I couldn't walk round Costco even leaning on the cart. I had had the pain and wasn't able to get into my SUV without manually lifting my leg to get in for many mths,I thought I was going to have the pain forever but now can walk for a long time although my back does hurt now if I do too much.Hope my info helps.

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I had similar symptoms and it was a back problem!. One of my discs in my lower back was messed up and laying on some major nerves going down my leg. I have had surgery - fusion of discs 4 and 5 - and no more pain in my leg and buttocks! Get your back checked! An MRI and xrays showed the problem. Hope this helps!

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Same here. Spine to much of a mess to do anything though. I just deal with it.

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@parus Good morning hope you feel better today I have been having sciatica pain goes from buttocks down leg If I walk alot my calf and foot gets really tired and hurts. My massage and chiropractor seem to be helping I just have to find time to go At home I use my Tens unit and ice helps alot

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@lioness Thing is we keep trudging onward girl!!! Maybe it is the trying that keeps us going. I have known too many that stopped trying. It is sad.

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@parus You are so right we can't let those uglies get us down it is the try that counts

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