HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Causes Swelling In Knee With Numbness And Tingling In Calves, Feet And Buttocks?

default
Posted on Tue, 5 Jan 2016
Question: I have written here before.

My symptoms have progressively gotten worse since XXXXXXX of this year.

Things started going wrong in XXXXXXX when I had an overuse type of injury to my right knee and the next day I went to the ER because it swelled like a grapefruit. ER doc said it would go away so just rest. It never went away and I had persistent swelling of the leg and the knee.

They would not find a reason why that was.

A month later I started having swelling in both legs. I was diagnosed with pitting edema as well. I saw vascular and my EKG and ECG were both normal. My ABI was normal. Blood tests normal. Still cannot figure it out.

I can wake up feeling swollen. My calves, knees, thighs, back of thighs, buttocks all feel swollen.

The swelling gets even worse while exercising to the point where my upper thighs feel they are filled with fluid and feel heavy. They get so swollen to the point where I cannot even feel my muscle working when I lift weights. My shoes I bought a while ago were very loose when I bought them to the point I was mad I bought them. They are tighter than ever now.

I went on a plant based diet to lose weight with roughly 1,800 calories, a 5 day lifting regimen, and cardio session and I gained weight. I was on the Wahl's protocol which is a heavy veggie based diet with proteins and such. I was on this for a month and I gained weight. No cheating.

Fast forward about two more months later and I am starting to feel tingling and numbness in my calves, feet, and buttocks area. One night I could barely feel my feet.

Now I have temperature sensitivity. I woke up feel freezing and it was 71 in my house. It is not cold outside either. My roommate was warm. My arms and legs feel like they are on fire...like a blow torch grazing my skin. It is jarring like when someone punches another in the stomach or electrical shocking type of feeling. I feel that in my neck, throat, and chest. It is painful.

I had an MRI of my abdomen and pelvis. All came back normal. I had a Doppler ultrasound of my legs. Normal.

I have suffered from depression for years and I have enough experience with my mind and body to know it is NOT psychological. I have NEVER experienced this before.

My Neurology department and ER take one look at my file and immediately have a medical record acquired bias of my symptoms all because I have a history of depression.

I am at my wit's end and my symptoms are progressing. I am so uncomfortable and now it is painful! Please I am begging for some help!

Oh and they suggested I get off birth control. I am compliant with that and I have noticed nothing except a large increase in bloating, abdominal pain, more weight gain, and increase in libido. :(

I just want to know what else to investigate as my symptoms are getting progressing. My quality of life is much worse and these symptoms get in the way of my daily functioning.

It should be noted that last year I experienced unexplained burning sensations that went away. They were unexplained in all aspects meaning I was not stressed out during that time. I was not depressed either. I realize that it appears these things are not life threatening but in all honesty I would rather have it be that as at least I would have answer so I could start treating this. I feel that doctors have been spitting in the wind on this.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Kidney and Liver functions/Urine examination/Thyroid functions.

Detailed Answer:
Hi xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

I have gone through your clinical history details,and if I am to summarise it,I would bring it down to the following two chief complaints-
1)generalized swelling(with pitting edema)
2)paresthesias-tingling/burning,mainly in extremities but sometimes axially(as you mentioned in buttocks)

For evaluation of the swelling,I suggest that the following important investigations should be done-
1)Kidney function tests
2)Urine routine microscopy
3)Liver function tests(including serum proteins)
4)Complete haemogram
5)Thyroid function tests
6)2D Echo
7)USG Abdomen

If I am to go through your details,I can see that USG Abdomen and Pelvis along with Doppler studies have been done and ruled out a gross abnormality in kidney,liver and vessels.MRI of abdomen and Pelvis,further supports the same.

At this point,I would suggest you to get the rest of the above investigations done to rule out the common causes for the edema.

Coming on to tingling/burning paresthesias and numbness in calves and feet,I being a clinical neurologist,am of the opinion that this may be early stage of neuropathy(cause being unknown as yet).Common causes for these paresthesias can be-
Neuropathy due to-
1)Diabetes
2)Drugs and Toxins
3)Vitamins deficiencies
4)Chronic alcohol intake
Further,non-psychogenic causes like Anxiety or Depression can also result in such symptoms.I would suggest you to consider,if any of the above applies in your case.Besides,if the symptoms are non-improving and persistent,nerve conduction studies can be done to look for neuropathic changes.


I hope,you must be having some more questions to ask.I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.

Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ajay Panwar

Neurologist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 1827 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Causes Swelling In Knee With Numbness And Tingling In Calves, Feet And Buttocks?

Brief Answer: Kidney and Liver functions/Urine examination/Thyroid functions. Detailed Answer: Hi xxxxxxxxxxxx, Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com. I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query. I have gone through your clinical history details,and if I am to summarise it,I would bring it down to the following two chief complaints- 1)generalized swelling(with pitting edema) 2)paresthesias-tingling/burning,mainly in extremities but sometimes axially(as you mentioned in buttocks) For evaluation of the swelling,I suggest that the following important investigations should be done- 1)Kidney function tests 2)Urine routine microscopy 3)Liver function tests(including serum proteins) 4)Complete haemogram 5)Thyroid function tests 6)2D Echo 7)USG Abdomen If I am to go through your details,I can see that USG Abdomen and Pelvis along with Doppler studies have been done and ruled out a gross abnormality in kidney,liver and vessels.MRI of abdomen and Pelvis,further supports the same. At this point,I would suggest you to get the rest of the above investigations done to rule out the common causes for the edema. Coming on to tingling/burning paresthesias and numbness in calves and feet,I being a clinical neurologist,am of the opinion that this may be early stage of neuropathy(cause being unknown as yet).Common causes for these paresthesias can be- Neuropathy due to- 1)Diabetes 2)Drugs and Toxins 3)Vitamins deficiencies 4)Chronic alcohol intake Further,non-psychogenic causes like Anxiety or Depression can also result in such symptoms.I would suggest you to consider,if any of the above applies in your case.Besides,if the symptoms are non-improving and persistent,nerve conduction studies can be done to look for neuropathic changes. I hope,you must be having some more questions to ask.I shall be glad to have you in follow-up. Regards Dr.Ajay Panwar, MD,DM(Neurology)