HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Undiagnosed Chronic Pain

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/9/2013 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
I've been dealing with chronic leg pain for the past year. Whenever I'm sitting or lying down, throughout my whole legs I get a tight, achy pain, ranges from a 4-7.

I'm not here for medical advice. I'm here for coping advice. I'm just exhausted.

We've been doing every test in the book, and nothing. I have painkillers every once in a while, but eventually they stop working. I feel like the day will come that we figure out what's wrong and fix it, but for now I'm just getting through each day, waiting for the moment that I can fall asleep. The highlight of my days is taking my dog for a walk, since the pain fades when I'm moving around. I still have work (I'm a freelance editor), though it's difficult getting through a whole day. And I do have fun times -- just two days ago I had my birthday party and it was a blast.

But the days always end with, and are often interspersed with, the pain. I'm so, so tired. Physically and mentally drained. I don't know how to cope with this, I don't know where to go from here, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. And I'm so tired.

Any advice, or just comforting, empathetic words, would be very appreciated.
Posted 7/9/2013 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Katherine to the forums at HW. Sorry to see your one of the many still searching for answers. Its really not uncommon so there will be many who understand your frustration.

Living and coping is at times far worse than the pain. Learning to adapt our daily lives is one of our bigger challenges. For some with multiple problems its a never ending one.

Your leg pain can stem from a number of things so finding the cause could be a long process but we can give you some suggestions that may help.

Hydrotherapy is a very good way to relax and calm down leg pain. Some use water in general but I've found warm water to work best. If nothing else a hot bath prior to trying to sleep. If you have a recliner you might try sleeping in it a night or two just to get some rest. The natural posture of the chair can bring some relief.

Some of the topical medicines are good and help some. I prefer Voltaren as some others do as well and even though its prescription only most Drs don't have a problem writing it.

Others will bring you more suggestions or just stop in to welcome you.

Hoping you get some answers soon.
Posted 7/9/2013 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to Healing Well. I am sorry you are suffering. It is very hard when you do not know what is causing your pain. Seems our Birthday's are close or on the same day. Mine is the 7th. So Happy Belated Birthday! I had some terrible leg pain recently. Mine was different from your because walking made mine worse. It turned out to be the weirdest thing. I was retaining fluid in my legs. They did not look swollen but there was so much fluid it was restricting blood flow. Made walking almost impossible. I went on a a water pill and within a week I was much better. I just tell you this so you know the answers can come from the weirdest places.

So far as coping, I am pretty new to all this so I don't have many coping strategies. I like to play with my dogs. I like to watch movies. I like to talk here where I am truly understood. I am trying to start yoga and meditation but that is ify. I am trying to take better care of myself such as nutrition. My husband used to be a really bad support system but has really become amazing.
Posted 7/9/2013 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, guys! Yes, Vickie, I have Voltaren, and I use it every once in a while, but it only works for an hour or so. And I do take hot baths (my dog looks at me like I'm nuts! :P). Thanks for those recommendations!
Posted 7/10/2013 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the hw forum.
I an so sorry you are dealing with chronic pain and you are having trouble getting a diagnosis. Pity Dr. House isn't around to fix us all up huh. I wish you all the luck I can to help you get answers. I was wondering do massages help? Because if they do and it cause your muscles to move thus causing relief you might want to bring that up to your doctor and see what causes leg pain but is relieved by muscle movement. I hope you get some real sleep this fine evening because one of us needs to and it's not me lol.
Best of luck
Morgan
Posted 7/10/2013 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
House! ! Now there's a Dr right? Im trying to find out what kind of insurance all those folks have that allow all those experiments to be done. I need to sign up,I can barely get therapy covered.
Posted 7/12/2013 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
I'm still under my dad's insurance, which is awesome, because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to have nearly as many tests done. I get a bill every couple months for $100/$200 or so, but that's nothing compared to what it "really" costs.

Too bad none of this tests have shown I'm anything but healthy. >.>
Posted 7/13/2013 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
I would love to know what insurance they have. Seeing House would get us ask fixed up in a week lol.
Posted 7/13/2013 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
What kind of doctor (s) have you seen? I saw orthopods, rheumatologist, then found physiatrist (pain and rehab) who actually had some answers.

Have you had tests like EMG, MRI to find out where the pain is originating? It's not necessarily in the leg. My leg pain starts at my spine where there are pinched nerves.

Free test to see if you have a pinched sciatic nerve where it runs through the piriformis muscle: cross affected leg over opposite knee. Then bend forward towards the affected knee while pulling it up. You should feel a strong stretch. If a few days of that helps you have piriformis syndrome. If not, look at spine. This is often done on a large ball in Phys Therapy. See online videos and sketches.

When my sciatic pinches in thigh, leg, feet I get no relief from locally massaging. I have to do back stretches. Loads of exercises, mostly core strengthening, online.
Posted 7/15/2013 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
katherinefortis do you have leg pain when sleeping? Does any position give you more relief than others? Some times sleeping in reclining position helps relieve pain especially if it is caused by nerves in your lower back. Maybe putting pillows under your knees when laying on your back might help,. Or sleeping on your side with a body pillow or a pillow between your knees. Maybe alternating hot and cold packs on your lower back??? Have they tried sending you Physical Therapy?  Have they done an MRI on your lower back? Allot of times doctors don't take pain seriously especially if your a younger person, young people can have back problems too, and often normal x-rays won't show it. Pain is so difficult to cope with, I am glad you found us, if nothing else we are all here for you! Good Luck to you and I hope you can find some relief soon.

White Beard

'

Posted 7/15/2013 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Katherine!

I am sorry for the struggle you have gone through! I too, experienced an achy, tight pain in my legs for years, which steadily restricted my movement more and more overtime.

I totally feel for you with regards to being exhausted and in pain all the time. It is such a hard thing to experience!

I am wondering if you may have myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) also known as chronic myofascial pain (CMP)? This is what was the culprit of my leg pain!

What MPS or CMP is, is basically the knotting up of the connective tissue (or fascia) that surrounds the muscles.

Fortunately, I managed to recover from MPS with trigger point therapy (a type of deep-tissue massage geared towards stretching the fascia) and self therapy with tennis balls and a foam roller.

I sure hope you find relief soon! If you have any questions about MPS, please let me know :)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply