Undiagnosed Ankle Pain
Feb 21, 2016
For the past 6 month I've been suffering from ankle pain which began after a 300 meter sprint with worn shoes. The pain increases after a short walk of 50 – 100 meters. I can barely climb stairs and can't drive my manual gear car because I can't press the clutch. When I relax the pain slowly dissipates. If I walk more than 200 meters the pain can continue all night. On the outside the ankle seems in order without any redness or swelling. No movement limitation. I am practically handicapped and totally frustrated. I am 29 years old (male), with generally good health and can't believe this is happening to me. I have been to 3 different orthopedists, 2 of whom specialize in foot injuries who defined my pain as "mysterious". I have done X-ray, ultrasound, bone scan and MRI. Every examination I took yielded zero pathological findings. At first the doctors thought it’s an inflammation and I got a cortisone injection which didn’t help, and 2 X 10 days of anti-inflammatory medicine, which also didn't help. I have tried multiple ointments, vitamins and herbs. Tried massaging my foot with warm water, Jacuzzi and such. Nothing helps. I'm desperate to find out what is causing the pain. Does anybody have any clue of what this might be, or perhaps suggest a new direction of investigation?
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I'm a 42 year old female. Six weeks ago I was climbing ropes at the gym and dropped down from 4-6 feet onto a piece of excess rope resting on the ground. My ankle rolled and pain and swelling occurred immediately. Being a stubborn woman, I walked it off until the swelling started spilling over my shoe.
Got an X-ray from the orthopedic who said nothing was broken.
I was on crutches for 2 weeks and still in an air cast boot when I'm on uneven ground or working out. My workouts are modified (rowing, 12" box steps, shoulder work, cleans)and ankle swells 4x the size afterwards.
My current problem/question is this: Saturday I walked without the book (tennis shoes) on a flat surface and was very careful not to twist/turn or injure the ankle. Of course, it swelled 4x the size, as it always does each afternoon.
However, pain woke me up in the middle of the night/early the next morning. I couldn't put any weight on the foot and experienced severe pain over my medial ankle bone. It was extremely tender to the touch and any movement caused sharp pain.
One day later, it's sore but the severe pain is gone.
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I had ankle surgery to repair my medial malleolus back on May 8. It was fairly routine--just 2 screws. I was in a cast for a week, then was put into a boot but told to treat it like a cast--NO weight bearing for 7 weeks, keep the boot on 24/7 unless in the bathtub. I followed directions religiously.
I did notice that when I pressed on certain areas of the foot, I would feel a sharp pain. This occurred in the heel (from the bottom), toes (again, from the bottom, primarily the foot pad below the pinky, second, and 4th toes). When I asked the doctor about this, he said (around week 5) that it was just because I hadn't been using the foot.
The problem persisted, and this week, week 7, I was cleared to start partial weight-bearing--walking in the boot while taking approximately 1/2 the weight off my foot via the crutches. I don't have ankle pain to speak of (or at least, not often and only if I overdo it), but I have terrible shooting pains in my heel and toes as I step. It's OK if I take most of the weight on the crutches, but as soon as I go to more than just a little weight on the boot, the pain starts.
This week I also started PT and the therapist told me this is nerve pain--not uncommon after surgery (don't know why the doctor couldn't have told me this, but OK). I couldn't get much of an idea from her how long this will persist or if there is anything I can do about it.
I'm doing my ankle and leg exercises (those are mostly non-weightbearing at this point) and they are going great. The ankle is clearly healing well. But I don't see how I can progress to full weight bearing (supposed to try that next week!) when much more than a little pressure on the foot results in this nerve pain!
Help! Does anyone have experience with this? Is there anything I can do to speed things along? I need to return to my second job (barefoot hoof trimming for horses--how I broke the ankle!) ASAP and I'm fearful this will slow my progress to a crawl! The doctor is useless.
