Painful calves and feet

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi all just some random info regarding zizzy, itchy, heavy, painful calves and feet.  I was diagnosed as having calf muscle pump dysfunction. Not sure this is correct, but will be having the venous system ultra sound tests.

I also will have neurological testing to rule out peripheral neuropathy.

   In the meantime I’ve gone back down from 30-13 mg Pred successfully, in a few weeks and now will go slowly.  THE GOOD NEWS:  I have done the google recommended calf exercises many times a day, and occasionally wear the Doctor Prescribed Support Hose... and my calf and foot symptoms are 75% reduced.  I feel each of my specialists and PCP had something to offer and I’m pulling the recommendations together to make a workable plan.  But the calf exercises were the least intrusive and have worked... It could be random timing though, hard to know. 

2

Also.  I keep my legs raised when sitting or relaxing as much as possible!

3

Great - long may it continue!!!!

4

Good luck Bethune, nice and easy does it, just a little bit more each day. God sometimes it can be very frustrating and you think will I ever get well again. Last year at this time 1/2 mile walk was a challenge, this morning I am joining mates for a 25 mile bicycle ride. It's hard to see up when you are down, but believe you can do it, keep up the good work and think positive with a smile. Smiling ☺️

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Co gratulations!  Have fun!  And thanks!

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Nothing constructive to add..Bethune..but just wanted to say how very nice to read some happy news! Isn’t it lovely..Wishing you  the very best 😊

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Thanks!  And hope it will encourage others to ask for and get the proper tests that might help clarify the picture and also To collect their own information and try the small practical things that might also help.

8

Bethune,

   I also have very painful feet and lower legs sometimes.  It seems to last for about ten minutes, then subsides.   Also, when I go walking, there are days when it feels like my legs are made of concrete.  I have been tested for peripheral neuropathy and have also had ultrasound of my veins, which was normal.   The doc said it was not a circulatory problem.  The pain in my feet and lower legs is exactly what I felt before I was diagnosed with GCA and had this same type of pain in my thighs - a real burning pain which makes one want to jump out of their skin.      I feel like this pain is definitely related to the GCA.   I am down to about 8 mg of Prednisone, but having problems reducing at the moment.   I am also extremely fatigued, which I guess is due to the Prednisone reduction.    Hard to function most of the time because of the fatigue.  

    I hope you find out where your pain is coming from.

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On the off chance:  google exercises for calf muscle pump dysfunction and see if those calf exercises help at all.  They are quite easy and non-taxing to do.  Seemed to help me. I do bits and pieces of the routines several times a day.

Glad your tests were negative!

Sounds like you think it is part of your PMR symptoms.  

My calf pain feels different than my PMR  THIGH/groin/buttock pain. 

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Thanks Bethune, had a good ride on ome long 5 mile hill climb let me know how much I need to ride myself back into shape. But that is okay, just think about this time last year I could not walk. It is so important to try to do just a little more each day and NOT OVER DO IT! Just like to hill nice and easy does it! Good luck, stay positive, active and try to smile. ☺️

11

"have also had ultrasound of my veins" - was it the veins for venous incompetency (varicose veins) or the arteries? If you didn't have arteries done - the doc can't say it isn't circulatory. 

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Thanks!  I’ll ask them to do both!