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What Can Lead To Chronic Pain In The Legs?

Posted on Fri, 21 Dec 2018

Question: My legs hurt bad while sitting and knees hurt bad while standing x2 years. Now both legs and knees hurt equally. Started with right knee two years ago.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Are your knees swolllen?

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks so much for this query.

I will like to know if there is any swelling or redness around these areas that hurt. Also, is this pain constant or intermittent in nature? Are you on any medications such as statins? Is your weight well controlled?

This seems to be related to musculoskeletal pain seen that it is aggravated by movement. I will recommend improved pain management with more potent pain drugs. Talk to you doctor about this. Physical therapy could also help with this.

I await responses on the above questions and will provide definitive guidance. Waiting....

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

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (42 hours later)

The pain is constant. Worse when sitting, standing, getting up. My right knee is swollen 1 inch larger than left. This started with right knee 2 years ago. The left started hurting exactly the same way about 6-8 months ago. The worst pain is when I first stand up. A few times I got stuck in the middle of the room because I cant move my right knee from too much pain. Those times I had to drop to the floor and crawl to a chair. The muscles hurt bad mostly in the back of my thighs and the backs of my calves when sitting.
I am taking methadone 25 mg/day for 13 years for neck pain. Lisinopryl for blood pressure. Amatryptoline for sleeping. Tizanodine for neck pain. Amlodapine for blood pressure. Lots of advil for knee pain and swelling.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You probably have a meniscal injury!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have reviewed this added information. You most likely have a meniscal injury. It will me best for you to see an orthopedist doctor for evaluation and management. You would require arthroscopy or an MRI to be done to better characterize this disease condition and treat accordingly.

Frozen knee, when walking, is pretty suggestive of meniscal injury, which are small bones present in the knee joint.

I wish you well. Let me know how this unfolds.

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

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (3 hours later)

How can that be? My left leg has the exact symptoms that the right leg started with. I didn't have an injury. The doctor that read my MRI said he couldn't tell for sure if there was a meniscus tear. Something else is going on.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (25 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are very suggestive!

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Frozen knee in the middle of walking is pretty suggestive of a meniscal tear. I think the best approach is to get this checked out again. The mere fact that they could not categorically rule this out as a possibility after an MRI means there is certainly something not very clear-cut there. Get back to them and let's see what comes up.

I wish you well.

Regards,
Dr. Ivo Ditah, Internal Medicine Specialist

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