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I'm 16 years old, and I have now been sick for over a month (I first got sick at the end of November). I have been experiencing stomach pain/discomfort that comes and goes. It is generally all through the middle of my abdomen, but I have also noticed that I sometimes get sharp, shooting pains on the left side. The pain is worse after I eat, and it doesn't matter what I eat, the pain is still there. I don't have much of an appetite, but I have been trying to eat because I know that I should. This is extremely difficult, though. I have lost almost 10 pounds in the past month because I haven't been eating much, and really don't feel like eating. I've also been having horrible diarrhea.. sometimes I will need to use the washroom three or four times a day. I have tried taking Imodium for the diarrhea, but I always end up extremely constipated.. and the diarrhea only returns (I might have one regular bowel movement, but after that the diarrhea just comes back). I'm exhausted as well. I just want to sleep all the time, and I find it hard just to keep my eyes open throughout the day. My lower back is also constantly aching.. I just do not feel well at all.
I have been to see my doctor 4 times because I just don't seem to be getting any better. He initially thought that I had a viral infection, but after I did not improve after two weeks, he decided to run some tests. I gave a urine sample and he said that I probably had a kidney infection (but he wasn't 100% sure because I had my period when I gave the sample). He put me on medication, and sent me for blood work. I also had to give a stool sample. All of my tests came back normal, but the medication didn't help at all. The next time I saw him, he said that I might have an ulcer, and put me on apo-omeprazole, which I have been taking for about two weeks now. I'm also on medication for a case of bronchitis.
I am incredibly frustrated because nothing seems to alleviate my symptoms. I have missed 15 days of school because I just feel terrible. My parents think that I might be making it all up, or that it's all in my head, and my doctor has suggested the same thing (he told me that there was "absolutely no reason" a person my age would be experiencing symptoms like this for so long. I am NOT making this up, and I know that it ISN'T all in my head. I just wish that someone would actually take me seriously and believe me when I say that something is wrong. I have an ultrasound scheduled for Tuesday, but I just don't know how to cope at school until then. I'm also scared that the ultrasound will come back normal, just like all the other tests I've had done. Has anyone experienced anything like this before? I'm desperate for answers and ways that I can cope.. I want to get back to school and my life.
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About a week ago, I was experiencing right upper quad pain. It hurt and burned and radiated to my back and in the middle of my shoulder, I was also feeling pain down toward my navel and was increasingly more uncomfortable. I went to the doctor and he laid me down and pressed on areas asking me if I hurt,,,at one point when he pressed on the gallbladder areas, I expressed severe pain and then when he pressed on my right lower quad, I actually screamed and wanted to come off the table, tears springing to my eyes. At that time I was not running a fever, was eating a bit and was not "presenting" like it was anything serious, so he sent me home with a prescription for Vicodin and said if the pain gets worse go to the ER.
Now a week later, I am in near constant pain...my upper right quad and my lower right quad feel like I've been kicked or beat. I am nauseated, I have not gotten sick, I have been running a slight fever of 99.7 and have been having really loose stools with a little mucus in it.. Also, when I do have a BM my right side feel like it is being ripped in two. last night I was trying to eat some baked chicken and I couldn't do it, I also felt two pops in my lower right quad, that made me see stars for a few minute.
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I had pneumonia in my left lung 3 weeks ago which was very painful. I now have completed antibiotics but still have pain in my lower rib area that is very sharp when I yawn, cough, laugh or burp. This pain is not getting better. I had an ARNP tell me she does not hear any air movement in my lower lung. I'm curious What may be causing the pain. I never had it before the pneumonia and it doesn't seem to be going away.
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The pain is only in my left little finger, and there is no change in appearance. The pain occurs when i do things such as press down on a guitar string, or hold the control key. The pain is only in the tip of my little finger, and goes away immediately after i release, and it seems like it may be some sort of bone bruise, as the area of sensitivity which causes the pain is relatively small. What is it and how can i get rid of it?
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My problems began nearly 9 yrs ago. I had lower abdominal pain, pain on ejaculation, testicular pain, pain and burning when urinating and pain in the tip of my penis. The symptoms worsened over time. There is no respite and even certain types of underwear are difficult to wear causing aggravation. I have had varying opinions from Doctors and Consultants causing me more frustration. Suggested treatments have included drug prescriptions and even anti-depressants (which I have avoided). I have been treated at a local Pain Management Unit and undergone various tests, including injections and a scan. I was recently informed that although procedures had been exhausted, nothing more could be done. I was advised to make my own enquiries and this led me to this website. I am anxious to discuss with others who have experienced a similar plight in order to find anything which could ease the pains.
