Short leg Syndrome

LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou
LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou Posts: 101 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Very specific I know...but I have been working hard at the gym but suffering from back and hip pain which never gets better. Also one leg (Left) is always working harder than the other, it is really clear to see this in my gym clothes even the PT noticed it the leg is shaking and carrying all the weight

I have always had hip and knee pain after walking any distance or standing and thought it was just down to lack of fitness, but now I work out it's worse

Anyway I measured my legs up against the wall on my back...and guess what.... it is a lot shorter. I then measured my knees (Femur bone) and this is where the major difference is. I can how see my knee is lower on the long leg side!

anyone else have anything similar? What did you do?

Cut out the walking in a circle and leg swinging in the wind or built up shoe gags please:sad:

Replies

  • LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou
    LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou Posts: 101 Member
    bump
  • horsesandhipbones
    horsesandhipbones Posts: 53
    My left leg is about 1/2 inch shorter than my right...I also have quite severe over-pronation, so I wear orthotic inserts in my shoes, with the left one being slightly bigger. It's not really a big problem for me any more though x
  • LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou
    LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou Posts: 101 Member
    Ooh how did you get diagnosed? how did you know which inserts to get? I have no idea where to start. How did you know you had a problem in the first place? Questions Questions! lol
  • adf4
    adf4 Posts: 31 Member
    How about going to the chiropractor?
  • karenjoy
    karenjoy Posts: 1,840 Member
    I would go see your GP and get referred to a podiatrist, I have been getting back pain so badly it kept me awake at night, my knees hurt and I was going to spend a lot of money on a new mattress, then I went to the podiatrist and it turned out I over pronate, and I was given inserts for my shoes, I wear them almost all the time, and did the simple exercises I was given and I am so much better, no more back pain and no need for a new mattress, who would have thought something so small and simple would make such a big difference.
  • LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou
    LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou Posts: 101 Member
    ADF4, they will just tell me that one leg is longer than the other, won't they? Can they make bones longer? LOL

    No it is mainly the cost. I am worried about how much it will be. Maybe I can just work it out myself and keep adding or taking away inserts?

    Just seeing what others experienced, but thanks for your comment.
  • LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou
    LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou Posts: 101 Member
    I would go see your GP and get referred to a podiatrist, I have been getting back pain so badly it kept me awake at night, my knees hurt and I was going to spend a lot of money on a new mattress, then I went to the podiatrist and it turned out I over pronate, and I was given inserts for my shoes, I wear them almost all the time, and did the simple exercises I was given and I am so much better, no more back pain and no need for a new mattress, who would have thought something so small and simple would make such a big difference.

    Thanks this is interesting I had never heard of a podiatrist. Do they just do feet or legs and hips generally?
  • LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou
    LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou Posts: 101 Member
    bumperty bump
  • adf4
    adf4 Posts: 31 Member
    My husband had one leg longer than the other and through adjustments, his chiropractor was able to get them more even.
  • maab_connor
    maab_connor Posts: 3,927 Member
    you are lucky that we're living in the age of cutting edge ortho and no-see orthotic shoes. go to your GP and tell them what you found. they will send you to a specialist - a podiatrist for a shoe, an ortho if it's bad enough to need a surgical option, a chiro to allign you better, and/or PT to teach you how to move so that you don't hurt yourself.

    you've caught the problem and that's awesome, b/c now you can work towards becoming pain-free.
  • ShortLegSyndrome
    ShortLegSyndrome Posts: 1
    If you are still in your growing years, please check out my website ShortLegSyndrome.com. I make no money from it. I'm just providing free infomation as a way of paying back for something that worked for me. I haven't updated it lately. My child went from 1.9 cm to .6 cm. All measurements taken with X-Ray. The operation to increase the short leg is a rough one. If you still have some growing left, they can close some or all of your growth plates in your longer leg. But for my money, use my website. I cannot promise you the same results, but a second child of mine is have the same problem, and thats the route I'm taking with her also. If your difference is 1 cm or less and your are finished growing, a shoe lift inside the shoe would be a great option. If 1 cm or greater then a custom made shoe is in order. If you use my website please contact me through my website if I can be of any help. I used a fake email to sign up for this message board so I could respond to your post. I will not be back on this message board. I will never ask for, or take any money.

    Good Luck,
    David
  • Cobehale
    Cobehale Posts: 54 Member
    ADF4, they will just tell me that one leg is longer than the other, won't they? Can they make bones longer? LOL

    No it is mainly the cost. I am worried about how much it will be. Maybe I can just work it out myself and keep adding or taking away inserts?

    Just seeing what others experienced, but thanks for your comment.

