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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> chronic leg aches
        
(Message started by: cootie on Aug 4^th, 2007, 12:46am)

Title: chronic leg aches
Post by cootie on Aug 4^th, 2007, 12:46am

Does anyone suffer from chronic leg aches ? I have had them since BIRTH that I can remember.....real bad too and they have gotten worse after slowin down sum the past several years. Now I got them chronic....from hips to toes. What works......I sure could use sum advice cuz the docs have never figured it our (or tried very hard) and sum days they are so bad I about flip out cuz my knees also ache. It's overwhelming....I remember as a kid rolling around on the floor freaking out hysterically in pain so I think it's sum sort of neurlogiacal thing ? I have aches in my shoulders, elbows and arms too now. Doc had me try a muscle relaxer along with my other routine of stuff.....is there any of them better then the others ? Shit he scripted me today was close to 300 BUCKS.....with ins it was 121 bucks so I got HALF a script. That is NUTS....I bout fainted !!! Still got the back and neck issues on top of it all. Restless leg meds are aweful from what I hear so NO WAY to that....I don't want to feel dopey all day and lathargic !!! The leg aches don't get better with sitting or laying down......nothing works. Hope ya's don't mind me askin....I know it's not a ch question. Pain makes keepin busy a job Pam

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by Maffumatt on Aug 4^th, 2007, 12:50am

I have arthritus in my knees, does that count? Blue emu ointment works for me.

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by Mosaicwench on Aug 4^th, 2007, 12:57am

Some people like 'em and some don't, but have you tried a chiropractor?

If the chiro says he/she can cure anything, run the other way. If they think they can get you some relief, it might be worth a try.

Just like any profession, there are good ones and there are quacks. Ask friends for referrals and ask what they like about their chiro.

I've been seeing mine off and on for 12 years. I have structural migraines and she puts me back to rights every time.

Best of luck to you.

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by cootie on Aug 4^th, 2007, 1:08am

Nope never did try an chiro.....I'm afraid one mite break me.......I sound like a walking bowl of rice crispies.......with sum lumps on my spine here and there I'd be afraid to let sumone SNAP me like a bean. But I have heard they do alot of people sum good tho.....esp if ya just need lined up. I need an overhaul Pam

The leg aches used to come with weather changes....they still do but they just simply get worse now but now I have those aches in other areas. Have heard forms of arhtritis cause that too. Last nite ALL my muscles tighten'd up.....miserable cuz ya can't relax or even make yourself relax with that. Probly nerve damage crap. Was I dropped 20 stories onto my feet when born Pam

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by sldrswyfe on Aug 4^th, 2007, 3:22am

Pam,

I know that terrible feeling in the legs...probably not to the extent you speak of...but when you cant sit down, or lay down...and standing up feels the best...but that's not great...and you're so damned exhausted.

Are you sure the restless leg meds wont' work for you? I know they sound bad...but every body is different...and meds affect everyone differently. I found out morphine doesn't agree with me this past weekend in the ER...it actually makes me restless and anxious...on top of suffocating me. So, seriously, who knows?

There has to be something to give you some relief!! It's not humane for you to be walking around like this twenty four hrs a day, seven days a week. I wish you the best and pray for you to be led to the right place.

Sincerely, Sherri

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by 1234 on Aug 4^th, 2007, 3:47am

You might want to see an Osteopathic physician-they are full MDs who also are trained osteopaths, i.e., similar to chiropracters.

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by zapparulz on Aug 4^th, 2007, 8:14am

on 08/04/07 at 00:46:48, cootie wrote:

well not knowing what it is makes it tough-i have constant pain in various parts of my body ,due to injuries playing sports and not going to the doctor-

i personally have a real problem with doctors prescribing meds for everything- especially when they dont know what the problem is or the fact that it wont cure anything-

if it's arthritus,there are natural things you can try-
not sure what works and what doesn't,but through trial and error you might just find something-

i also have been told to do stretching and yoga -
very carefully......

