Leg Pain
Posted , 3 users are following.
My wife who is now 40 has been experiencing increasing episodes of what she describes as leg pain. Here are the typical symtoms
Pain just below the knees
Coldness of the extremties - feet & toes
A sensation of cramps, numbness, tingling in the toes etc
What she feels is related is a feeling of heaviness after eating and a sensation of soreness in the lower back when standing
She is slim, fit, does not smoke, has a healthy vegetarian diet and exercises regularly. She does not have a family history of arterial disease or venous insufficiency.
Quite recently we have had a whole battery of tests performed
Blood tests - very extensive all of which turn out to be perfectly normal.
Venous ultrasound scans - normal
Arterial scans - a mystery here since she was told that everything was normal and then had a letter sent to her GP which said she had issues with her posterior tibial artery.
Her GP insists of talking in terms of "claudication" but this sounds bizarre since she has no difficulty exercising, running, walking up or downhill... . In fact such activity generally makes her feel better - the issue is more when she has to stand still though of late it has become near continuous.
It is possible that the condition worsened after we moved into a house with underfloor heating and/or after the birth of our second child.
Compression stockings help relieve the symptoms but both she and I have doubts that this is a prudent and effective long term solution.
About the only thing that has given some relief is acupuncture. I try to help by giving a regular massage. Through some trial & error and much searching on the net I have found pressure points that appear to bring much relief. The points in question
Three finger widths above the ankles (at the back)
Three finger widths below the knee (also at the back)
In the area around the sacral hiatus
In the crotch on either side of the labia - just where the Gracilis muscle can be felt with the fingers
I personally am starting to suspect that her symtoms are caused by issues elsewhere - in the hip & pelvic area and have been exacerbated by pregnancy.
We have got very little clear guidance from the various doctors & specialists we have seen. Acupuncture has provided relief - until the practitioner starts performing the treatment mechanically for his next fee.
I would be eternally grateful to anyone who reads this long and windy post and offers comments that might help.
0 likes, 8 replies
mrsmop fredat
Posted
You also mentioned the birth of your second child and house move, both of which are very stressful. Pregnacy can trigger all sorts of conditions, has your wife seen a Gynaecologist about this condition?
Does the acupuncture still work, even if the administrator is performing it on auto pilot? Could you find a new Practitioner?
fredat mrsmop
Posted
fredat
Posted
MrsMop - answering your question re accupuncturist on auto-pilot: she has been two two accupuncturists thus far (the first one for almost a year). Initial results were nothing short of miraculous. Then they started pricking her on "autopilot" as you put it with no effort at consultation. The treatements still worked but the effects were pretty short lived.
I have got accupuncture needles at home now and we have tried doing it on our own. I read in a Chinese treatise on accupuncture that the groin area around the labia is like a big railway junction and controls sensations in the lower legs. I followed the instructions there and even tried pricking in that area. The results were good but I am no expert so I hesitate to do more than a fairly superficial prick. It goes without saying - going to a practitioner and asking specifically for treatement in such an intimate zone would not be an easy thing to do.
debbie27473 fredat
Posted
fredat debbie27473
Posted
I found an Orthopedist who is also a Chiropracter + does accupuncture. She will be seing him this afternoon and I am hoping that might help.
fredat debbie27473
Posted
Following the diagnosis did you get treatment that alleviated the pain? If so, what was the nature of the treatment?
debbie27473 fredat
Posted
debbie27473 fredat
Posted