title: A pilot study of the prevalence of leg pain among women with endometriosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
authors.forename: Stacey A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Missmer
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bove
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012585:Sciatica / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult