Diagnose my Leg
March 10, 2018 12:25 PM Subscribe
2 nights ago, when I got home from training I noticed pain in my right leg, outside of the shin, a few inches up from the ankle. It was sore and a little throbbing at rest, mild discomfort on plantarflexion and dorsiflexion, quite sore on eversion and a sharp pain on inversion - about a 7. I iced it straight away but the pain got worse. There is a tear drop shaped tender spot that feels very bruised but there is no bruising or redness. Pictured
Background: I've been playing roller derby for 4.5 years and I've always had pain in what physios have said are my peroneal muscles. I've seen 2 GPs, 3 Physios and a Sports Injury Specialist about it and they've all had a different diagnoses and none of their solutions have fixed the issue. First physio said it was a strength issue, diagnosed massage and strengthening exercises. The massages released the tightness but didn't prevent it coming back next time I skated. The second physio thought I had compartment syndrome and referred me to the specialist. The specialist said there were elements of a compression issue but felt it wasn't a simple case of compartment syndrome and could be addressed biomechanically so she referred me back to a different physio, who either didn't understand or just ignored what the specialist had said and told me it was because my knees cave in when I squat and gave me insoles then the next week changed her mind and said I had Tendinopathy.
Usually I deal with the pain by sitting in a chair (sitting on a bench doesn't work as well and sitting on the floor makes 1 leg worse depending which way I'm sitting) until the pain goes away then carrying on.
This Thursday we had skills assessments which meant if I sat out, I missed being assessed on that skill so I didn't sit out and only got to rest during the demos when the next skill to be assessed was explained. I pushed myself through a lot more pain than I usually would to get the assessment done. For a large part of the session the pain was about a 6-7 for a lot of the time so I didn't notice any sharp or sudden pains above that. In fact the last 10 minutes of the session the pain was barely noticeable - we were testing some less intense skills so that might be why.
After I de-kitted, I was a little sore but no more than I expected. After the short drive home - about 5 minutes, I first noticed the unusual level of soreness. I iced it but the pain continued getting worse over the course of the evening. I took some ibuprofen and codeine and went to bed, it was throbbing but I managed to sleep. In the morning it was loads better, no sharp pain but the tender spot remains.
2 days later there is more pain on eversion than inversion but the pain is greatly reduced - maybe a 2 or 3. Trying various positions of foot and leg, most positions I'd rate a 0-1. It does ache a little while I'm walking around
Any idea what I've done? I'm supposed to skate again tomorrow but I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I know YANMD but a GP won't tell me anything in my experience, they'll just tell me to RICE it
Background: I've been playing roller derby for 4.5 years and I've always had pain in what physios have said are my peroneal muscles. I've seen 2 GPs, 3 Physios and a Sports Injury Specialist about it and they've all had a different diagnoses and none of their solutions have fixed the issue. First physio said it was a strength issue, diagnosed massage and strengthening exercises. The massages released the tightness but didn't prevent it coming back next time I skated. The second physio thought I had compartment syndrome and referred me to the specialist. The specialist said there were elements of a compression issue but felt it wasn't a simple case of compartment syndrome and could be addressed biomechanically so she referred me back to a different physio, who either didn't understand or just ignored what the specialist had said and told me it was because my knees cave in when I squat and gave me insoles then the next week changed her mind and said I had Tendinopathy.
Usually I deal with the pain by sitting in a chair (sitting on a bench doesn't work as well and sitting on the floor makes 1 leg worse depending which way I'm sitting) until the pain goes away then carrying on.
This Thursday we had skills assessments which meant if I sat out, I missed being assessed on that skill so I didn't sit out and only got to rest during the demos when the next skill to be assessed was explained. I pushed myself through a lot more pain than I usually would to get the assessment done. For a large part of the session the pain was about a 6-7 for a lot of the time so I didn't notice any sharp or sudden pains above that. In fact the last 10 minutes of the session the pain was barely noticeable - we were testing some less intense skills so that might be why.
