Chronic leg pain

[tommycat1]

I have heard of restless legs....but this seems like extremely more severe pain than that.  My father has been having calf pain for years.  It has been becoming increasingly more severe...now, it doesn't only hit at night, but he goes several days (24 hours/day) with severe pain.  It comes and goes, but he has severe pain most of the time.  He has been to the hospital several times.  They give him pain medication, but it is like giving him water.  He has taken Lyrica, Cymbalta, Hydrocodone to name a few.  He tried getting off of his statin drugs, but could not tell any difference.  We have tried massage, pain medication, numerous doctors, nothing has helped.
If you have any suggestions please advise.  Thanks.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Tommy,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. Your father is fortunate to have you concern.... Bless you heart.

If this has gone on for years I respectfully doubt that he has DVT. DVT is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in a calf or thigh muscle. It often presents a medical emergency as the clot can break off and travel to your lungs or heart. A Doppler (Ultrasound) would provide him with valuable information regarding the circulation in his calves.

Can you share with us what diagnosis his Physicians have provided, if any? Muscle pain and spams can have so many sources.  Weathergirl has offered some good suggestions.

Have they checked all his electrolytes, vitamin and mineral levels? Sometimes a deficiency can cause the symptoms you describe, especially Vitamin D, B12, Calcium and Potassium.

You're correct in RLS, (Restless legs syndrome), your legs feel fidgety or crawly unless you move them.. This is considered a sleep disorder and should not follow your into your waking hours.

Some medications including antipsychotics, diuretics, statins, and steroids can also cause his symptoms.... I assume that is why his Physician tried reducing to discontinuing his statins.

A thyroid disorder can also produce muscle spasms. I am hopeful that his Physician checked this Thyroid levels. If not you should suggest that they do so.

Has your father consulted a Physician associated with a large teaching facility or one of the nationally know clinics? If not I would certainly do so. These Physicians are on the cutting edge of medicine and usually astute in investigating possibilities that other Physicians may not have considered.

Certainly your father deserves to be more comfortable then you report him to be. If all else fails a good PMP may at least provide him with pain relief.

I am sorry that your father is suffering with undiagnosed Chronic Pain. Your support and encouragement is so important to him at this point. I hope you'll continue to be involved and help him be assertive and seek answers.

Please let us know how he is doing.

Take Care,
~Tuck
.

[Weathergirl21]

Has the Dr. checked him out for DVT? Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Why would he try to get off his statin drugs? Did a Dr. recommend this?

Have they done an ultrasound on his legs to look for blood clots?

If he is clear for DVT...then it's got to be a nerve or muscle issue. Did he not have any type of injury before the pain started?

Also...is he active? As in does he walk daily or is he less mobile?

I hope that with each medication he is given for this..(the ones you listed) that he takes them exactly as prescribed and gives them a fair try as in using them for at least a month before ruling them out.

Many medications, especially the nerve pain ones that also need tirating up...So a Dr. will always start with a low dose and then go upwords over the next month or two.