Leg pain at night and when propped up

[rottencatz]

I am not sure that this is RLS, so I apologize if this post is in the wrong area.  

Almost immediately when I goto bed or sit in a chair and prop my legs up on an ottoman, my legs BELOW the knees being to ache really bad. My toes crack constantly and that in itself is annoying.  At night, I have a pillow propped between my knees to help me with my back alignment.

I wake up several times at night because my calves and shins feel like they've been run over by a asphalt roller. I try to stretch my legs, but the pain continues.  I notice it is worse if I am sleeping on my stomach when my feet are pointed towards the bottom of the bed.  When I get out of bed and stand up, the pain goes away in a matter of minutes.

My legs do not move or jerk by themselves or anything like that for me to think that it is RLS.  This happens when my body is horizontal.  I wear socks to bed, because my feet are always so cold. I know I have poor circulation.

Any ideas?

[rottencatz]

No, havent found anything out yet.  my calves feel like I walked 10 miles.  It especially hurts when my feet are arched towards the bottom of the bed, like the weight of the blankets are contributing to the problem. Even when I try to stretch my toes towards my head, it doesnt help. I feel like my muscles are shortening.  I always sleep in a fetal position, but am finding myself trying to sleep more straightened out because it bothers me so much.  I just get so tired of going to the doctor and getting the run around.  I went for abdominal pain to the ER, they sent me home saying I had a kidney stone. WEll, the kidney stone was in my left kidney, no where near my stomach and I am still having the horrible pain. Why did they discharge me?  I am just sick of going to the doctor!

[sweetpurry]

I have this to! I know exactly how you feel. You try to rest and then you wake up due to the heavy feeling in your calves. This also happens during the day if I try to take a nap. Do you ever find yourself waking up and shaking? This happens to me most of the time. Have you found anything out? I'm really curious....

[KatEyes]

I am so sorry to hear about your son. A few years ago we lost an extended family member in a military accident, and that in combination with other things did a number on my sleep. His mother fared poorly sleepwise for quite some time. That was hard enough on me - can't imagine how it would feel to be a parent at a time like that. All that and dealing with health issues with poor sleep must be very trying.

It could be that your leg issues are contributing to your poor quality sleep. It wouldn't hurt to follow up on that in case some relief is available. If a sleep study is not something you want to pursue right now, having someone observe your legs while sleeping or taping yourself with a camcorder or webcam can sometimes be enlightening. I did that and was shocked at what I saw. My legs were quite active while I slept.

Sure hope you find some answers for your leg pain.

[rottencatz]

Yes, the urination is from interstitial cystitis. I've had that for many years and they do not know of a cure.  Dont have sleep apnea.  I am an extremely light sleeper and that doesnt help.  Been thru alot of trauma lately, lost my 15 year old son in an auto accident and that has made sleeping worse. Doc put me on a medication to knock me out at night and well, THAT doesnt work. I am still waking up several times a night to pee.  I have several medical problems, but none that would relate to the leg pain.  Thanks for your help.

[KatEyes]

Insomnia, leg pain as you describe, taking sleep meds - has it never been suggested to you to get a sleep study? Is your bladder problem in the daytime also? Just asking because nighttime urination can be a sign of sleep apnea (not to mention diabetes). Life without proper sleep is just so much harder in so many ways. Sure hope you can resolve yours.

Hope things go well in figuring out your belly pain.

[rottencatz]

It happens during the day also when I am sitting in a chair and my legs are up on an ottoman.  I dont sleep well as it is. I have been an insomniac for years. I have to take sleeping meds in order to sleep and then I still dont sleep. I Have a bladder disorder that causes me to wake up and have to get up and go constantly and I have all but trained myself to just get up and go and get back in bed.Many mornings I cannot recall how many times I got up because I am so tired in the morning.

The pain in my legs arent like leg cramps.  They feel tight and bruised although there are no obvious marks on my legs.

Thanks for the info. I guess I will have to talk to my doc about it.  Just one more thing to have to worry about. They think I have adhesions from having my appendix out last summer and I may have to go in for surgery for that. I've had horrible stomach pains that show nothing on a CAT scan. UGGH!

[KatEyes]

A sleep study looking for limb movements could see what is happening while you sleep to make your legs feel so bad upon waking. What you experience when awake may not be reflective of what happens when you sleep. But since you're asleep, you can't know that. Having back and circulation issues makes it a little more complicated, but RLS and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) can cause the symptoms you describe. Mine caused horrible lower leg pain, and the doctors tested me for a slew of other possible causes before finding the limb movements during sleep.