After I de-kitted, I was a little sore but no more than I expected. After the short drive home - about 5 minutes, I first noticed the unusual level of soreness. I iced it but the pain continued getting worse over the course of the evening. I took some ibuprofen and codeine and went to bed, it was throbbing but I managed to sleep. In the morning it was loads better, no sharp pain but the tender spot remains.
2 days later there is more pain on eversion than inversion but the pain is greatly reduced - maybe a 2 or 3. Trying various positions of foot and leg, most positions I'd rate a 0-1. It does ache a little while I'm walking around
Any idea what I've done? I'm supposed to skate again tomorrow but I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I know YANMD but a GP won't tell me anything in my experience, they'll just tell me to RICE it
Short term: Alternate hot rice bags (or whatever you've got) and cold packs for 10 minutes each. Helps with swelling, and brings down inflammation in the muscle.
Long term: Have you tried the Active Release Technique (ART)? I have similar issues as you,* and ART helped. It was one of the most effective things I did to relieve the tightness. It's painful, but the end result helped me, at least in the shorter term. For some people it works more permanently than others; unfortunately for me it didn't, but it did provide a lot of relief. There is some link between the immune system and muscle inflammation, and my immune response (apparently) is more active than other people's. ART releases the scar tissue in the muscle. Here's a good explanation. You'll want to find a competent, skilled chiropractor in your area.
On preview: I agree; sit tomorrow out and rest. You'll risk re-injuring yourself if you go.
* I was diagnosed with compartment syndrome, but still have compression issues even after full release of all 8 compartments. Doctors can't explain the tightness, but I continue with physio for other issues. I still have sore spots on my leg, and alternating ice and heat helps, as does massage and foam rolling (or tennis ball rolling, if it's an area the foam roller can't reach).
posted by onecircleaday at 4:26 PM on March 10, 2018
Long term: Have you tried the Active Release Technique (ART)? I have similar issues as you,* and ART helped. It was one of the most effective things I did to relieve the tightness. It's painful, but the end result helped me, at least in the shorter term. For some people it works more permanently than others; unfortunately for me it didn't, but it did provide a lot of relief. There is some link between the immune system and muscle inflammation, and my immune response (apparently) is more active than other people's. ART releases the scar tissue in the muscle. Here's a good explanation. You'll want to find a competent, skilled chiropractor in your area.
On preview: I agree; sit tomorrow out and rest. You'll risk re-injuring yourself if you go.
* I was diagnosed with compartment syndrome, but still have compression issues even after full release of all 8 compartments. Doctors can't explain the tightness, but I continue with physio for other issues. I still have sore spots on my leg, and alternating ice and heat helps, as does massage and foam rolling (or tennis ball rolling, if it's an area the foam roller can't reach).
posted by onecircleaday at 4:26 PM on March 10, 2018
I'm going to second heat. A few years ago, I visited the ER with severe, stabbing pain in what turned out to be my piriformis muscle. (Little itty bitty muscle in the middle of the butt cheek.) One of the nurses told me that ice is great for the first day or two, but it's only best for acute pain. When the pain becomes more chronic, heat's better to loosen things up.
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 9:41 PM on March 10, 2018
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 9:41 PM on March 10, 2018
RICE.
Not to unnerve you, but I'm currently fighting through a downright nasty overuse injury complete with weekly PT and everything for post-tibial tendinitis. If it doesn't improve in a week, get it checked. My symptoms sound extremely similar to yours.
posted by floweredfish at 9:43 AM on March 11, 2018
Not to unnerve you, but I'm currently fighting through a downright nasty overuse injury complete with weekly PT and everything for post-tibial tendinitis. If it doesn't improve in a week, get it checked. My symptoms sound extremely similar to yours.
posted by floweredfish at 9:43 AM on March 11, 2018
Seconding sacchan. Please speak with a doctor, and rule out concerns like blood clots. (Risk factors include injury, family history, hormonal contraceptives, HRT, and more.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:43 PM on March 11, 2018
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:43 PM on March 11, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sacchan at 4:15 PM on March 10, 2018 [3 favorites]