Hip and Knee Pain - is this common with MS

[drsdonthelp]

Hi everyone, Lately I have been having pain in my knee and hip. At first the pain was in my left knee, and in my right hip. Now I have pain in my right knee and right hip. I have heard that abnormal gait can cause this. I do not believe that this is my case. Does MS cause joint pain? Do any of you have pain in the hips and/or knees?

Thanks so much,
Pam

[toddlintown]

Pain in the knee and hip could be hip related. I had pains in my knee for ages, tried everything until my bone doctor took an X-ray of my hips. I was bone on bone on the right hip, with the pain "reflecting" down to the knee. Think of hitting a long pipe on one end and feel the vibrations on the other. Same thing with the hip-to-knee pain.Also had pain in the right groin which tipped the doctor off that it was the hip.

The awkward gait comes from trying to compensate for the leg pain. This usually sets up back aches too.

[drsdonthelp]

Today I was talking to my friend who has ms. The first thing she said to me when I asked her how she was doing was, "I have such horrible knee pain". I said really, I have been having that for about a week now. She said that it just started for no reason and she believes its from her ms. She also said to me, "You and I have so many of the same things that happen to us, They need to check you for ms. Thats when I told her my verrrry looong process. She couldn't believe it.

I am still having this knee pain it comes and goes. I did not have anytype of injury to it, it just hurts. Also today, my right leg had that cramping feeling that almost dropped me to the floor, it was worse when climbing up my stairs.

[cainer]

lol!!  ya scream 4 me too!!  yeh i dont know- im lots of help!!  i have had very bad pain in hips- and poof- it would disappear- that went on 4 long time!  but not 4 a while now!  but my muscle in arm is -killin-me-  i hope it goes away, man it shiffted! them tremers are not good either, you need or are you taking med for them? it dos help-hugs tick

[drsdonthelp]

I appreciate everyone's response.

I am not one to put blame on MS for everything that I experience, I am not even dx'd with it, I am just trying to puzzle piece my own issues. I do not have much faith in these neuros. these days and sometimes wonder why they even got into the field of neurology.

I asked about hip and knee pain basically because it has been a problem for me in the past and I was in my 20's when it started. I would have a hard time walking for a week and then it would be gone. This has happened more than once. I am now 39 and I am not overweight. Since before Christmas I have had the left hand tremor, and now pain in my hip and knee. I was just wondering what others have experienced.

I just returned from my regular neuro. and believe now that I am seeing a quack!!!!!!!!!!
If I am told I have anxiety one more time i am going to scream.

Thanks Pam

[LisaJF]

I had a bout with left hip pain (felt like it was dislocated) and both my knees felt like they were popping off.  Lasted 72 hours.  It was painful.  It did finally go away and I have not had that experience again.  What followed or what I would say the "aftermath" was paresthesia bilaterally in legs, unilateral goose bumps on left leg and only anterior aspect (like my front left leg got the chills) and water running down my inner thigh.  That too, dissipated after a week.  I'm not diagnosed with MS.  I'm on the path of finding out what is causing my symptoms of extreme fatigue, ataxia, fine motor uncoordination, parasthesias, MRI periventricular, frontal, parietal lesions.  I just had to wait for health insurance and I just recently got accepted for it

I would have no idea if this was age related.  I am 47 years old (feel like 200 years old haha), but I would suspect that COBOB's answer is more probable unless you had trauma prior to this experience.  

I hope you're feeling better?

[supermum_ms]

I dont think my knee and hip issue has anything to do with MS or even any arthritic type disease. I've been a leg girl all my life, hmmmm i mean all the sports i've ever been involved in, need good legs. The pain and popping out of socket issues started when i was a little girl in a leotard, started with my knees and i soon added my wrists and hips.

LOL 35 years later (ojibajo your not old lol) and i'm still dealing with the same things but since the spasms etc this is an everyday issue instead of the after affect of putting them through a work out. Knees are now locking up or popping out multiple times a day and with the balance problems too, i sometimes I end up walk/hobbling around in a circle until the offending knee works its self out. lol

So yes i have it too but i dont think for me it has anything to do with MS but i do think the MS related issues are not helping the situation any.

Cheers.......JJ

[Lulu54]

Unfortunately there are way too many things that can cause knee and hip pains - as we point out, age is one of those even though Ojibajo, 35 is not yet old :-)  But these joints are definitely affects by age, prior use, and other disease processes.

Each 10 pounds of extra weight we carry equals about 40 pounds on our knees.  I'm sure there is a similar correlation to hip problems as well.

best, L

[Ojibajo]

I have knee and hip pain but I think it has more to do with the fact that I am 35. :)

I have had problems with my right knee since I was in middle school. I don't think that I had  MS then.

[Lulu54]

Hi Pam,
Don't be tempted to blame everything on the MS, or at least directly.  I was sure my hip flexors were causing my pain due to the MS, but went to the othopedic doctor just to be sure before upping my baclofen.  It turned out is was bursitis, and was treated with a hefty shot of cortisone and some physical therapy.  

The discussion with the orthopod was what could cause this - and we came to the conclusion that the inflammation was probably caused by my gait.  It doesn't take much in the way of walking oddly to cause additional problems.  

MS does not directly cause joint pain since it is a disease on the central nervous system.  It is not all that uncommon to have arthritis or deterioration of joints as we age, as well.

I would go back to your PCP to discuss the joint pain and get an objective opinion on its cause.  When you're a hammer, all you look for is nails.  When so many of our neuros look at our problems they immediately want to equate them with their specialty and link it to the MS.  It helps to have someone who doesn't have a vested interest to take a second look.  I hope that makes sense.

good luck in finding what helps with the pain,
Lulu

[COBOB]

My neurologist said the the "joint pain" is related to pain in the ligaments due to spasticity and that the spasticity causes instability in the joints. I get it from my right toe to my right hip and it really seems to act up at night.  Baclofen has helped.

Bob