Not a sports injury but...

[mortician]

figured you guys deal with issues like this all the time and might be able to help since I thinks its kinda like a repetition injury that could also be a sports type injury...

A new job I started requires me to constantly place pressure on my left leg off and on every few seconds for 12 hrs a day. I worked 1 day and then had 3 days off and on the 4th day (start of a 3 day work period) I worked again and by the end of the day the front of my left thigh was aching something horrible. By the 2nd day of working my thigh had gone numb from just above the knee to about 1/2 up towards my hip...and the aching became worse.

I then had 2 more days off and didn't do much but sit in my computer chair resting the leg... went back in for 2 days and the 2nd day I was only there 2 hrs and the pain was so intense I was almost in tears... fortunately they sent me home early and I have been resting now for 3 days and placing ice on it for 20 mins every hour and still its numb and still it aches if I stand too long... even if I don't place pressure on it.

I cannot afford a doctor and I cannot afford to lose this job or else end up on the streets. I have also been popping 1000mg a day of ibuprofen. Im wondering what if anything else I can do to help make this go away? I work again for 12 hrs this Tues and then another 2 days off before starting another 3 day work weekend.

Should I be putting heat on it or soaking in a hot tub? Or should I stick with ice? Would getting a 6" ace bandage and placing it on the area rather snug (compression) help me out any? And what would happen if this injury doesn't heal and I continue to just work through the pain? Im really limited in options and its making me worry something horrible.

Oh and I also have a knot on my back just below my right should blade that is also numb and tingling and sometime it even itches... Im seriously falling apart.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Heidi]

Hi
As the pain and numbness just came on with no trauma then I would suggest that it is a referred pain, rather than an actual problem with the thigh. It may be coming from the lower back or buttock area, this is the most common area for referred pain into the thigh.
You should get it checked out as it will probably only get worse, it is unlikely to improve on its own.
Applying a compression bandage and ice or heat won't really make a difference if it is referred pain. You may find that heat eases it slightly, although it will only cover the pain.
Try stretching the buttock and lower back muscles and see if this makes a difference:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/stretching/allstretches.php

[mortician]

Appreciate the response

I did forget to mention that the muscle in that leg is very sore and when I sit for a while or stand in place for a while and then go to walk... I can feel the muscle pulling and the pain increases, thus making me believe that its not a referred pain but something actually wrong with maybe my quad? I actually have to limp for a few minutes till I can feel the muscle start to loosen up.

I was thinking that maybe it was like a repetitve type of injury associated with the constant pressure Im applying to it as I lean on and off it for 12 hrs a day with no real rest or time for it to heal.

EDIT: Also let me add a couple other details...

1. This did happen once before about a year ago while working out on a treadmill... same type of deal where my quad became very tight and sore and then numbness set in on both thighs for a few days, but it eventually went away because I was only doing like 1/2 hr to 45 mins every other day.

2. My right thigh had a small area about 2in x 2in that started to get a slight numb feeling and that was happening when I started favoring my left leg and putting all the weight and pressure on the right.

Is it possible this could just be a result of my quad being strained and it constricting a nerve?

[Renewed Myo Therapy]

Hello

There are a few things to consider about your condition and I hope these things I mention will be of some help to you.
I first must agree with Heidi and suggest you find a way to get checked out.

I don't know what type of work you do or if you lived and active life style (excursing) or a sedentary life style (sitting, no exercise, couch potato, *no disrespect intended) before you started this new job. If so one of what you’re experiencing is what happens when you place over whelming load on muscles and joints which have been inactive. In other word your muscles was not prepared or conditioned for the new stress placed on it.

Another thing is that if you've live and sedentary life style then more than not your body is plagued with tight restricted muscles, posture distortion, stuck facid joints etc. mainly in the pelvic region. This job may have just brought to a head a condition (s) that’s been brewing long before you started this new job.

An asymmetric tight restricted muscle in the pelvic region causes postural distortion and stuck facid joints in the low back all the way down to your legs causing pain, numbness, muscle spasms and muscle weakness in these areas. Sedentary people can go for weeks, months and sometimes years with no major muscular problem until they do something out of their norm; like dancing, starting an exercise program or starting a new job or even because they've missed a step while going down a flight of stairs can become crucial.

Seek the help of a healthcare professional (MD doctor) to rules out any other serious problems that’s outside of soft tissue dysfunction. If indeed it's a soft tissue problem try a sports rehab therapist or orthopedic/sports massage therapist you can find some with reasonable rates.

Whatever you beside remember my friend you can always get another job but you only get one body take care and it well take care of you. Some basic stretching for the area talked about and that Heidi suggested is a good place to start.

I wish you well in your pursuit to wellness
Ray

[mortician]

Again thank you for your response... ok so regardless of what the injury actually is... what would you guess might the worst case senerio be if I just keep working and not see anyone about it? I just started this job 3 weeks ago and I seriously cannot risk losing it. I have no medical nor $$ to even see anyone... my only real option would be Workmans Comp since it was brought on by the job I do... but again... I dont have the luxery of waiting 6 weeks for a work comp check (and thats if they dont try and deny me)... I want to keep this job as its close to home and good pay and the first job I have had in over 3 yrs...

And yes I have had a very lazy quite a few yrs. 3 yrs not working at all and sitting at computer... 3 yrs prior to that I was working for a chiro office transporting patients back and forth to the office (so nothing physical) and then while home I was camped in front of my computer... I honestly havent had a real physically demanding job in many yrs and Im 43... so yea I went from doing nothing for ages to doing entirely too much over night.

[Renewed Myo Therapy]

This site has some great stretches that can be very helpful to you. Warm up before doing any stretch program. Never force a stretch go as far as you can and breathe in and out allowing gravity and the act of breathing to take you further into the stretch.

Here are some good stretches that I thought would be good to start with

*Gluteus Maximus Stretch

*Hip Flexor Stretch

*Outer Hip Stretch

*Back Stretch

*Side Stretch

Read the information on each of these stretches before doing them.
Hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds without bouncing.
Repeat each stretch 3 times.
Do them two times a day make sure one of those time are before you go to bed.
Always stretch both side of the body (left and right).
If you can find a friend to stretch with; if not that’s ok.
Go here to find these stretches:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/stretching/allstretches.php

Keep in mind that you didn't get this way overnight; even though it seems like it. So you journey to wellness will take some time but with consistency and a lot of patience it can happen.
For now lets not worry about "worst case scenario" let’s think "best case scenario.
My motto is "A renewed body a renewed mind; a renewed mind a renewed body"


I wish you well in your pursuit to wellness
Ray

[Heidi]

Hi
If its an aching and stiffness that develops 24 -48 hours after exercise then it is quite common and known as DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). This occurs because the muscles are working harder than they are used to and small microtears occur - this is normal and is the muscles way of growing.
If it is more severe pain, or pain at the time of squatting (more than the normal 'burn' on the last few reps) then he should get it checked out.