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Muscle Pain In Both Legs And Pain Is Severe In Front Thighs. All Tests Are Normal. Suggest The Cure?

Posted on Mon, 28 Oct 2013

Question: I have suffered from muscle pain in both legs since late July of this year. The problem came on suddenly after I had carried boxes from my basement to my garage. My best description is that it feels like I have a rope coiled around my legs from my hips to my feet, and then have the rope pulled tight. The pain is most severe in my front thighs and my outside front and back calves, and gets worse with laying in bed and with rising from a chair or walking a stairway. I have been tested by my personal physician for PAD and for muscle electrolytes and enzymes, all of which are normal. He also has determined that my legs are normally strong and that I have no obvious neurological or circulatory issues with my legs. My pain doctor has treated me with three treatments of multiple injections in my lower spine (L2-S1), with no noticeable effect on the pain at all. I have found that activity--morning exercise and sports activity temporarily ease the pain intensity, but it comes back quickly with rest or sitting. I am a 71-year-old male with no obvious health issues otherwise. I fear that my personal doctor and my pain doctor are looking at the wrong possible causes and am seeking information on other possible causes to explore.

Thank you very much for whatever information you can provide.

XXXX
Livonia, MI
734-422-8416
" YYYY@YYYY "

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Can be due to hormonal imbalance or fibromyalgia.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
There are different possible causes for the symptoms that you are experiencing. One of the potential causes is hypothyroidism which is a low level of thyroid hormone. This is a hormone that plays an important part in the metabolism of the body. Since PAD and electrolyte imbalances have been ruled out, other causes can be excess activity resulting in muscle spasms, fibromyalgia, lumbar spine, etc.

In addition to the physical causes of your discomfort, it is possible for physical complaints to be worsened by anxiety or stress.

Muscular spasms can be treated by (1) treating the underlying cause (2) keeping yourself well hydrated (3) stretching the muscles involved (4) the use of anti inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen, cataflam with meals provided there are no contraindications to their use (5) a muscle relaxant may be necessary. Do get a muscle relaxant prescribed from your orthopedician.

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.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (1 hour later)

Thank you for your reply. I am taking levothyroxine for hypothyroidism, and have been for several years. Within this week I have had an MRI of my lower spine. The initial reading is that there does not appear to be any significant change from an earlier MRI that might lead to this leg pain. I am taking Gabapentin, and have just stopped taking Ropinirole, primarily because it appeared to be ineffective. My pain medicine of choice is ibuprofen (from 3-6 per day), and I occasionally take oxycodone at night if I cannot get to sleep. I have been "advised" by friends that my symptoms parallel those of Celiac disease. I have researched this on line, and am not sure there is any real parallel to be interested in. Can you think of any other muscle conditions, diseases, syndromes, etc., that may cause chronic leg muscle pain with no attendant back pain or other symptoms? We are pursuing the possibility of lower back involvement with my pain doctor. Fibromyalgia has occurred to me, but not to either of my doctors. Do my symptoms sufficiently indicate fibromyalgia to have me bring this up to my doctor? I am sensitive to trying to be my own diagnostician to my doctors, who are genuinely concerned and interested in addressing and curing this condition.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Fibromyalgia is only oneof the many possibilities.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The pain in the muscles that you have is not related to celiac disease. The other muscle related conditions that need to be ruled out are myalgia, myositis or neuropathy( you are taking gabapentin for this)
Fibromyalgia is only one of the possibilities. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. Do consult a neurologist for a physical examination.
Hope my answer is helpful.
If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (3 days later)

Thank you very much for your time and expertise on my behalf. I will take your advice with me to my next appointment with my doctor.

XXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you.
I am glad I could help.
You can consult me again directly through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Please accept my answer in case there are no further queries and recommend our services to your friends too if you have found it helpful.
I wish you the very best in whatever you do.
Warm regards

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