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Forum Name: Neurology Topics

Question: Dr's Please explain this pain

oldhen - Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:05 am

Hi I have been trying to get to the problem with my leg. I have been having severe pain when I walk I had a heart cath in the same leg Sept 9, 2006 and wonder if this pain is because of the heart cath or my spine. Friday afternoon I had went to the ER They were doing a ultrasound from my groin up to my knee and from my groin to my knee the pressing down of the wand on my leg I had severe burning pain on the inside my leg. So much I cried. 1.) I want to know what that burning pain was 2.) do you think it is from my heart cath or coming from my spine. The ER doctor says she thinks its coming from my spine But nothing else. Help I want to know what this is. Thanks so much for all the help. oldhen

oldhen - Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:01 am

Surely there is someone who could tell me some answers come on doc I need help here. I am in terriable pain.

John Kenyon, CNA - Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:08 am

Hello oldhen - Leg pain deriving from a back problem is very unlikely to be elicited by pressure on the painful area of the leg. Since you've had a recent angiogram it would seem very logical that this tenderness and pain in the same leg is likely related to the insertion site of the catheter from the angiogram. If the pain were on the lateral (outside) surface of the leg I would be more likely to suspect an irritation of a nerve due to pressure on part of the lumbar spine, but since it is occurring in the medial aspect (inside) of your leg it is very likely either a nerve irritated by the procedure or an inflammation of the artery or the tissues around the old insertion site. If you are not having any Fever or otherwise feeling ill then you probably have a transient irritation that will go away on its own. However, if there is any Fever or discoloration (either of which surely would have been discovered during the ER exam) you would want to see the doctor who performed the angiogram. But since it seems you are "only" having burning (nerve) pain along the course of the vessel where the catheter was inserted, it seems very likely a traumatic irritaion of the vessel or a local nerve. The procedure is several months behind you now, so there's no reason related to that which should cause you to avoid use of Anti-inflammatory over-the-counter pain medicines such as ibuprofin or naproxyn (Advil or Aleve). If neither of these are (or have been) helpful, you may eventually need to see an internist or neurologist to find a way to manage this pain. Since nothing else was turned up in the ER exam it seems likely it is not serious, except to the extent that chronic pain can be very distressing and needs to be managed. Hope this is helpful.

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