Pain that spreads

Ever since I was a kid, I have had horrible leg cramps.  The pain starts in my ankle joint and if I don't stop moving immediately, it spreads to my knee and then eventually to my hip making it impossible to walk.  I can feel the pain a bit in my muscles, but the main centers are the joints.  My folks would always give me a tylenol and tell me they were growing pains really painful growing pains, but now I'm turning 30 and the pain is really bad when these episodes hit about twice a week.  The only remedy seems to be to lying completely still, heating the area, and pain relievers.  My PCP says they are just muscle cramps, but I know the difference.  Any idea what the heck this is?

[Enoch Choi, MD]

They're not growing pains if you're 30.

twice a week is too frequent.

Cramps can be from imbalance in serum potassium, have that checked by taking blood

Ask for a referral to a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician

[johnnykelly]

Hello and thank-you. I am a 48yrs old male with mild and moderate osteo-arthritis in both hips, The side that has the mild,is not a problem,but in the l-hip.boy that a problem.my pain is not the major problem,its that i find it hard to put on my socks,as even puttingmy ankle up on my other knee is painful and a challenge.As for the pain i take a very powerful pain-pill,and now are dependant on oxycontin at 160mgs a day.Any help regarding my arthritis would be beautiful,as for my dependance,as of tuesday,i am getting help for that,by going on the drug Suboxone.Suboxone is used in opiod addicted/dependant people.The addiction/dependance is a (Givin if we continue usind narcotis to treat pain) Im not being Judgemental just speaking from my OWN experience All the best john

[Enoch Choi, MD]

even taking tylenol regularly can make one dependent on the pain relieving properties.

physical therapy can help

strengthening the muscles surrounding the arthritic joints and stretching them helps a lot.

[stemetril]

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