Im a 22 year old male, overweight (approx. ~ 110+ kg) and have been very inactive with none to very little exercise the following the 3 years. Recently ive been very concerned about my health and have been following a good balanced diet and watching my calorie intake very intently. Also ive started going to a gym and have been spending time exercising and walking on a treadmill.
Since ive started walking on the treadmill, ive been experiencing cramps throughout my lower body, and such cramps have lessened by the passage of time. However, its been a month since i have this distinct pain/cramp in the left calf muscle of my leg when i walk briskly for a period of 9-10 minutes.
It does go away if i rest for a minute or two and i can continue for another 2-4 minutes until it pains again.
This is the reason for me writing to you today. How can i treat this pain, will it go away if i keep exercising regularly or can i do something myself to make this pain go away?And if any, do i need any medication for it? Should i apply ice or heat, should i massage it or do nothing?
Answered by:Maria/MD Health Forum.com Team
Thank you for your question. First of all, I would like to commend you on your decision to take good care of your health. Although it has a number of known benefits, it is not always easy for everyone to start observing healthy habits. While you’re at it, I would suggest that you talk to your family doctor about the changes you made in your diet and about the types of exercises you have been doing. It is important that your caloric intake is sufficient for you carry out your daily activities. In addition, you need to make sure that you’re getting adequate amount of vitamins and minerals.
Notice that in TV programs about fitness, or work-out DVD’s, viewers are advised to consult with their doctors before starting an exercise routine. There are many reasons why this is encouraged. A doctor’s evaluation is important particularly to those who haven’t exercised for quite some time. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that patients who are overweight and those who have not exercised for 3 months or more to consult with their doctors before engaging in vigorous exercises. Certain symptoms that are suggestive of problems with blood circulation or other diseases also call for a doctor’s evaluation. One of these is muscle pain triggered by activities such as uphill walking that is often relieved by rest.
Leg pain may result from cramping. Mucle cramps may be caused by dehydration, or having low amounts important minerals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium. Muscle fatigue as well as damage to structures in the leg such as tendons, muscles, and bones, are also known to cause leg pain.
Improper way of exercise and stretching of muscles can lead to body aches. Failure to warm-up properly before engaging in vigorous exercise could put to much stress on the muscles and connective tissues in the legs and this could cause discomfort.
Some health problems may affect blood circulation, and they too could cause leg pain. An example of this is a condition known as peripheral artery disease (PAD) which usually affects the legs. In PAD, the blood supply to the legs is disrupted due to the narrowing of the blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood to the lower extremities. As a result, the blood flow to the legs may not be enough to keep up with the demand. The most notable symptom of peripheral artery disease is leg pain when walking, this is also known as intermitent claudication. The location on the pain depends on the location of the affected artery. The discomfort is most commoly felt in the calf muscles. Some patients may also experience weakness or numbness in the legs. There are several factors that are thought to increase one’s risk of developing PAD. These include smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Treating leg pain would depend on the underlying problem. You need to seek medical consultation to find out what has been causing your symptoms. Aside from health history and findings from physical examination, laboratory tests and imaging procedures can also help your doctor arrive at an accurate diagnosis. The tests that will be ordered by the doctor will depend on the suspected health problem.
This blog entry is for your general information only. I recommend that you discuss your symptoms with your own doctor.
References:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheral-arterial-disease/DS00537
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/calf-muscle-pain.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003182.htm
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Tags: exercise-induced pain, leg pain, peripheral artery disease
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