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Undiagnosed Leg Pain
I am looking for some help around some pain I've been having for the last two years now. Even if that help is referring a doctor or specialist who may be able to help me!
I'm 33 years old. Two years ago I was at the gym running on the treadmill and when I left, it felt like I pulled my hamstring (I've never pulled a hamstring). Two years laster the pain has traveled down my leg. I live around a level 6 or 7 pain, and have episodes that can get up to a 12 or 13 (in my opinion).
Symptoms: Deep aching on the outer, upper, part of my leg. Sharp, random pains on the inside of my calf. If you push behind my knee, it absolutely hurts. Sometimes pain on the outer, back part of my knee. The upper part of my leg ALWAYS hurts, my calf is random. But sometimes my whole leg is firing on all cylinders of pain. I have NO numbness, tingling, drop foot, or burning. Nothing above into my glutes hurt either. Only AFTER my spine injections, and it goes away.
What makes it worse: Sitting, especially for long periods of time. Bending at the waste too much. Bending my knee tightly. Walking on uneven ground. Most exercise.
What makes it better: nothing. literally nothing.
Plan of Care I've gone through: Physical Therapy three different times, SI join injection, Piriformis injection, L4 L5 Injection, Cortizone injections, knee injection. Aiirosti massaging. Not bending and resting. Gabepenton and multiple anti inflamorties. Topical treatments. Easter medicine acupuncture. Dry needling.
Tests: Two different nerve tests, came back normal. MRI of spine, pelvis, hips, femer, tibia and knee. X - Ray of the spine. Ultra sound of piriformis. There is not a single test that shows any outlier of what my diagnosis could be.
The only other symptom I have is numbness and aching in my heel on the same leg. But I have had that for a long time from running. It was not my first time running when I was injured, I've been an active person as much as possible.
I appreciate any help in advance. I'm really at a loss and feeilng hopeless. I just want to get better so I can get back to having quality of life.
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Welcome @kmarie90, I know it has to be frustrating to have the type of pain you are having and not finding any real answers or treatments that provide relief. I don't have any medical training or background but from reading your symptoms I'm wondering if it could be something like tendinopathy. Here's an older article on the topic that might be helpful:
"Tendinopathy is a broad term encompassing painful conditions occurring in and around tendons in response to overuse. Recent basic science research suggests little or no inflammation is present in these conditions. "
--- Treatment of Tendinopathy: What Works, What Does Not, and What is on the Horizon:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2505250/.
It sounds like you have already seen a lot of doctors. Have you seen any in sports medicine?
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5 ReactionsHi John! Yes, my most recent doctor is a Sports Medicine Ortho and my original doctor was a Sports Medicine Ortho but we have never talked about my tendons.
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4 ReactionsI will say, looking into the symptoms of tendinopathy, I do not really have any of them.
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4 ReactionsI would have guessed tendinopathy would show on an MRI, like my tendonosis did in my right foot. @kmarie90, as someone who has right-sided mild spasticity, do any of the muscles feel like they are tight/contracted and not loosening up? If so, maybe try an antispasmodic drug to break the cycle.
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3 ReactionsHi Aaron! Yes in my calf, not so much my upper leg. When it's really bad, I almost can bend my ankle to walk normal. I've never had a muscle spasm, but it's almost like one that just never stops (in my calf). It's like a tight stabbing. But nothing is jabbing or vibrating.
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