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Nerve pain in leg

(44 Posts)
inishowen Sun 08-Mar-26 15:35:03

I've had excruciating pain in my calf since January. I went to Urgent Care because I thought it was a clot. After Xrays and blood tests I was told it was probably nerve pain. I've tried every pain killer I can buy. I've bought things to rub on but nothing helps. The GP only prescribed more pain killers. Has anyone had this? Does it ever heal on its own?

mum2three Sun 08-Mar-26 15:40:53

I'm no doctor but this type of pain is often caused by a problem with your lower back. Gentle back exercises like a mock belly dance might help, plus massage. Sitting with your legs crossed can also cause this type of pain.

tanith Sun 08-Mar-26 16:29:51

Last year after moving house I was in A&E with nerve pain in my leg and groin caused by spinal impingement i was crying with the pain and had gas and air in the ambulance. It took a few hours but eventually given Amatryptaline oh my goodness the relief was very quick i had a months supply and had some light physio and it healed in 3wks. See your GP and ask for nerve pain relief.

Georgesgran Sun 08-Mar-26 16:32:04

I’ll be interested the this thread.

I’ve had this since September. Saw a physio who ‘pummelled’ it a bit, but said it would just take time. As well as not crossing legs, he warned against wearing leggings (I don’t) or anything tight around the legs. I can manage during the day, although it’s caused a bit of a rolling walk, but at night, I just can’t get it comfortable - it often wakes me with a throbbing pain.

M0nica Sun 08-Mar-26 20:44:36

DH had something similar in his arm. It proved to be a trapped nerve and was resolved by a couple of steroid jabs in his shoulder.

You could consider visiting an osteopath to see if they can halp.

Allira Sun 08-Mar-26 21:15:05

Yes, at the moment, especially in the back of the knee. It seemed like a bout of sciatica going down my leg but is worse than I've ever had previously.
Paracetamol or ibuprofen don't touch it.

Smintie Sun 08-Mar-26 21:27:16

I have phantom limb pain caused by nerve damage.

My gp prescribed very low dose Amitriptyline (10mg) at night. I can’t take it during the day as it makes me sleepy but it does reduce the nerve pain at night, allowing me to sleep.

Perhaps worth asking?

www.nhs.uk/medicines/amitriptyline-for-pain/about-amitriptyline-for-pain-and-migraine/

OldFrill Sun 08-Mar-26 23:18:01

Apart from the above advice I've found ice packs effective. Out of the acute flare up stage TENS and massage helped me.

Nannee49 Mon 09-Mar-26 07:27:37

I've been prescribed Amitriptyline 10mg and while it does give me a good night's sleep the "hangover" I get the next day is awful - really brain fogged & feeling very weird.
Do you experience anything like that on it tanith & smintie?

tanith Mon 09-Mar-26 07:40:40

It’s weird because I was prescribed it years ago while waiting hip-replacement I had to take it in the early evening to avoid the next day ‘hangover’ but when prescribed it recently for the nerve pain it didn’t happen. Strange!

Nannee49 Mon 09-Mar-26 08:13:20

Thanks tanith, I'll try taking it earlier. It is strange that it doesn't affect you in that way now, maybe the formula has changed?
And yes, I agree that it's probably worth asking for Amitriptyline inishowen, a short course would at least show whether it could be effective for you, I hope so as nerve pain is such a miserable thing to have to endure.

Smintie Mon 09-Mar-26 13:53:57

@Nannee49 No I am lucky not to feel that way but I know that others do.

It’s not an easy choice is it? Pain free sleep or grogginess?

loopylindy Mon 09-Mar-26 14:12:24

I take amitriptyline for nerve pain. It does help a lot. The dose can be varied according to need. I take it about 8-9pm and have no side effects. Getting enough sleep is very important to me.

butterandjam Mon 09-Mar-26 14:21:31

inishowen

I've had excruciating pain in my calf since January. I went to Urgent Care because I thought it was a clot. After Xrays and blood tests I was told it was probably nerve pain. I've tried every pain killer I can buy. I've bought things to rub on but nothing helps. The GP only prescribed more pain killers. Has anyone had this? Does it ever heal on its own?

Have you tried Physiotherapy? Available free in NHS here in Scotland, via GP surgeries.

Other wise, I recommend acupuncture.

pamdixon Mon 09-Mar-26 14:36:39

trapped nerve pain is evil- I wonder if that's your problem as others have mentioned. When I had one ages ago, I was given some steroid jabs which made a world of difference. Don't be left to suffer - keep going to the gp till you get a referral to someone. Poor you.

Allira Mon 09-Mar-26 14:40:58

Well, saw the nurse, not a GP.
Take paracetamol, prescribed ibuprofen gel, neither of which, according to Google, are in the slightest bit effective.

DrWatson Mon 09-Mar-26 14:43:05

Highly likely to be SCIATICA -- nothing to do with your leg (yes, I KNOW it seems to hurt there!). Get a recommendation for a good chiropractor near you.

Pammie1 Mon 09-Mar-26 14:43:37

Is the pain just in the calf, because I’m thinking sciatica if it starts in lower back and is peculiar to left leg. Either way if it’s nerve pain, ask your GP if Gabapentin or Pregabalin is appropriate. I have sciatica really badly and Gabapentin really helps.

grannybuy Mon 09-Mar-26 14:56:40

I have those symptoms, pain and pins and needles from buttock to toes. GP said that it was probably sciatica, and was referred to physiotherapist, who agreed.

Jodieb Mon 09-Mar-26 14:58:21

Buy a battery massager. It stopped my knee pain after years

cc Mon 09-Mar-26 15:27:37

I had leg/buttock/back pain which the GP thought was sciatica and went to a physio who said he could do nothing, but to try an osteopath. This helped a little and eventually it did improve.
It didn't really go until I had flu and spent the week lolling about on the sofa, obviously the angle I was sitting or lying at released a trapped nerve or something similar.
I believe that time is the only solution to this I'm afraid.

missdeke Mon 09-Mar-26 15:29:14

I'm currently on Gabapentin for nerve pain in my leg and foot after a hip replacement operation. I was getting no sleep at all, I discussed it with my GP and we decided on the gabapentin rather than the amitryptilene or pregabalin which are in the same family of medications. There are fewer reported and milder side effects for the gabapentin than the other 2. I've certainly never felt groggy during the day.

Menopauselbitch Mon 09-Mar-26 15:41:44

I’d visit a sports and massage therapist. They cleared up the pain in my leg in four months. It was the glut muscle. The doctor just wanted to give me cortisone injections.

Quaver22 Mon 09-Mar-26 15:53:51

I had unexplained severe pain in my calf a few years ago. It was so painful I could hardly walk. My doctor couldn’t explain the cause and referred me to a physiotherapist . I had physio for 6 weeks and did all the exercises she gave me but the pain didn’t improve. A friend recommended a chiropractor and after 2 appointments and some manipulation the pain improved dramatically. I had to pay for the sessions which I think were about £80 each.

I’m still not sure what the problem was but I have been pain free for 3 years. It might be worth a try. Good Luck!

inishowen Mon 09-Mar-26 16:45:40

Thanks everyone. I should have mentioned the doc gave me tablets for nerve pain. I would take one at 10 pm and wake at 1.30 in agony. I'll try and get another appointment with the GP but it's really difficult. Lots of helpful advice from you all.