Question: Up until about 5 years ago, I was a 70 year old wood splitting, lawn mowing, dog walking woman. Then suddenly while out walking my dog, I got a jabbing pain in my right shin which made my leg feel as though it was giving out. It felt as though there was a "joint" in the shin area that was giving out. This would happen occasionally ; no set pattern. But always in the same area. It then began happening more often. In my yard where the terrain was irregular I started using a cane in case it gave out. I finally started the doctor circuit . .. a few orthopedics whose remedy was to get a cortisone shot in my knee or hip.
I told them that I did not have pain in my knee or hip. I then saw a foot surgeon; he found nothing wrong with my foot or ankle and referred me to a neurologist. He sent me for physical therapy for 10 weeks.The therapist told me to use the cane all the time. PT did nothing for my pain in the shin. Neurologist then did the nerve conduction test on my leg and said it was ok. He then referred me to an RA Dr. She assured me that I did not have RA.
Two years into this situation, I fell on my right knee quite hard. After two days of icing it etc. I went to an orthopedic doctor to get it checked. X-ray showed no breakage. He convinced me to take a cortisone shot in the knee to relieve pain. I did this. It did nothing for the pain in the knee or the shin. By this time I was relying on the cane in order to walk. My primary doctor ordered an x-ray of my lower leg for the shin pain. The results of that was they detected some demineralization of the bone. Evidently, there is nothing wrong with that because nothing else was done. Meanwhile, the pain in my shin got worse. There were times when it just ached even when I was not on it. I went to a vein doctor because I had varicose veins. We did the procedures on that leg; it did nothing for the problem I was having.
In my search to find a reason for my lower leg deteriorating , a few orthopedic doctors said I needed my hip replaced. ??? I have arthritis in my hip, but it does not hurt and one orthopedic doctor told me that the hip arthritis pain (if I had any) would not go below the knee.
Now, 5 YEARS later, I still have no diagnosis of my shin pain; my ankle also hurts now and I cannot take a step on that leg without the use of two canes or a walker. (I forgot...last Sept. I reluctantly agreed to receiving the cortisone shot in my hip. . . which did NOTHING) This past Feb. I decided to try another orthopedic doctor to no avail. He just went back to the old story of a hip replacement. I am so sick of hearing that ! ! ! Still no pain in my hip. I now also have severe pain in my calf muscle; I am guessing it is because of the poor way that I have been walking.
The lower leg has had x-rays and an MRI. Would a PET scan or any other test detect what is wrong in that shin area? I am at my wits end with aggravation as I am basically now a cripple. I cannot walk at all without out canes or a walker. Rest of my health is excellent. I have slight blood pressure and take 2.5 mg of Amlodipine. That's it. I recently started taking Centrom Silver vitamins for women.
Hoping and praying that there is something out there that can at least diagnose what is wrong with my leg.

I do not have the actual tests to most that were done. I may need more than the two days that you allow to gain access to them and forward them to you. I will begin working on that on May 16th (tomorrow) I had also had an MRI of my spine which Dr. Wajasakra reviewed. He said that I had some stenosis which was common for a person my age; but nothing he would do surgery on. Dr. Hasbani is the neurologist that did the nerve conduction test.
Please keep my file open until I can gather the info you want and get it to you.
Thank you, Jean XXXXXXX