Painful/weak leg muscles

[Katybarstool]

I've had problems climbing stairs for a while now, and know many other people have too. However, this past couple of months it has got worse. It now takes at least three attempts to get up the stairs as my thigh muscles just burn and are so weak. If I continue, my calf muscles are affected too. If I rest a minute or two between attempts the burning subsides. It comes back again when I try to climb again. It also happens when I'm walking on an incline. My GP is organising a Doppler ultrasound.

Does anyone recognise these symptoms?

Kathyx

[AnaGamble]

The weakness I recognize, when I was young-er I used to climb stairs only stepping on every 2nd-3d step.
But if I try a stunt like that nowadays I end up getting my feet on the steps and then my thigh muscles going; "you're joking right?".
There is just nothing there at all to do the pushing movement with.
My calf muscles however burn massively if I walk downhill, they don't like that at all.
And I always thought downhill was supposed to be the easy walking. 

[rnathans]

Kathy, this is one of my biggest problems and has been for several years, caused by myopathy and neuropathy (large fiber I think), secondary to Sjogrens. In my case I am ow in monthly IVIG which has at least stopped the progression.

[Katybarstool]

Thanks for your input. I'm sorry to hear you both suffer with this too - but a little re-assurred that I'm not going mad.

Will let you know if I get any answers form the doctors.

Kathyx

[Skylar]

I used to have this. I planned my day so that I only went upstairs at the end of the day - more than that was just too much. I also had the same problem walking more than a few yards/meters- so I know what you're going through. My calves and thighs were affected. I realized that going up those stairs at least once a day did keep my muscles working - because not going up meant losing the ability to walk up curbs, getting into a car etc - in other words - part of basic mobility - and that thinking helped me stick to getting up those stairs. I also have stair rails on both sides of the stairs that I used to help pull myself up. I took breaks just like you did. You are not going mad/crazy - but if you're like you are going mad/angry.

I was on a pulse dose of cortisone for something else and I made a huge difference - I could walk upstairs and walk longer distances without pain/burning/weird things happening to my muscles while on cortisone but it all came back when I was off it - which was frustrating. I did have a Doppler ultrasound to rule out vascular problems - mine was clearly related to inflammation and autoimmune responses. It's good you're going to have that test because maybe you have claudication caused by atherosclerosis - if so then there are treatments for that. Do you have diabetes or heart disease - that puts you more at risk for claudication?

I changed my diet - I eat Dr. John McDougall's diet and it's all gone away - and thank goodness hasn't returned. I can run upstairs now - can't bound up multiple steps like I did as a kid, but hey I'm thrilled with what I can do now. I'm not sure why - in my case it was diet related - and I'm not sure if it's because I gave up dairy or animal products or just all the artificial processed ingredients or if it's just that I'm eating more nutrients and no junk food?  I now eat a starch based whole foods diet with some sugar (not a lot) with lots of spices and herbs for flavor.

I hope you find relief.

[Katybarstool]

Rnathans and Ana - Thank you for our thoughts. Skylar, thank you for such a detailed response.

You know, I'm partly wondering if my diet is contributing to this. I started a very low carb diet in mid-October, which seems to coincide with this deterioration in my muscles. The GP intially thought it was low Vit D, but my results came back at 57, which is apparently the low end of normal.

The only other thing I'm considering is that the increased dose of Candesarten for my blood pressure could be responsible. The GP thinks this is unlikely, but if the doppler doesn't show anything up, we will step the BP meds back to the previous level, although that didn't really do the job.

The good news is, the low carb diet has led to a loss of 10 lbs, in about 8 or 9 weeks, which I'm very pleased about. It also means my waist has shrunk by 4 inches, so that's obviously so much healthier.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughs.

Kathyx
 

[AnaGamble]

The good news is, the low carb diet has led to a loss of 10 lbs, in about 8 or 9 weeks, which I'm very pleased about. It also means my waist has shrunk by 4 inches, so that's obviously so much healthier.

