Persistent aching pain in leg

[honeyytoast]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has experienced this or has any ideas of what it could be.

I’ve had this aching pain in my right leg, deep inside, feels bone pain-like if that makes sense as opposed to muscle. (But to be fair I don’t really know what I’m talking about lol)

It started out just at night, when I’m lying on it in bed. It would really ache, and rolling over to my left side would relieve it, although there’d be a few seconds of quite intense pain momentarily as I came off it.

I talked about it with my dad who is a doctor, surprisingly he told me to book an appointment ASAP as he was concerned about potential cancer (which scared me because he’s normally quick to dismiss any concerns I have and reassure me I’m normal lol). He examined me and said he couldn’t feel anything but got me to book an appointment. So I got an appointment with a nurse who examined me properly, and said there was nothing to worry about but recommended a physio service, which I admit I haven’t followed up on.

Typically, a couple of days before I saw the nurse the pain just went away and stayed away for a week or so. Then it came back again and ever since I’ve had it more or less every day, worse at night but normally there whenever I’m lying down. It’s relieved by getting up and moving it. It’s now often there whichever side I’m lying on, sometimes when I’m sitting as well.

In terms of location it can range from directly in the middle of my thigh, to slightly lower down, to up around my hip. It’s always the same feeling, but sometimes really quite acutely painful and sometimes just a dull ache.

I’m a student doing online learning from home and am not active at all - in fact quite sedentary. So I’ve bought a new bike and am hoping as I get into cycling again, it might help?

I have a few pounds I’d like to lose but am a healthy weight, eat healthy etc. I probably don’t have as much iron as I ought to though, if that’s at all relevant.

Any ideas? Thanks :)

I’ve even wondered about restless leg syndrome, as a lot of the symptoms seem to fit but it doesn’t characteristically seem to involve pain?

The other thing that keeps coming up on google is peripheral artery disease or general vascular problems, which my dad says is unlikely as I’m 20. I do smoke. I’m wondering about trapped nerves? No idea though

Did you get a referral to physio? They may be able to help you work out what’s happening. Was the pain worse at night after a particularly busy day?

Following with interest OP.
I too get intense pain in my knee when I lie down, usually no trouble at all if I'm moving around. It feels bone deep as well

I wouldn't be happy to just leave it tbh. Have you fed this back to your dad and asked what he thinks you should do next? If you were my DC I would want a second opinion.

Sounds like the "bone-pain" restless legs I got before I started HRT, but I'm 55 and post-menopausal, not 20!

Could it be a deficiency in vitamin D? If you google 'low vitamin D and restless legs' there is a lot written suggesting there may be a correlation. Lots of people are deficient this year as we've all been outside even less.
Would be worth taking a good dose of Vitamin D for a while to see if it helps. It's unlikely to harm.

You were referred to a physio service which you haven't followed up on.

There is an obvious "idea" right there! Instead of asking a bunch of strangers on the internet about a pain that you can't really describe anyway, perhaps if you followed the advice of the medical professional you have seen, you might find out what it is? There are a plethora of possible causes for what you vaguely describe - whether anyone hits on the right one is probably questionable. Go make the appointment with the physio.

@TangerineGreen @Moondust001

The referral was a text that links you to a nhs page on how to self manage joint pain, it has a section for ‘hip’ detailing likely causes (all suggested for over 40s) and then a page where you can self refer to an appointment, which encourages you to not book an in person appointment and try their suggested exercises for 8 weeks first, which I of course will do.

I was just asking out of interest really to see if anyone had experienced similar and had an idea, apologies if that wasn’t clear

@Endofthelinefinally

Well he wasn’t pleased that ‘only’ a nurse saw me (he’s much older generation lol), but he did say there’s nothing more you can really do apart from push for an x ray if it gets noticeably worse or I can start to feel anything sinister myseld

@OnlyTeaForMe that’s interesting, I hadn’t heard about the vitamin d thing. I’ll look into that, I have to admit I eat the same thing every day more or less and don’t get outside as much as I ought to. Covid has made all of this worse of course. Thank you for the reply :)

Book a gp appointment(not nurse) and ask for a referral. Did the nurse take bloods? . Tell GP your doctor dad questioned a tumour when you described it. You'll get your referral (as you should have done initially). In the meantime book the physio appointment.

I have sciatica which sounds like this - relieved when moving or not lying on it. Also doesn’t feel like muscle pain. Goes right down my right leg (or sometimes just bits). Definitely see a physio.

Your father, a doctor, is concerned about cancer, but at your GP's practice you've only seen a nurse?

Ring your GP's practice back and ask to make an appointment to see a doctor.

Are you placing your laptop on your lap? I would look at your posture and leg position during the day, can you mix it up a bit and put your legs up on a footstool some of the time.

Consider a trapped nerve or sciatica. Both produce the symptoms you describe

Agree with PP, see a dr and do the physio exercises. That said, I have had this kind of bone-deep pain in my legs on and off since I was a child. Usually at night, in my thighs, knees and shins. It often causes a sort of restlessness. Very interested to hear it may be associated with vit d deficiency.

I'm sure it's something like sciatica, but my dds friend had a pain in her leg (her thigh) which became very uncomfortable to sit on, not just occasionally, so not the same as you. Hers was sadly cancer. I would see a dr and go from there.

As well as Vitamin D, some people swear by magnesium supplements for ages, including epsom salts in baths.
I'm quite sceptical about lots of 'therapy' type solutions normally, but I have a magnesium spray which seems to help.

for aches (not ages)

It sounds like sciatica. Could you see a private physio?

@honeyytoast any update on what this was, I’m suffering with the same and becoming worried. Can’t get a Gp appointment.