Exercising stiffness

[Jojo1980]

Does anyone else's calves go rock hard and stiff when you run. I can only manage about three/ four mins jogging before I have to stop in agony. Just been diagnosed but had this problem for years and told my doctor about it years ago

 

[Pasha]

Google 'Claudication', could have something to do with it.

 

[catherinecherub]

Your doctor could rule out intermittent claudication by checking your pulse and blood pressure in your legs/feet.

http://www.circulationfoundation.or...l-arterial-disease/intermittent-claudication/

There is a risk checker on the above site.

 

[Ruth B]

That lot sounds frighteningly familier. I have suffered with calf pain sometimes at the back of the calves other times at the sides instead, for as long as I can remember. Walking sometimes triggers it, but cycling doesn't seem to bring it on. The muscles seem to go really hard and painful and it seems like they don't want to flex the way they should. Normally if I can rest for a few minutes it goes a way and often I can then walk for miles and not have any further problem other times it returns after I have walked another quarter of a mile or so, at least I know now that resting when it happens is better than just trying to hobble through it. I don't smoke and I am already on statins, having lost the weight last year does seem to have helped a bit, and I have noticed that the more walking I do the less it effects me which is backed up by what is said in the links. Looks like regular exercise is something I am going to have to try and fit in more, at least now the evening are getting lighter I can try and get out after work as well as at weekend.

 

[Pasha]

There is one significant difference between walking and cycling. With walking you need to support your body weight whilst with cycling this is not so.
If you can walk quite long distances without pain and without interruption this is a very good sign. In any event you need some good specialist medical advice to sort things out.

 

[lauxim]

Hello, I am new to the forum but wanted to share my experience hoping that it'll help someone else. I have had type 1 diabetes for 21 years (I am now 30 yrs old). I have been lucky enough to not have any complications from diabetes except for high blood pressure. Two years ago I started to feel lower calf pain to the point that I could not walk and had to sit down to take a break. This happened after I came back from vacation where I did a lot of hiking, swimming and other physical activities. After a while it went away on its own. However this year around February the pain came back, I could barely walk around at work (I work at a school) and I dreaded even the thought of going to the grocery store. It would help whenever I leaned on the shopping cart or sat down for a minute or two but right when I started walking again the pain would come back.
I read a lot of online articles and forums and someone recommended Alpha-lipoic acid (300mg). I started taking one capsule once a day along with my blood pressure and thyroid medicine and the pain went away within about 2 weeks.
If I can give any advice it would be to take the blood pressure medicine religiously (which I was not doing) along with the alpha-lipoic acid. I take the Doctor's Best brand so that's the only one I have experience with.
Hope this helps someone. I know how horrible it feels to think that you will not be able to do your daily routine, plan fun activities or even minor things like walking to the store.

 

[Suercc]

Could this be shin splinting?
The NHS couch to 5 K website is full of useful advice as is their forum

 

[Brunneria]

Another possibility is cramping.

I used to get it in my outer calves. The correct level of arch support inside my trainers and walking boots, and the cramping was a thing of the past. Had to work that out for myself. The doc was totally disinterested, and basically implied that as a fat slob, all problems would magically disappear if I lost weight. He must have missed my comment that the problem was worst when using the incline on the gym treadmill.

Also, supplementing with potassium, magnesium and making sure my Low Carb diet has enough salt in it has made all my muscles feel better, and I no longer get night cramps.

So really, it might be worth trying different things and experimenting, until you work out what is best for you.