Congratulations on the weightloss! =^_^=

[harlin]

Kathyx
I could have written this post. Steps are killing me. My husband just told me to stay off the steps today. My thighs burn also, not so much my calfs. The muscles in my back look like they have fallen too. My chiropractor says my muscles have atrophied. If I try to exercise I end up in pain somewhere. I don't know what is happening to us. I sure hope you find out something from your docs.

I will keep you in my prayers,
love harlin

[artsyamerican]

I have just started having this symptom - yet another one to had to the litany of aches and pains.  Yes - sometimes it feels like a knife is going through my thigh muscle.  It happens all the time when I am driving! Ugh.

[eyeamdry]

I have this also.  In fact, burning thighs and calves while climbing stairs were one of my first symptoms.  They never went away.  When I sit for awhile in the cae (could be 10 minutes, could be 60 min) when I stand to get out and get on my way, I have to stand for 3-5 minutes to "balance myself" or get enough strength so I'm not wobbly.  My husband hates this and now I just tell him to go on his merry way and he can look for me in the car or in the store. 

I also have other numbness such in my face and lips.  I do take Lyrica @100 mg x 3 times a day.  I do know this helps the numbness in my face, not so sure about the other parts.  I had trigeminal pain in one eye for 9 years caused by Lasik surgery and nothing ever helped this except Lasik.  Lucy

[AnaGamble]

I have just started having this symptom - yet another one to had to the litany of aches and pains.  Yes - sometimes it feels like a knife is going through my thigh muscle.  It happens all the time when I am driving! Ugh.

Reminds me that sometimes when I stand up and walk a few steps or walk to a shop or something I will get this horrible stabbing pain in the hip.
Feels kinda like the whole leg bit just completely missed where it was going on the torso bit and munched through something important.
And then just as sudden as it came it's "poof" gone again, leaving me feeling as if I am some weird hypochondriac for just a second earlier screaming out in pain and scaring the cr*p out of my BF. 

Ugh and yesterday I was sitting at the computer reading this forum as it happends, and my left side of the bum + the back of the whole left thigh went dead.
Just completely numb not even a tingle, didn't dare to check if it was Raynauds playing games with me but felt pretty creepy. 

[genko_b]

My rheumatologist sent me to the physical therapist when I had symptoms like you are describing, and they developed resistance exercises for me to strengthen what muscle I had left after severe atrophy. I started very lightly and worked my way up. It helped a great deal. Not perfect by any means but now I can get around without collapsing.

In my case they figured it was the neuropathy as tests for myositis showed nothing significant.

I hope you find something to help.

Take care,

Genko

[A66eyroad]

I had terrible leg weakness for several weeks. My rheumy took me off my statin cholesterol medicine and it went away in less than a week! I had been on the statin for several years --- apparently, my body just decided one day it didn't like it anymore.

[LouLou1981]

I live on the second floor and have noticed weak leg muscles sometimes too.  Sometimes its just when I'm trying to carry too many groceries up at once. I get to the 2nd or 3rd step from the top and my legs almost give out on me. When I'm finally to the top my legs feel weak and wobbly and I'm glad I made it.  Somedays my legs are just weak from the get go.

I haven't mentioned it to the GP or the Rheumy, but maybe I will next time I go.

[artsyamerican]

I have this also.  In fact, burning thighs and calves while climbing stairs were one of my first symptoms.  They never went away.  When I sit for awhile in the cae (could be 10 minutes, could be 60 min) when I stand to get out and get on my way, I have to stand for 3-5 minutes to "balance myself" or get enough strength so I'm not wobbly.  My husband hates this and now I just tell him to go on his merry way and he can look for me in the car or in the store. 

I also have other numbness such in my face and lips.  I do take Lyrica @100 mg x 3 times a day.  I do know this helps the numbness in my face, not so sure about the other parts.  I had trigeminal pain in one eye for 9 years caused by Lasik surgery and nothing ever helped this except Lasik.  Lucy

OMG that is so funny...well not ha ha funny...but it is relieving to read when someone does the same thing you do! LOL. Whenever I get out of the car I have to stand by the door and hang on while my back and backside do their shivery thing...don't ask me what it is...but my back shivers...after this I am ready to start walking! LOL