Burning Calves and Leg Pain

[Ellesbells12]

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all keeping well!

Sadly, I’m having a rough time with my symptoms again and starting to worry about a few things so just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced the same!

I walk a fair bit here and there (nothing far and amazing). A couple of weeks ago, I managed to walk around London for a few days with little issues, and a week after that managed to take a three mile walk with friends, was fairly hilly in places and did suffer with my calves burning (but I know that can happen when you don’t walk too often and it’s just your muscles working).

However the last few days, doing a short ten min walk that I do regularly (on a slight hill), I noticed both my calves really burning, by the time I got to where I was going I was almost unable to stand!

I keep getting throbbing, brief cramp like pains and pins and needles I in my legs, feel and occasionally my thighs too....

I just wondered if anyone has had anything similar?

Thanks in advance

[auntieb]

Oh yes, as I am sat here right now I am having shooting pains up my legs, especially my right leg, (I have an ulcer on that leg). Burning, sharp, shooting pains, like electric shocks. It's horrid. I take Gabapentin for it, 9 a day, sometimes they work, other times, like now, I just want to hack my leg off below the knee! This pain only started after I got the ulcer. But, 2 years ago I ended up with a blood clot in my left calf. No pain, no prior symptoms, apart from my feeling that my B12 was very low. Tests said not, but I knew it was, I couldn't stay awake, kept dropping things, very clumsy, unable to concentrate on anything, couldn't care less attitude to life, myself, my health!

I know NOW that these are all symptoms of Pernicious Anemia, but back then, I always thought I was going slightly mad, especially since the doctor always came up with reasonable explanations for whatever ailed me. NONE of which related to my PA.

BTW, heartburn nd tummy issues are also symptoms, so be very careful using any type of PPI, Proton Pump Inhibitors - Pepto Bismol, Rennies, Gaviscon, etc, as well as prescribed ones such as Lansoprazole, and any of the 'prazole' meds. Some of these can damage your gut more since you are taking them for a symptom rather than a condition. Get your B12 and Folate levels to a stage that you feel healthy at, then if you are still getting those symptoms, see your doc about them.

Look after your feet and legs, if that means seeing a Podiatrist at your own expense, it's well worth it. Just be sure to tell them bout your pins and needles and that they are symptoms of PA, they're better equipped to see the early signs of ulcers and other nasty problems.

I had been getting pins & needles for years without ever knowing what was causing them.

[Nackapan]

Also good to get a doppler scan of your calves. My daughter had very similar symptoms with very low ferritin . Also breathless.

Do see tour doctor and get checked out.

Does it happen when a b12 I jection due? Another thought

[jacrjacr]

you can also get these symptoms from low potassium, it can also cause stomach pain from slow digestion , fatigue, and can even trigger fast heart rate and dizziness....if not addressed...a simple electrolyte test can see if that is the cause and can be from diarrhea, or losing too much liquid, or poor diet low in potassium or dieting, or excessive sweating

[deniseinmilden]

Both potassium and magnesium deficiencies come to mind.

Well worth getting checked (blood tested) for both and then making sure that you are getting plenty from your diet - Google them to see what good sources you will like. If that isn't enough to sort the problem then it is possible to supplement too.

You may well benefit from a broad spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement too.

[Hidden]

Make sure you’re drinking enough fluids. I’ve also found magnesium spray, sprayed onto my feet and calves and massaged in, helps.

[Ellesbells12]

Thank you all! Seemed to struggle again today when walking around town, more so up hill! My calves just seem to go really tight in both legs and throb and cramp it’s not very nice I am due an injection so maybe that’s why