mineral ice helps with the pain,but obviously is no cure-
sounds like you need a hot tub-

i am working on getting one myself-

and i might get killed for saying this but i will anyway-

marijuana is really good for dealing with alot of chronic pain- it is used for people with ms and many other type of pain-

the fact that prescription meds all have side effects,doesn't stop most people from using them-but because weed is illegal- it stops many people from getting the benifits it can give-

in some states it is legal and hopefully will be legal one day(but i doubt it)

people use alcohol all the time and it is clearly more lethal-

i have arthritis in my back,right wrist,6 fingers and left shoulder- also have broken both pinkies,and thumb-- my right ankle barely works-i have turf toe in both my big toes-bulging disc in my back causes a sciatic nerve problem-

i know we do not advocate drug use- and i am not-

but i am saying this- i take no medication at all except for tylenol arthritus,maybe twice a week-i could be on many pain meds- there is no doubt i qualify- my pain is real and constant-

i do smoke weed- and didn't start smoking it for my pain-

but i have to wonder,if it is the reason i can tolerate all the pain i have----i am not complaining- just kind of putting 2 and 2 together and realizing that maybe the side effects of smoking weed arent any worse than the multitude of side effects that precription meds cause-

just something to think about-

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by BarbaraD on Aug 4^th, 2007, 8:54am

You might try some Calicum with vitamin D (Wal-mart - I think the dose is 1200 C and 800 D on the bottle). It's helped me some (I'm about off the celbrex for arthritis since someone told me about it -- and it's a whole lot cheaper than celebrex).

Also when the pain gets really bad try some Valerian Root (vitamin counter again). It's a herbal thing - smells like dirty gym socks, but works really well. Just take a breath before you open the bottle and don't let it out till after you take the caps (take 2) and get everything closed up (it really does smell bad). Then wash your hands REAL good before you touch anything - I promise this stuff smells really bad.

Other than that I don't know what to tell you. I have two bad knees and my legs hurt like hell when the weather changes. Think we should have took better care of ourselves when we was younger. ;;D

Hugs BD

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by deltadarlin on Aug 4^th, 2007, 9:58am

Have they checked your potassium levels? Low potassium is one of the causes of muscle spasms.

I know you've got a lot of injuries, but have you tried yoga? When my back decides that it doesn't like to move correctly any more, I do some yoga stretches that seem to help.

'darlin

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by cootie on Aug 4^th, 2007, 1:09pm

'Thank you all for all the good and interesting info".....much appreciated and most of all 'thanks for careing' ! I do have alot of injuries and when raceing horses I beat myself up bad and just think that 'maybe' I am one of those people that's damaged nerves can not heal correctly ? Not sure what the leg aches is saying about it all....cuz it is the first thing I remember as a little kid. I would freak and cry and go into hysterics at times the pain was so bad as if my foot or leg would explode. Parents of course called it 'growing pains' and when I went to a foot doctor in high school he didn't have much to say as far as figureing it out. Bein weather effects it worse you'd suspect sum form or arthritis goin on I'd think ? But this year they ramped up to umbearable from inside groin/hip area to my feet and similar aches in shoulders (also damaged and an arm practically ripped off from a horse).....my doctor doesn't seem to have alot of answers so I spend alot of time tryin to research for myself. Slow dialup has made that hard at times so I give up for a while. I am on meds tho.....I can't tolerate it anymore. I do wear the durgesic patch I think possibly needs to be 'upp'd' strentgh wise which I hate to even think of doin. I have breakthru pain meds but ya gotta be careful with that also I know. But non of that stuff really helps much when it gets really flared.....kinda like how nothing works on sciatic which I have all the time in both hips alot of times. So it must be some sort of RAW NERVE issue.....ya think ??? Most people lay down when they get to hurtin or alot of spasms and rest or sleep....I get tight as a drum head to toe. I have done alot of 'evil kanevil stunts' all my life falling and raceing horses and ridein motorcyles (used to sit on a small pad on a hardtail fender for years too) and alot of thrills and spills probly just add to it for screw'd up nerves or nerve endings conditions. But I got alot of fond memories Pam

I have friends that smoke pot for all sorts of reasons.....glucoma and stuff. I'd be afraid to have to keep buyin it and get busted.....that goes on alot around here and they used to have helicopters fly over with the special lenses to detect it growing. My neighbor got busted twice that way !!!! We used to smoke years ago but Brad is afraid they may start drug testing at work cuz of sum of the workers screwin up from time to time. He's part owner so that wouldn't look too good.....got a friend that took others out for a nite and doesn't smoke but failed a drug test Monday morning at work cuz of bein in the same vehicle. He lost his job cuz of it !!! They say that can easily happen......I've never really seen a WILD RAMPID out of control pot head myself so I don't think it's a bad thing at all !!!!! Keep on truckin Pam