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I've always had 'women' problems starting my period when i was 10, painful periods etc.. after 10 years of pain i was finally referred for a laparoscopy in 2010 all was clear and i got pregnant a few months after the pains went away whilst pregnant but returned soon after but constant and started to suffer constipation and vomiting after a few a&e visits and gp apps i had an endoscopy and colonoscopy only thing that showed up was chronic gastritis was put on omeprazole. also had low vitamin d so took various supplements. Started feeling better got pregnant with baby number 2. All was fine natural labour felt fine up until April last year!...
Started getting lower back pain, pain left side near hip (inside groin) pain around the pubic bone, upper inner thighs!.. some days it's so painful others just a dull ache but still annoying when you have 2 kids under 5 to look after.. been to the gp and she put me on the pill but it hasn't helped she sent me for an vagina ultrasound came back fine but now she won't do anymore tests and keeps sending me home with codeine and basically fobbing me off!
Anyone else have my most recent symptoms (lower back pain, pain left side near hip (inside groin) pain around the pubic bone, upper inner thighs!..)
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After struggling with docs for years over this I thought I would turn to the wider world some input. I am a 27 year old, healthy (enough) male who has been getting intermittent, irregular and infrequent chest pains on and off for around 10 years.
During an 'attack' the pain can be quite severe and sharp - I guess a bit like being stabbed. The pain is localised to the left side of my sternum and feels fairly deep (i.e. it cannot be palpated).
Attacks can last anywhere from a few seconds to a day or so, and tend to come in 'clusters' that can be present for up to a week. There can be months between each cluster of attacks (if you get my drift!).
Pain can sometimes be exacerbated when leaning forward, coughing, lying on my side or raising an arm (seems to always vary - and can sometimes not have any stimulators).
During a 'cluster' period and between attacks I can often feel a mild, underlying ache in my chest. This is easy enough to ignore however.
I have had ECGs and chest x rays that have all been fine, and am not affected at all during exercise - I can happily go out and run 10k with ease.
Doctors have in the past ruled out gastro reflux as there was no tenderness on palpation of my stomach area, although I have sometimes thought that attack can follow a big meal and be accompanied by burping (although this may be my mind tricking me).
Musculoskeletal problems have been mentioned, but why would attacks come in clusters and seemingly out of the blue?
I am at a complete loss and doctors have been no help. My wife is scared that I will just drop dead from a heart attack - and I am struggling to find new ways of reassuring her.
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Constant for the past 3 months and doctor thought it was just heartburn but medicine isn't working. Cramps are through my whole stomach. I'm only 12.
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I have had diabetes for several years now. I have nerve pain in my feet that is usually not too bad and comes and goes. Lately, my left ankle feels like there is a hair being dragged across causing a tickling feeling. Tonight, my right ankle has this sharp stabbing pain in it that has almost caused me to fall while walking. I have medicine for the nerve pain but don't like the side effects so I quit taking it. Could the stuff going on with my ankles be due to diabetes?
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Night before last I woke up 9-10 times with the sensation you get when you drive over a large bump in the road too quickly, or when you pass over the high points of a roller coaster. I'm wondering if my heart is skipping a beat, or have I stopped breathing and I'm waking up trying to catch my breath? I've had some issues with chest pain lately, and they haven't found anything yet. They still have to do the stress test and ultrasound. Has anyone else experienced the "floating" sensation I am talking about? It's strong enough that it wakes me up.
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For the past couple months I experience sharp, stinging (or maybe burning) pain in my calf, usually right leg but sometimes left too.
I've been walking long distances my whole life and never had cramps before. Been doing some reading and so far symptoms fits cramps.
I have lately been walking really long distances on occasion.
