leg pain-need input

Setof2Keys
Setof2Keys Posts: 681 Member
edited September 24 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello All my MFPers,
I have begun walking about 45 minutes several times per week. I am overweight and have a pretty heavy, solid frame (wide baby-bearing hips and solid leg muscles, heavy midsection and large busted). My legs are pretty toned considering my mid section. My calves are rock solid.

When I get walking, about 10 minutes in, I feel this burning pain on the outsides of my lower legs. It is not a cramp, just pain. I don't think it is an injury since it doesn't really bother me any other time. It's not necessarily the calf muscle, but the outside above my ankle bone to almost my knee. I try to stretch and it BURNS. My body is not tired and since I had limited mobility (due to an injury) I really need to keep moving. I take my vitamins so I don't think it is lack of potassium. I wonder if I am pushing off too much on the ball of my foot as I step. I really don't want my calves to get any bigger either, so I hope Im not building muscle in them. Any advice, especially from runners or avid walkers would be appreciated...Keep working hard, I need to see more success stories on this thing. I'm proud of you all!!

Replies

  • andreae13
    andreae13 Posts: 239 Member
    I get EXACTLY the same pain and no doctor has been able to tell me what it is. The only thing that has given me a little relief is warming up for 5 mins before pushing myself, getting orthodics from my podiatrist and working with a trainer to strengthen the ankle and foot muscles....balancing type activities. I still get pain when I push myself hard on the treadmill or walking but it takes longer for the pain to show up now so I'm hoping, as I loose more weight and my feet get stronger with the balance exercises, the pain will go away.
  • jlsAhava
    jlsAhava Posts: 411 Member
    Check out the forum for posts on Shin Splints. That's what it sounds like to me.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    You should see an orthopedist or podiatrist. You may need some physical therapy to strengthen some ligaments or may need to learn how to walk in a different way.
  • sweetheart03622
    sweetheart03622 Posts: 928 Member
    I had an issue with this and I found out that I was curling my toes when I walked. If I focused on flattening out my foot and really worked on striding from heal to toe, and not walking too fast, it went away literally immediately. Just somethin to think about!
  • Losing2Live69
    Losing2Live69 Posts: 743 Member
    I just got diagnosed with shin splints yesterday. What you are describing sounds a lot like shin splints. Here is a link to a website someone shared with me:

    http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/shin-splints

    Read this info and see if what they describe sounds like what you are experiencing. I know my legs hurt very bad. I had no idea what it was at first. This site also tells how to treat shin splints and how to prevent them in the future.

    I hope this information is helpful,

    Angela
  • Setof2Keys
    Setof2Keys Posts: 681 Member
    Great advice...See I can always count of you guys!! Experience weighs so much more than degress sometimes!!
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    Have you been properly fitted for a good walking shoe? This sounds like the sort of problem that may be completely solved by getting into the right shoe or, if you have already been properly fitted, by replacing the shoes.
  • rylest04
    rylest04 Posts: 7
    try different pair of sneakers add cushions inside walking on the ground can be rough walking on turf grass absorbs shocking feeling in ur legs flexibility training is a must at least 3x a wk
  • Laceylala
    Laceylala Posts: 3,094 Member
    Have you been properly fitted for a good walking shoe? This sounds like the sort of problem that may be completely solved by getting into the right shoe or, if you have already been properly fitted, by replacing the shoes.

    I second this. The moment I got good running/walking shoes the throbbing pain went away and hasn't returned. Its the darnedest thing but awesome at the same time!
  • fitrfat
    fitrfat Posts: 2
    I am shaped the same way. My thoughts & theories:
    1. our leg muscles are so strong because they have been weight-lifting us for many years:)
    2. our poor legs sometimes cave in like donkey legs under a heavy burden (or) we have so much thigh fat that our poor bones are not walking as straight up and down as we think they are. Insoles (really good ones) helped me tremendously. I felt like an 'old woman' putting those things in my shoes but when I started walking I realized that it completely changed my posture. I stood differently and pain left both my back and legs.
    3. Walk with your heel touching the ground first and roll through the foot. Tummy tucked in as far as it will go, shoulders back, head up.
    4. Increase magnesium and use turmeric for pain.
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