Is leg pain a symptom of Parkinson’s?

admin February 19, 2016

Leg pain can be significant and have many causes; some related to Parkinson’s disease, some that increase in frequency with age and others that are more common in both conditions. Here are just a few:

     Pain associated with Parkinson’s 

▪    Off related pain – diffuse aching and/or throbbing pain that increases at end of dopaminergic medicine dosing or when medication levels are low. Unlike joint pain, this pain is often located in the muscle such as the thigh or calf but not the knee of ankle. PD medications can often improve this pain.

▪    Restless leg syndrome – uncomfortable sensations most commonly felt in legs that is worse at night and while resting and relieved with movement. See related post on restless leg syndrome for more information.

▪   Dystonia-involuntary contraction of muscle. This can be common as a symptom of PD, an off related symptom or as a form of dyskinesia from medication. An example is early morning foot dystonia described as painful cramping of the toes and feet. Botulinum toxin (Botox, Myobloc) therapy can help

      Musculoskeletal

▪      Arthritis of the knee, hip or ankle typically causes pain in the join and not muscle. Although this is unrelated to PD, arthritic pain can worsen when the natural biomechanics of the joint is altered with PD rigidity, loss of strength and loss of flexible. Physical therapy and anti-inflammatory agents are an important treatment for this and the condition described next.

▪     Achilles tendonitis is pain located at the ankle and plantar faciitis is pain located under the sole of the foot. Both conditions can flare with a change in exercise routine, with improper stretching and secondary to the tightness of the ankle and foot often found in PD.

       Neuropathic

▪      Peripheral neuropathy is caused by nerve damage that begins in the feet. Associated symptoms are pain, burning, numbness and tingling. The most common causes are aging, diabetes, vitamin B12, deficiency, thyroid deficiency and blood protein disorders. this condition not only causes pain but also can worsen balance. Blood tests can help identify the cause of this problem.

▪      Radiculopathy or sciatic nerve compression can cause pain in the thigh, calf in foot depending on the nerves affected. Causes could include arthritis and disk disease of the spin and compression of the sciatic nerve in the buttock region due to muscle tightness,

    Spinal stenosis is a problem of narrowing of the spinal canal. Often          associated with back pain and pain in both legs. this type of pain often improves when a person is bent forward.

General Pain

Leg swelling can occur with PD, medications and other medical conditions. Abrupt change in leg swelling associated with pain could be a sign of a blood clot requiring immediate medical attention. Lack of movement and dehydration can increase this risk in PD.

This information does not represent all types of pain that can occur. As always, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider if you are experiencing pain in your legs.

Monique L. Giroux, MD

Guest Blogger, Former Medical Director of NWPF

http://www.healthfeeds.co/2016/02/19/is-legpainsyptom-parkinsons-drug-rehab-center/