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...

Yes it's well worth looking at what you eat (and drink) for a permanent cure Asleep !

The frequency doesn't really fit with a stress fracture tbh. Mine used to get worse after a run (took ages to heal and I kept running too early) but you say there isn't anything that makes it worse or better.

Hope X-ray or scan yields some answers

The frequency does seem strange, but it's now been constant for 5 days, and excruciating, so it's at crisis point certainly. GP didn't give me any painkillers and I didn't think to ask!

My gut feeling is stress fracture. X rays can be a bit useless unless there is evidence of healing (I'm sure you know this). I had an MRI

I'm pretty sure now that it's a stress fracture. It's now a constant, throbbing pain. It's making me very, very miserable. Can't sleep, resting doesn't help, walking is okay but standing and sitting are very bad.

Horrible.

I'm worried an xray will show nothing and nobody will take it seriously.

Get some proper painkillers! Hopefully you will get a diagnosis soon but in the meantime treat the symptom. Paracetamol and ibuprofen overnight then onto your GP for something stronger tomorrow.

Good luck. Hope you feel better soon.

I rang GP today for painkiller advice/ prescription and didn't get a call back. Will try again tomorrow. Thanks.

My symptoms are quite similar to yours, I had it frequently between the ages of 10-18 but put it down to growing pains, but at 22 I'm now getting it again, particularly when I'm tired.

I've got an appointment today so I'll let you know if they come up with anything.

And of course, for the first time in a week, it's not actually hurting much at the moment! Just as I'm about to see someone about it. Typical!

Another food that can give pains is when you eat meat and carbs together; it is very hard (if not impossible) to digest them properly, so burgers can do it because the acids\toxins collect in your joints\bones etc.

How did the appointment go?

I was going to suggest neuropathy, but then saw that your DP was a neurologist and he didn't recognise the symptoms, so perhaps not.

Thanks for asking. It's still pretty inconclusive so having an MRI scan. History, location, night pain fits stress fracture. Intermittent nature of the pain and that it doesn't hurt on walking (and hasn't on running but I'm not trying at the moment), doesn't fit.

Well if you don't want to take pain killers all the time try the change of lifestyle. It does work I do it, I used to get pains in my hands and fingers. It's your choice of course .

I think it's important to rule out some other things before making a change in my (already healthy) lifestyle, but thanks for your opinions.

I get something like what you described in your OP, although it's only been excruciating to the point of me writhing around with it once. At that time I happened to have some cocodamol following an op (facial, nothing to do with ankle) & the agonising pain went away with that, although as soon as I stood up it came back & I had to go upstairs on hands & knees.

I haven't tried to get it diagnosed because it's so intermittent but I've been wondering if it's some kind of trapped nerve. It comes on completely out of the blue & disappears (thank god) the same way.

Hope you can get yours diagnosed at least, & ideally a solution too!