Can knee arthritis cause pain in my leg muscles?

stigofthedump

I slipped on some muddy ice last November and thought I had pulled a muscle. By January it was no better and I was still having difficulty walking. Was examined by a doctor who sent me to a physio who gave me a brief exam then sent me for an x-ray. A different physio had the result of the x-ray. He said it showed some knee arthritis but nothing unusual for my age (70). Both physios gave me some exercises to do which I subsequently found on the Versus Arthritis website. So my experience of physiotherapy has not been positive. 3 months later my leg pain has not gone but it does vary from day to day. I do horse riding for 1 hour a week and regularly walk several miles without pain. Any pain I do feel is usually after being inactive for a few hours e.g. watching a film. I have never, and still do not , feel any pain in my knee. I believe the problem is muscle related. So can anyone say whether my problem is related to arthritis in the knee? Should I ask my GP to refer me to a specialist? Thanks for any advice.

chrisb

Hi @stigofthedump

Welcome to the versus arthritis forum.

Your query is not something I've come across before but there may well be other forum members who can shed some light based upon their own experiences. I've also searched past forum discussions but drawn a blank.

I hope you receive some useful feedback.

Best wishes

Chris B (Moderator)

SoniaR

Hi, I have quite extensive knee osteoarthritis in both knees, and in my case the pain is definitely in the knee joint. Mine started with a torn meniscus and over time has got worse and worse. In one leg the pain sometimes travels down the calf and sometimes the thigh muscle aches, but still the majority of pain is in the knee joint. I think physio has a place AFTER surgery but physiotherapists cannot diagnose properly, in my view. A physiotherapist told me hand pain I had was arthritis, but after suffering for over 2 years I saw a Consultant privately who specialised in hands and wrists Orthopaedic, and he immediately diagnosed Carpel Tunnel Syndrome! I had the nerve released and I am pain free now. So the Physiotherapist was wrong! The consultant told me if I’d left it any longer it would have caused irreparable damage to the nerves in my hand. So I would ask to be referred to a Orthopaedic surgeon who I am sure will be able to diagnose your pain properly. If funds allow see someone privately in which case you can refer yourself and be seen very quickly. First apt privately is usually £250 or so and they will need your X-rays. Wishing you well.

Traceyl

I have bone on bone osteoarthritis in both knees. I have to loose weight but I struggle to exercise due to the pain. Physio is useless as I just cannot do it. Seeing a pain clinic shortly. Oh well.