My Calves Ache!
 

I have been diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy. I currently take cymbalta and lyrica and it takes the edge of the pain, burn and electric shocks. However, my calves especially my left one aches so much. Any suggestions on what might be going on?

Do you find this mostly at night? If so, you might have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). I think it is common for RLS to accompany PN. I had it off and on for many years, but with the onset of PN, it became a nightly battle. I'm taking Mirapex, and it has been a tremendous help.

I have problems with things aching too, however, that said, aching calves can be another problem...intermittent claudication.

I don't know your age or cardiac profile, but, it may pay to let your doctor know that your calves ache badly.

I have very bad RLS too, but had that way before any aching....Who knows when the PN started??? Could have been decades before diagnosis. I use Mirapex for the RLS but mine is RBS...restless body syndrome. I have it in legs, arms and upper back.

Now I have an at risk cardiac profile and the calves often hurt....I just reconnected with the cardiologist.

I also have autoimmune issues too. Just fallin' apart here.:eek:

No, my calves, especially my left one ache all day and night. They are the worst at night when I finally settle down for the evening. I am 43 years old and had the neuropathy for 3 years. It is very frustrating not knowing what is causing this because deep down I know something is and the doctors have not figured it out yet. I am starting to experience joint pain in my fingers, running a low grade fever, and my eyes are so dry sometimes I have difficulty blinking. I take 30 mg. of cymbalta in the morning and 150 mg. of lyrica at night. The cymbalta worked great in the beginning, but I feel my body is getting use to it because my neuropathy is getting worse. I have tried mirapex and it didn't work. I also tried a drug for parkinsons, but forgot the name and I was in a fog all day. Now I am on predisone for back pain. I am too young and active to be dealing with all this. i guess I am having a pity party for myself. Thanks for listening.

My calves have always hurt also - I am 44 and like you have not found the cause and am desparate to find this - ever hopeful that there will be a cure. This forum helps me so much when I am low, I asked my doctor for lidoderm patches tonight and so far so good, I will keep you posted but my pain has went from 7/8 today to 1/2 tonight - i cannot remember this amount of pain relief for a long time.

malawi, have you been diagnoses with neruopathy and if yes do you think the two are connected some how? And what are lidoderm patches?

Yes my calves ache and sometimes they are so tight it feels hard to propel if that makes any sense. I asked my pain doctor and neurologist and he said it was all part of my peripheral neuropathy and what can manage the pain for it will also help with the calves. Now I am not sure if this is correct but what I was told. I was trying zanaflex and also klonopin. For me I don't know how much either work when I am in a flare. I'm also on neurontin and cymbalta.I also don't know the cause of mine which was dx at 28 and have been for so many diagnostic tests basically there is no more at the moment and I am on to pain treatment. 30 is a very low dose of cymbalta for pain control it is often 120 and that is what I am on. I am sorry I wish I had more to offer.

Welcome to our PN forum.

Regarding calves and aching:
I would get a good evaluation from a good podiatrist to see if you have some mechanical problem with your feet. Referred muscle pain may be coming from your feet and how you walk, etc.

During all the years of my foot PN, and arthritis, I have not had aching calves. Even when standing for long days in my job.

Cramping of the calves, may also respond to adding magnesium to your diet. Many people in US are low in this mineral, and it can cause muscle stiffness and cramps, esp at night. It is one offered treatment for RLS too.

Here is my magnesium thread with information:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html