What's wrong with my leg?

[jak2002003]

I know there is no chance people can give me a medical diagnosis on here and I need to go to see a doctor to get that, BUT, I don't know how to describe the problem to them..and I thought someone here might give me

 a clue what may be the problem with one of my legs if they have had similar symptoms.

 

I tried internet searches, but nothing matches how I describe it. 

 

So. .......

 

1.  This has been going on several weeks.

.2. Slight tingling in all the leg and foot 24/7.

3. Slight pain /aching  in inner top leg ...like muscle ache / stiffness....all the time...where it joins the top.

4.  Weakness / loss of motion around top of leg area where it rotates at the top below the groin / hip / backside area.  I can't bend the leg inward and upwards all the way to sit cross legged for example, or lift the leg high to easily but in my shoe.

5.  No pain or problem in hip area as far as I can tell 

 

 

That's about it. It's irritating me now it's been a few weeks without getting better 

 

There is never any sharp pain, and exercising / walking / cycling does not make it worse or better 

 

I am a middle aged male.

 

Thanks for any ideas about this. 

Edited July 31, 2021 by jak2002003

[AndyFoxy]

Avascular Necrosis? That's what I've got. 50 year old male but had it for 15 years. Eventually I'll need a hip replacement.

Edited July 31, 2021 by AndyFoxy

[jak2002003]

34 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

Avascular Necrosis? That's what I've got. 50 year old male but had it for 15 years. Eventually I'll need a hip replacement.

Oh no ..I hope it's not thar. Thanks for the response. I'll go and do some googling on that condition. 

[timendres]

Tingling. Weakness. These are typically signs of a problem with the nerves. Diagnostics will be required to determine which nerves, and the cause.

[1FinickyOne]

I had similar but in my arm and shoulder... could not easily describe it, but went from sometimes extreme numbness in my fingers/dull but strong ache in my bicep and spots in my back... 

 

Regular doc could not help - it was probably a pinched nerve though surely some sort of nerve issue...

 

Acupuncture did the trick... took 4 sessions, noticeably better after 2nd session..

 

PM me if you are in CM area... 

[internationalism]

sciatica nerve inflammation.

Get some thai massage. Also try some exercises for that condition, that includes yoga stretches.

Possible reason is seating too much, not enough movement. Also lifting something heavy. Or driving many hours on a bumpy road. All of them impacted you spine and nerve's root.

If no improvement you need physiotherapist. Possible your health insurance cover some treatment

Edited July 31, 2021 by internationalism

[RayOday]

I have a similar issue and it is sciatica. At your age you may have stenosis in your vertebrate which is compressing the sciatic nerve. The pain is often referred to your leg. Research the McKenizie method. See attachment. I would still advise seeing a Dr. The Dr. will probably order an MRI. Best of luck.

McKenzie Self Treatment for Sciatica (1).pdf

Edited July 31, 2021 by RayOday

[Sheryl]

As the entire leg is affected a spinal problem may be to blame. Do nto delay in seeing a doctor as any nerve damage can be permanent.

 

You may need an MRI of the lumbar spine.

[2long]

I agree with timendres. Sounds like a nerve. Probably a trapped nerve.

I had the same in my L4 vertebra.

It took me several doctors to get it sorted.... and a lot of therapy.

Good luck.

[NanLaew]

My mate had exactly these symptoms and steadily got so bad that he couldn't get a decent night's sleep. After some rounds of ultrasound and physio that initially eased the symptoms, they did a proper scan and lined him up with a specialist who removed stuff from around some vertebra and he was sorted. He got the stuff they snipped off in a jar as a souvenir. It's put me off bacon bits to be honest.

 

This was in Udon Thani at Bangkok Hospital but the back specialist came up from Bangkok.

