Why do my legs hurt?

[kevin23]

I now take trazadone which improves my sleep and helps some. Mostly you learn to live with it, stress in any form makes it worse.
Gentle exercise helps, slow walks. A hot tub helps some, gentle massage by a friend or pro helps. Getting eight hours of sleep every night helps. Mine has gotten much better, but if I have to squat while working , does me in. There are probably newer drugs for it now that should be more effective. The disease is often treated by arthritis doctors, and the ones I went to were not very good at treating or understanding the problem. They are used to treating bone and joint problems and are not very good with muscles. I have a very good GP that is most knowledgable about it.

Research the symptoms and talk to your doc or post here, or pm me if you wish. Weather changes can also cause flareups, tricking doctors into thinking its arthritis.

 

[Georgiadude]

Have you found a treatment that helps?


I'd find another doctor but I don't think you can just go to any neurologist without a referral.

It depends on your insurance. most will allow you to switch but then you're usually stuck with that provider. Call your insurance and check. I don't want to stress you or cause any unnecessary panic but usually when they don't give you the result over the phone it means they've found something and they want to discuss options with you. That's not always the case so don't get stressed by that statement. Actually a positive MRI may not be a bad thing. It may give you the answer as to why your legs are hurting. I highly recommend seeing a licensed massage therapist. preferably one that is trained in neuro muscular therapy. I understand you saw a physical therapist but they aren't massage therapists and vice versa. Each has their own niche. Even if they can't help you with the cause of the pain, a good massage can help you relax, de stress and get rid of some tension. For the pervs out there I'm not talking about inappropriate sexual activity either. I'm talking about a legitimate, professional massage.

Good luck to you. Please let us know the results of your MRI when you get them.

Steven.

 

[KaraBulut]

My over important doctor won't give me the MRI results until my next appointment, which is still about another week away. I'd find another doctor but I don't think you can just go to any neurologist without a referral.

It depends on your insurance. most will allow you to switch but then you're usually stuck with that provider. Call your insurance and check.

It's a good point and your insurance will probably not pay for another MRI- particularly if you never did a followup with the last neurologist.

It's also doubtful that a different neurologist would have a new patient appointment less than 4-6 weeks from today. Most are overbooked well into the future.

Let us know what the doctor says when you see him.

 

[secondmonkey]

I don't want to stress you or cause any unnecessary panic but usually when they don't give you the result over the phone it means they've found something and they want to discuss options with you.

That's what I thought, but I'm not too upset, at this point I want them to find something they can see so they will believe me!

I appreciate all the help everyone - so far you guys have given me more suggestions than the doctors have!

 

[secondmonkey]

Well, I had my nerve test today. He says everything is normal. Blood tests show I am very low in vitamin D, my level is 12.3, normal is 30-100. He said that could possibly cause muscle pain but didn't sound very sure. I've been prescribed a high dose of vitamin D for 6 weeks.

As for the back pain, the MRI says I have arthritis in my spine. That is as much as he would say about that, "he's not a back doctor". Not sure why he couldn't tell me that on the phone? Says the vitamin D could help that too.

I guess I'll try the vitamin D for a while and go back again. Until then I don't need to sleep....

 

[KaraBulut]

He should have told you that in addition to taking the vitamin D, you so need to go outside and sit in the sun without your shirt on for 15-20 mins.

What the neurological test eliminated were conditions that affect nerve conduct- in particular multiple sclerosis. This is very good news.

Have you already seen a spine and rehab specialist?

 

[eastofeden]

I was in so much pain with my legs many years ago...24/7.... and I went to the doctor many times and had tests and zero results...and then I figured it out on my own...went away in a week. I cannot take any kind of Vitamin B. If I do...my legs will start to hurt within a couple of days..even in a multivitamin.

The lady who works for me...in her late 70s at the time...got stuck in her cellar for five hours because she couldn't stand and walk up the stairs from her leg pain and I remember her always going to the doctor and complaining about her legs for years before that...never occurred to me to tell her about the Vitamin B but I did against my better judgement...a week later after stopping her vitamin B and after many years of pain her legs no longer hurt....

I am surprised how quickly the pain starts again if I decide to take a multivitamin.....

I don't know if you take Vitamin B but if so...you may want to stop. I don't know if other vitamins will cause it or not.

Oh yeah...Vitamin D. Everyone I know who has gone the the doctor in the past couple of years go the low vitamin D thing...I figured they must either have a new test or standard or they all went to a Vitamin D conference. I do take that and have no side effects

 

[secondmonkey]

Have you already seen a spine and rehab specialist?

No, I haven't seen anybody about my back yet. I've been thinking the back pain is somewhat normal since I'm a little overweight and don't exercise enough, but it's been worse the last 2-3 months. I'll try the vitamin D for a little while and then move on to a back specialist. I suppose I should make the appointment now as long as the other one took...

I don't know if you take Vitamin B but if so...you may want to stop. I don't know if other vitamins will cause it or not.

Interesting, I do drink a lot of energy drinks that have a lot of vitamin B, (since I don't sleep!) but I've been cutting back on them and haven't noticed any difference. I'll watch out for that.

 

[kallipolis]

Interesting, I do drink a lot of energy drinks that have a lot of vitamin B, (since I don't sleep!) but I've been cutting back on them and haven't noticed any difference. I'll watch out for that.

Energy drinks are saturated with sugar....best quit them entirely....

 

[secondmonkey]

Energy drinks are saturated with sugar....best quit them entirely....

There is nothing wrong with sugar in moderation. Eat it straight out of the bag if you want to. Would you say the same thing if I had a piece of cake for desert?

 

[secondmonkey]

Well, about a month on the vitamin D and if I didn't know better I'd say it's making me worse. Just trying to stand up for a half hour or more is really killing me.

I called the neurologist again to ask for a referral to a back specialist, as I was told I would get if the vitamin D didn't help. They were confused why I would ask a neurologist about a back problem and sent me back to my regular doctor. Now I have been referred to a spine specialist, but that still doesn't address my legs, at all. "Back pain can radiate down into the legs", he said. I told him I thought that was unlikely and the pain in the legs started years earlier than the back, but I don't think he was listening.

I googled the neurologist and he has several really bad reviews and complaints, so now I question everything about his tests.

I feel like I am being punished for something...

 

[seven2go]

Well, I had my nerve test today. He says everything is normal. Blood tests show I am very low in vitamin D, my level is 12.3, normal is 30-100. He said that could possibly cause muscle pain but didn't sound very sure. I've been prescribed a high dose of vitamin D for 6 weeks.

As for the back pain, the MRI says I have arthritis in my spine. That is as much as he would say about that, "he's not a back doctor". Not sure why he couldn't tell me that on the phone?

If he's not a back doctor WTF is he doing with your MRI scans?.......
I have spinal stenosis at the fifth lumbar which manifests itself mostly in that region and in the calves of my legs.
You can read about there >>> http://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0415/p1825.html
Before I had an epidural injection I'd get periodic, very painful, Charley horses in my right calf.......
I SHOULD have had another injection but it was too near the end of my insurance deductible year so there wasn't time for a second without having to pay an obscene copay.......