weird dull ache in quads/calves....very strange...

[Jacob T]

Hi all,

For at least the past year, (closer to a year and a half, I think), I've been experiencing these weird dull achy cramps in my quads and calves. It's like abdominal cramps during the menses, but not in my lower ab region. It's not a seizing charliehorse type of spasm or anything. There is no numbness, tingling, burning, electriclike shock. There's no swelling, heat, cold, hives, or any visible signs.

It seems to have no rhyme or reason. It doesn't follow any trigger point referral zones that I know of. Sometimes I have it a bit in the morning, but mostly it comes on at night. The onset is sudden, but not so sudden that I notice it right away. It can happen on one or both legs. It can happen on calves, quads, or both--one side or the other or both. The intensity varies...sometimes it's just there in the background and sometimes it's rather nasty. It can happen at any point during my monthly cycle. It's not usually accompanied by headache or any other pain. It doesn't happen every day.

I spend a lot of time sitting in class and driving, but I'm also relatively active with giving massage ~15 hours a week and I try to park far away from doors when running errands to get more exercise in. Other than that, I'm kinda bad with exercise

I drink tons of water. My pelvic tilt is quite anterior, but my quads are flexible and my hamstrings are short-tight (go figure?)

Stretching does not seem to help, not even sustained stretching so as to engage the fascia. It's not alleviated by any particular position. The only things I've found to alleviate it at all are vigorous hard tapotement with the fists and heat from hot stones. But they take about an hour to do any good. Whenever we're treating the areas like I mentioned, the discomfort will disappear in that exact spot but then get more intense somewhere else (within the quads or calves). So the discomfort seems to "move".

I'm vegetarian and have recently gotten better about taking in more fruits and vegetables. I take supplements occasionally. I get plenty of calcium.

Any thoughts? This is so strange. :shock:

Thanks in advance!
Hugs,
~Jyoti

 

[Mid]

Oops...I meant to post this in the Injury Pathology etc forum! Doh! Sorry about that!

 

[tay]

are you getting enough potassium?


love your avatar! t043

 

[confused guy1-1]

I will answer from the energy point of view. When I am very tired, my left arm will hurt from the shoulder down to the fingers. While yes I have old injuries, these are not the cause, because nothing specific triggers the onset except fatigue. While I have pain in the area that is alleviated by massage and/or TP therapy, the pain I was experiencing was on a whole new level. It was not touched by pain releavers, massage, topical analgesics... nada..

I've been told that what I hold here are emotional issues, and I am experiencing physical pain because of that. (which I had begun to suspect) So I have been doing extra work with my heart chakra, and yes, it alleviates the pain. (And yes the pain onset was as you described, not sudden, but kinda sneaks up on you!)

So my thought is that you may be "holding" pain. Since you have tried other therapies, you may want to go to someone who works with energy and see what they come up with.

Good luck.

(Oh, and on the more conventional side? and as mush said, are you getting enough potassium, bananas are a good source :wink: )

 

[micheleelainehood]

Any swelling at all in the legs? Edema?

Is it isolated in specific muscles of the calf/quads, or is it all muscles in those areas?

The increase at night suggests possible hydration issues in my mind.

Do you have any indication of varicose veins in the legs?

The fact that heat and stimulating massage techniques help also point toward circulation issues.

 

[Sarah Lee]

Sorta sounds a bit like my sister's "restless leg syndrome."
While she's finally on medication for it from the medical doctor... I also notice a dramatic difference when she's taking care of herself by getting massage and regular chiropractic adjustments (she's got knee and lower back issues).
A few minutes of massage on her legs at bedtime can sometimes help alleviate the symptoms and calm her both emotionally and physically.

 

[Daphne]

are you getting enough potassium?

This was my 1st thought also, along with calcium.

Angie

 

[louisa]

At the chiropractic center where I work, we recommend drinking tonic water that has quinine in it. A few glasses throughout the day; and it's particularly helpful to drink a glass an hour or so before bed so your symptoms don't wake you. Hope this helps

Take care!

 

[Irish Bear]

Have you considered getting MyoFascial Release done?

 

[ShortcutHerbal Goody]

Have you considered getting MyoFascial Release done?

Indeed Kevin, I've referred my sister with the restless leg syndrome to my massage therapist who specializes in MFR. I know she's had at least 2 sessions, but I've sorta lost track of her "progress" the last couple weeks.