Hamstring and Calf pain and twitching

Posted by soccer1477 @soccer1477, Jul 19, 2023

My Story:
Started in July 2022 with a stomach parasite, and lost 40 pounds, then Sept 2022, worked out, then worked in the yard, and 2 hours later my chest and upper back locked on me, I thought it was dehydration, took some muscle relaxers and hydrated, a week later started with twitching on my legs and around my body, went to GP who said it must be lack of vitamins due to the parasite and the lost of weight, but still sent me to Neuro, went to Neuro and he said, let me test you for Stiff Person Syndrome, all test came back clear (including EMG), but the anxiety level was huge, in October started with upper back pain, it was horrible, to a point that wanted to go to ER, went to other Neuro, he said I had Bening Fascicualtion Syndrom, Cramp fasciculation Syndrom, and Isaac Syndrome but no test was done (keep in mind that since this started I have only had two cramps), but he still sent me for Lumbar and Thoracic MRI. Results: Lumbar: disc protrusion L3-L4, Left Foraminal disc protrusion L4-L5, Moderate left L4-L5 and Mild bilateral L5-S1 foraminal narrowing, Annular fissures L3-L4 and L4-L5, Mild degenerative Marrow edema L5-S1. Thoracic Findings: Multilevel Disc bulges varying degrees of the spinal canal and foraminal narrowing, moderate left and mild right T8-T9, mild bilateral T9-T10, advanced right/moderate left T10-T11 foraminal narrowing, mild spinal canal narrowing T6-T7-T8-T9-T10, moderate spinal canal narrowing T8-T9-T10-T11, Annular Fissure T10-T11. After these findings, 2nd Neuro called and said the previous diagnosis of Bening Fasciculation Syndrome, Cramp Fasciculation Syndrom, and Isaac Syndrome is in question due to the MRI findings. The problem I'm having now, I still have the twitching in my legs, mostly the right leg, after a Physical therapy session in which the therapist had me do squats with a ball between my knees my hamstring started hurting, which caused my right calf to start hurting and basically gave out on me, my Chiro did some deep tissue massage on the calf that has helped to a point that I'm no longer using a walking stick but have to walk very slow, had to stop driving, but even though the pain in the hamstring and calf has decreased I still have them and sometimes they come really hard. My pain doctor wants to wait for 2nd EMG before trying Epidural shots, the pain in my upper back thoracic is constant but manageable, same as my lower back, as you can imagine my anxiety is very high as basically, I feel I have all the syndromes 2nd Neuro mentioned and also spine issues, not asking for a diagnosis but wondering if anyone has had any similar experience and/or can provide an opinion. Can my back issues be causing my leg and hamstring pain, including the twitching on the calf muscle?

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Hi, soccer1477, you said, "I still have the twitching in my legs, mostly the right leg, after a Physical therapy session in which the therapist had me do squats with a ball between my knees my hamstring started hurting, which caused my right calf to start hurting and basically gave out on me, "

I'm not familiar with the conditions you mentioned, but I've found that I really can't get away with pushing myself in the way you were describing with the pt session. When I was 15, yes; now, no.

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@scolio

Hi, soccer1477, you said, "I still have the twitching in my legs, mostly the right leg, after a Physical therapy session in which the therapist had me do squats with a ball between my knees my hamstring started hurting, which caused my right calf to start hurting and basically gave out on me, "

I'm not familiar with the conditions you mentioned, but I've found that I really can't get away with pushing myself in the way you were describing with the pt session. When I was 15, yes; now, no.

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Thank you @scolio

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I have similar issues with severe and moderate foraminal stenosis at the L4/L5 level with genetically fused L5 to S1. The twitching is most definitely causing it. I get tingling, twitching, buzzing and pins and needles. Both legs some days are ok and it can jump around. Normal EMG but a disc collapse, stenosis and DDD. I was also described as having BFS in addition to the sensations coming out of the L4/L5/S1 nerve root. The calf issues was the first thing I notice about 5-6 years ago. Probably was there longer. I did a epidural and it helped a lot - some P/T exercises rode a bike and did circuit training. The past couple of years it has not bothered me so I started pushing a little harder and now it’s back again with a vengeance. I have a consult with the ortho and will likely get scanned again to see if it’s worse or just a flare up. I had found these videos which might help you.

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@jeffkboyce

I have similar issues with severe and moderate foraminal stenosis at the L4/L5 level with genetically fused L5 to S1. The twitching is most definitely causing it. I get tingling, twitching, buzzing and pins and needles. Both legs some days are ok and it can jump around. Normal EMG but a disc collapse, stenosis and DDD. I was also described as having BFS in addition to the sensations coming out of the L4/L5/S1 nerve root. The calf issues was the first thing I notice about 5-6 years ago. Probably was there longer. I did a epidural and it helped a lot - some P/T exercises rode a bike and did circuit training. The past couple of years it has not bothered me so I started pushing a little harder and now it’s back again with a vengeance. I have a consult with the ortho and will likely get scanned again to see if it’s worse or just a flare up. I had found these videos which might help you.

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Thank you so much for the information Jeff, hope you get to feel better soon.

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