I have the pain happening at night. I wake up with badly aching leg (calf muscle) and need some time time for it to lessen, sometimes I fall asleep seconds later and when I wake up the muscle is stiff and painful. It's also bit painful/sensitive at touch on other days too.
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Two months ago I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and took antibiotics but after I finished them I still wasn't feeling great so my doctor put me on another round. Finished those and then began having slight headaches, lots of nausea, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea and extreme exhaustion. I have had two blood tests and nothing shows up I have an ultrasound this week but does anyone have any idea of what this could be? I am a normally healthy twenty year old and this is keeping me from work and school!
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I'm getting a little desperate here. For the last four days every time I attempt to eat solid food within 20 minutes I get extremely severe pain that begins behind the lower section of my rib cage on the left side of my body. The pain continues to increase and within minutes all of the muscles in my mid back start cramping. The symptoms continue for anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours. When they ease, I'm left feeling nauseated and my back feels bruised from the cramping. I can drink liquids without any adverse effect as long as I drink them slowly, but even minimal attempts at solid food cause problems. For instance, I was able to have a bowl of tomato soup eaten slowly over the course of an hour without having problems, and I was able to eat a bowl of chicken broth very slowly without triggering any pain. However, when I attempted to eat a bowl of cream of chicken soup with small chicken chunks in it, I got the pain and back cramps. Even something as simple as a piece of bread or a few bites of saltine crackers is enough to trigger the pain. The doctors have no clue what's wrong. One of them even tried to say it was gas. Umm, no, it's not gas. And I don't think it's an ulcer. I've been on Prilosec for years for GERD, and the pain doesn't feel like it's actually in my stomach. It feels higher and more to the left than where my stomach is. Has anyone else had to deal with anything like this?
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For the last 30 days I have been extremely sick and in and out of the ER, the GI doctor, as well as my Primary Care Physician.
I have dropped 27lbs so far, without being able to keep little to no food down. Right upper abdomen quadrant pain is constant and sharp, fevers and chills on and off, lack of appetite, burping, indigestion, gas, and so on, and it has gotten to the point that I get dizzy very easily and also extremely tired no matter how much sleep I get.
My doctor put me on an IBS medication though I am not having any trouble with constipation. He asked me to perform tests "Try consuming things like: beer, cheese, peanut butter, milk. If it causes you pain then call and leave a telephone consult and I will get back with you" Beer test- it went alright other than the immense amount of pain it put me in, woke up after just deciding to go to bed, vomiting up with tiny chunks of blood. Cheese, cant eat it without pain, same with peanut butter and milk.
I have tried a very bland diet but nothing seems to stay completely down, I may get a small part of it digested but that is about it everything else comes up.
I have tried coffee, cant have that anymore because I cant drink it without creamer. I am already under a vegetarian diet for the last three years, but it is no use.
I have had a HIDA scan but the doctors said "You're gallbladder is at 60%. There is nothing wrong with you." X-ray, ct-scan, and ultrasound all came back with the same result. Of course, this coming from military doctors, so it isn't like the civilian world.
I have been going back and forth between the doctors for this last month, and I go through this nearly every year, two to four times each year, but this one is extremely long lasting and extremely painful. So painful that I start seeing spots and get very faint thus having to lay down. They gave me stuff for GERD as I already was in speech therapy two years ago because my Larynx closed up on me for a PT test, they accumulated it due to indigestion (something I do not ever get).
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For the past few years now i have suffered with constant water infections, its always pain in my right side, sometimes i'm sick with it and my back feels like it could break. It can also go into my groin area and down my leg also. I've had CT scans and another type of test which all came back as normal which was last year. I don't understand how it can be nothing as the pain is horrendous and all they do is take a urine sample and give me antibiotics. Does anyone else suffer with this? I wasn't sure if it was when i drank alcohol which is very rare but sometimes i get a water infection and sometimes i don't. The hospital put me on antibiotics for 6 months changing them every 2 months and i still managed to get a water infection on them. I am now having blood tests again and will presume i may have to go for all scans again but just wondered if anyone has had the same problem and had any advice on what it could be or what i could do?
