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Long Term Calf Cramp
Back in March of 2021, I randomly passed out falling down stairs and hitting my head on my basement floor. Since that fall I have had a cramp in my right calf. In July 2021 the doctor and I agreed to gastrocnemius release surger after physical therapy failed. The surgery did wonders for few months until the cramping came back. I tried physical therapy again with negative results, my right leg began to shrink. I have had numerous EMGs, MRIs X-rays and more with nothing to be found. I'm currently working with a neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He put me on carbidopa-levodopa aka parkison medication, and bacolfen which is helping. This month I had EMG, blood test and MRIs on my brain and full spine nothing to be found. According to the neurologist I get to join the special patient club of undiagnosable.
Side note: As a kid I was severely piegon toed. In 2005 I had surgery that involved surgical break both my ankles to straightening my feet. Doctors don't believe that has any relationship to what I'm experiencing today.
I'm looking for someone has had similar experience and what doctors did for you. Look for some ideas to pass on to the doctors that might lead to cure or cause.
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I have had x-rays, MRIs and ultrasounds from my lower back to my foot. The results show nothing that would account for my symptoms in my calf. The only scare tissue I that is noticeable is from the surgery after the fall.
I was diagnosed with a concussion after the fall.
I have cramping in one leg and foot at night only, when I wake up and start to stretch. I have back pain, and MRI shows problems with my C3-4,C5-6,7. And Lumbar. I have sciatica down that left side, and numbness , now slight swelling of the ankle and foot. Sometimes after an epidural injection, the cramping gets worse. I believe it has to do with pinched nerves or an inflammation of that area.
My doctor for another issue suggested, when I brought it up, to take coQ10, which helped. I already take magnesium, and Vitamin D+K for osteoporosis.
I hope this helps.
I have the same make sure they do MRIs. And you go to an orthopedic surgeon where he will assess your impinged nerves as they exit your spine. I have the same on my left leg side. I’ve gone through lumbar surgery, L3, L4, L5. Some of it started after the surgery and some of it ended after the surgery and it’s been six years. I have degenerative disc disease and the rest of my back is falling apart. So I went through epidurals and corticosteroids. The corticosteroids and epidural can tell you where the pain is coming from if you get relief, then they found the area. However, there’s nothing much right now that can be done. The Cortizone is really bad for your body so I can’t do anymore and the orthopedic surgeon is very conservative and I’m not ready for another surgery. Options? EXERCISE! I hate exercise, but I take the pain pain medicine and I’m up to about an hour and a half a day of exercise and the burning numbness tingling waking up in the middle of the night cramping leg on fire sciatica and everything else is 100% better not perfect but it’s amazingly better. Tightening one’s core is the solution for a while. Until my discs fall out completely and I’m ready for surgery.
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2 ReactionsThanks for your reply, yes I’ve had fusion on L4-5, S1 as well.
It helped and exercises helped lime you say. Until my neck started hurting more, from my increased activity I think. I had PT for it and while it strengthened my muscles it made it hurt more. But yes, exercise is good. I need surgery now.
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1 ReactionMy other suggestion is to ask for an MRI on your neck.
At the end of March I had brain and full spine MRI the testes show nothing that would to account for my lower extremity symptoms.
My right calf cramps when I'm sitting, stand and lying down, but once I start walking it slowly releases. Any sort of strength training cause the leg to shrink and lose muscle.
I saw my primary doctor on Friday, he told me about an artical he just read about old people and leg cramps. That vitamin k2 180 mcg once day has been shown to help old people with their leg cramps. I'm only 30, but I'm trying it out.
@nasbyevan this has helped me with the cramps I was shown by a massage therapist it’s not a permanent fix but it has been my lifesaver . Using the side of your hand and karate chop across the middle of your foot or I’ve been known to use the heel of my other foot it had knocked the cramps out 95% of the time. Or if you have someone else that can karate chop it for you