Active Low-Carber Forums
Atkins diet and low carb discussion provided free for information only, not as medical advice.
Home Plans Tips Recipes Tools Stories Studies Products
Active Low-Carber Forums
A sugar-free zone


Welcome to the Active Low-Carber Forums.
Support for Atkins diet, Protein Power, Neanderthin (Paleo Diet), CAD/CALP, Dr. Bernstein Diabetes Solution and any other healthy low-carb diet or plan, all are welcome in our lowcarb community. Forget starvation and fad diets -- join the healthy eating crowd! You may register by clicking here, it's free!

Go Back   Active Low-Carber Forums > Main Low-Carb Diets Forums & Support > Exercise Forums: Active Low-Carbers > Beginner/Low Intensity
User Name
Password
FAQ Members Calendar Mark Forums Read Search Gallery My P.L.A.N. Survey


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   ^
Old Fri, Jan-16-15, 14:56
JudyMC JudyMC is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 148
 
Plan: ketogenic
Stats: 115/111/110 Female 62"
BF:
Progress: 80%
Location: South Carolina
Default Please help me with my leg discomfort

I'm not asking anyone to give medical advice, just their opinions if they have ever experienced anything like this or have any ideas.

I have a doctors appointment scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20th. I can't get in before then.

I have walked on a treadmill for just over 12 years. I do this daily because I love it. I usually walk 2 miles a day. I have been walking on an incline for probably 6 weeks or more consistently.

I started wearing new shoes, then after about 9-10 days my ankles started swelling and my lower legs felt achy/with a slight burning sensation and sometimes numb feeling. They feel better after sleeping all night. I decided to stop using the treadmill for 1 week to give my legs/ankles time to "heal". I figured it must be my new shoes.

I stopped working out on January 11th. The swelling is some better but my legs still are achy and now my thighs are achy/sore-like after a hard workout. But I haven't done any exercising.

Fast forward to today, January 16th and I am no better.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2   ^
Old Fri, Jan-16-15, 15:26
Nancy LC's Avatar
Nancy LC Nancy LC is offline
Experimenter
Posts: 25,842
 
Plan: DDF
Stats: 202/185.4/179 Female 67
BF:
Progress: 72%
Location: San Diego, CA
Default

Glad you're getting it checked out. I'd be concerned about a blood clot.
Reply With Quote
  #3   ^
Old Fri, Jan-16-15, 15:33
JudyMC JudyMC is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 148
 
Plan: ketogenic
Stats: 115/111/110 Female 62"
BF:
Progress: 80%
Location: South Carolina
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nancy LC
Glad you're getting it checked out. I'd be concerned about a blood clot.


I didn't really consider that a possibility since both my legs feel this way, but thanks for mentioning it. My mom has had several blood clots.
Reply With Quote
  #4   ^
Old Fri, Jan-16-15, 15:57
Nancy LC's Avatar
Nancy LC Nancy LC is offline
Experimenter
Posts: 25,842
 
Plan: DDF
Stats: 202/185.4/179 Female 67
BF:
Progress: 72%
Location: San Diego, CA
Default

It runs in families too. Although it does seem odd it is in both legs. :\
Reply With Quote
  #5   ^
Old Sat, Feb-07-15, 13:22
JudyMC JudyMC is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 148
 
Plan: ketogenic
Stats: 115/111/110 Female 62"
BF:
Progress: 80%
Location: South Carolina
Default

Update- almost 10 days later, my arms and hands started tingling and feeling numb.

I finally was able to get into the doctor who did lab work, thinking it was my Vitamin D level being too low. He also checked my B12 level, CBC, TSH and Free T4. I finally got my lab work results today.

Vitamin D 41.1 (30-100 range)
B12 - 1134 (211-946 range)

I originally had no back pain, but I do now and it is more of a burning discomfort. My lower back even feels numb at times. This morning both my legs burned and ached. I am so anxious to get this resolved.

I am scheduled for nerve testing this week and a MRI next week.

Has anyone experienced any of this before?
Reply With Quote
  #6   ^
Old Sat, Feb-07-15, 17:19
Gypsybyrd's Avatar
Gypsybyrd Gypsybyrd is offline
Posts: 7,035
 
Plan: Keto IMO Atkins 72 Induct
Stats: 283/229/180 Female 5'3"
BF:mini goal 250, 225
Progress: 52%
Location: St. Pete, Florida
Default

Well. I'm not sure I've had that exact thing. But. I had right leg sciatic pain that started really making itself known In early December. I finally went to doctor New Years eve day. Got meds. Didn't help. Pain worsened. Walking helped. Standing helped but less so. Sitting, squatting, laying down didn't help or made it worse. MRI week before showed herniated disc at L5-S1.

