Menstrual Cramps in the knee and ankle.

[somatosensation.livejournal.com]

Hello fellow VPers.

I've got a bit of a question for the lot of you. I have a gyno appointment in the next few days. Granted, I haven't been keeping up with them very well due to a severe lack of health insurance. I'm also pretty much convinced I have endometriosis, as it's been in my family for at least four generations, and I've got the symptoms of it. I say convinced as I have no official diagnosis, though my gynecologist says that I probably do, and the only official way to diagnose me is laproscopic surgery which I totally cannot afford.

In any event, those of you VPers with endometriosis - do you get cramps in odd places? I suppose calling them cramps would be a bit of a misnomer, but it's really all I can think of. My cramps have been getting progressively worse as I've gotten older. In the most recent years (less than two) the pain has begun to radiate down my left leg to my knee. Today, I noticed that it has spread further and it's now down to my ankle. Am I the only person that experiences this? And, the more obvious question, is it normal, and am I being overdramatic in wondering if I'm not developing chocolate cysts on my knee and ankle?

Comments

[paraxeni.livejournal.com]

When my endo was running rampant I had period pain from my neck to past my knees. My legs would be in so much pain, and I'd have three hot water bottles on the go at once, and heroic amounts of painkillers, just to get a little relief. Functioning was impossible.

I was lucky enough to find a very understanding gyno, he fitted me with a Mirena IUS, the hormone in it suppresses the endo symptoms, no more pain, or vomiting, or fainting on public transport and being seen as a drunk. I love it, it has changed my life. The pain and bleeding after insertion were well worth it. No more periods, YAY!

[arularia.livejournal.com]

I don't have endo and still experience pain radiating down into my legs and pretty severe joint pain as a result of my periods. The pain in my hips is so bad that it's not uncommon for me to just live on my couch for a few days each month because my hip joints feel like they're just about to fall off.

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

I get cramps that radiate down to make my knees and ankles ache, and I don't have endo (but I do have a copper IUD).

[airenwoodmoon.livejournal.com]

It sounds like it's leaning towards sciatic endo. I don't think have it (although I do have the radiating leg pain now, thanks Zoladex!), but I think the pain is due to the endo growing near the nerve and causing it to pinch or twist or interfere with it. The leg pain is just radiating pain- the endo is still in your pelvic region and there shouldn't be any cysts in your leg. They're up near your hip probably.

I'm kind of just rambling off the top of my head what I can remember about the sciatic endo, so if I'm wrong I'm sorry. I'd research it a little. (And if I remember it definitely affects the left leg for some reason when it does it. The body is wired weirdly.)

*hugs*

[somatosensation.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, this was actually really helpful. I didn't know there were erm "different kinds" of endo. I researched this and it sounds like it could be possible! I'll discuss it with my gyno. <3 Thank you!

[airenwoodmoon.livejournal.com]

It's actually all the same endo, just localized in different spots. Sciatic endo just means it's around the sciatic nerve, it can attack bowels, bladder, anything else it can possibly get to. *hugs* Glad to help. :)

[dressdncheckers.livejournal.com]

i don't have endo as far as i know (although i wouldn't be surprised, it's in my family and i swear i have symptoms...) but i get GNARLY cramps in my hips around my period and really, any time i don't get enough sleep. and yeah i get them in my knees and ankles too. mostly my hips though. i'm 23 and have been getting the horrible hip cramps since late elementary/junior high.

[bmclights.livejournal.com]

I also do not have endometriosis and do have radiating pain from my hips to my knees to my ankles. My knees are the worst, but then I already have crappy knees.

So, I definitely think it's in the realm of normal, but if you're concerned about endometriosis, though you should definitely get it checked out.