Do you have one leg longer than the other?

[AndOutComeTheBoobs]

If so, by how much?
Do you get lower back pain? Do you have wonky hips and scoliosis?

I've just found out that my sciatica isn't sciatica at all but referred pain. I've got all kinds of wonkiness that isn't down to me having odd hips but quite simply, having one leg 6mm longer than the other.

If only I knew years ago I could have saved myself so much pain!

Has anyone else experienced this?

Yes, but it’s because my pelvis is tilted. I’m 53 this month and about to have hip replacement surgery because the pain is dreadful. I’m pretty sure it’s because of my wonky gait that I’ve ended up in this state.

I had a friend who has and she was getting hip pain until it was discovered. She has an insert to wear in her shoes. I don't think it's that uncommon.

Yes, but I don't know by how much. A minuscule amount I would imagine, nowhere near 6mm. The shorter leg tires more easily and and the thigh/buttock muscles are overdeveloped. I wear orthotics but can't say they make a difference. I have some collapsed discs but have no idea if they are related to the leg length discrepancy.

I don't get much back pain, maybe two bouts a year where I can barely move, but my lower back is prone to aching if I do certain things. I've found out that my back doesn't like dead lifts!

I do lean to one side, my 'tall' side, but don't know if that's related.

I'd guess that it's very common. But I'd also hazard a guess that few people know.

I also have a tilted pelvis and had all sorts of horrible trouble with my hips when ow as growing up.

Yes.

I was seeing an osteopath for another reason, and it was one of the things he told me about my body. He said it's terribly common - nearly everyone is slightly wonky, and I'm off by only a few mms, which is so little he counted it as normal. He didn't recommend an insole as it's so slight.

But I have found when running long distances, it helps a bit to run with the fractionallly longer leg on the downhill side of a camber.

I got into running for a while and my knee hurt like buggery.

I guess now this is why.

This morning I walked downstairs with my new insole in and was immediately surprised that I didn't feel pain in my knee as I descended the steps!

I feel like rejoicing that something as simple as £3 foam insert can help me so much.

That and all the exercises I need to do to fix my core strength and pelvic floor muscles.

My daughter does, we had no idea until she went to a podiatrist aged 14. The podiatrist got her to stand straight and pointed out how it affected the whole of her body, one shoulder being noticeably lower than the other. I think they said the difference was a couple of cm.
She'd never had a problem as such but they think she had been walking on tip toes to compensate.

Yes after several physios not understanding why my knee always full of fluid etc. New physio on initial assessment of me asked me to stand up straight......then put me properly straight and it felt so unnatural. This was nearly 20yrs ago, i think eventually measured a 2cm difference

I’m awaiting Orthopaedic opinion on hips after knee pain from running. I have a pelvic tilt and suffer with lower back pain too. How do you find out if your legs aren’t even?

Josh that sounds like you have.
I have all of the things you mentioned. All caused by me having a longer leg.

I will link you to the person I used. Perhaps you can find someone in your area.

He did a LOT of tests. He knew early on in the procedure that it's likely to be caused by uneven limbs but it wasn't until toward the end that he measured to confirm the difference.
I will get the link now.

he is an osteopath so hopefully your osteopath can help you as much as mine has helped me

One of my legs is quite a bit longer than the other. I had no idea until a physiotherapist who I was seeing for something unrelated filmed me on a treadmill and I could see immediately how much lower one hip was than the other. I’m very prone to hip pain but orthotic insoles definitely help.

I found the same last year, by about the same amount.

As soon as they said, I realised that I tend to stand wonky and rest my weight on one leg.

I had some physio and use a wedge in the heel and I won't say I'm pain free, but I don't have the feeling that my legs are separating from my spine as I did, and the pain is only really after the end of a tennis match when I'm stiffening up at the end.

@JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam put a thinnish paperback book on the floor and then stand with one foot on it and then other off. If your longer leg is on it, you'll feel like you are leaning more than when your shorter leg is on it. If the book is the same thickness as your legs are different, one way you won't feel off balance at all.

I have the opposite problem, one of my legs is shorter than the other.

I have absolutely no advice or experience but just wanted to say I totally read your post in the voice of Rachel from Friend's Dad.
As in "what happens if you get burgled? How do you run away with one leg shorter than the other?!"
(Sorry, couldn't resist, I'll see myself out lol)

Not noticeably but if I stand completely straight but that's due to scoliosis i presume! Diagnosed when I was about 12/13 and get constant back ache and hips are sometimes uncomfy!

Yes. I have mild scoliosis which has resulted in lower back problems, tight piriformis, buttock, hip and leg pain, and plantar fasciitis which I was told is also related. Waited several weeks for podiatrist to fit me with an insole. Not sure it's done anything, but several weeks of deep massage from a physio has got me walking more normally again for now. Strange but I've always felt asymmetrical.

Thanks for the link-you aren’t in my area but I’ll see what I can find more locally.

I will try the book trick tomorrow, I have always felt slightly off balance, I can’t squat for toffee and that feeling of placing more weight on one leg when standing is true of me-I’ve even sent that foot to sleep before now because it takes the weight.