Can Endo Cause Leg Pain?

Q: I have just discovered this group yesterday and have been reading the previous messages and finding them really informative and helpful. I'm currently on a waiting list for a lap to see if I have endo. It's suspected because I have lower right side abdominal pain. I've always had quite bad pain there with my periods but about three years ago I started getting a milder version of this pain around mid cycle, and now its there virtually everyday. I also have lower back pain right side (ie its like the same pain going right through). For the last 6 months or so the pain has also been extending down my right leg. Sometimes my whole leg aches. My pain is pretty mild, obviously nowhere near as bad as many endo sufferers get(my heart goes out to you). But of course I'm worried that it may get progressively worse, or that if it is endo it may make me infertile. The leg pain seems to be unusual though from everything I've read and heard. Does anyone else have this symptom or have you heard of others with it? Does it sound like endo or is it probably unrelated? Thanks for your help

A: I'm glad to hear that you have found the posts here to be helpful! Certainly you will find some severe cases described here, and I do think it's important to note that the picture can be kind of skewed. Those of us who have had especially severe or especially unusual cases have trouble finding others locally who can relate, and our best chance of networking is on the internet. However, the vast majority of endometriosis cases are more mild and will respond to appropriate treatment. Leg pain can be related to endometriosis. If the leg pain occurs on its own, then that wouldn't make me think of endometriosis, of course. But if there is pelvic pain which seems to radiate down the leg, then, yes, that sometimes happens with endometriosis. Endometriosis can affect nerves in the pelvis and the sensation of pain shoots right down the leg. That kind of pain has even caused me to limp at times! The best way to avoid damage to fertility is to have endometriosis treated effectively by a knowledgeable doctor... so, you're headed on the right track! You might want to investigate the various treatments available for endometriosis while you are waiting for the surgery. I suffered the exact same pain when I had endo on the utero-sacral ligaments. Pain was on my right side, and on the right side of my lower back, and the pain would extend on down the side of my leg, onto the top to the knee, then sometimes down into the ankle. Mine did gradually become worse over the course of two years, so I'm glad you're on a waiting list to get a lap. I hope this helps. Pain down the inside of the thigh is considered by some to be a hallmark sign of Endo. I know after my Endo was removed, the pain stopped. Complete removal of the Endo by means of Excision will give you the greatest relief. I had excision done June 1998, and when I went in for surgery Dec. 2000, while I did have massive adhesions, there wasn't a trace of Endo! 2 1/2 years are excellent stats, IMHO!

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