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Suggests Treatment For Severe Pain In The Lower Right Leg

Posted on Sat, 17 Sep 2016

Question: I have arthritis in my right knee. since last November I started getting severe pain in the side of my lower right leg. the doctor sent me to the ED incase I had a DVT which I didn't. now I have chronic pain from the top of my right leg all the way to my ankle. the pain moves to different areas of my leg. sometimes it's shooting pain and other times you can actually feel a jumping or pulse. I now have trouble walking downstairs due to pain behind my knee and I have interrupted sleep due to the pain which wakes me atleast 8 times through the night. I have to sleep with a pillow between my legs and keep my leg straight. If I bend my leg it's very painful. I have a referral for a specialist but don't think I can wait any longer and am thinking of going to the emergency dept. I hope you can advice me of what I can do.
yours sincerely,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You may need injection in knee joint

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case and I think you are having severe knee arthritis.In this condition there is knee pain and difficulty in squatting and sitting cross leg and also using stairs. I have following suggestions for you.
1.Avoid squatting and sitting cross leg.
2.Hot water fomentation and Volitran gel local application.
3.Steroid injection can be given in knee joint to tackle serious pain. Also you can get viscosupplementation in knee joint. In this a liquid gel like substance is injected in knee joint.
4.You should wear knee cap.
5.In case pain is very severe then knee replacement is only option.
I hope this answer will be useful for you.Let me know if there is any other followup questions.
thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (14 hours later)

I'm sorry but I disagree with you.
I believe there is more going on in my leg. I agree it is arthritis
related, but I believe it could be nerve pain or sciatica.
Thank you,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
A MRI can confirm you about sciatica

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Both sciatica and knee arthritis causes leg pain. Following thing can help you in differentiate between these two problems.
1.Knee arthritis causes squatting and sitting painful where as in sciatica pain present even when you walking.
2.Knee arthritis causes swelling in knee and cracking sound.
3.Sciatica pain is like needle pricking or numbness whereas arthritis pain is like throbbing.
Both condition can coexist also. In case you want to confirm you can get MRI of the spine and x rays of knee joint in standing position. You can share those report with me. Knee arthritis treatment is I already explained you. If there is sciatica or nerve compression then Tablet Pregabalin M at night time is helpful.
thanks

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar