I'm trying to get some information about leg pain. We have had scans and have 2 oncologists. We asked our local oncologist why he may be getting ache/pain/discomfort (it varies) where someone would have a shin splint, muscle area. This is the most discomfort he's experiencing. He does have flat feet, though I'm not relating the two at this point. His calves have always been muscular, where he holds a lot of tension. This is not new as far as holding tension, over 30 years I've known him.
We want to investigate this further. Has anyone had any similar aches in the calf muscle along the sides.. The oncologist ruled out sciatica from mets. He does have sacrum mets and L4.
Thanks.. for any information.
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Bluebird11
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Interesting... I had something similar recently in my left leg. It lasted nearly a month, and pain would come and go (worse when standing/walking), extend into my ankle and force me to walk with a limp. I could not recall how it started or any specific incident or injury, but there was some swelling that made it seem as though I HAD done something.
Also bizarre was the fact that the swelling seemed to get slightly WORSE with time (over a few weeks) rather than better, as would be typical. I had no explanation for it and had never experienced anything quite like it.
It was more annoying than debilitating, and fortunately it eventually responded to my delusional age-old solution for all that ails me: wait, and do next to nothing until forced to do something more. (My present but temporary approach to asymptomatic 3+4=7 PC w/three spinal mets.)
After a few weeks, I did wonder: do I have a metastasis to the SHIN? Does such a thing even exist?
Thanks for responding and your humor.. I am in the same camp.. though I do try to research..
Our oncologist said the bone would hurt which it doesn't he said if mets.. he thought shin splits ..
My thought and see if any of this rings true for you. My husband also had very strong calves. Over the years he lost a lot of muscle.. probably bone thinning also...
We've been noticing his bones are stronger.. his calf muscles are getting larger, but I had an aha moment last night and thought.. his thigh muscles while they have improved.. he's gaining weight, maybe with the thighs not holding or being able to work as hard his knees and calves, shins are having to do the work, plus he has fallen arches...
we are making sure he has good shoe support..
I love your sense of humor.. we all need these smiles.. let me know if any of this might fit for you.. just a share.. nothing diagnostic.. for sure.. inquiring minds want to know..
Thanks for your response. They did an MRI of his legs prior to a hip replacement and found nothing in the bones of his legs. How would cancer in the nerves show up on what type of scan?
I suppose that if a ct scan sees cancer in the vertebrae near the sciatic nerve then one could presume that cancer is causing pain in the nerve that runs into the leg. I'm just inquiring. I don't know.
To start simple...and he may have ...keep the three S's in mind...and apply what might work...Surface, Shoes , Speed...Perhaps orthotics would also be of benefit...Have someone who understands gait look at him...we all seem to turn to cancer when our body breaks down and we do have other things coming off of the ole plane as we get older.....Blue Skies Sky King and Penny (woof)
Also make sure he is walking heel to toe . Many former sprinters, football players and speed athletes tend to push of on their toes and this will tighten the calf.....good luck
It sounds to me like early stage lymphedema, shin splints is the exact way I described my symptoms. Mainly on top of the foot where you lace up your shoes and along the inside of the leg from the foot to the groin. If swelling develops during the day from prolonged standing then I would definitely say lymphedema.
If he had lymph nodes removed or pelvic radiation then this would explain it.
Hopefully I'm wrong, rest up and see if this helps.
Let me get back to you... definitely not the top of his foot, not feet at all .. as far as water or swelling..
he never had pelvic radiation as in the pelvic bed. He did have spot radiation. Also, there are ways that 'could' mitigate lymph problems is if you help them along with skin brushing... and then get in the shower and get circulation with the shower ... foot massage is always good.. foot soaks... and not massaging along the sides or if so, lightly as in osteopath work...
I thought about lymphedema today.. though what we are doing is helping.. he has almost flat feet and when he was younger hiking was a problem.. thanks John...
Excellent question but I have a few if you please . Is it aching type pain ? Has he started any new activities such as a walking program ? Is it worse in the evening or morning ? Is it acutely sore when you touch the area of complaint ? Have you tried moist heat or ice packs on the area , and what are the effects ? Are the heels or soles of his shoes worn on the inside or outside ? Does whether he is sitting , bending , standing or walking make the pain better , worse , or no influence . Does raising up and down on his toes evoke symptoms ? Does he have cramping in his legs/calves ? You see shin splints or medial tibial stress syndrome is a mechanical type pain but L4 radicular complaints can mimick shin splint area/type complaints . Can also be caused by lateral ( outside knee problems or a joint between the small and large bone below the knee . I would recommend an orthopedic evaluation if symptoms persist or worsen . Best wishes for a resolution of symptoms .
Thank you.. with life so busy I hadn't seen this. I just posted another question about this in another way with more information. You bring a lot to consider so I greatly thank you for this. I will print it out and take it apart question by question and see if we can find what is going on.. also. an orthopedic person may very well help..
The other problem that I have is they will want to do another PET/CT and we don't want another until a certain period of time has passed. We are wanting an MRI full body ... though I have to investigate more and see if I can coax our doc into agreeing. So far he hasn't..
btw is isn't sciatica type but an ache type... shoes are an issue, and L4 is an issue... so I just look at L4 radicular as you say although he had L4 spot radiated and we refuse to radiate there again..
I looked at L4 radicular pain and it isn't burning nor sciatica type.. no numbness nor the symptoms he is expressing except for it is in both calf area.. enlarging calves.. sometimes getting hard. Also the tendons on the sides of his legs are extremely tight. I was a massage therapist so my hands are educated to feel after years of touching bodies.
I am lightly every so slightly loosening the side leg tendons..
Because of previous years of ADT he lost a lot of upper leg muscle.. plus he's 'always' had very tight calves.. thanks very much..
After further questioning I have some answer for your questions but FIRST:
After more looking through muscles etc.. the Tibialis anterior muscle where the most ache/pain is then up from that I can follow it to the outer knee and up to the tendons tight along the outer leg. We can't go near a doctor's office right now in the midst of this epidemic. I'm trying to get a fix on what it may be.
It is somewhat of a burning, It has stepped up in the last day. It's not shoes, walking does help some though he has to resort to meds.
Night were more difficult though today has not been easy.
Standing more difficult.
Not sore to touch.
No cramping.
I'm going to find a muscle photo and follow that muscle up to his hips.
I have a similar pain in nerves above my ankle and some other less severe areas. If you have mets on your spine it send like that works be the cause. In thinking that might be my problem. When i straighten legs and lab over to stretch, the painful never in my lower leg feels like it's being pulled and agitated.
George, I don't know of your progression. My husband's became rapid and I suspect something we were doing just lit it on fire. So, we are trying to work with the situation at this point.
My husband suffered with pain for a long time as a sciatica type coming from the lumbar area. When he was given a low dose Gabapentin recently, it changed everything. I'd say the dosing is integral since one doc gave him 300 ml/ 2 capsules 3 times a day. That would have been way too high. The dosage we are on is 300 at night and 3 times a day 100. This is a very decent low dosage that has wiggle room. This is just an FYI of what we've done. Good luck..
Getting the pain under control is making a great difference. Wishes for you to find relief...
So it's not caused by cancer on the nerves? Is it neuropathy? That's usually what gabapentin is for. Did they check for a pinched compressed nerve? What did the doctors do with regards to the lumbar problem did the X-ray and do any kind of physical therapy or acupuncture chiropractic or surgery on the lumbar region?
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