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What Causes Sharp Pain In Left Knee Spreading To Leg?
Question: My problem started with a sudden and sharp pain in the left knee 14 years ago. The pain reduced in intensity in 3-4 days; however the pain slowly spread to the entire left leg, and after a few months the pain spread to the right knee. After 3-4 years I developed pain in the upper part of my body as well. The pain keeps shifting; however I don't have any pain above the neck area. 3 years back I developed a L5-S1 herniation and am still recovering from that. All my blood tests, EMG, NCV, bone scan have been normal. Just 2 points that I guess are of significance are (1) I was diagnosed with a B12 deficiency (130 standard units) which was subsequently corrected 1 year ago (2) After taking 50K units of Vitamin D I was completely free of symptoms for 3-4 weeks. While I finally maintained my D3 levels at 40 ng/ml the pain returned after 1 month.
While I kinda clueless, I was wondering if it possible that it is due to some kind of parasitic infection?
I am a 34 years old male of Asian origin (Indian)
While I kinda clueless, I was wondering if it possible that it is due to some kind of parasitic infection?
I am a 34 years old male of Asian origin (Indian)
Brief Answer:
Not due to parasitic infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The shifting pain that you are having is not related to any parasitic infection. This is mainly due to the disc protrusion which might be compressing the nerve roots exiting from the spine or due to calcium magnesium and vitamin D3 deficiency.
Regarding vitamin D levels, even if your levels are now in normal range it is best to take a XXXXXXX of vitamin D with milk or curd once a month. Each XXXXXXX contains 60,000 IU of vitamin D.
Also eat magnesium rich foods like bananas, beans, chickpeas, fish, nuts, soybeans, spinach etc which are natural sources of magnesium. Taking calcium supplements of 500 mg daily will also help.
Remedial exercises like light aerobics to strengthen the spine are very important to restore normal spinal movements and muscle strength. The main aim of exercise is to encourage mobility, reduce muscle spasm, prevent further deterioration in the muscles and speed the recovery.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Not due to parasitic infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The shifting pain that you are having is not related to any parasitic infection. This is mainly due to the disc protrusion which might be compressing the nerve roots exiting from the spine or due to calcium magnesium and vitamin D3 deficiency.
Regarding vitamin D levels, even if your levels are now in normal range it is best to take a XXXXXXX of vitamin D with milk or curd once a month. Each XXXXXXX contains 60,000 IU of vitamin D.
Also eat magnesium rich foods like bananas, beans, chickpeas, fish, nuts, soybeans, spinach etc which are natural sources of magnesium. Taking calcium supplements of 500 mg daily will also help.
Remedial exercises like light aerobics to strengthen the spine are very important to restore normal spinal movements and muscle strength. The main aim of exercise is to encourage mobility, reduce muscle spasm, prevent further deterioration in the muscles and speed the recovery.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
That seems plausible. Just one points still remains unclear to me - the first time i took D3 (60 K units), it immediately relieved me of all my symptoms within 1-2 hours of consumption (my D3 levels were 5 ng/ml when I took the first dose). Though this analgesic affect slowly weaned off- I was wondering if D3 is capable of causing such an impact. I know of one another individual who experienced the same causal relationship.
How does it explain my b12 deficiency. while 130 levels may not been considered low by many doctors, it had resulted in an increase of RBC width by 15% (over normal), decrease in RBC count by the same percentage (with reference to normal) and labored breathing.
How does it explain my b12 deficiency. while 130 levels may not been considered low by many doctors, it had resulted in an increase of RBC width by 15% (over normal), decrease in RBC count by the same percentage (with reference to normal) and labored breathing.
Brief Answer:
Can be due to folate deficiency.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
Vitamin D3 can cause a reduction in pain but it takes 4-5 days to show an effect. It is likely that the other medicines would have decreased the pain that you were having at that time.
The increase in the RBC size and decreased count can be due to a folate deficiency associated with B12 deficiency. Deficiency of B12 also interferes with the metabolism of folate causing an increase in size of RBC.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Can be due to folate deficiency.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
Vitamin D3 can cause a reduction in pain but it takes 4-5 days to show an effect. It is likely that the other medicines would have decreased the pain that you were having at that time.
The increase in the RBC size and decreased count can be due to a folate deficiency associated with B12 deficiency. Deficiency of B12 also interferes with the metabolism of folate causing an increase in size of RBC.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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