Endometriosis causing hip/leg pain?

[koolforcats]

A few years ago I had a laparoscopy to remove a large ovarian cyst and severe endometriosis. Since then I've had 1 dc via c section.

For the last few weeks I've had pain which started in my back but is now in my hip joint and down my leg. It really hurts, constantly and pain killers (naproxen, mefanamic acid, co codamol, diazepam) aren't touching it. Has anyone else had this sort of pain with endometriosis or does it just sound like I've hurt my back?!

An internal scan last week showed no new cysts but endo doesn't show on scans so I'm none the wiser. Having bloods done next week then may have to have another investigative laparoscopy but I'm worried that post surgical adhesions may exacerbate the pain.

I was prescribed amitriptaline today as an alternative to the painkillers. Anyone else tried this for pain?

I feel stuck, in pain and miserable with the whole thing

Sounds like a spinal issue. Back pain followed by leg and buttock pain is indicative of a nerve being impinged, possibly by a bulging disc but this can only be diagnosed by an MRI which can be hard to get.

Amytriptiline is a useful addition, not substitute for your painkillers. Taken at night it will help you sleep as it is sedative and also help with the nerve pain in your leg. The other meds are a good combination, though if taking naproxen regularly you should be prescribed a stomach protector. If your back isn't in spasm the diazepam won't help much and since it is addictive I'd be careful with that. Are you taking full strength cocodamol? It's available in 8 or 30mgs each with 500mg paracetamol. If the amytriptiline is helpful then another nerve drug might be useful through the day such as gabapentin.

Both gabapentin and amytriptiline will initially make you very sleepy so build up the doses very slowly. They do work so it's worth persevering.

Come and join the Back Pain thread, we are all very friendly.

matilda thank you so much, such useful info, really helpful. I was awake at 5am in such pain I felt sick and faint with it. I called out of hours doc who said to stick with the co codamol and naproxen and to increase the amitriptaline gradually too. I'll definitely head over to the back pain thread - it feels very lonely in the middle of the night when the pain strikes! Annoyingly I just have OTC co codamol as I'd not considered prescription to be stronger. I got solpadeine though, which are the strongest OTC ones you can get apparently. It says For 3 days use only on the packet though - let's hope the amitriptaline has started its work by then