On Wednesday January 14 I was able to walk 3 miles and lessen the pain. Next day, wasn't able to walk 10 steps without screaming in pain - despite muscle relaxer and Vicodin. Went to ER. By the time they sent me home, I had numbers and tingling across buttocks and starting down left leg. Next day, full numbness across buttocks and genitals and more in left leg (cauda equine). Ended up back in ER at 2a with uncontrollable pain.

A second MRI showed the herniated disc had changed. Because of numbness, I was admitted and scheduled for surgery the following Monday. Turns out the herniated disc at L5-S1 had fragmented. The disc was completely pinching the nerve.

The numbness was the key to being admitted and scheduled for expedited surgery instead of being discharged home.

Post surgery almost three weeks now. The sciatica pain is gone. The nerves are still decompressing and regenerating. I have decreased sensation and decreased use of left leg. It gets better every day. It is slow going.
Reply With Quote
  #7   ^
Old Sat, Feb-07-15, 17:55
JudyMC JudyMC is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 148
 
Plan: ketogenic
Stats: 115/111/110 Female 62"
BF:
Progress: 80%
Location: South Carolina
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gypsybyrd
Well. I'm not sure I've had that exact thing. But. I had right leg sciatic pain that started really making itself known In early December. I finally went to doctor New Years eve day. Got meds. Didn't help. Pain worsened. Walking helped. Standing helped but less so. Sitting, squatting, laying down didn't help or made it worse. MRI week before showed herniated disc at L5-S1.

On Wednesday January 14 I was able to walk 3 miles and lessen the pain. Next day, wasn't able to walk 10 steps without screaming in pain - despite muscle relaxer and Vicodin. Went to ER. By the time they sent me home, I had numbers and tingling across buttocks and starting down left leg. Next day, full numbness across buttocks and genitals and more in left leg (cauda equine). Ended up back in ER at 2a with uncontrollable pain.

A second MRI showed the herniated disc had changed. Because of numbness, I was admitted and scheduled for surgery the following Monday. Turns out the herniated disc at L5-S1 had fragmented. The disc was completely pinching the nerve.

The numbness was the key to being admitted and scheduled for expedited surgery instead of being discharged home.

Post surgery almost three weeks now. The sciatica pain is gone. The nerves are still decompressing and regenerating. I have decreased sensation and decreased use of left leg. It gets better every day. It is slow going.


Gypsybyrd, Thank you so much for responding to my post. I am so sorry you had to go through that horrific ordeal. That sounds more awful than I have words for right now.

I'm very glad someone at the ER listened to you and you were able to get the 2nd MRI. I'm glad you are recovering and hopefully everyday will bring you closer to full healing.

Do they have any idea how the disc fragmented?
Reply With Quote
  #8   ^
Old Sat, Feb-07-15, 19:18
Just Jo's Avatar
Just Jo Just Jo is offline
A'72 Lifer Hard Core
Posts: 15,566
 
Plan: A'72 Induction Lifer + IF
Stats: 265/114/130 Female 5'4"
BF:Not so much now!
Progress: 112%
Location: South Central New Mexico
Default

Quote:
...my ankles started swelling and my lower legs felt achy/with a slight burning sensation and sometimes numb feeling. They feel better after sleeping all night...
This resonated with me, but I only have it in one leg and it was a gradual thing ~ mine is due to horrible varicose veins (my whole family suffers from it).

The less I sit the better my leg feels. I had to buy diabetic socks because the elastic in normal socks would cause my leg to swell. The only way for mine to get better is surgery and it's not even 100% affective...so I haven't decided to do it yet. Since I'm not in any pain, I'm okay with a slightly swollen leg at the end of the day.

I thought it was a blood clot at first, since I had one previously ~ but no it's just bad veins....

I hope you keep us posted! I'm keeping you in my prayers and thoughts.

Jo
Reply With Quote
  #9   ^
Old Sat, Feb-07-15, 20:14
Gypsybyrd's Avatar
Gypsybyrd Gypsybyrd is offline
Posts: 7,035
 
Plan: Keto IMO Atkins 72 Induct
Stats: 283/229/180 Female 5'3"
BF:mini goal 250, 225
Progress: 52%
Location: St. Pete, Florida
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JudyMC
Gypsybyrd, Thank you so much for responding to my post. I am so sorry you had to go through that horrific ordeal. That sounds more awful than I have words for right now.

