I'm 21 and can barely walk

So eight years ago I dislocated my hip twice playing soccer and ever since then I get random pain in my leg.  I just figured it was 'cause of the injury and the doctors were telling my mom that I was making it up and it was all in my head.  I mean, through out my teenage years I would have like 10 days in a month where I could barely move and as I've gotten older it's just gotten worse.  I've had over 16 x-rays on it and numerous blood tests and no one could tell me what was wrong.  It was highly frustrating and it made me so depressed.  They told me I couldn't play soccer anymore and couldn't dance, about all I could do was swim and those were things I loved to do.  Well, a little over a month ago I got shooting pain down my leg and I got sent home from work early.  I just figured that in a couple days I'd be fine and the pain would go away like normal but it hasn't, in fact it's just gotten worse every day.  I had a cortizone shot and it didn't help any, I'm on pain killers just to walk and my leg just recently started giving out on my when I'm walking.  My boyfriend follows me up the stairs just to make sure I don't fall down them.  The doctors have no idea what's wrong still and I hate pain killers.  I'm a very active person so the fact that I can't really go do anything frustrates me.  I hate feeling like I can't do anything and that I'm a burden.  I have no idea what to do and the doctors haven't really been helping me.  It's making me sad and frustrated and angry.

Hi, as a caregiver I find your information alarming. I don't think anything is life threatening, but it sure seems like your doctor needs to go back to med school. I would ask for some pool therapy. Unfortunally, you got to keep moving. If you don't use it, you will lose it. When I was working for the education department, I fell into a stupid pothole on the way to catch the city bus. I severly sprained my ankle, was put in a brace and had to use crutches. Anyhow, I ended up on crutches for two months. I was on crutches so long I actually 90% of my muscle usage in my leg. I had to relearn how to use the entire leg again.I suggest pool therapy for the reasoning of why I use pool therapy for my fibromyalgia flare ups. It's easier to move in water, and your body is lighter. I would ask for an autoimmune specialist too. I've recently found out because of leg pain it can actually be part of a numerous auto immune diseases.

Hi Midnatt and welcome to Healing Wells chronic pain forum. I am sorry that you have to be here but very glad that you found us.

It is very frustrating to have something wrong and no one else seems to know what it is and more less just blows you off because they don't think there is anything there. Don't give up on this-keep plugging along till you find the right dr to help you. There is one out there you just have to find him.

Have you had any special xrays like a CT Scan or an MRI? Plain film xrays done in drs offices & even at the hospital are not going to show much of anything unless you have a fracture or a break, thats all they will show. There are other xrays like the ones I asked about that are much more definitive.

Has any of these drs ever checked your back out? I ask because some of this could also come from your back. You spoke about pain shooting down your leg and that is also a symptom many of us have with back problems. You really should have your back checked too.

One thing that is important and that is to stay as active as possible. I understand you are not 100% and thats ok for now till you can get better-keep moving around as much as your body will allow.

What kind of drs have you seen for this? I think an orthopedic specialist would be a direction I would go in. Find one that treats sports medicine too. I would also call my local hospital and ask for their referral line and ask them about names & phone numbers of some good orthos. If you need a referral to one of the specialist get your primary care dr to make the referral. I would look for my own dr I would not leave it up to my primary care dr either. If you find one that you want to see just tell the primary care dr that you know of someone that has sees this dr and they have said some good things and you want a referral. That way the primary care dr will not get his/her feathers all in a ruffle or feel like his/her toes are being stepped on.

Please keep us posted on how you progress along and welcome aboard.

If you are saying your primary care is is digging his heels in and refusing to refer you then kick his behind to the curb and find yourself another one. He works for you, you hire him to have your best interest at heart when it comes to your health, thats just nuts. There is no way I would sit still for some primary care dr to treat me in the manner you are being treated.You truly have more control here than you realize, find yourself another PCP, otherwise a year from now you will be exactly where you are today, no where, so there is a way to fix this problem.

Many times we do have to advocate for our own care and thats ok, whatever it takes to get help. Believe me you are not the first one to be in this position with a dr refusing to do what he is hired to do.

Take care.

So I go to a different doctor on Monday. Hopefully this one will be better than my last 'cause it's not getting any better. -.-' In fact now my other hip is starting to hurt as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping that this new doctor will be better than the other one.

Dear Midnatt...I have to say I agree with all of the above....The Doctor works for you if he can not accomidate you then you have to take charge and find one willing to listen. I know that is easier said then done, but do not give up as it took me 5 Doctors until I found one who truely cared. Please try and be patient as I think once you get the proper tests done they will be able to treat you properly. I agree with stray dog ....have your back looked into. Good luck and I pray for you to have answers soon. Keep in touch.

Take Care, Amy

First of all it really p****s me off that your girlfriends dad has an opinion about your pain. I would like people like him to have to suffer one day like the people of this forum do. Ignore him for he knows not what he speaks. I know how frustrated you are an it does not help when people make comments like you look like your fine, or if you can work you must not be in any pain...how about we work so we can eat. Now that I am one venting I want to say I know it is hard to be patient but I do believe once you get another doctor who will listen to you and you get the right dx you will do much better. Keep in touch and continue to post even if you just need to vent it helps.

Take Care, Amy

Glad to hear that someone listened to you, that means so much. Do you have a return visit scheduled with the dr or what? Please let us know what you find out.

Take care.

Oh and work decided to take me off the schedule until I have a doctor's note saying what my restrictions are. My doctor is like -.-' how exactly am I supposed to give you a note saying what you can and can't do when I have no idea what's really causing your pain. He asked what I felt I could do and I told him flat out that I felt that I could work but my managers feel differently 'cause I get really shaky and pale at work since I'm on my feet running around. -.-' I just want to know what's wrong and to get it fixed already. It's making me really depressed at this point, all I want to do is cry. Oh well, could be worse.