Question: I woke up with pain in my lower back, hip, front thigh, and knee 2 days ago. It's on the left side. I am 54, 195#. I had complete hip replacement on right hip 12 years ago. I applied heat to lower back and left hip, which seemed to improve pain in hip area. However, pain remains in front thigh, heat has only temporary effect. The thigh muscle twitches off and on. When I stand, it's not that bad for first minute, then it becomes very painful. No swelling, heat, redness, or fever present. I've been having days when there's pain in the same area when I wake up for a while, but it usually disappears after I walk around. This time it won't go away. Sitting is painful and laying down is painful. I usually sleep on my left side due to hip replacement on right and hiatal hernia.

I am the full-time caretaker of my 87 yr old mother, 110#, who requires much assitance ambulating, getting up and down from bed, toilet, etc. I'm staying with her and sleeping on very hard old mattress, for which I recently purchaed 4" foam topper to ease my discomfort.

I seem to recall similar pain in right leg during the years before my hip replacement, which was done due to osteonecrosis. My cartilege was completely detached from the joint causing bone on bone incidents.

I have also had a few incidents when twisting resulted in severe pain in my left knee lasting for several days in the last 5 years. I suspect some sort of tearing, but I don't have insurance to get evaluated. I think I felt some slipping in the knee a few hours before the onset on this pain

Neither Acetaminophen or aspirin do anything for the pain. I get slight relief from Ibuprofin, but it is unreliable. As a result of wrapping my knee with ace bandage and applying heat, I have been able to isolate the problem to my knee. It is extremely painful in the upper frontal quadrant of the exterior of my left knee - the outside half of my knee, not the half that's between my legs. Pain radiates from there up into my thigh on the front outside and center up to my hip.

I've had trouble with this knee before as a result of twisting. I'm not sure if the same area of the knee was affected but it went away after several days. I wasn't doing much of anything when I felt it slip the other day - walking, mild twist perhaps as I turned a slight corner. Should I wear an ace bandage on it all the time, or just until it gets better - assuming it does. The pain is excruciating. I can barely stand it. The bandage has helped slightly. The heat works best, but is only temporary while the heat is being applied.

Is volini available OTC in the US? Is there anything stronger that I can take than Acetaminophen? I know I'm asking a riduculous question, but can you prescribe anything for me? The pharmacist has never heard of Volini. The only topical analgesics available OTC in the US are those patches, which contain Menthol. They are basically useless. Is there an Amercan doctor available who can recommend some products in the US?

I was looking for a whole leg splint foam type of thing that I've seen others use. Bending is horrific and the ace bandage doesn't prevent it much. Can I buy that in a medical supply store open to the general public?
Also, there is some numbness above the outside upper quadrant of my knee where the pain is.

Thank you.