02-08-2025
I have constant pain in my back and legs and doctors can't help – what should I do?
OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice.
Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader whose blood pressure was flagged as pointing to pre diabetic levels during a routine health check.
Q) I'M a 73-year-old woman and have seen different doctors at my surgery for years now but none of them seem to help.
In 2011, I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, where the spaces within the spine become narrowed, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
In June last year my symptoms got worse. I have constant pain in my back and legs, I am tired all the time (I sleep on and off most of the evening), and have numbness all the time in both calves.
In the night I am getting up three times with bladder problems but a urologist I have seen can't find anything wrong with my bladder.
My legs feel cold, I have shin pain and tight calves. I feel paralysed when getting out of bed. It's a job to start moving.
Can you please suggest what could be causing my symptoms?
A) I'm so sorry to hear you have been suffering such debilitating, painful symptoms for so long.
Your mention of legs feeling paralysed is concerning and you need to be checked over more urgently.
You could call 111 to see if they can arrange for you to be seen if your GP cannot see you.
Back pain is a common problem, and you already have a diagnosis of spinal stenosis.
However, anyone with back issues needs to be aware of red-flag symptoms which require urgent assessment, and these include severe weakness in legs (not just pain or stiffness), sudden difficulty walking, poor coordination, or frequent falls.
These may indicate cauda equina syndrome – a surgical emergency.
Other symptoms of concern include loss of bowel or bladder control and numbness or tingling in the groin area.
