Leg Pain

[Bob]

Hello!

I have, as of recent, been experiencing extreme leg pain.  It seems to be focused at my lower legs (shins, calfs and ankles (not to mention under my foot in the arch!) This just started a couple weeks ago so I have yet to speak to my doctor about it.  It doesn't seem to relate to any Tender or Trigger points. 

Has anyone had anything like this?

[foxgrove]

I get leg cramps and random pains there on a constant basis.  Are these more like massive charlie horses that constitute basically the entire muscle or is it more the snooting nerve pain type?  The nerve pain stuff most certainly needs to be addressed by your doc as it might be something in their realm of weird rather than ours but the hit-and-run charlie horses are a little easier to deal with.

Now, understand that I'm still dealing with mine regardless of what I've tried but I have been able to give them some amount of relief even if it's been temporary.  I find that a broomstick or better yet, one of those hard muscle rollers where you can grab the ends hard and roll them is a good tool to use.  You need to be careful to roll them towards your heart or you can trap blood in them and make it more painful as you roll.  Not too hard but not exactly gently is how I think of it.  Let your senses be your guide.

I also use tennis balls to get at the feet and localised leg ones and a combination of heat and cold packs wrapped in towels at 15 minute intervals has made a big difference.  Sadly, it only lasts for a few hours at best before I'm back at square one again.  Do make sure you're getting enough potassium and magnesium in your diet as well as staying hydrated.  Low levels or lack of any of those can lead to cramping quite quickly.  Let us know how it goes.

Fox

Best of luck with it.  Hopefully someone else

[Robby]

Localized leg pain, no, leg pain associated with back pain, yes. When my lower back starts to hurt it grows to include my legs and feet, and not necessarily the whole leg, just bits and parts. I've had about as much luck with the leg pain as the back pain. Sometimes stuff works sometimes it doesn't.

Like fox said, massage works, heat works, electrical stimulation works, and sometimes other crazy ideas work. But, if it's the nerve pain type it does need to be addressed although that could just be fibro related, you know how fibro is.

Good luck

[Bob]

These are not like "Charlie Horses".  They feel more like toothache pain in my legs. 

[foxgrove]

Ahhhh.. the other one.  I call that one "pon far" (reference: star trek Vulcan growing pains)... and yes I am a geek!  Sadly, I have little comfort for that one.  I get spats of it every month where it lasts several days or more bt generally it's only a few hours in length.  Sorry yours has been so much worse.

Hot baths seem to help a little, getting up and moving around sometimes distracts from it, sometimes exacerbates it... you'll know which after a minute of trying to walk around.  Other than that, I tend to lay in bed running my legs a lot and trying to sleep through it.  Nothing really makes a huge change to it but if it's the same thing, I can assure you it will get better.

Get the doc to take a look just to be sure it isn't something we haven't experienced.  Maybe there is something simple he can do to give you relief.

[denny]

Your not a geek.
At least I understand.
Maybe we fall in between the cracks when it comes to descriptive names.
I do.
Anyway,I been trying to get my wife to eat a pickle for leg pain.
She rather not sleep I guess.
Thankfully leg pain is a minor problem for me,but I do hope you find something for it Bob.

Right now my neck is terrorizing me...

[Bob]

Dang!  It's ALWAYS something isn't it?

[Robby]

Yes it is ALWAYS something

[foxgrove]

{sigh}  so true...