PS: I've had bloodwork done and levels on stuff is ok......also seen an orthapedic doc for several months when I broke my foot (again) a few years ago and talked about the leg aches issues. He didn't have many answers and said the meds route I was on was his choice of how I was dealin with it all. My foot still hurts like hell and broke it again last year and it hurts like hell still also......so must be sum sort of WIERD NERVE issue ya think ? So I just wonder'd if anyone else had this wierd allfiction and what they did for it. SORRY for the long post...............been a while ech ?

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by luveemom on Aug 4^th, 2007, 1:42pm

I am a Licensed Massage Therapist, have you ever tried Massage therapy? It is beneficial for many musculoskeletal conditions. It may be worth a try. It certainly couldn't hurt. I haven't worked with someone with your specific complaints, so I cannot confirm, but I have helped many people with other conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, and other chronic conditions...hope this helps...just a thought.

best wishes
alicia

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by zapparulz on Aug 4^th, 2007, 3:21pm

on 08/04/07 at 13:09:26, cootie wrote:

i understand the concern with doing something that is illegal-

the problem is the government is backwards in many ways-------we need to move into the future- and natural things are better than things made in a laboratory-

but as we all know money talks- and thats the only thing the government cares about-

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by Brewcrew on Aug 4^th, 2007, 3:21pm

Pam - Maybe it's this (from Wikipedia):

Fibromyalgia (FM or FMS) is a chronic syndrome (constellation of signs and symptoms) characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms. It is not contagious, and recent studies suggest that people with fibromyalgia may be genetically predisposed.[1] It affects more females than males, with a ratio of 9:1 by ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria.[2] Fibromyalgia is seen in 3% to 6% of the general population, and is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50, though onset can occur in childhood. The disease is not life-threatening, though the degree of symptoms may vary greatly from day to day with periods of flares (severe worsening of symptoms) or remission. The syndrome is generally perceived as non-progressive, yet that issue is still debated.[3]

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by Mosaicwench on Aug 4^th, 2007, 6:51pm

Not all Chiros "snap like a bean."

There are many different techniques they can use depending on need. Just stay away from "network chiropractors" - they seem to be the true charlatans of the profession.

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by 1stdonna on Aug 4^th, 2007, 7:32pm

Pam....you really need an MRI as there are many structural problems that have your symptoms, such as:

spinal stenosis
bulging discs pinching sciatica nerves
transverse processes

and more.

I had many Xrays, but it took an MRI to finally diagnose my problem.

You can insist on an MRI and I hope you do.

I don't think Osteopaths are MD's....but I might be wrong.

Keep pushing, Pam.

Love ya,
Donna

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by Charlie on Aug 4^th, 2007, 9:25pm

All I know is that when I walk a lot....miles or so a day, my legs feel better.

My hope is that you don't try restless legs medications. It's time for the drug companies to knock off all the "are you sure you aren't sick?" shit durnig the tv news. God knows what this and the scores of other silly crap they they hawk do to you on the side.

Good luck kid.

Charlie

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by puppylove41 on Aug 4^th, 2007, 9:44pm

If you have an MRI ask to have on standing and one laying down. I have a friend who need surgery on his knees but the laying down MRI found nothing the other on found what was wrong. He kept telling his doctor how bad his knees hurt, and after awhile they found what it was and fixed it. Good Luck, I also have trouble with my legs I take excedin PM it helps and I can go to sleep.

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by sldrswyfe on Aug 5^th, 2007, 11:36am

Charlie,

I certainly see your point...as it seems we are land-slided with meds for EVERY damn thing under the sun...and the commercials sometimes "put a bug in your ear"...I suppose that's the point.

But, not all meds are bad. I had an aunt who refused to take high blood pressure meds, based on that type of thinking. She had a massive stroke, and spent two decades in a hospital bed in the living room and lost all control of her body...speech, movement...everything.

I agree with trying the "natural" approach first...and common sense...excercise, proper diet, adequate rest and drinking plenty of water...and chiropractic can't hurt.

Whatever you end up doing Pam, I hope you get relief.