I'm very glad someone at the ER listened to you and you were able to get the 2nd MRI. I'm glad you are recovering and hopefully everyday will bring you closer to full healing.

Do they have any idea how the disc fragmented?


Thank you for your kind words. I've kept a very upbeat attitude through it all. And I've stuck to LCHF - which has helped with the healing.

No. I do not know how the herniated disc fractured. I'm not even sure how the herniation occurred. The surgeon described it as a jelly sandwich: the disc is the jelly squeezed out from between the vertebra (the bread). As it squeezes out, the jelly breaks off into pieces. I was very active walking, exercising, square dancing, etc. Over the summer I fell a couple of times. Two years ago I slipped down some steps. The fractures could have happened then. No telling.

Hmmm ... someone at the ER only listened to me because I physically could not get off the gurney to go home! Up to that point, they treated me like I was drug seeking.

Make sure you keep after your doctors for test results, etc. Don't let them shuffle you to the background.
Reply With Quote
  #10   ^
Old Sun, Feb-08-15, 03:46
JudyMC JudyMC is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 148
 
Plan: ketogenic
Stats: 115/111/110 Female 62"
BF:
Progress: 80%
Location: South Carolina
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Just Jo
This resonated with me, but I only have it in one leg and it was a gradual thing ~ mine is due to horrible varicose veins (my whole family suffers from it).

The less I sit the better my leg feels. I had to buy diabetic socks because the elastic in normal socks would cause my leg to swell. The only way for mine to get better is surgery and it's not even 100% affective...so I haven't decided to do it yet. Since I'm not in any pain, I'm okay with a slightly swollen leg at the end of the day.

I thought it was a blood clot at first, since I had one previously ~ but no it's just bad veins....

I hope you keep us posted! I'm keeping you in my prayers and thoughts.

Jo


Jo, I truly appreciate the prayers. I also have a family history of varicose veins-my mom and maternal grandmother.

Did the doctors do a venous Doppler or some other test?

Judy
Reply With Quote
  #11   ^
Old Sun, Feb-08-15, 03:55
JudyMC JudyMC is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 148
 
Plan: ketogenic
Stats: 115/111/110 Female 62"
BF:
Progress: 80%
Location: South Carolina
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gypsybyrd
Thank you for your kind words. I've kept a very upbeat attitude through it all. And I've stuck to LCHF - which has helped with the healing.

No. I do not know how the herniated disc fractured. I'm not even sure how the herniation occurred. The surgeon described it as a jelly sandwich: the disc is the jelly squeezed out from between the vertebra (the bread). As it squeezes out, the jelly breaks off into pieces. I was very active walking, exercising, square dancing, etc. Over the summer I fell a couple of times. Two years ago I slipped down some steps. The fractures could have happened then. No telling.

Hmmm ... someone at the ER only listened to me because I physically could not get off the gurney to go home! Up to that point, they treated me like I was drug seeking.

Make sure you keep after your doctors for test results, etc. Don't let them shuffle you to the background.


I am also a very active walker. I am on my treadmill everyday (unless extremely sick) for 2 miles and average 4.3 mph. I have done this for 14 years. I have not been on my treadmill in 4 weeks now because I don't know what's wrong and I don't want to cause any more damage (if there is any).

People who abuse narcotics/drugs make it bad for everyone else. The last time I can even remember being prescribed a narcotic or any type of pain reliever was about 14 years ago when I had oral surgery and I couldn't even take them then. They made me too sleepy and I had a 4yr old and a 7 yr old to take care of.

So far my family doctor is really on top of this and seems to care. Unfortunately, it is taking 13 days to get an appt. for the MRI. The day after I called and told them I had an electrifying pain in my leg when I went to lift it up-They called and I had an appt. for the EMG scheduled.

Hopefully whatever specialist I get referred to will be just as caring.

Thank you for the explanation of the disc and jelly. That helps.
Reply With Quote
  #12   ^
Old Tue, Feb-10-15, 15:01
JudyMC JudyMC is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 148
 
Plan: ketogenic
Stats: 115/111/110 Female 62"
BF:
Progress: 80%
Location: South Carolina
Default

I went for my EMG testing today. It wasn't bad at all. Getting a shot of novacane at the dentist is worse.

I am encouraged, yet disappointed. The neurologist who performed the test said my nerves look fine, but he will have to do the mathematical equations still. That is great!

I am discouraged because he said a pinched nerve won't cause the tingling/numbness I have in all of my extremities.

So I am now worried (again) about the possibility of MS, which my family doctor originally mentioned.

