To want to know get a diagnosis of what's up with my gammy leg?

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

I have a problem with my right leg. I have no idea what the problem actually is, and am currently attempting to get some answers but feel I am getting nowhere.

My right leg is shorter than my left, I was told many years ago by a physiotherapist. Only by a tiny amount, I believe. And I don't even know if this has any bearing on my current problem. It may be something else. (I wear orthotics with a slight raise on the right heel)

As I'm getting older, the discrepancy between the legs is ever more obvious and I can only really describe it as a feeling of 'instability'. My right thigh and buttock are larger than the left (possibly due to more muscle mass?) and I always seem to 'lead' with that leg. The right thigh aches a lot and gets tired very quickly.

My right leg also seems to (and I know this sounds really odd!) 'hang' differently from the hip. It's as if it turns outwards. This is becoming more apparent as I age. I am aware of this when I'm standing and when I'm lying down. Whenever I have to do exercises where each leg has to do the same movement, I have to consciously shift my right leg into the correct position.

This is all prompted by a physio appointment yesterday that was less use than a chocolate kettle. He seemed pretty disinterested and said there was nothing he could do unless there was actual pain or something clearly wrong (NB. I'm not taking issue with what he told me; if it's beyond his remit, that's fine).

A few years ago I had an assessment at a muculoskeletal podiatry centre where they attached sensors to me and had me walk up and down and do various movements. I took along the report from this in case it was of any help to the physio; he said he didn't understand things like that and didn't look at it. I don't fully understand the results myself (graphs and whatnot) but wanted to be as helpful as possible.

I had an MRI scan a couple months ago and the results were: subacute procedure prolapse of lower 4 lumbar discs. Some impingement of nerve roots. On the LEFT side though I'm not currently in any back pain. It was my GP who told me to have the MRI scan and then see the physio with the results. So that's what I did and I'm no further forward.

Does anyone have and advice about what kind of professional I should be asking for a referral to as I'm at a loss if the physio can't help. He said he was going to write to my GP saying they can't help.

I would be VERY grateful for ANY input right now. And apologies for the epic post

I think an orthopaedic surgeon would refer you to physio. This isn't a bone problem but sounds mechanical.

I can pm you a recommendation if you'd like one in south Manchester.

It's a shame you're in Manchester as I have a cracking physio in preston
She actually stopped treatment and sent me for an MRI scan. Her intervention meant 6 weeks later I had emergency surgery for cauda equina, the neurosurgeon told me they had to operate now before I lost use of my legs and bowel/bladder
I can't recommend her enough! She was amazed what they found but knew something was underlying

A physio is a physio, and as a physio that has worked in private practise as well as nhs, in my experience you will not get a better service necessarily by going privately. I would ask to be assessed by another nhs physio or see if you can be referred to an advanced physio practionner. Please don't write off all nhs physios. I work in a fab experienced team.

chewbacca83 - do you mind me asking what an advanced physio practitioner is? I've seen a couple of physios at this NHS place and no-one has ever said what may be wrong with me. The last one (before yesterday) seemed frustrated with me as I returned with more back pain. She didn't examine me or anything, just told me to go right back to my GP and get a scan. Which is a reasonable suggestion, of course, but I did feel that she suspected I was a malingerer

I absolutely agree you don't necessarily get a better physio by going private.

There are great NHS physios. Many do both.

What you do get is the choice of who to see. And you choose to see someone who has been highly recommended. And hopefully quite quickly as it sounds like this is affecting your life significantly.

Have a look at Bowen technique.
It can help with rebalancing everything and the ME.
See the Bowen Therapists Professional Association website to find someone local to you, if you are interested.

Thanks again for all replies. I may not mention everything everyone has said but rest assured, it's all being taken in. I'm making a list. At least that's something I can do that doesn't involve my leg

In my trust the gp or physio in nhs department can refer to advanced physio who can do an assessment to see if further investigations are needed. They can then refer directly to orthopaedics or for imaging if appropriate. The nhs physio should have done a comprehensive msk assessment though looking at strength, posture, range of movement, neurology if appropriate. If you don't feel they have been thorough then maybe ask for another opinion.

Also in my experience patients often want to know exactly what is wrong, and sometimes there is no one thing, one thing can lead to another for example pain leads so abnormal gait which leads to compensations which leads to muscle weakness, tightness etc. It can be frustrating when you just want an answer but honestly I would be more wary of someone who says yes, I know exactly what is wrong. I would start my strengthening what is weak, stretching what is tight etc and usually that helps and give more of an idea about cause. Hope that helps anyway and it's only my opinion. Other health professionals may have a different philosophy.

As a patient, chewbacca, I have learned the hard way that you are right!

There could be a congenital hip problem which is now causing more trouble as you get older. My DH needs a hip replacement, the X ray showed a congenital problem which was never picked up until he was 40 and found he was struggling to run.

I would recommend seeing an orthopaedic surgeon.

Op these symptoms exactly match mine when I developed osteoarthritis of the hip aged 22 (was born with congenital hip dislocation). The cartilage was gone and this my hip didn’t ‘hang’ the way it was meant to as you describe. I had depleted gluteus maximus muscles on that side and over developed muscles everywhere else at the top of that leg from compensating.
Feelings of instability and leading with that leg also match.

It all started like that, and later the pain came.

My own experience would advise against going to a chiropractor. I did, for about 6 months, and he made things much worse by trying to adjust an arthritic joint.

I’d advice getting an X-ray on your pelvis. I had to pay privately for that, as no one suspected arthritis in one so young. It was immediately clear on the X-ray.

I’m 37 now. Had hip resurfacing surgery when I was 23 and never looked back.

LadyLaSnack - Gosh, now that's interesting. Though obviously I'm sorry you had to go through that, but really glad you finally found out what was wrong and got it sorted. I think an x ray would be helpful. Again, this is something I'll be talking to the GP about in the first instance.

Interesting what you say bout the glutes also, as my bum has always been rather underdeveloped in terms of muscle mass. It's one of the reasons I've been trying to weight train to build it up, but my glutes appear utterly resistant to any attempts to get them to work

So glad you were able to sort your problem out

I won't be visiting a chiropractor as I'm a bit wary of them, having a read a couple of reports of people dying after sessions with them! Ok, I know that's probably unfair but those reports really stayed with me, don't know why. God forbid whatever I've got should be made worse