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I Been Having Left Hip And Knee Pain Is Like
Question: I been having left hip and knee pain is like a shooting pain goin up from my knee is been going on for 3 4 day should I be worried
Brief Answer:
Shooting pains are generally nerve-related- more information is needed to better determine the cause
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query.
Shooting pain in the hip and leg is very likely a nerve-related pain (sciatica pain, for instance). This is very common when a nerve gets pinched when coming out of the spine or in the way down the leg.
There are other causes of pain in the hip and knee, such as pain due to muscles and tendons or other structures (arthritis), so to make sure of the cause of the pain in your case, I would kindly ask you to let me know of the following:
- how often do you get the pain and is it triggered by certain movements (when does it come up or what makes it worse)?
- do you have back pain as well?
- do you get any numbness or tingling in the hip or leg?
- do you have any problem with urination or passing stools or any numbness in your private area?
- Is there any swelling or redness in the knee or other areas of the leg?
- have you had any local trauma or have you recently lifted heavy weight or done heavy work that involves low back bending?
- have you used any medications to help with the pain and are they helping?
- is the specified gender and age in the query correct (male, 33 years old)?
I hope to hear back from you soon with the above information. I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Shooting pains are generally nerve-related- more information is needed to better determine the cause
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query.
Shooting pain in the hip and leg is very likely a nerve-related pain (sciatica pain, for instance). This is very common when a nerve gets pinched when coming out of the spine or in the way down the leg.
There are other causes of pain in the hip and knee, such as pain due to muscles and tendons or other structures (arthritis), so to make sure of the cause of the pain in your case, I would kindly ask you to let me know of the following:
- how often do you get the pain and is it triggered by certain movements (when does it come up or what makes it worse)?
- do you have back pain as well?
- do you get any numbness or tingling in the hip or leg?
- do you have any problem with urination or passing stools or any numbness in your private area?
- Is there any swelling or redness in the knee or other areas of the leg?
- have you had any local trauma or have you recently lifted heavy weight or done heavy work that involves low back bending?
- have you used any medications to help with the pain and are they helping?
- is the specified gender and age in the query correct (male, 33 years old)?
I hope to hear back from you soon with the above information. I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
how often do you get the pain and is it triggered by certain movements (when does it come up or what makes it worse)?'
no it just come out of no where it been happing this week only
do you have back pain as well?
no just on my left hip kind of my lower left back
do you get any numbness or tingling in the hip or leg?
yes
do you have any problem with urination or passing stools or any numbness in your private area?
no
Is there any swelling or redness in the knee or other areas of the leg?
no
have you had any local trauma or have you recently lifted heavy weight or done heavy work that involves low back bend
no
- have you used any medications to help with the pain and are they helping?
yes tylenol but them it come back
s the specified gender and age in the query correct (male, 33 years old)?
yes
no it just come out of no where it been happing this week only
do you have back pain as well?
no just on my left hip kind of my lower left back
do you get any numbness or tingling in the hip or leg?
yes
do you have any problem with urination or passing stools or any numbness in your private area?
no
Is there any swelling or redness in the knee or other areas of the leg?
no
have you had any local trauma or have you recently lifted heavy weight or done heavy work that involves low back bend
no
- have you used any medications to help with the pain and are they helping?
yes tylenol but them it come back
s the specified gender and age in the query correct (male, 33 years old)?
yes
im also having a Sleeve gastrectomy perform on me next week do to my obesity should I be concern that this is happening right before my surgery
Brief Answer:
Sciatica is likely- details below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Thank you for your reply and the extra information you provided, it is really helpful.
Shooting pain in the lower back and leg, that is also associated with numbness is very likely related to sciatica, which is a nerve-related pain. The nerve that comes out from the lower spine may get pinched on the way at the level of the spine (if a disc has prolapsed) or at the way down the leg if the muscles are having a spasm and squeezing the nerve.
This is generally not dangerous as long as you have no problems with urine and bowel control and no numbness in the private area. If you have any of these symptoms, this would indicate a medical emergency called spinal stenosis and warrants investigations such as MRI.
In your case, because you do not have worrisome symptoms and because sciatica is a very common condition and self-limiting, you do not need to worry. You may take paracetamol (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) to help with the pain and also avoid bending your back (you may use your knees if you need to take things from the floor or lift something).
Also, physiotherapy is very helpful to release muscle spasms and relieve pain.
I would like to stress the fact that it is always better to examine the patient to confirm this diagnosis so a visit with the doctor is always the best as there is a lot of information that can be gathered by examining the patient.
As for the coming surgery, I do not think the pain you are having will affect the surgery but it is best to let your doctor know about it.
To conclude:
- By what you explain (shooting pain and numbness in the leg), it is very likely you are having sciatica, which is a nerve-related pain
- Sciatica is very common and self-limiting and is not worrisome most of the time
- If you develop any problems with urine or bowel control or any numbness in the private area, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible as this can be an emergency
- It is always best if a doctor can examine you to confirm this diagnosis
- Treatments are generally, keeping active as much as you can (bed rest is not recommended), avoid bending the back (use knees if you need to get something from the ground), Tylenol and Advil (after food to protect the stomach), physiotherapy.
- Sciatica should not be a problem for the surgery you are going to have but please let your doctor know ahead that you have this pain.
I hope to hear back from you soon with the above information. I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Sciatica is likely- details below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,
Thank you for your reply and the extra information you provided, it is really helpful.
Shooting pain in the lower back and leg, that is also associated with numbness is very likely related to sciatica, which is a nerve-related pain. The nerve that comes out from the lower spine may get pinched on the way at the level of the spine (if a disc has prolapsed) or at the way down the leg if the muscles are having a spasm and squeezing the nerve.
This is generally not dangerous as long as you have no problems with urine and bowel control and no numbness in the private area. If you have any of these symptoms, this would indicate a medical emergency called spinal stenosis and warrants investigations such as MRI.
In your case, because you do not have worrisome symptoms and because sciatica is a very common condition and self-limiting, you do not need to worry. You may take paracetamol (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) to help with the pain and also avoid bending your back (you may use your knees if you need to take things from the floor or lift something).
Also, physiotherapy is very helpful to release muscle spasms and relieve pain.
I would like to stress the fact that it is always better to examine the patient to confirm this diagnosis so a visit with the doctor is always the best as there is a lot of information that can be gathered by examining the patient.
As for the coming surgery, I do not think the pain you are having will affect the surgery but it is best to let your doctor know about it.
To conclude:
- By what you explain (shooting pain and numbness in the leg), it is very likely you are having sciatica, which is a nerve-related pain
- Sciatica is very common and self-limiting and is not worrisome most of the time
- If you develop any problems with urine or bowel control or any numbness in the private area, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible as this can be an emergency
- It is always best if a doctor can examine you to confirm this diagnosis
- Treatments are generally, keeping active as much as you can (bed rest is not recommended), avoid bending the back (use knees if you need to get something from the ground), Tylenol and Advil (after food to protect the stomach), physiotherapy.
- Sciatica should not be a problem for the surgery you are going to have but please let your doctor know ahead that you have this pain.
I hope to hear back from you soon with the above information. I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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