19 year old with painful leg spasms and heaviness/fatigue

[Momtryingtofindanswers]

My son is 19.  He is an avid athlete.  Almost 4 weeks ago he took himself to urgent care becasue his legs, complete both legs, not his feet, started to severly spasm and cramp.  He was having trouble walking.  They ran his blood.  He was NOT dehydrated and potassium, etc. all looked good.  Made appointment with Dr.  Couldn't wait, ended up in the ER.  ER took more blood, xrays, all negative for anyting obvious.  Saw doctor - who then took MRI of spine.  That, too is negative.  Both doctors he has seen truly do not know what to do with him.  They seem unwilling to explore.  My son is frustrated, he has gone from skateboarding, skydiving, hiking, etc. to literally having trouble walking at the end of each day.  His life has come to a hault.  He explains that rest at night is like rejuvinating his legs, then from morning to night, if he even walks for any amount, or does anything at all, he is in pain and cannot walk.  He is limping.  This does not affect his feet which I think is what is throwing the doctors. off.  I believe he needs to see a neuro specialist because of the spasms in his legs.  SOMEONE has to be able to help figure this out.  Is it a blood flow issue to his legs, is it an MS symptom (God forbid), is it a virus, is it some infection or something somewhere that cannot be seen?  Please someone give me some insight as to what to do.  This is real.  I read all the time about people having symptoms in their heads.  My son is a vibrant college student that just wants to get on with his life.  He does not want pain pills or "wait for a few more weeks" answers.  There has to be some underlying something that is causing his legs to do this.  Something like this is a symptom!!!!!  Please help - I would greatly appreciate any insight at all.  Who can I take him to?  He is in Chico, California.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

[Tonya_Johnson]

Hi, I know this may seem weird, but males tend to go through another growth spurt between ages 19-21.  I would track his height once a month and if there are any changes then you know the pain is from growing.  
I was in the Marine Corps and suffered from "Shin Splints".  It is very painful and it comes from extreme excersing and sports such as your son.  It is almost unde-tectable but what it is is tiny fractures along the shin bone, if you could see a picture it would look like a piece of hair with split ends. The only way to heel them is with rest,and ice-packs help them feel better but they are prone to come back. Try to have him start to do alot of proper streching before and after any activities, that will help loosen the ligaments and muscles that pull on that bone.  I am no doctor, and dont claim to be, he should still consult his doctor about everything, I am just offering some advice through my own experiences with myself and with my Marines, and my children of the same age.

[jemma116]

I hope he gets sorted out soon and the cause of his problems found so that they can be dealt with.

Best wishes.

[Momtryingtofindanswers]

Thank you all so much for your input!  I very much appreciate it!!

Bad news is my son had two occassions this week that his fingers had feelings like they were on the verge of spasming or cramping, but didn't.  But the feeling is there.  

Great news is his doctor FINALLY referred him to a Neurologist and put him on some muscle relaxers that are helping him in the interim!  Hopefully we will find out more from this doctor.  All good positive thoughts that this is something simple and easily resolved!!!!!  Whatever it is........

[jemma116]

I damaged my posterial fibrial tendon just by exercising on the treadmill at the gym.  I could not put my foot down or walk on my left for 9 months.

[jemma116]

I think your comments were intended for Momtryingtofindanswers

[jenna63]

Is he taking any "nutritional" supplements or using any muscle building products?
Have any of his care providers mentioned this as a possibility of compartment syndrome? The fascia (think of fascia as the stringy, strong "packaging" that envelopes around the individual muscle packages in your body) can become inflamed, and more so every time you exercise. If the fascia become inflamed, they lose elasticity. As you exercise your muscles require increased blood flow. If compartment syndrome happens, the muscle(s) are "locked" in the tightenen fascia, which reduces/cuts off blood healthy flow into the muscle tissues. Poor blood flow makes for cramping pain, and then even more swelling because of the buildup of lactic acid within the blood starved muscles. Dying cells expand... yeah, it can become serious. That said, it is VERY unusual to be seeing this in multiple leg muscles at once, but my niece had exactly this happening in both calves and one thigh as a high schooler, so I do know it IS possible!!! Very painful, and worsens dramatically with more exercise. At first, she just did extra icing and short layoffs. Well, it only got worse with future practices. They almost did surgery on her calves twice too cut the fascia open to release the pressure. Both times she was admitted for observation.
The doctors could never explain why her compartment syndrome started or why it was so widespread. She had to miss the track season - strict rest and antiinflamatories were all that finally let her body heal. Very weird. She had been training very hard - all "no pain, no gain" mentality. One theory was that her body somehow went into a hyperimmune state attacking her own fascia. Idiopathic was all they could really say. She is in her twenties now and runs regularly but takes care to listen to her body carefully so she doesn't overtrain.
Best wishes for your son, whatever may be the final answer for his pain turns out to be.

[jemma116]

It appears as he may have overdone it on the athletic side.  He may have caused brusing or damage to muscles, tendons or ligaments or pinching on the nerves in the spine (but the spinal problem has been ruled out by xrays and mir scan).

These things need time and rest to heal.  He can apply natural yogurt to his legs before bedtime.  This is very cooling and yogurt helps with external as well as deeper bruising and draws out any inflammation.

He would be better off seeing a phsiotherapist who may know what is causing his problem.

I suffer with pain in both my legs and this is referred pain from the spine and sciatic nerve.