Read Me Please, I Would Like Your Opinion

[ScaredFerny]

7/19/08 (I would appreciate anybodys and everybodys help, opinion and input PLEASE)

Hi My name is Fernanda I'm 18 and I'm very scared and no one seems to be able to give me hope. I have severe pain in my left knee and it seems to be spreading down my chin and moving to mid thigh. And my left leg seems to be sensitive to my cloths, water, wind it feels very irratated when anything touches it (just the left leg). This started about two years ago I'm a dancer and it started when I toke up ballet and strenuous work outs, but I never had an injury I noticed when I turned my knees at angles it would be servely irratated and with years its gotten worse to the point that I can't walk, sit, stand let alone go back to my passion dancing and being active. I've been told many things such as I should prepare to be in a wheelchair (that left me a mess), that I have torn miniscus, then arthitis. I've done physical therapy twice didn't really help, I've had three MRI done two on the knee, one on the thigh everthing came back normal. I've had a bone scan as well normal, and seen two orthopedics who ruled out that this has nothing to do with my bones. I recently saw a nuerologist for the first time (who really doesn't give me much hope), he sent me to have an EMG on my leg and an MRI done on back (July 24th, 2008) but told me that they will probably will come back normal and if so he would send me to Seattle for God knows what so I'm currently on Tegretol which does NOTHING...I spend hours on this web site which I thank God for, everyone is this community gives me hope and my biggest wish is to go back to dancing and being the active person I once was. So PLEASE if anyone can give me hope I would so appreciate it. GOD BLESS

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,
How are you?
Since your MRI and CT scan of knee have come back normal, arthritis and meniscus tear can be ruled out.
This seems to be a neuropathy. This can be a result of pinched or compressed nerve, or due to vitamin B complex deficiency, fibromyalgia, diabetes and herpes zoster infection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropathy
Neuropathy can cause numbness, abnormal sensations, and neuralgias.
Please discuss this possibility with your neurologist. Do keep us posted!

[cathy63]

Your symptoms sound similar to what I had. Pain in left thigh, left side of knee, swelling and pain down calf.Numbness when driving car. X-ray showed arthritis, veinus ultra sound found a bakers cist behind knee. The doctor gave me a steriod shot in the knee joint. I now have no pain. My right knee also has arthritis, have had surgery to remove cist on knee cap 7 yrs ago . Knee is now better. I recently had pain in right hip and numbness and tingling in thigh. Orthopedic surgeon diagnosed bursitis and I had a steriod shot in the right hip 2 wks ago. The pain is getting better. Have you tried steriod injections in the joint? This seems to help a lot. It is a lot safer than taking steriod pills, or NSAI drugs.
Cathy 63  

[scottma]

Seeing a podiatrist is advised.

[Brokemom]

Have you had any nerve test done?  Most of what you have explain could be caused from pinched or damage nerves either in your back or hip.  
The nerve damage in my back was not found until I had a malagram done. Ask your doctor about this test.
My back was injured in a car accident three years ago but the nerve damage wasn't found for over a year later.  I know what you are dealing with.  The pain is from mid calf to upper thigh in both legs. I am now doing pain management and with the medication and injections, I am able to walk without much pain.

Let me know how this turns out for you.