What's wrong with me?

[R_M88]

Hi,

For the past four years I have had bouts of pain shooting through my hips and down my legs.  The only way I can describe this pain is that it feels like my bones are burning, it varies in intensity and radiates through my hips and legs.  Usually these bouts are very infrequent and will only last a week or so but for the past four weeks it has been constant, often waking me up early in the morning making it impossible to get comfortable.  At the same time I have been suffering with constant nausea and vomiting with no apparent cause (I am not pregnant).

I have been to my GP and he does not know what is causing this just stating that if it continues he will send me for physio.

If anyone knows what could be the cause of my symptoms please help!

[mkh9]

I'm not a doctor I'm just a clinical microbiologist, but  I have a back injury as well and frozen shoulder. A lot of the time people can have bulging discs that don't bother them and they don't know they have them until they have an MRI for some other reason. But, since your pain started after your herniated disc and you have had long term back pain. I think with the symptoms you describe that you may have a pinched nerve root. You could try getting an epidural injection to see if it alleviates the pain and try to see if that is the cause of the pain. If so you will know that is the cause at least and can try exercising by walking it off every day and see if this helps. But since you have had it so long you could get the herniated disc surgery so that it won't press on the nerve. I don't normally recommend back surgery for many people, so I would definitely find the source of the problem before doing the surgery. I think the epidural would help if it is a specific area. If you are on any pain meds you should  taper off with your physicians guidance. You may need to see a physical therapist after the surgery. I would be very picky on which PT you pick as I was injured twice by two different PH.D. level PT's. They have no regulation on them  and doctors rely very heavily on them. after being reinjured my back injury was a whole lot worse and I had to rehabilitate myself which took 3 years. I had a minor muscle strain and ended up with a torn ligament in the lower back and bruised ribs and a muscle pull in the glut, after the PTs were done with  me. I hope this helps.
mkh9

[R_M88]

Yes by physio I mean a physical therapist.  I am currently waiting for an appointment with a gastroenterologist to investigate further but I had to push my GP for this as he was trying to pass my nausea and vomiting off as acid reflux even though I have ever suffered with heart burn or indegestion in my life.  My own health needs have been put on the back burner as my daughter has a rare disorder so I have just tried to live with what I have....I am finding it harder and harder to live with though and you are right I should have got myself seen to much earlier instead of trying to brush it off.  Luckily I live in England so the NHS will cover all costs saving me that worry about expenses.
Thank you all for your comments as this has been more helpful than going to my GP and him trivialising my symptoms.

[R_M88]

Hi, I have had an MRI scan a few years ago (see my reply to polgara437).  As well as the burning pain I get electric current type pain and at times it can feel like my lega rae made of lead and I find it exhusting to walk up the stairs, I feel weak a lot of the time but don't know if this is related to the nausea and vomiting.  No numbness or pins and needles.  The pain seems to get worse when I rest I.e. at night or when relaxing in the evening but throughout the day its always there in one way or another.  I am very active and walking does ease it a little but not entirely.  Pain meds do not help at all unfortunately.

[R_M88]

Thanks for your comment.  It's funny you should mention a bulge in your disc as a few years ago I was attacked and this resulting in a bulge to a disc in my lumber spine...I mentioned this to my GP when I saw him and he said my symptoms have nothing to do with the bulge, I did tell him that I only started getting the burning pain after I had suffered the damage to my back but he simply dismissed it.

[LVGirlRN]

I dont know if your nausea and vomiting is related to the pain but it is concerning. You may have some irritation of your SCIATIC nerve or to other nerves present around the hip area. This can be caused by lower back disc problems or a problem with your hip. I dont know what you mean by physio?? Physical therapy?? DO NOT GO TO PHYSICAL THERAPY WITHOUT DOING SOME IMAGING FIRST!! It will make you worse if you have anything I mentioned above.  Either see a new Dr or ask your Dr for an MRI of the lumbar spine and ask for imaging of the hips. I dont know if an Xray or MRI is best for that area.  I would also ask for a CT of your abdominal area.  If this DR cannot do this, see an orthopedic Dr that does hips, kness, etc.  for the hip and lumbar imaging and see a gastroenterologist Dr for the vomiting and nausea and they will order CT of abdomen. If you need referrals get one for each type of Dr. PLEASE do this right away. Your symptoms are concerning.  Please dont ever wait two years to see a Dr again. That could be dangerous.  You want to be preventative not reactive.  Some problems get worse as you wait and require more treatment.  Be good to yourself and see a Dr as soon as you sense an irregularity.  If you need a low cost Dr or clinic, enquire with your county or state health dept. Most states run low cost or no cost clinics based on your income. Hope this helped you :)

[mkh9]

I would see a orthopedic surgeon and get an MRI. Going to a PT won't help if you don't know the cause. It could be disc releated or nerve. It depends on your symptoms. Usually, burning pain is caused by nerve pain but what other symptoms do you have?  Do you have numbness with the pain? pins and needles, leg(s) go limp, or feel week, pain is worse when you bend forward or is it better? Do you have trouble walking or is it better to walk? or better to swim, bicycle than walk? Do you walk better when you bend like with a shopping cart? If you bend do your legs feel better? Is your walking unsteady? Does twisting bring on an attack? Lifting bother it? hurts more when you first change positions such as standing up after sitting? Leaning back hurts? Does turning your head or looking up hurt your neck? Does taking NSAIDS help?  The less active you are the more it hurts? Pain meds don't help? I think it is possible you may have discogenic pain but lets see how you answer these questions and I have a few more. If you have discogenic pain you may want to try walking it off. It will over time be the best bet. I would go through the check list and make sure  and if your other symptoms don't show other problems you may want to read the book I did called Conquer Back and Neck Pain: Walk it off by Dr. Mark Brown. It really helped my chronic back pain. But l can try to direct you if you like.

[polgara437]

The leg and hip pain sounds like something pinching you syatic nerve I dont know how thats spelled but I have a disc that bulges in my lower back and it causes leg and hip pain like you describe because its pinches that nerve