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I have had severe left flank pain for 3 months now and still not been able to get a diagnosis. I am a 24 year old usually fit female.
The pain started towards the end of April while i was in work (an office desk job). It was on my left side in between my hip and ribs, spreading down to my groin. The pain got worse over the next couple of hours, and it has been a constant dull ache since then. The pain is most strong on the back of my left side but i can also feel it from the front.
I went to the doctors with this pain where i done blood and urine tests and got put on antibiotics for a suspected kidney infection, as well as codeine to ease the pain. The results came back with an apparent slight kidney abnormality showing, but a week later, i was still in a lot of pain and unable to move much, so i went back to the doctors where i got referred into hospital. I spent the night in hospital where i had more blood and urine tests, as well as an ultra sound. The hospital told me my results showed a UTI, but the ultrasound was clear, so i got put on another course of antibiotics and sent home. A week later, i was still in a lot of pain so i went back to the doctors where i was put on another (stronger) course of antibiotics for 2 weeks. The pain eased slightly above the groin, but the main pain on my left side was still the same.
My doctor then referred me to gastroenterology at the hospital where i had to wait weeks for an appointment, only to be told that he didn't think it was bowel or stomach related (as i can still eat and pass stools normally) and that i should have been referred to urology.
My doctor referred me to urology where the waiting list was 2 months, so i decided to get a private consultation with a urologist. The consultant done a urine test, which confirmed i had blood present in it. He went over my symptoms and suggested a CT scan in case i had a small kidney stone stuck which had been missed by the ultrasound. He was also concerned at my frequency as passing urine (this is usually over 20 times a day with anywhere between 3 to 8 times through the night). He referred me back to the NHS for the CT scan which i had a few weeks ago.
The CT scan results came back clear of kidney stones. My consultant now thinks the issue could be musculoskeletal but he still wants to see me to do some bladder studies as he is concerned about the frequency of urination. I have an appointment with my urology consultant for a few weeks time, but to see someone to investigate if the pain could be musculoskeletal there is a 3 month waiting list.
I am still in a lot of pain, both when moving and sitting (it never eases), and it is effecting my every day life. I can't go into the office to work due to the amount of pain i am in, i can't drive with it, and i haven't left the house the past few month apart from doctor or hospital visits. I am constantly feeling down and tired, and often get spells of dizziness and my eyes blacking out when i stand up (i am unsure if the tiredness and dizziness is related or not). I had a breakdown the other weekend where i cried for 2 days straight with the pain, the frustration of not being able to get a diagnosis, and not being able to do anything. I am worried that depression is kicking in with how long this has dragged on for.
I had no injury or knock to the area before the pain started. My mums side of the family also has a history of nephritis (kidney disease) with 4 of my aunt and uncles having it, but my urology consultant doesn't think there is a connection.
Is anyone able to provide any help or suggestions on what they think this pain could be as well as how to help ease it (the codeine doesn't help)? I feel like i have been passed around so many different people who still have no idea what is causing this pain.
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I have been dealing with pain in my feet for several years which has gotten progressively worse. The past 6 months or so have been so bad that 3 months ago my doctor prescribed Gabapentin which helped significantly for a brief few weeks, but I am at the highest levels now and there is a new pain in my right ankle that will just not go away. I am weaning off of the Gabapentin so that I can try Lyrica. I am being scheduled for a nerve conduction test to try and determine what is wrong exactly. I am not diabetic. I believe it is from too many years of standing/walking on concrete (I'm a caterer/chef) without proper foot support. My doctor seems to support this opinion, she does not seem to have any answers. Just had blood work done, I am in excellent health otherwise! Am so worried that I'll be unable to continue working. Pain is relentless. Cannot live on pain pills, just do not want to go down that road! Anyone out there have experience with this sort of problem? How about Lyrica?
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I've been reading older messages regarding this topic because i have been having this problem since my surgery in September 2013! Doctor has no idea why i'm still in pain and my physio therapies don't get nowhere. So i'm a lot desperate! Can anyone help me, pls? Is it sesamoiditis? Is it tendonitis? Who has experienced any of these and can advise me what to do?
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