@taftst1 I have had chronic pain for 30 years, and no one could find the reason until recently. Suppose they cannot find the cause of the pain. In that case, they tell you it is all in your head, have some other wild theory, and keep pushing you to other doctors you have already seen twice, MRI which show nothing, or want to try the unnecessary treatment to pacify the Government because you are given pain medications. This issue I always tried to explain was in both legs at precisely the same spot, and that is not a coincidence in my books. It must be something about how I am built structurally in that area. In one ear out the other, this seemed to go.

After 30 years, I decided to go on my own to an orthopedic specialist who referred me to a very experienced radiologist who consequently found a calcium buildup on my Fibula (both legs), not a lot, just 2-5mm. Still, it was right where the main nerve goes between the calf muscles and the fibula. He indicated he usually would not have commented on it except if he knew I had ongoing chronic pain. An orthopedic surgeon removed this buildup; my left leg is reasonable now, and my right leg is better than it was, but I still require medication. The calcium buildup looked like a coral reef, and that main nerve rubbed every second of the day. As the calcium buildup would always continue and the pain would only worsen over time. Due to the length of time of the rubbing of the nerve it may never get better. The new specialist said that as it is a main nerve and heals from the lower spine at 1mm per day, it will take three years to see if it will fully repair. Until then, it will be responsible pain management through medication.

What annoyed me was the pain specialist, who seemed to think it may be in my head never apologized for what he said nor acknowledged my persistence in going off my own back to an orthopedic specialist, which was the start of the discovery of the actual issue. As a senior manager, if I am wrong or wronged someone, I am the first to apologize, as that is the right thing to do. No wonder we are so frustrated at the current status of pain management in this country.