Horrible, agonising, recurring but infrequent leg pain

[Asleeponasunbeam]

I just don't know where to turn. I was awake since midnight with a recurring pain, that has now gone again, leaving me utterly exhausted today.

It's on the outside of my ankle, deep inside. It doesn't feel muscular or tendon related. It isn't linked to exercise, I can't replicate it at other times, nothing makes it worse or better. It lasts for hours, usually at night.

It's the worst pain I've ever had (worse than giving birth).

It happens maybe once every 6 weeks or so and obviously I feel crap afterwards as I've not slept.

Doesn't help at all that DH is a doctor and clearly thinks I'm talking bollocks...

Could it be sciatica? Is it like toothache? I get ankle pain sometimes and I'm sure it's from my back?

Sounds awful. I have no idea what it is sorry but I would get it checked out.

How do you feel otherwise?

Weirdly it does feel like toothache I think! I'll look up sciatica.

I feel fine otherwise. I'm training for a half marathon in a few weeks. This started before I started running and I'm convinced it's not related - no pattern (not after a run, not after new shoes etc, just random).

I had an episode a bit like this. Every now and then my ankle would be painful to the point of not being able to put my foot on the ground, and it felt as though the joint wouldn't 'work' properly - a bit like I imagined a dislocated joint to feel, though that is pure fantasy as never experienced it!

Anyway, the weird thing was it would disappear as suddenly as it came. I saw a physio, who said sometimes teeny particles of cartilage can wear off and float around and then sometimes get 'stuck' in some part of the joint - usually ankles. It then unsticks.

But I have to say, mine was very much when I put my foot on the ground, rather than at rest. Though a movement at night could dislodge a particle, I guess.

I get sciatica too, but don't feel it in my ankle - more like under my foot.

Not sciatica, not on the outside of your ankle joint - the sciatic nerve runs down the back of your leg and under your foot. Wouldn't cause that agonisingly sharp pain either.

Have you been checked for arthritis?

Just searched for this thread to find out when I last had the pain as I had it again last night - and now, it hasn't gone away. I've been awake with it since 3am.

DH listening now. But he has no idea what it is.

If you have pain that wakes you up, you need to talk to your doctor (not your DH!)

Sounds like you need an orthopaedic referral?

The problem with that is that the pain wouldn't be there when I saw a doctor! I'd just be describing something that happens sometimes.

Well, that's OK, they are there to take a history. Pain that wakes you is one of the things they should take seriously IMO.

I'm worried they'd refer me to DH's clinic! And he has no idea.

Ah ok, so DH is an orthopod?

You should be able to choose and book a different clinic...

TBH your GP might have other ideas - I am very definitely not a doctor.

Nah, he's a neurologist. But we don't think it's boney.

Fair enough. Why not let your GP have a good look?

I think I will. This is the longest it's lasted - overnight and into the next day. It's going to affect my weekend and I'm glad I'm not at work today.

I have a GP appointment today. Not sure what I'm going to say - feel quite embarrassed about it. It just sounds so pathetic.

Being woken up by a pain - repeatedly- and hen trying to do something about it is not pathetic at all.

Best of luck with your appt.

and then'. Not hen.

Do you eat any pork products? DH had this and stopped eating any pork, he's fine until he 'forgets' and it starts again.

Or other acid forming foods like vinegar, cashew nuts, tea and coffee.etc.

He referred me for an X-ray and ultrasound.

Didn't help fix the pain though, which had me in tears today and is excruciating at the moment.

Hadn't considered anything food related, thanks ppeatfruit

I just mention that dh had agonising gout develop suddenly, and it turned out that the culprit was the cod liver oil capsules he'd started taking. So another food issue.

Shin splints?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/shin-splints/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Gout maybe?

The pain you describe is similar to a deep bone ache I had with a stress fracture. (I know you say it was a problem pre running). it was always at night and it was like toothache deep in the bone.

I think it's a stress fracture, yes.