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Knee arthritis referred pain

Posted , 5 users are following.

libralady13
libralady13

Hello I have been on the osteoarthritis forum for advice but thought I would try this one as there seems to be members you have O A and or have had TKR.  It's a long story so will try to make it short.  I have had OA in my knees for over 20 years and have managed well enough with paracetamol

occasionally.  All this changed about over 1 year ago.  The pain in my right knee increased greatly but the worse thing was the pain behind the knee right down outside of leg and into ankle and foot.  This was brought on my walking and would make me scream out in the pain.  I was due to have an arthroscopy last September but after a few months of this pain which left me housebound the pain suddenly improved and the arthrscopy was cancelled as the consultant said first of all he did not know if the surgery would work and it would probably start the pain up 

again.  He added something about nature doing the job for him.  For a few months I went on as before gradually getting back out walking although not very long distances.  Now the same thing is happening to

my other leg all be it not quite as bad. I am terrifed of being housebound

again.  I should add that I have arthritis in the neck and spine.  I also have varicose veins but went to the hospital and was told the pain was not vascular.  I am taking just paracetamol and ibuprofen gel at the moment.  I can't take anti inflammatories or codeine type pills.  I tried them before and they upset my IBS and to be honest did not really help 

that well with the pain, although maybe I did not take them for long enough.  My question is does anyone with knee OA or anyone who had

a knee replacment have or had this pain going right down the leg into

foot which the doctor has said is referred from the knee.  When I google

I can't find anything about it just that hip OA can cause knee and groin 

pain but nothing about knees.  I do know that spinal pain can go down the leg but gp and hospital seem to concentrate on knees.  Sorry to go on and on but would love to know about others experiences of OA knee pain.  Thanks.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • libralady13
    libralady13

    Posted

    Sorry I should add that I have other health problems and also suffer from anxiety.
    • joan51826
      joan51826 libralady13

      Posted

      Hi I too sufferd for a long time with OA and kept thinking it couldnt get any worse. I have Asthma so couldnt take anti inflammatories. I have now had a total knee replacement. It is 13 weeks since I had this done and am now back walking with no pain and just a bit of stiffness. However my other knee after taking the strain is crippling me. I can now tell what it would be like to have them both done. I am due to see the consultant in 3 weeks time and will then be booking the other knee

      in. Reluctant as I am to go through it all again I know it will be worth it in the long run. Hope you get sorted soon.

       

    • libralady13
      libralady13 joan51826

      Posted

      Hi Joan Thanks for your reply.  I think I will have to ask my gp to refer me back to the hospital.  Last year July again they only mentioned the arthroscopy no mention of KR.  I asked about injections as was told no they don't do them now.  I think I will need both knee joints replaced well that is if they think so as well.  I am also worried about the other knee taking the strain it it was until recently the worse one.  Can you tell me what pain relieve you were given after surgery as I can't take any codeine type pain killers either.  The anti inflammatories don't upset my asthma but do affect my IBS. Thanks
    • joan51826
      joan51826 libralady13

      Posted

      Hi libralady I was given Tramadol after the operation. I felt like I was spaced out so after a few weeks I visited my doctor and he gave me Co-codamol which wasnt as strong but made me feel more with it. I am not one to take pain killers or tablets so was glad to come off all these. I occasionaly take co-codamol if I am in pain but want to get my life back to normal so just use them as and when. I too suffer from IBS but have found myself a lot better since my op and do not have as many symptoms as before. Whether it is something to do with the Epidural I dont know. I used to have to take Lopermide daily but know dont do so unless I have a bad stomach .So something good has come of it. Hopefully it will last.
  • jennifer86104
    jennifer86104 libralady13

    Posted

    I am due to have aTKR next week. I get pain down my leg, sometimes outer, sometimes inner and pain in my foot. Also pain in my thigh. I assume this is all to do with the OA in my knee and am hoping, in time, after the op it will get better and I can enjoy walking again. Some days are better than others. I do exercises daily which were given to me by the physio dept at the hospital. These help I think. I, like you, don't really find painkillers help much. I too can't take Ibuprofen and just take Paracetemol twice a day plus some Glucosamine and Omega 3. Wouldn't like to say that they do much good though. Sorry I can't be of much help but hope it's reassuring to know you're not alone to suffer pain in your leg. 
    • libralady13
      libralady13 jennifer86104

      Posted

      Hello Thanks for your reply.  I hope your surgery goes well and you will be pain free.  I would be interested to know if after the op allowing for recovery you find that the leg pain has gone as well.  Good luck.
    • jennifer86104
      jennifer86104 libralady13

      Posted

      I will let you know. I am also concerned about pain relief after the op as I can't take Ibuprofen and am not great with cocodamol. 
  • nicky14342
    nicky14342 libralady13

    Posted

    Your pain sounds like classic Sciatica! This is a nerve pain and the nerve involved starts from the lower spine,through the buttock and down the outside of the leg...including the knee...and down to the front of the foot. It can be difficult to treat and causes misery (I speak from personal experience!). I have experienced this on and off for years and after TKR last year I had it for a long time.
    • libralady13
      libralady13 nicky14342

      Posted

      Hi I did wonder about sciatica I suppose there is nothing to stop you getting 2 things together.  I do have some mild low back pain but it does not go down the buttock the pain seems to start about mid thigh mostly back of thigh and knee down outside of leg and into ankle and foot.  I always though that sciatica pain was worse when sitting or lying but better when walking.  Mine is the opposite.  What treatment did you have for it?.  I will have to ask gp to refer me back to hospital as I am sure I need both knee joints replaced although it was not suggested last year when I went for my appointment.  Of course both knees hurt most of the time not helped by the fact that I twisted the left one on getting up from a chair yesterday.  Thanks.
  • maria39241
    maria39241 libralady13

    Posted

    Does anyone get pain from their knee down the Front or Side of their leg

    I have o.a and a slight swelling on the outside of my knee but the pains down the front of leg are awful.

    Can o.a in knee refer down the top front of leg

    • libralady13
      libralady13 maria39241

      Posted

      Hi,  You may have read my original post of 1 year ago.  I can really sympathise with pain going down the front of the leg.  Mine went down the outside sometimes the front and into the foot and ankle.  When I say the consultant for my knees he told me that it is possible for oa knee pain to go a little down from the knee but pain going down the leg into the foot is probably from the spine.  I was later diagnosed with spinal degeneration as well as neck and knees.  Now at this time although I do get some pain back and knees it is much milder than it was way back.  The pain going down my leg to foot would have me in tears and prevented me going out.  I have been told I need both knee joints replaced but not to have it until absolutely necessary because it is a difficult operation and 10%? don't work.  Apparently not as successful as hips.  I have decided to wait as my pain is not too bad does not stop me from going out and can be controlled by simple pain killers (paracetamol and a cream called Pernaton).  That said many on this forum will have had the surgery and had good results although I believe the first few weeks are hard.  Are you under a osteo clinic or just GP.  Perhaps you can find out if the pain is coming from the knee or lower back maybe.  Are you on good pain relief.  I can only tell of my experience and what the consultant told me but everyone is different.

      Have you had any physio?  Sorry I can't say much else.  Hope you can get some anwers and treatment.  Let us know how you get on.

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