Calf Pains

[crazy71]

Hi!

I can only hope someone somewhere can help!!

I first noticed pains in my calves when i was the age of 6, now aged 36 the pain has become more and more debilitating and severe as time has gone by. I now constantly wear wraps,(bandages) wrapped tightly which numbs the pain somewhat. I use to take co-proxomol a well known pain killer in the UK, but which is no longer available.

Symptoms,
Calf muscles feel very tight and stiff.  
The pain can occurs mostly during the day or but can occur during the night  
The pain is severe enough to keep me a wake at night and bad enough impede my work during work
The pain is a deep muscular pain, and is a dull but intense pain
I do get cramps but not excessively but to suffer from chronic cold feet.

Environments and activities that make the pain worse or come about are,
Worse in winter due to cold
Sometimes after excerise, such as jogging or calf raises involving weights, pain can be after an hour or start after longer periods
Inactivity- where i have not exercised  or exerted calf muscles for sometime

Pain is relieved by,
massage, heat,hot climate, however pain can still occur in a hot climate

Severity of pain can range from
painful, very painful, extremely painful - when working is made impossible

I have had all sorts of test carried out, electric conductive test blood test but nothing conclusive, maybe someone can help or shed some light on my bizarre ailment.

Steve,
England, UK

[Alexandra_M1984]

Hi Steve,

I have what sounds like the exact same problem. I started when I was 5 and I'm now 25 and cant stand the constant waking at 2am in agony. I have recently seen a Vascular Specialist who suggests that it could be venous reflux in the deep vein system. Im booked in for a series of ultrasounds in March 2010 (long wait) and I will keep you posted if they find anything in case it might help you also. I know what you're going through and no doctors seem to take it seriously. For 15 years i was told it was growing pains...

All the best.

Alexandra

[neeliems]

The outside of my calves hurt all the time--throbbing. It doesn't bother me unless I have to sit and then I can't sit cause of the throbbing pain. The worst time is at bedtime. I sleep with a heating pad and tighter fitting socks which helps somewhat. I've tried ibuprofen and other meds and nothing even eases the pain. I had the GP check my legs and he said that blood was circulating just fine so I shouldn't have to worry about clots. I even had a test for blood clots since they run in my family and they found nothing so I am baffled as to what to do about my calf pain. I have no suggestions for you as I'm lost on my own.

ems

[crazy71]

Thanks !
for the input, i will look into it and hopefully, fingers crossed symptons might get better

[ggreg]

Sounds like RLS, Restless Legs Syndrome.  There is a forum here for sleep disorders, which is a misnomer, but it's for folks who have RLS, among other things.