Leg pain since giving birth 4 years ago

[Nicknicksee]

During my last birth i had the spinal block and epidural..dont know if its related to this or not but since then my body has not been the same. I have leg pains that are really affecting me. When i went GP she shrugged me off saying its normal with having little kids. I went privately to an orthopedic doctor and he game me vitamin d injections and other vitamins and said ill be fine. Im still not okay. They hurt everyday and I hate that I cant be active and dont feel my age at all inside due to this. Anyone experienced anything similar and found the cause. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I dont know what more to do.

[LaLaLaNotListeningNotListening]

Has anyone taken any blood tests?
Have you tried wearing compression stockings-like flight socks- to see if that relieves it?
Do you have to stop when walking because of the pain?
Do you stand a lot?
Do they ache all the time and Are there times when they ache less?
Are you over weight/underweight?
What’s your general diet like?

[Lovelydaytomorrow]

Sorry, without knowing more I might be completely off, but have you tried physio? It took 12 months post birth number 2 to finally have had a physio referral (not uk) that was put in for me a few days after birth by the public health nurse who was concerned by my pain. And now another 12 months on I have used everything I learnt about my body from the monthly physio sessions (national health), googling, one private gyne physio appointment and a few pilates classes (before lockdown put an end to that) to have put together my own 20-30 minute daily exerise/ pilates session that really works for me.

Basically 2 pregnancies with pelvic pain/ SPD made me use all the wrong muscles and I have 'lazy glutes'.

I'm not saying at all that that's what you have, just that it's taken a few years for me to really get to the route of my pain. It really depends on if these pains are from nerve damage or they are muscle / joint pains that will improve with the right exercise plan.

My only advice is to Google as much as you can really specifically the type of pain you have. Follow rabbit holes to find anything out there that describes what you're experiencing. So from my physio sessions I was able to pinpoint the exact muscles that I had weekness in and pain, which might seem obvious, but when I first went to her, all I could tell her has that I had pains in my legs and back when walking more than a short distance. Once I knew the exact muscles, I could Google more specifically, and I found a guy using the term 'lazy glutes' to describe exactly what my problem was. (The pain isn't actually in those muscles, it causes me pain elwhere because those muscles aren't doing their job properly). From there I googled that term and found another guy with a video clip giving his top 3 exeeices for lazy glutes: the first was the clam, which my physio had given me as my number 1 exercise, so I knew I was on the right track. And the other two I added to the exercises my physio had given me to do. My physio also stressed my need to build my core muscles, so I googled the best exercises for that and added them in, and I have occasional lower back pain, so added in the best for that too. I also have a damaged (beyond full repair) pelvic floor, so I also made sure to look up exercises to avoid.

What my ramblings above are trying to say, is that it wasn't one trip to a doctor or one private appointment that put me on the road to recovery, but a combination of everything I learnt, and a lot of time researching it myself.

I was also completely dismisses regarding my pain and pelvic floor issues by my GP (UK) after my first birth and midwives and doctors (not UK) during my 2nd pregnancy. It is a sad fact that you will need to keep pushing, and possibly pay privately if you can afford it at all.

[SofiaAmes]

What do you mean by "leg pain?" Is it pains shooting down your leg. If so, it could be Sacroiliac Joint pain (SI Joint) which is common in women who have given birth. There are PT and core strengthening exercises that can relieve the issue.

[Nicknicksee]

Its really hard to describe the pain as it is not severe but it is always there through the day. .sometimes in my thighs, sometimes in my calves and also in my heels.. somedays I wake up in the morning and I have to limp for a while because of the pain. Its frustrating as I miss the pain free days. I just feel tired and lazy like and I know its not me at all. I push myself for the kids. I am not overweight and I follow a normal diet. I am thalassemic and thus, anaemic but I have iron tablets and have tried calcium, magnesium, vitamin b tablets with no avail. I have had all the blood tests needed a few times and results show nothing except for anaemia which I dont think would be the cause as Ive always been slightly anaemic.

I do always have pelvic pain with all my pregnancies and my last birth was so bad i was in a wheelchair for a few days after.

@Lovelydaytomorrow the information youve given is so helpful and its nice to finally hear from someone with a similar experience. I dont even mention it to people as it would just sound like im just complaining so I just get on with it. I know mine could be a different cause but I will definitely look into it.

I think I shall try a private appointment with a physiotherapist, as thats something I havent tried.

[Creepycrawler]

I had a Dvt after my first was born. Left it a few weeks before I couldn't walk on it.
I still have superficial clots and leg pain (mainly calf) 13 years on.
I do get pain in my other leg when it's hot and they both get very achy but dvt one is definately worse.
Is a vascular issue a possibility?
Not all clots cause much pain and I had very few other signs ( no redness, minimal swelling). I don't have visible various veins and the only signs of superficial clots or phlebitis is pain for me. Pain is worse when getting up from resting or when leg is in same position for a long time.

[HadalyEve]

Yes, this is a well known side effect of the epidural. The epidural can cause nerve damage in your spinal cord that then causes chronic pain or numbness in any part of your lower body, including legs. If often clears up after a few months, but not for everyone. You should go back to the GP and ask about medication for chronic nerve pain- called neuropathic pain.
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summaries/neuropathic-pain/

[HadalyEve]

Link between epidural and lower limb neuropathic pain.
https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2019-11/12-NerveDamageSpinalEpiduralweb.pdf

[Greybeardy]

@HadalyEve

Yes, this is a well known side effect of the epidural. The epidural can cause nerve damage in your spinal cord that then causes chronic pain or numbness in any part of your lower body, including legs. If often clears up after a few months, but not for everyone. You should go back to the GP and ask about medication for chronic nerve pain- called neuropathic pain.
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summaries/neuropathic-pain/

They’d have had to try pretty hard to cause solely sensory nerve injury affecting all of both legs! It’s very unlikely to be related to the neuraxial blockade.

[Smasa]

I wish I can help but I also have the same pain! This happened after the epidural and now the leg pain won’t go away! It’s like a constant dull pain! I’m assuming it’s some kind of nerve damage and there doesn’t seem any signs of it going away. Did anything help you ? Or are you still experiencing it :(