I hate to blame everything on MS too but in your case, I agree with Debbie - it sounds like spasticity. I get it there too sometimes and it hurts and is annoying. It does feel like you've ran a marathon when you've only walked maybe 25 feet at the most or, as I call it, it feels like a 1/2 Charley horse that gets stuck like that for hours/days. Stretching the calf muscles out helps. Stand by a wall and do lunges (they help me out).

Thanks so much for your replies. Now I can add pins and needles in my feet at night to the mix - maybe something is going on. I have started doing some stretches - not sure that they are helping much yet.

Cheers

Lyn

Lyn, are you on any muscle relaxants? I'm on a large dose, and I still get this...one of those symptoms that I feel is the worst...until another one seeks my attention

Lyn: I had botox injections in both my left and right calf and it is helping a lot.
Nora

Spasticity is one of my biggest issues and I take baclofen every day. A calcium/magnesium tablet helps too.
On a good day in the spring or fall I can go for a walk......sometimes (very quickly) I will feel my legs start to weaken. If I stop and rest then the stiffness sets in IMMEDIATELY and I can hardly get going again.
So what do I learn??

Once I start going don't stop or I'm doomed.

there's a good calf stretch i know. you can even do it in front of a tree. you just need a surface to lean your arms against:
1. say it's your left calf that hurts. step close to but not against the tree.
put your right foot close to the tree. put your left foot behind you but not
too far. the Lt foot should be flat on the floor. with back straight lean into the
tree. you will feel your calf start to stretch. do this for about 10 seconds.
stretch only until you feel a slight pull. don't overstretch. if it's painful back
off the degree of stretch. repeat 2-3x's and you should have some relief.

hope this isn't too complicated.
you could also try one of those thermocare things that you can put on your
calf before you start a walk. that may help.

i get a lot of muscle tightness and heat is my best friend.
let me know if this helps.

Judy - I do those stretches every day, sometimes more than once. It does help. I use the wall though. Somedays I can do a larger stretch and others just a short one.

How are you doing, Lynn? Is it getting any better?

Spasticity is a constant with me to some degree. I can't take Baclofen, and I do take 1000 mg of magnesium a day (in divided doses, at lunch, dinner) and 1000 mg calcium at a different time than the magnesium, plus D3 to help metabolize. This way I never get a severe spasm, but I am always somewhat stiff and it's not just in my legs. Shoulders are a prime area, back.

Hello

I am still experiencing pain and stiffness in my calf, and it often goes into the back of my knee, and up the back of my thigh.

I explained the situation to my neuro, and he said it was most likely a spinal cord pathway that was to blame. My spinal lesions were not active, but they were there to be seen on MRI.

He offered me Baclofen to take at night (I wake up with cramps but not all that often), but I told him that I would go and see a physiotherapist first to see if that helped.

The Physio told me that she thought I had torn muscles in my calf and has been treating me for that - but still, it goes on - and although it is usually sore and stiff, it varies and comes and goes with its severity. So.....next step is an ultrasound to check out what (if any) damage has been done.

Soooo....I think it might be a combo deal.....started with MS, then I have damaged the muscle trying to stretch it out too vigorously..... now, it is back to being MS.

Not sure, and sorry to ramble.

Cheers

Lyn

Nora

I get really bad spascity in my left calf and left uuper arm and hand. Would like to hear more about the Botox. How long and often have you been getting this? How long does it work for? Any side effects? I tried the spascity meds to many side effects and made my right side weak.

Thanks

MaryK