left hip joint & leg pain/ numbness

[ashley403]

Not sure where to post this b/c I have no idea what is wrong.
Female/ age 28/ 126 lbs
Problem: I have for the last week (though this is not the first time, but the longest so far) I have a really intense pain in my hip joint that goes down the outside of my left leg and the pain usually stops around the outside of my knee, but on bad days it will go down to my ankle.  The pain hurts the most when I am sitting or laying down or kneeling down. If I am up walking around it usually feels better, but I still have pain on stairs or when doing certain movements. If I was to sit with my legs straight out and bend my left knee it hurts really bad in the hip joint area. ..It is almost like I don’t have the strength or muscle to lift my left leg. I would like to point out that I am in good shape, I work out and as recently as March completed the P90X program, which is not for the faint hearted, with no problem in my leg. I first thought the pain was due to something work out related, but I have not worked out in a month and the pain came back again on 12/21 and hasn’t gone away since...previously when this has occurred the pain would be gone in a day or two.
History: I play soccer and tore my Left PCL about a year ago. I went to the ortho. surgeon who recommended recons. surgery but said I could still function normally w/o it and if I played I’d have to wear a knee brace. I elected not to have the surgery and I have played a couple seasons since then with the brace and no problems. I only wear the brace to play and haven’t played in the last few months due to off season. The thought didn’t occur to me at first that this pain is in the same leg I injured b/c the pain is so different, but it certainly deems mentioning.I also have a history of numbness/ pins and needles in both feet, but lately it has been only in my left leg and it happens very quickly upon sitting or laying down, usually if I start moving around it goes away.
think that’s about it, if this sounds familiar to anyone or if you think this would be better suited for another forum please let me know.
I am going on about a week of pain and I realize for some ppl that is nothing, but I would quite like to get back to normal and I am not sure how much longer I can last without taking any pain meds, which I would really like to avoid.
thanks all

[Adnvwsti]

Ashley, I'd just like to say that I have been diagnosed with MS, but I have an unrelated issue that causes tremendous hip and leg pain much like what you're describing.  My problem was dx'd as a torn bursa with severe damage to the muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments surrounding the hip, thighs, buttocks.  At times leading up to the MS diagnosis, these additional problems really threw some confusion into the mix, causing my doctors (orthosurgeon, internal diagnostician, neurologist) to have to sort out what was causing which symptom and complaint, and distinguish one problem from the other.  At first, the torn bursa issues and the lesions in the muscles and other soft tissues led the doctors to doubt the MS symptoms were an indication of MS.  It took several tests and numerous other symptoms unrelated to the torn bursa before the doctors began to seriously consider MS, so I totally understand why you weren't sure where to post your question.  I hope every dx provided you has a definitive prognosis that leads away from MS and toward the medical care that will repair and correct whatever is going on with your hip.  But oh my, that hip pain you're enduring is absolutely awful, isn't it?  I have been prescribed a lidocaine patch (Lipoderm) that I use at night to help me rest without pain.  You might ask about that until this gets sorted out.  It really helps.  

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Meg is correct.  This does not sound like a problem for the Multiple Sclerosis forum.  It sounds like a problem for a Sports Medicine doctor, clinic or forum.

Some of what you describe sounds like a problem called Meralgia Paresthetica - a problem concerning a specific nerve, called the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous nerve in the outer thigh.  It can be the result of trauma and can be recurrent.

Another thing that should be investigated in you is your lower back.  It is well-known in medicine that problems in the lower back are often felt in the hip.  So all problems in the hip area deserve an investigation into the lower back.  Similarly, problems in the hip are often felt at the level of the knee.

So, those two things come to mind from your post, but not MS.

Good luck.  I hope you find the cause and can treat it.  Pain s**ks.

Quix, MD

[meg321]

It does sound as if you are i the wrong forum, but I dont know how to direct you to the correct place...this is the MS forum...

Maybe someone else can help you or just take a look at the other forums.

meg