A pilot study of the prevalence of leg pain among women with endometriosis

J Bodyw Mov Ther

2011

Radiating leg pain is a common symptom presenting in manual therapy practices. Although this symptom has been reported as a complication of endometriosis, its prevalence and characteristics have not been studied. We surveyed members of a national endometriosis support group with endometriosis using a self-administered, mailed questionnaire. The main outcome measures were the prevalence and characteristics of leg pain. Of 94 respondents, leg pain was reported by 48 women (51%), and was bilateral in 59% of these symptomatic women. The likelihood of experiencing leg pain was related to weight gain since age 18, age, and height. The most common treatments tried included exercise, over-the-counter medications, and massage therapy, all with variable results. These data support leg pain as a prevalent complication of endometriosis, and that the disease may affect multiple peripheral nerves. Manual therapists should remain aware to this possible etiology for radiating pain.


Missmer, Stacey A Bove, Geoffrey M eng R21 HD053510/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R21 HD053510-03/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2011 Jul;15(3):304-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2011.02.001. Epub 2011 Feb 23.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21665106