Edited August 1, 2021 by NanLaew

[seajae]

does sound like sciatic nerve damage, I have sciatica 24/7 and have done for over 20 years but it is in both legs, pain down through buttocks, down the legs into the toes, can be like a very strong pins & needles effect at times, when bad any movement or anything brushing against the leg/groin causes more pain. I have disintergrating discs after a high  fall  and the work I was doing, they offered to fuse the spine but I knocked it back after talking to many others that had it done, tried several different medications over the years as well as pain management,  it will depend on exactly on what damage you have or if its a trapped nerve, scans etc should help sort it out, a good physio can also help, the original physio I had was the physio for a top rugby club, he helped a real lot

[Nojohndoe]

I have suffered intermittent sciatica since my late 30's . Sometimes briefly and sometimes prolonged bouts with sudden random shooting pains down to the toes. Always on the right side. Have never found any effective relief other than anti inflammatory meds to lessen the spikes. With increased age has become less frequent.

I do also have a separate problem that seems very similar as described by the op.

Upper inside thigh muscle semi cramping and inguinal groin pain, reduced mobility of the hip with buttock pain. Again an intermittent event that can last for up to several weeks with spontaneous onset.

Have had x-ray and MRI scans with no diagnosis. Although it did not start until several years after I have self diagnosed it as a minor tendon tear/separation due to skiing accident involving involuntarily doing the splits as I mounted rocks where snow should have been!

I have concluded that a small piece of torn tendon has retreated up near the inguinal region and any unusual activity/movement that aggravates that spot causes an inflammatory response.

It seems unrelated to the sciatica events but again anti inflammatories help to settle it down.

The medical opinion given was inconclusive but was assured it was not an inguinal hernia which can cause similar symptoms.

Both issues are something I have learned to live with.

 

 

[jak2002003]

Thank you all for your replies. It given me food for thought. Will do some internet research for those conditions mentioned. 

 

If no improvement in a week I will get myself off to the hosptial.

 

I remembered that I had a problem with the leg couple months ago and it seemed to be getting better. Then I was helping to carry a heavy safe into the house and the door mag slipped under my foot and I stretched this same leg...and it got worse again after that. 

 

I also work on PC for about 4 - 5 hours sitting down...and sometimes that leg gets dumb. 

 

However, I am active when not working...I walk / jog or cycle every day for 1 and half to 2 half hours each evening. 

 

 

[RayOday]

I would recommend that you do not jog as it compresses the vertebrae. Walking is best and can actually help as it motivates the movement of intraspinal fluid. Laying in bed and sitting are not good for the back. Lying down causes the intra spinal fluid to pool and stop. That is why many people, as they age, are stiff in the morning. They loosen up once upright and moving as the fluid is stimulated to move. It is helpful to ice the back somewhere between the 3rd and 4th lumbar covering both. You count up from the tail end of your spine to find the 3rd and 4th space between the vertebrae. Ice helps initially then alternate ice and heat. Look up the RICE method - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. It may also help if you sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees to place you spine in the proper alignment. I hesitate to recommend any medication yet there are some effective anti-inflammation medications which are not pain killers yet when the inflammation subsides, then so does the acute pain. Please do not self medicate with NSAIDs unless you read the side effects and contraindications to any other meds you may take. Drugs.com is a good source.

[jak2002003]

36 minutes ago, RayOday said:

I would recommend that you do not jog as it compresses the vertebrae. Walking is best and can actually help as it motivates the movement of intraspinal fluid. Laying in bed and sitting are not good for the back. Lying down causes the intra spinal fluid to pool and stop. That is why many people, as they age, are stiff in the morning. They loosen up once upright and moving as the fluid is stimulated to move. It is helpful to ice the back somewhere between the 3rd and 4th lumbar covering both. You count up from the tail end of your spine to find the 3rd and 4th space between the vertebrae. Ice helps initially then alternate ice and heat. Look up the RICE method - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. It may also help if you sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees to place you spine in the proper alignment. I hesitate to recommend any medication yet there are some effective anti-inflammation medications which are not pain killers yet when the inflammation subsides, then so does the acute pain. Please do not self medicate with NSAIDs unless you read the side effects and contraindications to any other meds you may take. Drugs.com is a good source.

Thanks....I will stop the jogging for now. 

[Liebemein]

Can I ask you something? If you had vaccination? Sorry to ask this question because to R/O.

[jak2002003]

52 minutes ago, Liebemein said:

Can I ask you something? If you had vaccination? Sorry to ask this question because to R/O.

