Arthritis or ???

[Jeannie]

My mom has been having pain in her lower back, through her hip, and down one leg. It was so bad at times that she could barely walk. She went to her doctor and was told that it looks like she has some arthritis in her back. She was sent for physical therapy and has been going for about 2 weeks now. When I asked her how she was doing yesterday, she said the pain is gone, but she feels like she has a cramp in her calf, and pins & needles from her knee to her foot.

Does arthritis cause this? Should she see another doctor, and if so, what kind?

Thanks for any info.

Jeannie

 

[winniedapooh]

Not a dr or a nurse but it kind of sounder like siatica (sp?) at first, but isn't pins and needles feeling nerve stuff? I think if it were me I would get another opinion.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Well, Jeannie, I do think there are many manifestations of arthritis and best your mom be checked by a doctor. I would suggest a doctor whose specialty is arthritis. My mom had severe rheumatoid and I have osteo in my knees. I can not recall any symptoms in her, nor me, as you describe, but as said, there are so many variations. It may be resultant from the PT. Best have her see a specialist.

This may be of some online research help, but not a substitute.

http://www.allaboutarthritis.com/portal/DPUY/AAA

My best for her.

 

[Kitty 34]

Hi Jeannie. I'm on my third week of physical therapy for stenosis in my neck which is a form of arthritis. Anyway......after a couple of times going I experienced a lot of tingling in my right arm. I mentioned this to my PT. He moved my neck around a certain way and the tingling stopped. So I would suggest her discussing it first with her PT. My PT said that with some of the new expercises he was giving me to do, it might have irritated a nerve.

 

[Figment2]

Has your Mom had any other tests? My 96 year old aunt had terrible back pains (something like you described). Turned out she had a bladder/kidney infection of some kind.

When we took her to the emergency room, they dismissed it as arthritis and wanted to send her home with some pain killers. Since she lives by herself, we asked that they keep her. Good thing they did!

Cyn