I'm glad you've got some sort of answer, RRB, and that someone is at last taking you seriously!
Something similar happened to me. I'd been complaining about back pain and my right knee not functioning properly for years, and just got told to "go away and lose weight". Ha! I lost weight and they both got worse :twisted: . Eventually I threw a fit of hysterics on my doctor and got referred, then an arthroscopy (keyhole scrape) to clear out some debris. This did make a bit of difference but now it clicks and hurts a bit. :roll: .
Meanwhile the back was getting worse. 4 years later I threw another fit of hysterics, and got referred to the Spinal Rehabilitation Unit. I told the specialist all my symptoms (25 years worth) and he gave me an immediate diagnosis - Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, a form of osteoarthritis which causes an overgrowth of the facet joints which can affect the function of the nerves to the legs. Nothing at all to do with weight (though being lighter helps a bit). And I might not have needed the arthroscopy
. He sent me for an MRI scan which showed the problems.
The outcome of all that is that they could operate but preferably not yet, as it might make things worse. He gave me some physio exercises to do to sttrengthen the core muscles, told me to limit my exercise except for an exercise bike, and to come back if I needed to.
The mere fact of having a diagnosis has made me feel so much better. I used to think it was all my fault for being fat, which greatly undermined my self-confidence, but now I know it's nothing to do with me (except perhaps for doing too much archaeology :roll: ) I feel a great deal better in myself. Sometimes it flares up and gives me a great deal of trouble, but usually it's not too bad - though I am about to apply for a Blue Badge - if someone parks too close I can't get my right leg back into the car :crazy:
Your lovely specialist may want you back to book you in for an MRI scan, just to double-check that there is no structural problem (bulging discs, pressure on the nerves etc) and will go on from there. Best of luck - there's a lot they can do once they know what the problem is - and it's so wonderful to be taken seriously!
Viv 8)