No...no covid vaccination yet.

[Liebemein]

1 hour ago, jak2002003 said:

No...no covid vaccination yet.

As other people recommend to you to see neuro physician. Hope nothing severe.

[balo]

Sounds like sciatica to me.  I can't walk normal anymore, but I still do my daily exercise walking 10k . It can be painful, but I try to avoid any medication. 

[it is what it is]

if you have a medical problem it's probably best to go and see a doctor

[up-country_sinclair]

Go to a doctor ASAP.

You may only be middle aged, but plenty of people have dropped dead at middle age because they didn't heed the warning messages their bodies were trying to send them.

[watthong]

13 hours ago, NanLaew said:

After some rounds of ultrasound and physio that initially eased the symptoms, they did a proper scan and lined him up with a specialist who removed stuff from around some vertebra and he was sorted. He got the stuff they snipped off in a jar as a souvenir. It's put me off bacon bits to be honest.

It's called discectomy, a spine operation, sounds scary but it's rather routine , via computer the surgeon "went" in and scraped the stuff that oozed out from your bursted hernia (the donut-shape "washer" in between two vertebras.) I had one, I wished I had got it sooner so that the bundle of nerves could have survived better. Nevertheless the operation was a lifesaver, woke up post operation, and the pain that made life a living hell for the previous 8 months, was gone. So the OP can start by Sheryl advice, seek out an orthopedic doc and have him order an MRI.

[Sheryl]

5 hours ago, watthong said:

It's called discectomy, a spine operation, sounds scary but it's rather routine , via computer the surgeon "went" in and scraped the stuff that oozed out from your bursted hernia (the donut-shape "washer" in between two vertebras.) I had one, I wished I had got it sooner so that the bundle of nerves could have survived better. Nevertheless the operation was a lifesaver, woke up post operation, and the pain that made life a living hell for the previous 8 months, was gone. So the OP can start by Sheryl advice, seek out an orthopedic doc and have him order an MRI.

 

This is the point I tried to make to the OP. When a spinal problem causes nerve root compression (as may be the case for him), failing to address it quickly can led to permanent nerve damage. Intervention can relieve the compression and the pain, and prevent further nerve damage, but it cannot undo nerve damage that has already occurred.

 

My brother was left with a permanent limp, dependent on a cane, from his early 40's due to putting off treatment of a back problem too long.

[Satcommlee]

Something else to google - Peripheral Neuropathy

[ehs818]

I've had a similar problem and thought it was sciatica. Turned out to be the muscle underneath the gluteous maximus that was pushing on my nerve. Chiropractor popped it out and I've been stretching it nightly for months. Finally went away and the lower back pain went away too. I feel the best I have in over 15 years. PM me in Pattaya if you look for referral....

[MrJ2U]

Have it checked at a private hospital.  God forbid its a precursor to a stroke.

 

I think its worth the risk during the pandemic.

[linno2]

One possibility - symptoms fit with peripheral neuropathy. Main cause is diabetes.  High blood sugar levels can damage the nerves. Other causes include long term excessive alcohol consumption, previous surgery, previous injury, low vitamin B12 levels, thyroid issues, certain infections such as shingles and Lyme (tick) disease, some forms of cancer, immune disorders and more.  It is a common symptom with a range of causes. Worth getting checked out.

[internationalism]

1 hour ago, ehs818 said:

I've had a similar problem and thought it was sciatica. Turned out to be the muscle underneath the gluteous maximus that was pushing on my nerve. Chiropractor popped it out and I've been stretching it nightly for months. Finally went away and the lower back pain went away too. I feel the best I have in over 15 years. PM me in Pattaya if you look for referral....

at 15% of population sciatic nerve runs through piriformis muscle. 

When this muscle is too tense it presses on the nerve and causes sciatica syndrom.

Easy to relax it through stretches. It's worked on during thai massage. Also at yoga.

 

[peleid]

Do you drink alcohol a lot

[James26]

No one is helping you by trying to offer a diagnosis. In fact, it is quite disingenous of anyone who tries to give you a diagnosis. Just go to the doctor. Doctors are trained to know what to ask based on your presenting symptoms.