HomeAnswersOrthopedician and Traumatologyleg painWhy does my sister have leg pain from the thigh to the knee?

What could be done to resolve pain in the thigh to the knee?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Nithila. A

Published At June 16, 2019
Reviewed AtApril 22, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

The problem is with my second elder sister who is unmarried and aged 62 years. She was a school teacher and has retired from service. She is 160 cms in height and weighs 60 kg. She falls under the category lean to good health except for a bulging tummy. Main problems are,

1. Pain in both the legs with more pain in the right leg from thigh to the knee.

2. Sometimes a feeling of being pushed from behind when standing.

a. Apart from these, she is also suffering from, When lying down to sleep or sitting for some time,

1. Feeling as if the veins inside the legs are getting loose with pricking pain on both feet.

2. Biting pain on both feet even when one foot is pressed with another foot

3. Sometimes a feeling of scratching with a sharp instrument.

4. Pain in toes and nails.

5. Pain in the bottom of the feet

6. Burning sensation in feet, especially when the saree edge touches the feet.

7. Feeling of standing on a carpet while standing on the ground without slippers.

8. Tips of the toes are getting rough even though creams are applied.

9. The sudden jerk of hand enough to break sleep.

10. Pain in the legs are spreading from the feet upwards towards the knee.

b. While standing

1. Need for placing hands on nearby objects like a wall, chair, table to get better support.

2. Pain just on the right side of the right knee (the place where the knees fold) and a feeling as if the bone will break

c. When walking

1. A feeling of getting pushed from the back

2. Unable to walk at a stretch for even half a kilometer

3. The feeling of forceful dragging of legs

4. Feeling of breathlessness

d. Hands are unable to work with both sides together (e.g., holding utensils with both hands for placing them on a gas oven, holding the utensil with one hand while stirring the contents with the other) even though there is no problem when working with one hand alone.

She has some relief when washing legs with cold water I am attaching herewith copies of all the doctor's prescriptions, the test reports including latest scan and MRI report of the spine, the medicines she has taken for your kind perusal, please. Please go through the details and kindly advise us what to do and what medications to take to make the pain bearable, if not eradicate the same.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Went through your queries and the files attached (attachment removed to protect patient identity). This clinical scenario is possible in two cases.

1) Compression of the spinal cord at the cervical level or lumbar level or both.

2) Peripheral neuropathy is affecting all four limbs.

She has been extensively investigated. Treatment for peripheral neuropathy has been tried in the form of pregabalin, gabapentin, nor tryptiline, etc. which do not seem to have afforded any improvement to her.

So I suggest we may try a course of the following medications for a week. Kindly consult your doctor to discuss the suggestion and take the treatment with consent.

1) Tablet Medrol 4 mg 1-0-1 after food (Methylprednisolone).

2) Tablet Pan 40 1-0-1 before food (Pantoprazole).

3). Tablet Phlogam 1-1-1 before food (Trypsin, Bromelain, Rutoside).

4). Tablet Nurokind LC 1-0-1 after food (Vitamin B12, Levocarnitine).

5). Tablet Nervijen-NP 1-0-1 after food (Nortryptiline, Pregabalin).

6). Tablet Alsody 1-0-1 after food (Alpha lipoic acid, Superoxide dismutase).

The Probable causes

Cervical stenosis, lumbar stenosis or peripheral neuropathy.

Regarding follow up

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I have a few more questions for you.

Is it necessary to take tab Medrol, which is a steroid? We are a bit apprehensive about steroids. You may please confirm because you are the best judge.

Does the MRI report of the spine also suggest lumbar problem (the DICOM files had already been uploaded)? Will medicines be able to provide relief or physiotherapy provide any improvement?

My sister is presently taking UST, and IFT treatment as suggested by her doctor, and the prescription was already uploaded. She has completed nearly 16 sittings, but there seems to be no improvement. Should this be continued for some more time, or can she stop this? The doctors here had suggested a minor operation of the hand after going through the NCV report. Is it required at this stage? We will start the medicines prescribed by you after hearing from you. I hope that you will be able to understand our situation since we have tried out so many treatments without any fruitful result. I am sure that your reply will enable me to convince my sister to give the treatment a try.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, tablet Medrol is a steroid. Generally, steroids may be given in short courses where the benefit outweighs the risks. Since she is not a known diabetic or hypertensive, the risks are minimal for a short course. Steroids may reduce inflammation and edema around the spinal cord. It is also beneficial in neuropathy and/or carpal tunnel syndrome.

Lumbar problem may be treated with a combination of drugs, physio and surgery. Drugs are generally first line.

She may discontinue the sessions for a week before we will reassess.

The minor surgery can be done now or later depending on her progress.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Niranjanan M Raghavn
Dr. Niranjanan M Raghavn

Orthopedician and Traumatology

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