Persistent lateral lower leg pains

[Guiydo]

Hi Sheff93,

Difficult to say without a proper clincal examination. However, I hope to help you somehow.

Need to know more about your case. How would you describe your pain? What job do you do? Any sports? Physical activity? Have you recently changed your physical activities/habits? Do you recall having minor traumas? Any medical issues with your family?

Assuming you are properly performing stretching, muscle problems do not seem to be the main reason of your problem.

Knee disorders may sometimes give those signs and symptoms you described. Therefore, attention should be addressed to this joint as well the ankle joint.

As your physio thought, the spine may be a plausible reason of your pain. This is also supported by the fact that your symptoms are bilateral. Monitoring of symptoms behaviour during spine postures/movements is key and guides the physio to rule in/out sources of pain.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

Regards

[Sheff93]

Hi Sheff93,

Difficult to say without a proper clincal examination. However, I hope to help you somehow.

Need to know more about your case. How would you describe your pain? What job do you do? Any sports? Physical activity? Have you recently changed your physical activities/habits? Do you recall having minor traumas? Any medical issues with your family?

Assuming you are properly performing stretching, muscle problems do not seem to be the main reason of your problem.

Knee disorders may sometimes give those signs and symptoms you described. Therefore, attention should be addressed to this joint as well the ankle joint.

As your physio thought, the spine may be a plausible reason of your pain. This is also supported by the fact that your symptoms are bilateral. Monitoring of symptoms behaviour during spine postures/movements is key and guides the physio to rule in/out sources of pain.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

Regards

Apologies for my late response, I was completely unable to login!
The issue still remains though and thank you for responding

I would describe the pain as a dull aching most of the time, but from time to time it is more of a sharp sensation that strikes randomly.
I work in computer software so I am at a desk 99% of my time, I do try to get up and stretch my legs every hour or so to make sure I don't remain stuck in one position. I had not drastically changed my habits when I first started having the pain, with the pandemic, I had been doing 20 min home workouts in the morning 3/4 times a week but nothing overly strenuous. Once the leg pain was more constant I stopped doing those workouts to see if resting helped, now I will walk short distances after work most evenings but my legs get tired a lot quicker than usual.

There was no minor traumas or injuries to either leg and to my knowledge I don't have a family medical history I should be concerned about.

My physio still seems certain that the issue comes from my back. I think I am going to end up having to pay for an MRI scan on my lower back - I am a bit hesitant to spend money on this, after 4 weeks of physio on my back, my lower legs do not feel any better so I am worried about paying for a scan only to be told there is nothing there.

I'm not sure if it is useful information but my right leg is worse than the left, the aching at the back of my calf makes it difficult to sit still without painkillers. I am getting a sharper pain in both legs on the outside of my lower legs that is now pretty constant when sitting or reclining. I am able to move as normal so I can still walk and do activity and if anything that helps me distract from it so I'm not sure what it is that could be causing distracting pain but NOT inhibiting my ability to move?

[Guiydo]

Hi Sheff93,

That's sad to hear that the problem hasn't improved.

Does the pain go better when moving/walking and worse when sitting/standing up?
What you described would suggest a spinal/nerve issue, but this is just an hypothesis over the internet without having performed a physical exam.

I would suggest you to follow your physio advice.