Muscle stiffness

I have had muscle stiffness in my legs (mostly my calves but sometimes it reaches to my hamstrings) for about 2 months. I noticed it first while I was walking, it sort of came and went and then one day I ran a little and by the time I got home they were really stiff. Needless to say I have not run since. However I tried to continue walking and I would be fine at first but then after a while, maybe 10-20 minutes, my muscles would freeze up and I could barely make it back home. I have had an EMG done and some blood work, all showing nothing amiss. My younger sister (who is a nurse) thinks I should get an MRI to rule out MS. I don' t really have many other symptoms other than extreme fatigue for about 4 or 5 days every few weeks (which I have always attibuted to hormones - I am 46 and most likely peri-menopausal) and of course, like every other suburban soccer mom, I can be very forgetful at times.

Any thoughts?

[saveone]

Hi I don't think we have met so let me say welcome to the forum.

It sounds to me you know there is something wrong with your body.  Whether it is MS or something else you need to find the cause.  Anytime we recognize something is interring with our quality of life we should have it  checked out.  That way it doesn't progress without treatment.

There are many things that could be causing your symptoms including peri-menopause or just the stress of being a soccer mom.

Get yourself a physical and bring yourself some peace of mind.

Again Welcome, terry

Oh and brain fog is setting in so if I didn't make much sense I apologize. :0)

[soccermom123]

Well, I have been to my primary care physician and to a neurologist, and that is where I am so far. The neurologist thinks it is just a pulled muscle, but I have had pulled muscles before, and it didn't feel like this. I feel like I am not explaining it right to the doctors, and each one focuses on a different thing that I say. I guess I will just persist. The neurologist said to come back if it is not better in a month after resting it and taking muscle relaxants - so far, in 1 week, I am not impressed with the results of that approach!

[jensequitur]

Spasticity, which it sounds like you're describing, is caused by nerve damage.  The muscle is constantly getting signals from the brain to relax - its natural state is to contract.  So it sounds like your nerves aren't getting the signal to your calves to relax.  

I would see about getting an MRI of the spine.  Even if it doesn't show any lesions, it will show the doctor what is going on with your spine.

[Heather3418]

Since you say that you have been to your family doctor and your Neuro, I would guess they have ruled out peripheral artery disease. (P.A.D.)  When you describe when walking or running can bring on the pain, the first thing I thought of circulation problems in your legs.

Yes, these can be spasms.  If the medication your doctor put you on is not working, you need to let them know.  You don't need to suffer needlesly.  I know how painful this condition can be.

Please let us know how things go for you.  I would be interested to know what is causing this.  Please ask your doctor's about PAD.

Best Wishes,
Heather

[soccermom123]

I am not sure if PAD was ruled out - how do you test for that? The only thing I know they have ruled out is peripheral myopathy (or whatever it is called) and a bunch of other opathys, as well as ALS and a breakdown of muscle tissue. And the bloodwork ruled out Vitamin B deficiency and low potassium.

I guess I will ask about PAD. I am starting to realize that it could be a LONG time before I know what the problem is and I am going to have make a pest of myself to get answers.

Thanks for the info!

[soccermom123]

Oh, and after reading a few other posts, I would say spasticity is a more accurate description than stiffness, in that the faster I go, or the more I wals (especially uphill) the worse it gets - my muscles pretty much just freeze up.

[missy142]

Hi soccer,
I have cervical myelopathy due to spinal cord compression at a couple of levels and nerve root compression due to multiple disc problems, and alot of spine problems too much to get into on this post but I have spasticity in my calves.  As a result my lower extremities get very weak and I cannot walk or have great difficulty doing so.  It is claudication, muscle cramp type feeling.  It is hell quite frankly.  I am currently taking Zanaflex to control the spasticity and it was working great for about 2 weeks and seems to not being workiing as effeciently as it was.  I will have to bump it up to 2x/day which is what im supposed to be doing.  This is all caused by my spine problems.  I am trying to put off surgery, but things are deteriorating.

Please look into this.  Mine is NOT vascular, there is a big difference, but the claudication in the calves may feel the same.

I am tired and may not be explaining this as eloquently as I might, in fact im sure im not.  If you want to PM me I will explain in further detail my experience and injury and how it effects my walking.

missy

[missy142]

Look up Spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication and see if any of this is applicable to you.

missy

[soccermom123]

I did look up spinal stenosis, I don;t think that is it - I did not have any injury, it just came out of the blue. All very strange and frustrating. I can do most anything (bike, swim) but I just can't walk very far, which makes my daily life rather difficult. I am going on vacation soon and it will involve a lot of walking (2 days in Hershey park, 1 day in NYC) and I have no idea what I am going to do!!

[missy142]

soccer,
But have you had any MRI's of any areas of your spine at all?

missy

[Guitar_grrrl]

Yeah, what they said...The only thing I have to add in the mean time, is stretch, stretch, stretch!  Hams, quads, IT bands, calves, hip flexors and extensors.  If it is indeed spasticity we're talking about, it's important to keep 'em stretched!

Cheers,
Guitar_grrrl

[jensequitur]

You'd be surprised about the spine.  I have a friend who suddenly developed a syrinx of the spine, and lost control of her legs.  The damage is as if she fell on her back from a great height, but she knows that's never happened.

[soccermom123]

I have not had an MRI yet. I had one appt with a neuro who suggested I rest it and take muscle relaxants and come back in a month if it isn't better (which it won't be, I am 99%percent sure this is not a pulled muscle) When I go back, I will insist on an MRI, I guess that can tell the doctor a lot of things.

Would stretching be against the "rest it as much as you can" program? I stretched one day and my husbanded reprimanded me, saying that stretching is not resting, but I am afraid sitting around is just making it worse.

I am going to call tomorrow and ask for a different muscle relaxant. I am taking Skelaxin and it isn't doing a darn thing (well, it has alleviated those painful, random, muscles spams I was getting) But it certainly has not relaxed my muscles enought so that I can walk more than a block at a time.

Thanks for all the info - you are all such a wealth of knowledge!

[jensequitur]

Stretching is definitely recommended for spasticity.  When my calf was going off, I had to stretch it about every five minutes, just so I could move without it cramping.  My thumbs also are spastic, but not as bad - I stretch those out every morning, and in the afternoon.

Quix (our resident MD) says that you should stretch up to 90 seconds at a time, until it's uncomfortable.  Try heat as well, and see if that helps.  When I had the heating pad on, it wasn't cramping, but when I took it off, it started back up.

Even if it isn't spasticity, it'll help.  And you might try potassium supplements too - couldn't hurt!

[missy142]

ooohh, Im sorry I have to disagree with the potassium supplements.  Unless you have beeen diagnosed with hypokalemia (low potassium) you should not take supplements on your own it can be dangerous.

you can take magnesium glycinate, a very gentle form of magnesium, can help in some people relaxation of muscles, I take at night, very absorbable.
Magnesium sulfate (epsoms salt) can be good for some muscle "soreness" and relaxes the muscles quite well in some people.  Its really difficult to say as you dont know whats wrong with you.

But dont take potassium on your own.  Magnesium supplements as directed are ok.


missy