I was a recreational runner for 25 years. About 4 years ago I began having pain in my
right thigh; in a while my right foot also began to hurt and burn, especailly at night. I have
seen many doctors, had 3 MRI's and have had several different diagnoses. Most lately, I
saw a neurosurgeon who said I was not a candidate for surgery because "I do not know
the source of your pain."
Have you heard of similar cases of runners who have had this type of pain and could not
get a diagnosis
Jane, this is a difficult issue to deal with. It may be that you have more than one thing
going on, and as you compensate for one you stimulate the other. If the pain is in the
back of your thigh, I would look first at your back as the source of your pain. If the pain is
in the front of your thigh, that complicates the issue since there is not a good relationship
between anterior thigh pain and foot pain. To answer your question, in a word, yes, I
have heard of runners who have problems that defy diagnosis. Keep in mid that there is
a difference between signs and symptoms. Signs are things we can measure, symptoms
are things you feel/experience as a result. My suggestion to you is that you see a Sport
medicine PM&R physician who can work through the diagnostic possibilities.
Neil
