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Suggest Treatment For Pain And Spasms In Legs And Knees
Posted on
Tue, 17 Nov 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 17 Nov 2015
Answered on
Wed, 16 Dec 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : I was in an auto accident about four months back and have had problems since. I have been through a battery of tests for nerves, MRI's, and head tests with no results showing anything.
I have many movements that will cause my legs to give when attempting to stand up, resulting in spasms and my knees having to catch myself. Ususally walking will work out the problem quickly. Sometimes it will last for days with the legs giving while just standing.
Bending at the waist, especially with the knees straight, lifting items, sitting in a car or movie theater for 30 min. lifting anything over my head, etc. will cause problems. Laying down is fine. Pulling my hips forward helps stop the instability. I thought these pointed to a pinched nerve in my hips. However, my knees swell and become very sore on the top of the calves as well.
Can you shed any thoughts on this problem?
I have many movements that will cause my legs to give when attempting to stand up, resulting in spasms and my knees having to catch myself. Ususally walking will work out the problem quickly. Sometimes it will last for days with the legs giving while just standing.
Bending at the waist, especially with the knees straight, lifting items, sitting in a car or movie theater for 30 min. lifting anything over my head, etc. will cause problems. Laying down is fine. Pulling my hips forward helps stop the instability. I thought these pointed to a pinched nerve in my hips. However, my knees swell and become very sore on the top of the calves as well.
Can you shed any thoughts on this problem?
Brief Answer:
Nerve irritation likely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The pain and spasms in the legs and knees that you are having is likely to be due to a mild nerve compression at the level of spine. The attached images show just a mild degenerative changes of the spine with no significant nerve compression.
But it is possible that the nerve roots are getting irritated with certain movements. It is best to consult a neurologist and get nerve conduction testing done to find out the cause. Such neuropathic pains can be controlled with medicines like Pregabalin and gabapentin. Regular physiotherapy exercises, oral muscle relaxants and acupuncture can also be helpful.
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.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL XXXX
Nerve irritation likely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The pain and spasms in the legs and knees that you are having is likely to be due to a mild nerve compression at the level of spine. The attached images show just a mild degenerative changes of the spine with no significant nerve compression.
But it is possible that the nerve roots are getting irritated with certain movements. It is best to consult a neurologist and get nerve conduction testing done to find out the cause. Such neuropathic pains can be controlled with medicines like Pregabalin and gabapentin. Regular physiotherapy exercises, oral muscle relaxants and acupuncture can also be helpful.
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.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL XXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your quick reply. I have been to a neurologist and had tests but they do not show any thing helpful.
I had some temporary success with needling, aspirin and related pain killers are helpful with the swelling and pain, but some of the physical therapy exercises caused serious problems making the situation much worse. I believe you are correct when you say there is compression in the spine causing the problem.
However, my concern now is that it seems to be causing increasing problems in the back of my knees and the adjoining muscles. I have trouble with bending my knees like sitting for thirty minutes or more or bending down, or keeping the knees straight and bending.
Any sugguestions?
I had some temporary success with needling, aspirin and related pain killers are helpful with the swelling and pain, but some of the physical therapy exercises caused serious problems making the situation much worse. I believe you are correct when you say there is compression in the spine causing the problem.
However, my concern now is that it seems to be causing increasing problems in the back of my knees and the adjoining muscles. I have trouble with bending my knees like sitting for thirty minutes or more or bending down, or keeping the knees straight and bending.
Any sugguestions?
Brief Answer:
Can be due to osteoarthritis in knees.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The trouble in bending the knees can be due to osteoarthritic changes in the knee. Taking mild pain killers and calcium supplements can be helpful. You can also get joint lubricant supplements prescribed from your orthopedician. An X-ray of the knees will be helpful in proper diagnosis.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Can be due to osteoarthritis in knees.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The trouble in bending the knees can be due to osteoarthritic changes in the knee. Taking mild pain killers and calcium supplements can be helpful. You can also get joint lubricant supplements prescribed from your orthopedician. An X-ray of the knees will be helpful in proper diagnosis.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your reply.
The problem with the knees has been since the accident, during which I braced my legs on the brake and floor and the knees against the sides of the car and console. I was hit twice and shaken badly. Before this I was running four plus miles a day and working out at the gym. Now I can't do that.
Osteoarthritis would be a slower process, right?
The problem with the knees has been since the accident, during which I braced my legs on the brake and floor and the knees against the sides of the car and console. I was hit twice and shaken badly. Before this I was running four plus miles a day and working out at the gym. Now I can't do that.
Osteoarthritis would be a slower process, right?
Brief Answer:
Can be due to capsular inflammation.
Detailed Answer:
You are right. In that case it is related to the accident. There can be a minor capsular inflammation causing the pain. Taking mild pain killers and knee joint lubricant supplements will help reducing the pain.
Regards.
Can be due to capsular inflammation.
Detailed Answer:
You are right. In that case it is related to the accident. There can be a minor capsular inflammation causing the pain. Taking mild pain killers and knee joint lubricant supplements will help reducing the pain.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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