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Calf pain

D

Defren

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,106
I have dreadful calf pain when I walk, and no amount of pain killers help. I have seen my GP until I am blue in the face. I had a doppler, it came back normal. The pain starts when walking, when I am sitting there is nothing at all. My calf muscles turn to concrete and I could scream with the pain. This all started around 5 years ago, around the time I believe I actually became diabetic. I take Quinine for night time cramp, but nothing during the day.

Any ideas?
 
Hi Defren

It sounds a bit like Intermittent Claudication. Does the pain stop when you stand still and start a short time after you start to walk?
 
Would your GP be able to refer you to a specialist for further assessment? A Doppler can rule out certain things but like anything there are other tests you may need. I'm out of my depth as to which specialty this is, but could it be vascular medicine, rheumatology, neurology, or pain management, perhaps? Could it be a pinched nerve? Keep searching for answers - they are out there somewhere.
 
robert72 said:
Hi Defren

It sounds a bit like Intermittent Claudication. Does the pain stop when you stand still and start a short time after you start to walk?
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If I stop and sit down it goes almost straight away. I can rest for 5 seconds or five hours and it will come back as soon as I start to walk. I have bought a treadmill to see if walking a lot but in small amounts will help. I got a motorised one as that is easier than a manual one. It hurts like hell, but I will keep trying. What is intermittent Claudication?

[Edit to add] I have just read up on this, and it sounds exactly what I have. Thank you. I will speak with my GP now I have an idea of what is going on.
 
Intermittent Claudication is caused by narrowing of the arteries, so for instance your calf muscles are getting enough fuel whilst you're resting but not enough when you're walking, hence the pain. Maybe ask you GP if it could be this next time you see him. If he thinks it is, then he should refer you to a vascular clinic to get it checked out.
 
Jeannemum said:
I am sure you have Googled by now, but here is a little link for you Def x

http://www.gvg.org.uk/claudinf.html
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That's the exact article I read :lol: Thanks Jeanne.

Thanks Robert, yes, it seems this is the problem and what you suggest could be the answer. Funny the Doppler didn't pick it up as it said in the article it should have. Thanks for your help.
 

We are obviously Googling twins then :lol:
 
Hi Defren

This is something I had checked last year. They booked me in for an ultrasound from my belly and down both legs (that jelly stuff is weird )

The initial treatment is to take a 75mg aspirin and a statin and walk for about 30 minutes a day to try and increase the blood flow through surrounding routes. I can walk 3 times as far now as I could last year before it gets too painful so hopefully it will improve over time. Obviously taking control of diabetes is a big factor too.

Hope you get on OK.
 
There could be a number of reasons why the Doppler didn't pick it up. Unfortunately for those of us unable to always access quality and safe medical care, it pays to find out about any tests so we can assess whether our doctor did an adequate job.

For a test to be reliable and useful, the doctor must:
1. select the appropriate test
2. explain the benefits, risks and limitations
3. explain will happen next if the test is positive or negative (eg another type of test or treatment?)
4. ensure the people responsible for doing the test and reporting the results have the right skills and use them correctly
5. think about the results themselves (to double check the reporter)
6. when they give you the results, remind you of the limitations
7. order further tests if needed
8. give you a copy of the report, results or images
9. not get uppity when you ask them for a copy
10. keep an open mind about what other fact-finding may be needed to make a diagnosis
11. repeat the tests at appropriate intervals, eg annually, or if there are major changes or new additional diagnoses
12. refer the patient to a specialist in a different discipline, or for a second opinion when needed.

I don't know much about vascular disease or Doppler testing (have had it done once). A Doppler might be a screening test for Claudication that only picks it up in certain circumstances. Maybe GPs use it because it is relatively cheap and accessible. In medicine generally, screening is useful, but usually more substantial tests are needed for understanding more about the person's condition.

It would be like trying to treat someone's diabetes if all you ever did was one fasting BG test at the start. Screening tests should not be used for diagnosis or management.
 
Also be careful if you start taking aspirin - it's an NSAID so there is a risk of serious stomach bleeding in susceptible people. Ask about how this risk will be managed and monitored.
 

I have just this minute ordered the 75mg gastro resistant aspirin and I also ordered some vitamin E as they have been shown to help. I also have a treadmill. I ill let you know how I get on. Thank you so much.
 
CatLadyNZ said:
Also be careful if you start taking aspirin - it's an NSAID so there is a risk of serious stomach bleeding in susceptible people. Ask about how this risk will be managed and monitored.
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Yes I know, I made sure they were gastro resistant ones.
 

The manufacturer claims it's gastro resistant, but can you be sure it is? If avoiding the risk was that easy, all NSAIDs would be delivered that way. A coating on the tablet means nothing - our bodies are far more complex than that.

We have a significant chronic illness, diabetes, and so it's wise to seek medical advice before starting a new drug, even when it's available without a prescription. For example, it's legal to buy enough paracetamol at a supermarket that would kill you within 48 hours if you took it all at once.

Another thing to keep in mind is - do you want the baseline diagnostic testing to show the problem is less severe because you started treating it before testing?

By all means, take control of your own health - I'm the first to say doctors can't always be trusted (see my post about testing). Just a few things to keep in mind. Everything in moderation.
 
The treadmill sounds perfect. I understand they are quite large and heavy - I don't really have the space and I'm sure the noise would upset the neighbours below me. I'm making do with a fold-away exercise bike.
 
robert72 said:
The treadmill sounds perfect. I understand they are quite large and heavy - I don't really have the space and I'm sure the noise would upset the neighbours below me. I'm making do with a fold-away exercise bike.
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It's not noisy at all and folds up really small really. My exercise bike is a spiders home in the shed :lol:
 

I take Lansoprizole for my stomach, so I will be fine. Thanks for your concern though.
 
Good to hear you're on a proton pump inhibitor med, as that will protect your stomach a lot. I'm quite wary of NSAIDs after a friend had a bleed, and her GP had done nothing to advise about the risk, monitor it, or intervene when it was obvious what was wrong.

All the best with getting the calf pain diagnosed and successfully treated.
 
I had the exact same thing for about 2 years. Went for all the tests for claudication and they all came back negative. I found that some diabetic and blood pressure medication has cramps as a side effect. My gp changed some of my meds around and I lost some weight on the newcastle diet and now I have started running! No cramps!

Good luck
 
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