My legs hurt??
Question:
Since 2001, I've had what I thought was "sciatic" pain. I've had an MRI, and it showed there was no pinched nerve in my back. Off and on, the "sciatic" pain comes back.
Usually my legs are tired and sore. It is mostly at the end of the day and when I lay down at night, although it can affect me during the day. I also have hip pain. Sometimes it gets so bad that I can't hardly walk. Stairs are proving to be a problem, and I have to use my upper body strength and a rail to get up them. Some days the pain is absent, some days it's really bad. I have no other pain above the waist.
My doctor has no answers for me. I now lost my medical insurance, so I can't afford to be seen.
I know it's not claudication or RLS, because I don't have symptoms of those disease. I'm 27 years old. Anyone with similar experiences?
Answers:
Your doctor may not have made a diagnosis, but surely he made some suggestions? Is the pain muscular or in the bone? It could be neuropathy. A disorder that usually is accompanied by pain in the lower extremities that also presents with burning sensations in the feet. I took my brother to the University of Chicago hospitals years ago for a seminar on this condition. It is difficult to diagnois and even harder to treat. Or it could be siatic pain that is caused by a deteriorating disc that has not yet slipped. An MRI may need to be repeated. Turned out that was what was wrong with my brother. He had about 3 MRI's and years of undiagnoised pain. In his quest for diagnosis and relief he was told he might be suffering from everything from possible undetected STDs to addiction to pain killers to psychological problems before a doctor found the answer. He had back surgery to correct a buldge of a disc in his spine. He has been pain free for years. It was a real nightmare for him.
It is important to remember that doctors are PRACTICING medicine. They haven't PERFECTED it yet.
I'm sorry you don't have insurance. However, that may be a plus for you. County hospitals operate on a sliding economic scale. The wait for emergency service and clinic appointments is dreadful and you won't necessarily be treated with respect by triage nurses or other personnel, but some of the brightest and best doctors in our nation work in these facilities because of the exposure to a wide range of conditions that they may not see in private hospitals. That allows them to hone their skills and build a resume.
I suggest you try that and don't give up. There is a solution to your medical mystery. You'll have to be persistant to find it. Keep a journal of treatment, search the WebMD pages and look for your symptoms. Get someone to help you like I helped my brother. You need an advocate in this. I hope you find the answer soon.
If you are overweight, start there. Less stress on your extremeties can be accomplished by a weight loss if that is part of the problem. Also try enrolling in an acquatic exercise program.
Good luck to you.
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