I feel like the numbness/tingling is better than it originally was, but I still feel like my arms are "going to sleep" and my legs ache and burn.
Reply With Quote
  #13   ^
Old Tue, Feb-10-15, 15:28
Nancy LC's Avatar
Nancy LC Nancy LC is offline
Experimenter
Posts: 25,842
 
Plan: DDF
Stats: 202/185.4/179 Female 67
BF:
Progress: 72%
Location: San Diego, CA
Default

You might want to check out the Terry Wahls (MD) diet. She did wonders with her MS basically by doing a ketogenic paleo diet.
Reply With Quote
  #14   ^
Old Mon, Mar-02-15, 19:22
habershon habershon is offline
New Member
Posts: 7
 
Plan: atkins
Stats: 200/200/100 Female 5 ft
BF:
Progress: 0%
Location: S Yorkshire
Default

Hi, this may not seem directly linked to your symptoms but I am posting this because I had the same symptoms as you, I had similar medical checks done and after 18 months found it was linked to LOW blood pressure. None of my docs considered that as (as we all know if you are over weight your blood pressure should be high !!!) I really was sticking to my diet but found that I was actually having almost zero salt as I was only eating basic meat and veg, no processed foods and so my body was suddenly starved of salt. I had numb lips and face, muscle cramps and felt wobbly and weak.

Just a thought, hope you get to the bottom of it soon. My remedy was simply to have a small pinch of salt in my morning coffee, or have an ounce of salted peanuts rather than plain every other day or so.

Please post back, I would like to hear how you are getting on.
Best wishes.
Reply With Quote
  #15   ^
Old Tue, Mar-03-15, 03:41
JudyMC JudyMC is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 148
 
Plan: ketogenic
Stats: 115/111/110 Female 62"
BF:
Progress: 80%
Location: South Carolina
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by habershon
Hi, this may not seem directly linked to your symptoms but I am posting this because I had the same symptoms as you, I had similar medical checks done and after 18 months found it was linked to LOW blood pressure. None of my docs considered that as (as we all know if you are over weight your blood pressure should be high !!!) I really was sticking to my diet but found that I was actually having almost zero salt as I was only eating basic meat and veg, no processed foods and so my body was suddenly starved of salt. I had numb lips and face, muscle cramps and felt wobbly and weak.

Just a thought, hope you get to the bottom of it soon. My remedy was simply to have a small pinch of salt in my morning coffee, or have an ounce of salted peanuts rather than plain every other day or so.

Please post back, I would like to hear how you are getting on.
Best wishes.


Thank you for asking. I do eat plenty of salt, so I don't think that is my problem, but thanks for bringing up that possibility.

I had a brain MRI and that was normal. I was scheduled for 3 back MRI's also, but they were cancelled.

I decided to try a chiropractor (I have never been to one before). After the first visit I felt better. On x-ray you can see where my neck is out of alignment. He explained to me how the vertebraes rub against each other causing irritation that leads to the nerve fibers being irritated, which can cause my symptoms.

He wanted me to drink electrolytes everyday and since I don't avoid sugar, I went online and found a recipe for "Gatorade". Even the doctor waters his Gatorade down because he is health conscience, but I just don't like Gatorade. So I can't see myself forcing the Gatorade down with all that sugar, when that is something I avoid.

I love "my Gatorade" and find myself drinking it more than I am water and tea.

He also wanted me to consider not consuming artificial sweeteners-aspartame, Splenda, etc. I had a hard time with that one because I love my Cherry Coke Zero. After a day and half of reading, I decided to give the A.S. up. I found physical and neurological symptoms very similar to mine. I also read about references to MS and aspartame in the past.

I am now drinking Zevia (sweetened with stevia and erythritol). I feel like I will wean myself off of those and only drink them on occasion. I was only drinking 1 Coke Zero a day, so I don't really consume that much to begin with. I did consume liquid Splenda daily in tea, coffee and some recipes.

My neurologist appointment is March 24th. At this point, if the chiropractor keeps helping me, I will cancel my appointment. I want to fix the problem (misalignment) not just cover it up with medicine.

The chiropractor has offered to send me to a neurologist as well, so I feel I am covered.

I know people have their opinions on chiropractors. I appreciate his holistic approach to health and since I am seeing results, I will continue with this line of treatment. Otherwise I would have been miserable waiting for a neurologist appointment. My MRI was on February 16th and I have been waiting for a neurologist referral. March 24, will have been 5 weeks from my MRI.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:42.


Copyright © 2000-2024 Active Low-Carber Forums @ forum.lowcarber.org
Powered by: vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.