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What Causes Sporadic Pain In Legs Leading To Sleeplessness?
Question: In the last month I have had a sporadic aching pain in both of my legs, below the knees, primarily in the front of my legs, in the shin area. The aching negatively affects my ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. It feels similar to "shin splints," but I have not been active in the last month. There is no swelling or redness, and the pain does not abate according to any particular position of my body. I submitted this question earlier to this website. One physician thought it was due to the Simvastatin, and recommended that I should stop taking it for one month. I have, indeed, stopped taking the Simvastatin (20mg/day) for one month on his advice; but the cessation of the Simvastatin has not had any effect on the aching in my lower legs, which has continued, albeit on a sporadic basis. Any ideas as to cause, or which specialist I should consult with regarding this?
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms seem to be related to a neurological disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern, and would like to explain that your symptoms seem to be related to a neurologic condition called polyneuropathy.
I would like to have some more information about your complains:
-Is this pain like a burning sensation? Do you have difficulty with your gait balance in dark places? (These complain would be indicative for polyneuropathy)
-Have you noticed any leg swelling? (amlodipine can cause leg swelling and pain form the distension)
-Do you feel an urge to continuously move your feel while lying down and this relieves your symptoms? (These complain would be indicative for restless leg syndrome).
I would exclude a possible peripheral artheriopathy or a spinal canal compression based on your symptomatology (as in both these disorders, the pain is exacerbated by walking).
I recommend consulting with a neurologist for a careful physical examination and a nerve conduction study ( electroneurography) to exclude possible peripheral polyneuropathy.
Further blood lab tests are needed to find the possible causes:
- complete blood count
- thyroid hormone levels
- kidney and liver function tests
- fasting glucose
- blood electrolytes
- vitamine B12 plasma levels
- uric acid plasma levels, etc.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need !
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Your symptoms seem to be related to a neurological disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern, and would like to explain that your symptoms seem to be related to a neurologic condition called polyneuropathy.
I would like to have some more information about your complains:
-Is this pain like a burning sensation? Do you have difficulty with your gait balance in dark places? (These complain would be indicative for polyneuropathy)
-Have you noticed any leg swelling? (amlodipine can cause leg swelling and pain form the distension)
-Do you feel an urge to continuously move your feel while lying down and this relieves your symptoms? (These complain would be indicative for restless leg syndrome).
I would exclude a possible peripheral artheriopathy or a spinal canal compression based on your symptomatology (as in both these disorders, the pain is exacerbated by walking).
I recommend consulting with a neurologist for a careful physical examination and a nerve conduction study ( electroneurography) to exclude possible peripheral polyneuropathy.
Further blood lab tests are needed to find the possible causes:
- complete blood count
- thyroid hormone levels
- kidney and liver function tests
- fasting glucose
- blood electrolytes
- vitamine B12 plasma levels
- uric acid plasma levels, etc.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need !
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
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
Answered by
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