Leg pain turning me into old woman

[LaBelleSauvage123]

Can anyone shed any possible light on these symptoms?

Pain in right buttock,groin, front of leg and knee (esp)
Worse after sleep or sitting
Hobbling - shortened step with right leg
Difficult to weigh bear on right knee in mornings and after sitting
Climbing stairs uncomfortable all the time
Legs tire very quickly climbing hills, even small inclines. Sometimes get a burning pain.
However the most debilitating symptom is that I’m often getting light headed when I walk. And am SO much more tired and ‘heavy legged’ when I walk anywhere, even on the flat.

Have been to GP and had every blood test under the sun - all normal except for elevated RA factor so am waiting for referral to RA clinic. However GP and physio think RA unlikely as no swelling in any joints at all. Also went to physio a few months ago - she thinks it Is a compressed facet joint but I’ve been doing her exercises and it’s got worse.
Any ideas before I go back to GP?

Hi OP,

 This is just an idea ,    but  amongst your blood tests  did you get a Vitamin D  , level. 

      The symptoms you describe might very well be  Vit D deficiency, 

     IF it was checked -  You are allowed to know your result ,  ask the receptionist at the docs.  IF it wasn't checked I would have it done. 

    A classic symptom of long term vitamin D deficiency is  painful  bones , fatigue in muscles, back pain , particularly when standing for long periods.       

  A  Quick check -   just press on sternum ,  with moderate force ...does it feel bruised  painful.  Do the same  on front of shinbone about 3  or 4 inches below the knee.    If there is pain ,  that could  be a symptom  of D  deficiency,  again , with those symptoms ,  it would be advisable to get a Vit D check. 

      That pressure test might not show up deficiency ,  even if you are deficient ,   it depends upon your diet , calcium  etc. 

     here is a thread with many people that had Vit D  deficiencies, what they did  about it , how it affected them  etc etc.    I posted quite a bit there  about it.   It is a long read ,  but lots of information. 

<a class="break-all" href="//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2421492-Vitimin-D-can-it-have-this-effect" target="_blank">www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/2421492-Vitimin-D-can-it-have-this-effect</a>

best of luck,

 IF  you need any more information ,   then get  back to me. 

BTBH.

Has any one checked out your spine? A compressed nerve particularly in the lower spine such as L4 can cause the type of pain you describe. I have suffered from this.
I would ask for a spine MRI scan that is how mine was discovered.
A lumbar injection changed everything for me.
I also have treatment from an osteopath that works for me

How's your foot? Is there any weakness in it? I echo pp about pushing for a referral for someone to check your spine for any pressure.

Thank you all - very useful. I’ll ask about Vit D - I’ve got a feeling that it was one of the repeats that the GP asked for. No pain when I press sternum or shin though. My feet are fine, though perhaps a bit less ‘flexible’ than they were.

I am being cowardly about going back to the GP because I bloody hate MRI scans! But if I have to have one, I will. I need to sort this out - it’s stopping me walking ( the leg pain and the lightheadedness) which of course is impacting in turn on my fitness levels, weight, everything. I’m clumsier than usual too - keep dropping things.

I hate MRI scans (cant stand being enclosed) but found an "Open" MRI in Cheltenham. Check around open MRIs are available.
I too was clumsy when I was suffering with the spine problems

Sounds identical to my symptoms, I need a new hip! The symptoms have lessened though since I started taking HRT, have you considered that?
It's awful, make sure you are not fobbed off with insufficient pain relief, there are no prizes for being in pain

I had these symptoms - got steadily worse after Dc1 and ramped up after Dc2. GP sent me for X-ray and I need a new hip, at the ancient age of 42.
Consultant is trying to manage me on pain relief for a few years til DC are a bit older and me. I'm on quite heavy pain relief which eases symptoms but if I overdo it (especially walking on inclines) and also on waking it's still painful.
I would ask for an X-ray. My GP didn't think it would show anything but did it as a precaution. So glad she did as it looks like I've had it from birth. Would explain my lifelong knee issues and always riding my horses with one stirrup longer than the other!

Intermittent vascular clarification.

Claudication! Sorry, stupid phone.

I definitely need an X Ray or MRI I think - not sure the problem is my hip as physio pinpointed pain in lower back in facet joint.

Those claudification symptoms sound exactly right - and it’s something I’ve had for longer than the back/leg/knee pain and stiffness. I know I need to do more exercise and lose weight - my BMI is 29 and I’m two stone heavier than I was at 9 months pregnant!
To be honest it’s the lightheadness that stops me walking more than the leg problems - I get anxious that I’m going to pass out when I’m out walking

BTBH - can Vit D deficiency cause lightheadedness? I’ve just ordered some D3 from Amazon!

The pain in your legs when walking uphill, your general pain pattern and your lightheadness all SCREAM vascular claudication to me.

Litteredboat I have a heart rhythm irregularity ( frequent ectopic beats) which mildly compromised my heart function before I was on meds, and even now my ejection fraction is the low side of normal. I’m wondering if this could be a factor?
What can I do if it is claudification?

Sorry claudication!

There is medication. Graduated exercise programmes are also meant to help, both under supervision though.
I’d go back to your GP and ask if they have ruled it out and if not, ask them to.

Are you still under a cardiologist?

Yes, I see a cardio yearly. Last time was in the autumn - they did ultrasound and heart function had apparently returned to near normal.

I also had an angiogram when my heart issue was first discovered (this was 6 years ago mind you) and that was completely normal.

Hi again LaBelle ,

                                    yes you have mentioned two things which might ring a bell with any vitamin D researcher. 

a) ejection fraction improves when Vitamin d levels move in the direction of human normal. ( Not western normal....which is generally 1/2 to 1/3 our ancestral evolutionary levels. ) . Look here -
www.independent.co.uk/news/science/vitamin-d-heart-function-failure-breakthrough-klaus-witte-leeds-a6968841.html

b) Althougth there might be several causes of your dizziness, it may possibly be BPPV ( Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) . Again Vit D seems to have a beneficial effect. have a look here for some more info www.nutritionexpress.com/article+index/vitamins+supplements+a-z/vitamin+d/showarticle.aspx?id=2432

           Whilst I am not saying that  D deficiency is your problem,     it does make a great deal of sense ,  that  ,  in your situation , you check it out.   AND   try to ensure that your  blood level  is good.     Many people in this country ,  particularly at this time of year are low.  Our primary source should be sunlight on skin.   However in the UK , sunlight  is too weak to make any  from   mid -Oct   to  mid -April.   i.e.  a six month period whereby your level is likely to drop.   Also,   if you are vegetarian,   then  veggie foods  have much less than  meat products.   Foods of all types really don't have enough Vit D ,    oily fish  is practically the only food , although eggs  have a tiny amount.  Farmed salmon are depleted to 1/4  the wild salmon level.  

Check out that thread I posted at the top of this thread ,  ( Can Vit D have this effect )  ,  on there I posted a lot about the action of  Vitamin D .  I explained why you need  blood levels above 100,   and preferably around  120 - 140.   I have posted about  Vit d  on many different threads  ,  search my username ,  for more info ,   OR  get  back  to me.  Try and ensure you get your blood level up,   and maintain it there  for the long term.   it is likely that you will need several thousand  IU  , per day.    Even if this does not cure your immediate problems ,    it definately will benefit your overall health in the long term. 

best of  luck , 

BTBH.

.

That is so interesting BTBH - both the link above and your other thread, which I read yesterday. I definitely spend a lot less time outdoors than I did - and I’m eating a lot less meat. I probably cover up more too, as I’ve got fatter!