Calf pain when exercising

@sca108. Yes uphill walking brings on discomfort in my calfs, glutes and hamstrings. I push through it but I slow my pace slightly. I try to work with my body. I’m on 1 mg and still experience this on my 4 mi walks. Hang in there!

thanks hunib33. what's confusing about this for me is the pain is just in my calves and feet. And it's a pain I don't have at other times. but interesting you to know you have something similar. yes, I've had to moderate my pace and just keep going, though it doesn't make exercising as enjoyable as it used to be. do You think it is a symptom of PMR? my rheumatologist had never heard of it.

The "myalgia" in polymyalgia literally means pain in a muscle or group of muscles. PMR affects muscles as well as joints. At first I was able to do very little exercise at all without severe muscle pain, but five months into treatment I can do some normal activities without pain.

I can’t say sca108 if it’s PMR but that seems most likely to me. PMR can present symptoms that aren’t logical. For instance, about 90 days before I came down with all the typical PMR symptoms, I was experiencing pain in my shoulders after walking. Just my shoulders and it would go away within a half hour. Turns out it was an early warning symptom because a few months later those same shoulder muscles, along with the major muscles in my legs became almost unbearably painful and stiff. That was the beginning of PMR in my case. It’s a puzzling condition.

I had the same pain in both shoulders. I went to the orthopedic Dr and he gave me steroid injections three times. Then my thighs and inner hip pain started. Unbearable pain sent me to pcp and he diagnosed me with PMR. I’m thinking I got an overdose of prednisone from the injections and when the prednisone wore off the PMP showed up. I’m doing a lot better now. I have been on 10mg prednisone for 1 month. Fatigue and pain is less frequent. I’m hoping when they ween me off the prednisone it works.

I’m a vascular ultrasound tech. The symptoms you’re describing sounds like it could be claudication. PAD peripheral arterial disease. I have PAD and I can walk uphill and after a while my calves feel tight and I stop and rest and the pain subsides. A ultrasound of the leg arteries can see the plaque and elevated velocities in the arteries. Hope you get to feeling better.

Dear SCA108, I was diagnosed with PMR after an inoculation for flu one year ago. Sorry you are having pain in your legs during your beautiful walks. I have found my calf’s hurt and get cramps when my electrolytes are depleted. Worse on prednisone. A good quality sports drink helps a lot. Recently I learned that prednisone can cause loss of potassium. My heart was experiencing irregular pace. My blood test showed a low potassium level. My Cardiologist prescribed potassium. Problem solved. Prednisone is important for treating autoimmune conditions. But it’s a two edged sword.
Wishing you improving health & beautiful walks.

Josie2019, it’s possible you had PMR when you got the injections. Hope you’re well on your way to putting PMR behind you! 🤗

thank you for these responses. I did have a CAT scan to see if there were any blockages like PAD that might be causing something like this, and apparently there wasn't anything. But will definitely keep this in mind. and didn't know about the potassium and prednisone connection. I'm on so many supplements already but definitely sounds like worth keeping an eye on the potassium.

These have been really helpful responses, so thank you everyone.

Check with a podiatrist. Morton's Neuroma is a foot condition that causes a burning sensation. Mine was cured with inserts but it took six months.
You may have some other related condition. Try to get a podiatrist with a good reputation. There are a lot of weak ones out there.
It may be a long shot but worth trying.