Leg/ Calve pain

[john m]

A year ago, I had a flulike virus,which after 9 days, i had burning/aching/twitching in calves, legs,thighs&arms.
2 mon. into symptoms,I seen a neuro. Exam went well,blood good,set up nerve con. & emg.
Impession on nerve con. "normal" with the exception of absence of the H-reflex on the right,which may suggest a right S1 radiculpathy.
Impession of EMG, "normal"with the exception of mild denervation at S1 on the right. The medial gastrocnemius had slightly decreased numbers,slightly decresed amplitude.
A full Mri done,which showed
L4-5, diffuse disc bulging. central annular tear.small central disc protrusion/herniation,indents upon the anterior aspect of the thecal sac.mild facet degenerative change.
L5-S1 shows disc bulging. This is eccentric to the left where there is a rather broad based small disc protrusion/herniation. This contacts the traversing left S1 nerve root.
Impression; multi level disc bulging. Cervical also shows multi level dic bulging.
I showed great inprovement of symptoms in 3 mon, with the twitching,down,but hanging around. My calves would ache a few days, through out the summer,but then be fine for a mon. or 2 at a time, then at certain times they would ache off/ on,then fine for long periods.
Now a year later,an having calf pain again,more in the right.just seen neuro again,and exam went fine,and thinks My back could be giving me the leg tightness,and BFS.
Would like your opinion on this,as i'm always terrified of als.

I can walk on heels/ toes, but after doing this awhile, they seem to pull a bit. My strengh seems fine.

Thanks

[Lilli_white_lies]

I to have calve pain.
A little history about me.
I have severe PAD ( Periphal Arterial Disease)or PVD( Periphal Vascular Disease). That is where it all started. I would walk a certain distant and all of a sudden I would have to stop because of calve pain.As soon as I would stop for a couple of seconds the pain would go away. This went on for about a year while getting worse with time. I thought I was just getting older (40) and out of shape. (142lbs) It had gotten so bad that I couldn't walk around the grocery store.
I finally discussed it with my Dr.and did the cat scans and the MRI.
I had blockage in the iliac artery, both sides, and 2 herinated disc L4-5, and L5-S1.
I had the angigram and then the aniplasty for the blockage with stents and everything was great for a year.
Then it started all over again. It has now been 2 years and I have had 3 angiplasty and 5 or 6 stents. Just 2 months ago I have had my 4th one,finding a previous stent that was blocked and  finding out that I have total blockage behind both knees. Hoping that I would be a canidate for a by-pass, I am not. The blood flow that I am getting now is off the capillary veins. Thank God that I have enough blood flow now that all stents are functioning properly.
I have always had low back pain, but not bad enough that a couple of asprin wouldn't take care of. But now it is all the time and much worse, and I am having "calve" pain. But it is different.
It is like a "vise grip" type of pain. And will come and go. You let me get out of bed without thinking and I could hit the floor. I can be walking just fine, no pain, and all of a sudden severe calve pain, and it doesn't go away with rubbing it. I donot have the "severe" pain down the leg, but I am experiencing tingling in my feet.
Needless to say, this has all been so depressing, but I am going to get through it. ( If it isn't one thing it is a dozen)

PLEASE::::: Talk to your doctor about arterial disease. I am told that it usually hits older (70's) people, but not always. I just happen to have tiny arteries, and have been a smoker for MANY years. NOT ANYMORE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Any comments on my post would be greatful...
Good luck to you all and may God bless.
bailey

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

It's very possible that your symptoms may be due to the disc problems as theoretically the location of the pain fits with the locations of the disc bulging. Please keep in mind that I can't make an accurate diagnosis as I have not personally examined you nor have I reviewed your films, but it doesn't sound like ALS from your brief description. If the symptoms persist or get worse, consider getting a repeat MRI and maybe EMG to see if the disc disease is progressing. ALso, if you have vascular risk factors such as diabetes or hypertension, the arteries in your legs may be blocked due to peripheral vascular disease which can produce these symptoms. This is checked with a special study that takes the blood pressure in your legs at different spots. GOod luck.