Intense pain when exercising/playing sport

joeyyeab
joeyyeab Posts: 8
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi

I've recently started playing sport a lot more (2-3 times a week) and when I run or play football I get an intense pain in my legs that literally is one of the worst pains I have ever had. It makes me want to stop and it gets worse when I walk - it feels like I have two dead legs. It is probably due to lack of stretching but it seems unlikely that not stretching could lead to that much pain. It stops about half an hour after I stop playing sport. Does anyone know what this is?

Thanks

Replies

  • joeyyeab
    joeyyeab Posts: 8
    .
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Do you warm up before starting the activity? Not static stretching, but dynamic movements to warm up your muscles, like brisk walking, high knees, body weight squats, walking lunges, etc?

    Honestly if you're having such intense pain, maybe you should check with your doctor.
  • joeyyeab
    joeyyeab Posts: 8
    No. I've never really played sport before now so it's all quite new to me. Should I be doing both static stretches and the things you mentioned? I probably will visit the doctor if this carries on.
  • jrodri0105
    jrodri0105 Posts: 91 Member
    How old are you? Look up Intermittent Claudication... Where is the pain located? Maybe its something so simple as shin splints or muscle spasms
  • tennisgirl444
    tennisgirl444 Posts: 57 Member
    Describe the pain a bit more- it's hard to know what you're talking about based on your description!

    Definitely warm up using some dynamic stretches beforehand, and stretch afterward.

    I've recently bought a pair of compression leg sleeves (Zensah) that make my legs feel AMAZING. You can wear them during your workout as well as after for recovery. I never want to take them off! For leg pain, you can also try rolling them out on a roller or with "the stick". Also, try icing the area after you're finished, or heating them up before you head out.
  • joeyyeab
    joeyyeab Posts: 8
    19. Seems like I'm a bit young for it to be that? Although I do get cramp in my right leg a lot
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    I don't understand what it is you're feeling - intense pain is pretty much the opposite of "dead legs".

    Are you feeling something or nothing?

    Where in the legs, exactly?
  • joeyyeab
    joeyyeab Posts: 8
    Describe the pain a bit more- it's hard to know what you're talking about based on your description!

    Definitely warm up using some dynamic stretches beforehand, and stretch afterward.

    I've recently bought a pair of compression leg sleeves (Zensah) that make my legs feel AMAZING. You can wear them during your workout as well as after for recovery. I never want to take them off! For leg pain, you can also try rolling them out on a roller or with "the stick". Also, try icing the area after you're finished, or heating them up before you head out.

    Well basically both my legs, mostly from the knees downwards are in massive pain. I have to walk about half my normal speed, although I can run when I play football and the pain seems to go away a bit. It's hard to bend my legs. It's like when you've been lifting something over and over again and your hand starts to ache, but much much worse. I will start to warm up. Alright. I'm just not sure what could have caused this since I'm pretty young and of average weight. I've never been that fit however.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    "intense pain....worse than ever felt before..."

    Go see a professional
  • joeyyeab
    joeyyeab Posts: 8
    I don't understand what it is you're feeling - intense pain is pretty much the opposite of "dead legs".

    Are you feeling something or nothing?

    Where in the legs, exactly?

    Possibly not dead legs then. I'm feeling something, it hurts to walk/move when it happens.
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    "intense pain....worse than ever felt before..."

    Go see a professional

    I concur with my learned colleague.

    Internet diagnosis is bollocks. Real doctors exist for this reason...
  • tennisgirl444
    tennisgirl444 Posts: 57 Member
    Are they in massive pain all up and down your legs, on every single point? Does it run up the side of your leg? The front of your shins? In your calf muscle? What happens if you stop and massage it, does it hurt? Are the spots tender? Does it feel more like cramping or like someone is stabbing you with a knife? We're trying to help you here!

    Just because you're normal weight and young doesn't mean anything. My shin splints appeared when I was 19.
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    Patient: Doc, it hurts when I do this.

    Doc: Then don't do that.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Possibly not dead legs then. I'm feeling something, it hurts to walk/move when it happens.

    Thanks for narrowing it down.

    :glasses:

    Go see a doctor.
  • joeyyeab
    joeyyeab Posts: 8
    Are they in massive pain all up and down your legs, on every single point? Does it run up the side of your leg? The front of your shins? In your calf muscle? What happens if you stop and massage it, does it hurt? Are the spots tender? Does it feel more like cramping or like someone is stabbing you with a knife? We're trying to help you here!

    Just because you're normal weight and young doesn't mean anything. My shin splints appeared when I was 19.

    Mostly below my knees. I would say on my calf, yeah. More like I'm being stabbed, haha. I've never tried massaging it, when I got home I ran a really cold bath and it sort of went away then.
  • tennisgirl444
    tennisgirl444 Posts: 57 Member
    I agree you should see a doctor, but in the meantime, you might try to google image "leg pain", "shin splints", "IT band", etc. A lot of times they have graphs that show where the pain would be, or what it feels like. Until then, you probably want to cut back on activity and try to follow the general rule of RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation).
  • joeyyeab
    joeyyeab Posts: 8
    I agree you should see a doctor, but in the meantime, you might try to google image "leg pain", "shin splints", "IT band", etc. A lot of times they have graphs that show where the pain would be, or what it feels like. Until then, you probably want to cut back on activity and try to follow the general rule of RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation).

    Alright. Thanks for the help! I'll look RICE up.

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