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Chronic hip and leg pain

Posted by BSalsman @strokemyoak, Dec 5, 2017

Hey everyone, not to sure how this site works, but I've had this pain for almost 2 years now and I'm curious to hear what people have to say.

I'll start off by saying a 23-year-old male who sits at a desk for a living, play a lot of video games on my spare time, but have had a pretty strict gym routine since I was 16. This pain started while I was sitting in an office chair. At the time I was doing pretty heavy lifting at the gym which could have started this but I'm not certain. The pain started in the left Glute and just felt like a tightness the ran on the across the muscle. Later the pain continued to spread up to my lower back and my hip (Left side only). The pain in my hip feels like a deep ache or an extreme tightness. The pain then continued down my left leg following the IT band and can sometimes be felt on the outside of the shin. Now it just at the point where it feels like the left side of my hip and leg is just in a dull ache that stems from the hip (the hip almost feels like a constant light cramping muscle).

I get this pain every single day and the only thing that seems to relieve it is sleep. When I wake up the pain is practically gone, but after about 10 minutes of being awake (doesn't matter if I move around or stay laying down) the pain resumes. Sitting is by far the worst, followed by laying down, then followed by standing. Walking can sometimes reduce the pain.

I have tried:
- Regular stretching
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Physio
- Physio (for piriformis syndrome)
- Chiro
- Laser
- ART

Imaging
- MRI of lower back
- Hip X-ray

Medication
- Various muscle relaxors and anti inflammatories
- Pregabalin

I am out of options, I'm hoping someone out there has had a similar experience and can shed some light on this issue.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

ckeys | @ckeys | Sep 25, 2018

I have bad hip pain that radiates to lower back and down my leg. Ortho thinks it’s bursitis. Heat does help me. It looks like you’ve tried a lot of things but maybe you need to stick with one thing for longer? You also might try a second opinion. Best of luck to you.

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deedeedavidson | @deedeedavidson | May 23, 2023

I had spine surgery for spondylolisthesis L4/L5 as well as some scoliosis fixed (XLIF) 7 yrs ago and have suffered from ongoing pain in my legs since then. It started with right thigh, but at this point it is in both thighs, mostly inner and outer, shins and feet. First diagnosis was Post Laminectomy Syndrome treated with pain meds and PT. No real help, just pain progression. Then I had osteonecrosis in both knees, SO painful when those bones start to collapse. Delays due to Covid ( which I had and was hospitalized for), but finally had both knees total replacements, one year apart. It’s been a life of pain since then. All mechanics are fine, but pain has changed my life. Hard to sleep, can’t walk for too long, standing is the worst.
I finally decided I was done with just accepting this. I am 70 yrs old and I want to be able to spend time with my 9 grandchildren. I am now going to a UCLA Pain Management Dr. who has diagnosed me with Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (bursitis and labral tears in my hips) and Fibromyalgia. I guess once you go through some serious pain events your brain can get you stuck there. So I am back to PT, recumbent bike for short periods, will be getting cortisone shots in my hips and go on Savella for the fibromyalgia. Also Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to try to reset my brain as far as pain is concerned. My PT suggested an app called Curable, started by a leading pain scientist. Hoping for the best, but it’s been a long haul. You have to advocate for yourself and find the people who will listen to you and be dedicated to get to the bottom of it. Pain is tricky- the bio-psycho-social mix makes diagnosis more difficult. But, even though I’m discouraged, I haven’t given up hope.

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1 reply
cookiegirl1944 | @cookiegirl1944 | May 24, 2023

This is exactly how I feel. I want to discuss it more with you but have an appointment so will text later today.

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cookiegirl1944 | @cookiegirl1944 | May 24, 2023

I have been experiencing the exact same symptoms as you described in your post. I did notice your post was dated 2017 so wondering if you are still on this site? If so how are you doing? Did you ever figure out what was wrong? I started in December 2020 with pain in m6 lower back, hips, tightness and pain in my thighs. I have had countless labs, specialist visits, along with electro acupuncture, nerve conduction tests, MRI’s and x rays on my hips and knees. Still in pain.

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cookiegirl1944 | @cookiegirl1944 | May 24, 2023
In reply to @deedeedavidson "I had spine surgery for spondylolisthesis L4/L5 as well as some scoliosis fixed (XLIF) 7 yrs..." + (show)
@deedeedavidson

I had spine surgery for spondylolisthesis L4/L5 as well as some scoliosis fixed (XLIF) 7 yrs ago and have suffered from ongoing pain in my legs since then. It started with right thigh, but at this point it is in both thighs, mostly inner and outer, shins and feet. First diagnosis was Post Laminectomy Syndrome treated with pain meds and PT. No real help, just pain progression. Then I had osteonecrosis in both knees, SO painful when those bones start to collapse. Delays due to Covid ( which I had and was hospitalized for), but finally had both knees total replacements, one year apart. It’s been a life of pain since then. All mechanics are fine, but pain has changed my life. Hard to sleep, can’t walk for too long, standing is the worst.
I finally decided I was done with just accepting this. I am 70 yrs old and I want to be able to spend time with my 9 grandchildren. I am now going to a UCLA Pain Management Dr. who has diagnosed me with Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (bursitis and labral tears in my hips) and Fibromyalgia. I guess once you go through some serious pain events your brain can get you stuck there. So I am back to PT, recumbent bike for short periods, will be getting cortisone shots in my hips and go on Savella for the fibromyalgia. Also Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to try to reset my brain as far as pain is concerned. My PT suggested an app called Curable, started by a leading pain scientist. Hoping for the best, but it’s been a long haul. You have to advocate for yourself and find the people who will listen to you and be dedicated to get to the bottom of it. Pain is tricky- the bio-psycho-social mix makes diagnosis more difficult. But, even though I’m discouraged, I haven’t given up hope.

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Don’t ever give up hope. Keep going. The answer is there just keep the faith.

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