This is one of the few, if not the only non-neurological lyme symptom for me(or maybe it is neurological too?). Basically after walking a few blocks I start feeling some tightness and a little soreness in the calves. If I go for a small hike this is a lot worse, soreness, muscle pain. It's the same type of pain as if you went running or to the gym after not doing it for a long time and then you're sore the next morning. Except, this happens during walking/running. I also wake up with a feeling of tightness every day no matter what.
Anyone have this, any ideas?
Maybe it's the abx? (doxy/azythomycin)
Posted by LuLuFlorida (Member # 12066) on :
I also experience calf pain from walking short distances. This also occurs when I stand for long periods of time. My LLMD said that is was part of peripheral neuropathy and I was experiencing nerve pain. he perscribed me an anti seizure medication which helps.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
chamade, same for me WHEN i was walking normally; haven't walked well in last 2-3 years. been hobbling along with my cane for last year, and then walker/cane after my 3-26 hip replacement surgery.
have you ever been checked for restless leg syndrome? Posted by beachcomber (Member # 5320) on :
Yes, I have terrific calve soreness and tightness, especially after exercise and massage. The only thing I have found that works is good quality mineral electrolytes, especially magnesium.
I am so happy to hear that you are walking and hiking. Exercise is a good thing, despite the cramping pain. It comes and goes for me now - used to be constant.
If you can tolerate them, Epsom Salts baths also help. Again, it is the magnesium in those that seem to help me.
Bc
Posted by 6t5frlane (Member # 8628) on :
Put me down for calf ache. Also tons of calf muscle twitching...
Posted by SouthernCO (Member # 11167) on :
chamade: For me, calf spasm is certainly a neurological symptom. In the hospital the past few days, the blood pressure cuff on the calf was a very painful experience (although the spasm is not as painful without that added pressure).
The calf spasms first appeared just after the initial and undiagnosed/untreated Lyme infection in 1992. A few months later, it became very obvious a during a treadmill stress test performed by my dr. when I was forced to stop the test only because the calf spasms made it impossible to continue; i.e., I had recovered to almost 100% except for the bilateral calf spasms and the recurring monthly Lyme infection.
Two years later, when chronic Lyme set in, the symptoms became much worse and permanent. A stress test would have killed me on the treadmill.
In my case, I was able to figure out that the bacteria had attacked the cns around an injury at disk L5-S1. The irritated nerves L5 and S1 exit the spine and join the other related nerves to form the Peroneal nerve which splits close to the outside of the knees into the deep and superficial peroneal nerves. Virtually all of my leg symptoms (e.g., weakness, numbness, pain, and spasms) occur bilaterally at and below the knees between the deep and superficial peroneal nerves.
The affected nerves are attached to the Sciatic nerve traveling down the legs to the knees. In my case, I don't have the typical sciatic symptoms below the spine and above the knees except for severe low back pain.
If a medical illiterate like myself can figure this out and explain what happened, why can't the millionaires driving the Mercedes calling themselves professional drs perform this service? Are they that dumb or simply malicious? Since they take the Hippocratic Oath, I must assume that they are just stupid.
Posted by buckfever (Member # 9876) on :
Yup !!! Calf pain,shin splints,Thighs,glutes,etc.When symptoms of muscle pain are severe it's basically any muscle I use will burn like its been overworked for hrs instead of minutes !Hang in there !
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
This could be a cardiac symptom. My father had cramping in his legs due to decreased blood flow.
I would check with a cardiologist to be sure it isn't serious.
Feel better
Posted by dguy (Member # 8979) on :
I get the same leg symptoms too, and believe it related to lyme mucking the way our bodies handle oxygen. Marnie did a good write up several momths ago.
I'll get burning leg muscles from climbing one set of stairs. Taking T3 (cytomel) thyroid hormone quickly reduces this symptom. Many docs feel T3 supplementation is unnecessary (and therefore it may be tough for you to try it), but then again those same docs cannot explain why it works for me.
My thought is lyme is interfering with our bodies' otherwise normal conversion of T4 thyroid hormone to T3, but that's just a guess.
Posted by Soleilpie (Member # 8481) on :
Eating a banana or something with a good amount of potassium would probably alleviate some of the tightness/cramping.
Posted by ThursdayNext (Member # 12198) on :
chamade - i noticed we have a lot of the same symptoms.
has your calf soreness improved? I recently developed this in both calves & sometimes it's a dull pain (rather than just soreness). I feel it behind my knees sometimes & thighs.
I'm wondering if it has to do with Azithromycin (i'm on that & Doxy...just like you). It started about 1 week and half into Azith.
very strange
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
Sore calves can also indicate a cardiac problem.
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
The soreness has gone away after I quit azithro. Now I am on doxy and levaquin and I am stuck with the usual burning in my legs. Also had pin prick sensations in my arms show up for a few days which I haven't had in months - stupid disease!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
A mineral supplement may also help. I take one by Solaray that also contains potassium. When I walk, I make sure I do stretches.
Posted by ThursdayNext (Member # 12198) on :
I'm thinking my calf / leg aches may be related to Azithromycin, (maybe in the same way Levaquin causes tendon issues??)
I have 2 more pills left, and I'm wondering if i should take them or not.
Chamade, after stopping Azith, how long until your calves felt better?
thanks! morgan
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
This was one of my very first Lyme symptoms (though I didn't know what it was then), though with two years of treatment, it almost never happens.
Posted by Patrick (Member # 8108) on :
I don't get the pain in the calves so much as I do in my feet. After walking or doing anything strenuous my feet cramp up and hurt so bad it almost brings tears to my eyes. I'm treating for Bart now to see if it'll help. I sure hope so.
Anyone else get foot pain like this?
Posted by sharonp (Member # 13140) on :
I have also been getting this horrible feeling in my knees and all the way down into the calves, I didn't sleep at all last night and now the pain is coming back. Must have been up and down 100 times last night can't sleep because of it. Dr. has me on Ceftin and Doxy and prescribed Anaprox for pain, have Babs, Erlichia,and Lymes. I guess we have to hang in there but I feel like I'm losing it.
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