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I Have Had Pain In My Right Leg And/or Hip
Question: I have had pain in my right leg and/or hip for about two weeks. There is not injury that would have triggered this. The pain moves around - rather quickly - form my knee to thigh to hip and back again. I have had the area x-rayed and they are normal. The pain eases during the daytime when I’m active, but is especially bothersome at night while trying to sleep. Any thoughts.
Brief Answer:
You seem to have a muscular pain, advises on treatment given
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
The pain you describe moving from one place to another in the same leg very likely is not related to the joints. The normal x-rays also confirm this.
You seem to very likely have muscular pain or nerve related pain (when the nerve is pinched). Normally this pains are worse during movement but if you pinch the nerve or stress the muscle that is hurting during your sleeping position this might be a reason for pain at night mostly.
Muscles work as a chain (the shin, the thigh, the hip and back) so pain in one area might aggravate pain in another area.
Nerve pain would be shooting in nature or burning and probably associated with numbness or weakness, if you do not have these then it is a muscular pain.
It is important to use Tylenol as you are using, the dose generally is 500 mg every 6 hours combined with ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours after food (you mention in your medications "Arthritis Strength", this might be similar to ibuprofen but I am not sure as I could not find it while searching for it, knowing the generic name would help understand what it really contains). You will need to take these regularly (tylenol and ibuprofen) even if you do not notice much improvement with the first few doses because Ibuprofen reduces inflammation and will help with healing in time.
It is good you are doing stretches and exercises but if you do the wrong ones they may even worsen you so it is important that you get those by a professional like a physiotherapist to make sure you do stretch and strengthen the right muscles and do not hurt them.
To conclude:
- very likely this is a muscular pain
- you will need to take Tylenol and Ibuprofen (Advil) in proper dose and take them regularly to see a result
- local warm compresses might help with pain, you can apply them for 15-20 minutes on the most painful areas. A warm bath would do good to relax the muscles before sleep and reduce pain and have a better sleep (not a too hot bath though so you do not faint)
- make sure you take the stretching and other exercises from a professional (physiotherapist) otherwise you may risk hurting more and getting worse
- if no improvement with the pain medications and the right exercises from a physiotherapist in another week or you notice any worsening or any new symptoms you will need to let your doctor know.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
You seem to have a muscular pain, advises on treatment given
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
The pain you describe moving from one place to another in the same leg very likely is not related to the joints. The normal x-rays also confirm this.
You seem to very likely have muscular pain or nerve related pain (when the nerve is pinched). Normally this pains are worse during movement but if you pinch the nerve or stress the muscle that is hurting during your sleeping position this might be a reason for pain at night mostly.
Muscles work as a chain (the shin, the thigh, the hip and back) so pain in one area might aggravate pain in another area.
Nerve pain would be shooting in nature or burning and probably associated with numbness or weakness, if you do not have these then it is a muscular pain.
It is important to use Tylenol as you are using, the dose generally is 500 mg every 6 hours combined with ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours after food (you mention in your medications "Arthritis Strength", this might be similar to ibuprofen but I am not sure as I could not find it while searching for it, knowing the generic name would help understand what it really contains). You will need to take these regularly (tylenol and ibuprofen) even if you do not notice much improvement with the first few doses because Ibuprofen reduces inflammation and will help with healing in time.
It is good you are doing stretches and exercises but if you do the wrong ones they may even worsen you so it is important that you get those by a professional like a physiotherapist to make sure you do stretch and strengthen the right muscles and do not hurt them.
To conclude:
- very likely this is a muscular pain
- you will need to take Tylenol and Ibuprofen (Advil) in proper dose and take them regularly to see a result
- local warm compresses might help with pain, you can apply them for 15-20 minutes on the most painful areas. A warm bath would do good to relax the muscles before sleep and reduce pain and have a better sleep (not a too hot bath though so you do not faint)
- make sure you take the stretching and other exercises from a professional (physiotherapist) otherwise you may risk hurting more and getting worse
- if no improvement with the pain medications and the right exercises from a physiotherapist in another week or you notice any worsening or any new symptoms you will need to let your doctor know.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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