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by Opus on Aug 6^th, 2007, 9:14pm

Pam I started suffering from chronic pain. It was always someplace diffrent everyday. It turned out to be sleep apnea, causing bone and joint pain. Treatment with a CPAP and the increased pain tolerance from CH has made the problem barable.

Paul

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by Charlie on Aug 6^th, 2007, 10:31pm

on 08/05/07 at 11:36:42, sldrswyfe wrote:

I take anti-coagulants, some kind of heartbeat regulator, and other crap since my TIA or "incident" last year. One MD tells me that they probably aren't necessary but that it can't hurt. This actually makes sense. I stopped taking one drug...and the MD knows it....because I got tired of seeing double.

The thing with restless leg syndrome drugs and the like is that the drug companies hawk this crap by the "talk to your doctor" ploy. Doctors hate this crap. It makes some people, even my retired nurse relatives, too eager to look for pills for everything. Of course I love the possible side-effects of the restless leg drug. "Be sure to tell your doctor if you fall asleep doing ordinary things and that it may make you fall asleep while driving, interfere with vision...and....I kid you not; tell him if taking this drug makes you want to gamble!

I have no problem with drugs so long as you use some common sense and pay attention to a doctor or two.

Charlie

Title: Re: chronic leg aches
Post by cootie on Aug 6^th, 2007, 11:14pm

Yeah Fibro I think is probly it cuz my last doc (he left the clinic for a hospital job) said he did not beleive in Fibro so he called it chronic muscle fatigue.....'whatever'.....still spells ou the same dam disease. I have had MRI's and do have that stenoseous stuff blah blah blah mostly from horse wrecks and serious injuries but didn't have any of that as a KID. So no one can explain the severe leg aches (as if you have your legs tied off at the hip and goin to explode or die and fall off)...I have issues with feelin good and workin my butt off then crashin every couple of weeks syndrone so Fibro meets that discription but so many docs DON'T like that word. And it's been my choice NOT to pursue the big bucks clinics that put you thru the gaunlet cuz I have friends that have different issues like arthritis and similar back injuries that are dishin out the BUCKS but gettin the same meds and treatments. Did that make sense ? Most have SUPER good ins so am sure there docs are 'sendin them thru the paces'......I have a very high deductable but it is good ins. I just don't want caught up in all that.I really like the doc I have now too (he's actually an internalist that specializes in geriatrics which alarm'd me at first but I got to choose docs when mine left and he was highly recommended and seems to be very sympathtic too which I like). It rained yesturday and my legs both started in so bad I didn't know what to do and about flipped out......is fibro pain effected by weather ?? My legs will ache so bad I have barely been able to handle it then POOF they let up for a few days or a week then WHAM ! Strange that they are the FIRST THING I remember about bein born or alive......ya know ? My doc said that restless leg med will make you a piece of shit it's so bad......I read that one of the new meds on the market cause......get this.......compulsive gambling and sum sort of over sexuality issues !!! I read it on a brochure at the docs office the other day in the waiting room !!!!! I will NOT take all that new stuff jus cuz it says it was created for sleep issues or leg pain issues or 'whatever' issues....I was on zelnorm for a couple of years till I found out it was taken OFF the market recently cuz of potential for causeing strokes ect ect !!! I didn't take it DAILY but took it often for IBS.....I didn't know it was banned till a friend told me not long ago. So alot of this new stuff is too new to know LONG TERM effects which could be worse then the cause.....that is scarey !!!!! THANKS so much for all your input guys.......it's so nice to have friends Pam

Is there anything NEW in the fibro world treatment wise.....I was lucky to get on here cuz my dialup is really pissin me off so I haven't been doin much research lately. And I keep forgettin to ask my new doc what he thinks about fibro issues....I get white coat syndrone and BLANK out which is what I did last week AGAIN !!!! But it has to be on my chart (course now it's a laptop) what all my last doc and me discussed I'd hope amd discussin that.

PS: while I am bein long winded again.....I found out that watching my diet more closely 'helped' with the IBS issues verses meds.......why docs don't sugest that verses pumpin out the scripts for stuff salesmen TELL THEM WORKS I'll never know. Like maybe eatin less bread or bulky stuff or eating TOO MUCH each meal to cause a big JAM in the system all at once. And maybe keepin an eye on weight mite help sum too.....sumthin like that.