Knee/Leg Pain

[twanger]

I had this problem last October and lasted until this February. I don't know how it started. Anyway, went to the Orthopedic Surgeon in January, he did his examination and x-rays and told me to take 2 Aleve a day for two weeks and then come back, if necessary. It wasn't necessary. Within a week I felt better. I don't know if it was the passage of time and or what. However, I put up with not being able to sleep, walk very well, etc. for quite some time. Hope you feel better.

[lori j]

Originally Posted by kawondergem

I think I will try the Tylenol Arthritis. I haven't tried anything OTC. I wondered if it was arthritis, too, but I'm only 24. I know some people my age who have arthritis but it's usually in their hands, not their legs. And can't they test for that? (Thanks so much for replying to my thread!)

My family doc said that arthritis showed up in my back on an xray. Don't know for sure if it does, but that is what he said.

[tishea]

Arthritis will only show up on x-ray if it is OSTEOARTHRITIS. If it is RHEUMATOID it will not show up on an x-ray and the joint will be red,swollen and stiff

[lilsunshine46]

Okay here goes.
I am 42 soon to be 43. When I was 26 I noticed I had pain in my right knee on the inside{distal}. I was a runner and had just had a baby. I went to the dr they said slack off on the running so I did.
When I was 27 my husband was killed in a military accident and my bad back started acting up again. It was put down to muscles spasms, "don't worry".
I remarried at 29 and right before my 30th BDAy my back popped. I had a ruptured disc so that was causing the leg pain.
In 1995 before my 34th Bday{i spent it in hospital having surgery} I went to dr in feb. I told him I was having trouble walking and the pain was horrible. He said nerve damage from back"don't worry" Well I went back 3 months later and told him I think I have a tumor and could feel it. He laughed but did referr me to an Ortho dr.
He ran new MRI of back but when I went back 2 weeks later for discussion of MRI he observed I was walking worse. He took Xrays and said "Oh my GOD you have a tumor on your femur!" It was a giant cell tumor which usually strikes females between 20-40. I went to San Antonio, we lived in LA Ca at the time {military} and was given a choice of total amputation , above the knee, a cadaver bone which would have meant 1 year in a cast and possibility of rejection and infection, or this new limb salvage prosthesis. I chose the LSP but it has been a long nightmare.
Anyway it took my tumor about 8 yrs to show up on xrays and for it to be felt both touching and painwise. My knee was also swollen, still is due to complications of LSP but I had never in my wildest dreams thought I would have a tumor. It was benign which is a plus but it was so large it was the bottom part of my femur and I was walking around with a broken leg, hence the pain. NOt broken in traditional terms such as a fracture.
Good luck with your leg. I didn't tell you this to scare you but I wish I had known about the possibility of this when I was 26 as then the surgery would have been minimal, scooping out the small tumor and packing with bone cement opposed to amputating due to damage to bone.
Bonnie

[kawondergem]

Bonnie: Thank you for sharing your story. This definitely motivates me to find out what the heck is going on! I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that. There is nothing like knowing something is wrong and having doctors laugh in your face about it (or totally ignore it). I'm fairly certain that the condition in my leg has gotten worse over the past couple weeks. I have spent more and more nights laying awake with the pain. Hopefully soon someone will give me some answers. Thanks again!