    It may not necessarily be that one leg is longer, it could be that your hips and spine are out of alignment causing it to appear that way. Seeing a chiropractor will give you a good idea of what is the cause and then some basic treatments to help. Then if orthotics are still in order then they can point you in the right direction.
  • angelrock
    angelrock Posts: 20 Member
    Yeah I agree with seeing a Chiropractor, I had a problem where my hip is always needing realignment and so one leg looks shorter and my shoulders are also not in line. The Chiropractor will make small adjustments to sort out the muscles and then your body will eventually stay in alignment. You don't realise how many health benefits you can get from your spine being healthy - go along and find out.
  • mandylooo
    mandylooo Posts: 456 Member
    I would go see your GP and get referred to a podiatrist, I have been getting back pain so badly it kept me awake at night, my knees hurt and I was going to spend a lot of money on a new mattress, then I went to the podiatrist and it turned out I over pronate, and I was given inserts for my shoes, I wear them almost all the time, and did the simple exercises I was given and I am so much better, no more back pain and no need for a new mattress, who would have thought something so small and simple would make such a big difference.

    Thanks this is interesting I had never heard of a podiatrist. Do they just do feet or legs and hips generally?

    If you're in the UK, this *may* be a chiropodist (but I'm not sure). Start with your GP anyway.
  • mandylooo
    mandylooo Posts: 456 Member
    And chiropractors have relatively little training compared to doctors, so consider that when you choose who to see,
  • Cobehale
    Cobehale Posts: 54 Member
    And chiropractors have relatively little training compared to doctors, so consider that when you choose who to see,

    actually that is a untrue...

    "In general, the World Health Organization lists three potential educational paths involving full‐time chiropractic education across the globe. This includes: 1 – 4 years of pre-requisite training in basic sciences at university level followed by a 4 year full‐time program; DC. A 5 year integrated bachelor degree; BSc (Chiro). A 2 - 3 year Masters program following the completion of a bachelor degree; MSc (Chiro).[4] These are considered "basic guidelines", however, and in countries where the practice of chiropractic is well established, the standards are frequently much higher."
  • FlynnMacCallister
    FlynnMacCallister Posts: 172 Member
    You go to a podiatrist and get an insert made for that shoe. You also consider seeing a physiotherapist to check if you have any scoliosis -- that is, sideways curvature of the spine. If the physio diagnoses scoliosis, then you might like to see a chiropractor, but not before that -- they aren't actually trained to identify anything but sublaxations, so you need a physio's opinion first.
  • Nikki881
    Nikki881 Posts: 203
    bump
  • lsapphire
    lsapphire Posts: 297 Member
    I was the same, chiro worked wonders for me. Just need occasional adjustments now.
  • JadeRabbit08
    JadeRabbit08 Posts: 551 Member
    Wow a post called short leg syndrome by one poster then another brand new poster comes along advertsing their site called Short leg Syndrome...how lucky can you get?
  • poulingail
    poulingail Posts: 110
    I would get a referral to an orthopedist because as you said, the shorter leg has thrown off your back and knee. It's an entire system and an orthopod will see how the leg difference is impacting your whole body then work from there. Fascinating discussion. :flowerforyou:
  • countrygal2004
    countrygal2004 Posts: 82 Member
    I just got diagnosied yesterday with SLS - my right leg is shorter than my left. I have been reading up on it and all the previous posters are right - it could be several different things. It depends if it's your actual leg length or your pelvis/hips out of alignment. My chiropractor diagnosed me after checking my legs then doing my adjustment and then checking again. He started me out with a 1/4 inch lift for my shoe. It's only been one day and my pelvis was very irritated when I went in to see him. I will give it a week as he suggested and see how it goes.

    Just a little history - I've been going to the chiropractor and massage therapist for about 2 1/2 years for a back injury I sustained when I fell off my horse. The injury took about 2 years to heal and in July 2012 I decided to start jogging. I did the Couch to 5K program and noticed that my right hip was sore so I started going to the chiro and massage therapist more often to help heal it. Well, 7 months later it seemed to be getting worse. When I went in yesterday I finally said to my chiro that something else has to be happening. That's when he decided to start looking for another reason for the pain.

    That's my experience. I will see how it goes then work with my chiro, GP and massage therapist to get past this. Although I'm not excited about the diagnosis, I'm happy to have a solution.
  • Loftearmen
    Loftearmen Posts: 380
    I address these types of issues with clients using a foam roller and a lot of heavy, unilateral movements (bulgarian split squats, back lunges, one leg deadlifts, etc...). If the problem is mild-moderate this usually will do the trick. If it continues or gets worse you should obviously go see a doctor about it, just keep in mind that if you go see a chiropractor they will swear up and down that you need adjustments, if you see a podiatrist they will swear up and down that you need orthotics and if you see an orthopod they will swear up and down that you need surgery but only one of them is right.

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