Ask a doctor on the topic of Other questions to doctors

Tendons and muscles

June 6, 2011 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ive Dr. Schaaf

I have been suffering from pain in the lumbar region for two and a half years, radiating down to the foot of my right leg. The pain feels like circulation problems or, more precisely, like tearing, and it cannot be pinpointed to a specific area as it is felt throughout the entire leg. My primary care physician says it's not circulation problems, the hip is fine, and the pain is not coming from the sciatic nerve.

For over 4 months now, I have not been able to lift my left arm properly, and now my right arm as well. I have terrible pain in the muscles, especially when raising my arms overhead or opening/closing a clasp on my back. Simple tasks like opening a bottle or reaching for something in the cupboard cause me unbearable pain. The pain is now concentrated in the upper arm down to the elbow. The shoulder joint is fine.

I also have pain in my cervical spine when turning my head, and the pain sometimes radiates up to the base of my head.

For the past 3 weeks, I have had no feeling in the heel of my left leg. I don't know if this is related to my arm or neck vertebrae. I have already had 8 sessions of shockwave and trigger point therapy, but the desired pain relief has not yet occurred. I have also had 12 sessions of osteopathy treatment, all without success.

What could the pain mean? My primary care physician keeps saying on every visit that it's due to stress and lack of movement.

Dr. med. Ive Dr. Schaaf

You should consult a neurologist. Pain occurring in various parts of the body cannot originate from a joint or the spine. The varying levels of pain intensity also suggest a "neurological problem."
One of the most common causes is Lyme disease (late damage after a tick bite), in addition to other insidious infections that can cause such symptoms. Your primary care physician can request blood tests in this direction, but this may not be sufficient. In that case, a cerebrospinal fluid analysis should follow.
Given your pronounced and rapidly progressing symptoms, I would recommend an immediate evaluation at a large hospital (potentially on an outpatient basis). Your primary care physician should arrange this and potentially expedite the process.
Stress as a "diagnosis" does not seem to fit with your description from a distance.
If you would like to provide more information or have a follow-up question, please do so.
Sincerely, Dr. Schaaf