Leg pain

Cait1122

i work out 3-5 days a week depending on my work schedule and my job is retail so I'm on my feet the entire time. I'm getting leg pains while I sleep. It's an ache and it ends up waking me up at night. What could it be from? Am I deficient on a vitamin? Or could it just be im on my feet too much? For awhile I would wake up with cramps in my calves. They have went away for the most part but I have an ache now.

SingRunTing

I used to get cramps in the night and that's indicative of potassium deficiency. I know you said its not really cramping though, just an ache.

I also have more muscle aches if I'm not drinking enough water.

Cait1122

I thought it maybe be postassium.. So I started eating more foods with high postassium and Id still get cramps. I looked online and it said I maybe be magnesium deficient. My entire legs ache about a minute after going to sleep. I have to sleep in weird positions just to have it tolerant for me to fall asleep. Maybe I need new shoes? Or I have RLS?

Cherimoose

Where, specifically, in your legs?

Describe your exercise routine?

lorrpb

RLS is twitching and jerking, not aches, pain, or even cramps.

caroldavison332

I have chronic plantyr faciitis and nerve damage in my feet. I stretch 3 times a day when I am waiting for the train. I lean on a wall or fence, and put my leg straight out behind me and stretch the achielles tendon that runs from your heel up the back of your lower leg and count slowly to 100. Then I bend that knee and stretch that way to the count of 100. I repeat this with the other leg. You can also massage your foot by squishing a tennis ball with it and rolling it underneath the parts that need stretching. You should also consider icing down your feet while you watch TV. TV should equal foot icing. Freeze a soda bottle full of water and place it under your feet while you watch your program. Mine want to roll away so I put the bottle in my Crcos so it can't.

You could need better shoes. I purchased shoes with a 1" heel for $150 at the supportive footwear store. They are worth it. You aren't torturing you feet with crazy heels are you?

My physical therapist told me to only wear New Balance Sneakers with black bottoms. They are firm enough to support your feet. Although I am not a runner, I find running shoes most supportive of my flat feet.

Cait1122

Cherimoose wrote: »

Where, specifically, in your legs?

Describe your exercise routine?

I started running back in June. I did couch to 5k. I work retail so my schedule is always different every week so I try to cram all my work outs on days that I don't work or work nights. Sometimes it's 4 or 5 days in a row. I like to work out in the morning. I started going to the gym to do some weight training and started running one day and weight train the other to give my legs a break. The past week they have really been hurting. I bought new shoes so we will see how it works out. I have been walking instead of running this past week.

christineja

I've gotten leg cramps in my sleep, they're straight-up awful and can make me wake up screaming. Thanks to google I now take Natural Calm Magnesium with Calcium powder--I put some in my water bottle for every workout and it does the trick. You can get it at Amazon or Sprouts or Whole Foods. Try it, it worked for me immediately and I only get leg cramps now if I forget to take it.

Christine_72

I get leg pains too. Mine start on the top of my outer thigh and runs all the way down to my shins. I get it from all the walking I do, as it disappears when I have a rest day.

Ironically this started a couple months ago when I stopped taking magnesium. I didn't see the connection until reading this thread.
I'm off to the store tomorrow to buy a bottle.

Patttience

If you eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and avoid dehydration you sholdn't get leg cramps. Sometimes you can get cramps from dehydration resulting from out of whack body salts so then it pays to have a salty drink like miso soup or cup a soup.

Apart from that, its possibly some type of injury. Could it be a back injury with pain referred down your leg? I would get it checked out by a doctor.

Cherimoose

Cait1122 wrote: »

Cherimoose wrote: »

Where, specifically, in your legs?

Describe your exercise routine?

I started running back in June. I did couch to 5k. I work retail so my schedule is always different every week so I try to cram all my work outs on days that I don't work or work nights. Sometimes it's 4 or 5 days in a row. I like to work out in the morning. I started going to the gym to do some weight training and started running one day and weight train the other to give my legs a break. The past week they have really been hurting. I bought new shoes so we will see how it works out. I have been walking instead of running this past week.

You didn't answer the other question, but if it's your calves, stretch them every hour. Also wear shoes with a lower heel at work. Most shoes have a raised heel, which tightens the calves. Also, don't do calf exercises at the gym.

mbaker566

I would suggest rest days. actual low activity, low impact rest days. like go spin or swim instead. or don't do anything on your feet outside of work. see if that helps.
magnesium will help for rls.
shoes also could be a factor if they aren't right for your needs. your running shoes could have different needs than your work shoes