Why do my legs ache so much I only walk a short distance and I have to stop the pain is all down the back of my legs

[Rose1bud]

No other pain apart from that

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Where in the back of your legs? Calves or thighs as well? And does the pain go away when you stop walking but reappear when you walk again?

[Rose1bud in reply to PMRpro]

Yes all down the back of legs from my thighs to ankles I have to stop the pain is so bad I rest for a minute it goes but once I start walking it starts again

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rose1bud]

Please go to your doctor and ask for a referral for a vascular assessment. What you describe is typical of claudication pain and needs to be checked out. It may not be - but only tests can rule that out. The fact your foot goes numb may also be a clue.

[SheffieldJane]

You need to report this to your doctor Rose1bud, it sounds like a circulatory thing. Let us know what happens.

[Hidden]

I know just how you feel. Last Saturday I decided to walk down the hills to the Church Garden Fete - mistake. I was only half way when the backs of my knees and my knee, particularly my left one ached like mad and I had to really slow my pace down, but made it there It was a good job I had decided to catch the bus back up. Still ached on Sunday by OK since.

[Maisie1958]

Hi - I only had PMR but certainly I did have painful thighs after the prednisolone worked it’s magic on my shoulders and overall stiffness. I could only walk a few hundred yards without pain in upper legs -disappeared when I rested and much worse if I walked faster or tried to resume the running but then seemed to disappear almost overnight magically six months after diagnosis-possibly caudation? though didn’t give it a thought at the time? Been ok since! I know you are a year after diagnosis with GCA and maybe should seek medical advice? If it’s circulatory then best to get sorted, I didn’t know any better and was fine but if it happened again I would go to my GP. Hope it improves soon-it was miserable-tugging on my husband’s sleeve asking him to slow down yet again and trying to keep up with my friends being too proud to admit I hurt!

All good wishes x

[Maisie1958]

Sorry meant claudication but it won’t let me edit my spelling tonight x

[PMRnewbie2017]

I used to get the same problem. Calf tightness as if too much lactic acid build up in the muscle especially when walking up hill or too fast on the flat. It would go away if I stood still for a few minutes. My Rheumy thinks it was claudication but I always felt it was a side effect of meds. It was worse when the pred dose was above 12.5 mg and really a nuisance when my pred was increased to 30mg early on. Now I'm down to 9.5 it's gone completely. Incidentally I stopped Omeprazole very early on because it can also cause muscle pain amongst its many possible side effects. I prefer not to muddy the waters by taking too many drugs especially since PMR and GCA can throw up their own niggles.

[Rose1bud]

Thank u for your comments I only get pains when I walk as soon as I stop the pain is gone they are all down the back of legs also my foot goes numb I am also on Omeprazole perhaps I should spot taking it for a while to see if it makes any difference

[Telian in reply to Rose1bud]

I take Omeprazole but don't have any of the walking pains, if I stop taking it I get really bad stomach cramps so take it for what they gave it for, to enable me to take all the other meds! and it does that job well..hope you get some relief soon...

[Qubbie]

Keep moving my friend. I get in lock ups that are extremely painful but the more I move the better it gets. I'm sorry you're going through th his also