What on earth could be causing my nerve pain in my legs?

This is interesting, I saw a orthopedic surgeon for my knee and lower leg pain 2 years ago, they wanted to do a knee replacement but I shattered my femur many moons ago and there wasn't enough bone left to do the replacement in my opinion, so I declined. I have a metal plate from hip to knee and screws in the top of my hip as well so not a good candidate for that. I wonder if it's spine related and not the knee. I am loosing the use of my left arm too as the shoulder is hurting like something is broken but I had breast cancer with a mastectomy and all my lymph nodes removed so they won't touch my shoulder surgically. I have had spine issues since childhood and now I'm thinking that there is permanent damage since the L3-L5 were actually pushing on the spinal cord. Maybe that's the answer to all of this, the spine has so many nerves. My appointment is this Saturday and I am going to print this thread for my doc. Thanks for sharing, I am going to have to learn to live with pain as it's gotten worse since surgery. Went to ER last Friday, now with swelling in my calves and ankles. No blood clots found or any fluid around my heart and lungs. Numbness is getting worse. smh

The night I got home after L4-S1 spine fusion in August 2022, my left leg gave out (at the knee I think) and I fell down on all fours. From then on I had terrible left leg pain (from knee down). Sent for ultrasound that week which ruled out a blood clot. At 6-week post op video appointment (I live 6 hours from where I had surgery) the surgeon ordered a CT scan. This determined that the fusion hardware had moved and I went back in three weeks later for a correction. It fixed the leg pain but not the numbness which I still have (and into my foot) three years later. If I bang that shin or my grandson climbs on that leg, it really hurts. Nerve testing showed it is just a result of spine surgery and likely will not resolve. Grateful my back pain is gone!

I have severe lumbar stenosis and some slipped discs in the lumbar spine. Pressure on the nerves in the lumbar can cause pain all the way down the leg into the feet and ankles. My pain can be variable -- very bad in one area (for example the glutes and hamstrings) and then easing up and getting bad in the lower calf and the foot. You mention a "bulge" in your lower spine -- what exactly was the diagnosis?? If you have any pressure on the nerves in the lower spine, that could be the cause of your pain.

I have had lower back pain for the majority of my years. After moving and all the heavy lifting and carrying that was required, my back went crazy with pain. It was so bad that I couldn't turn my body around to get out of bed, and trying to sit or stand from a sitting position was unbearable.
I have a new medical doctor (Nurse Practitioner), and she told me my lower 3 disks have fused and that the nerves were caught in the fusion. For the pain, she prescribed a cream called " Diclofenac ". After applying it 3 times a day for three days, I felt relief. I was amazed that a cream could be that powerful. The longer I use it, the less pain I have.
The pain in my lower back, buttocks, thighs and calves has improved significantly. I can walk now with the aid of a cane and am happily able to go outside and walk.

Hi there, I am going through very similar symptoms, except my MRI showed stenosis of the spine. My left leg is failing me. My knee caps feel like I have no cartilage left. Sometimes it goes to my right leg as well after a long day of walking. At night when I go to sleep it's horrific. I can't sleep because of the debilitating heaviness. I do know there is a mind-body connection, and if tests all come back negative, look up the spiritual meaning of this. Maybe it will connect to you. It's been 8 months since you wrote this. Have you had any relief? I hope you have < 3 If so, can you share what worked?

Hi there, I am going through very similar symptoms, except my MRI showed stenosis of the spine. My left leg is failing me. My knee caps feel like I have no cartilage left. Sometimes it goes to my right leg as well after a long day of walking. At night when I go to sleep it's horrific. I can't sleep because of the debilitating heaviness. I do know there is a mind-body connection, and if tests all come back negative, look up the spiritual meaning of this. Maybe it will connect to you. It's been 8 months since you wrote this. Have you had any relief? I hope you have < 3 If so, can you share what worked?