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What Causes Intermittent Muscle Pain In The Leg?
Question: I am trying to find an answer to leg muscle pain that comes and goes. Often it can stop me in my tracks and have mentioned to my Dr. I thought it might be connected to the statin I'm taking but after blood tests she said no. It started last winter in the muscle on both legs that are the outside of the leg this year after a summer of no problem the pain is also up the back of my legs. I manage to sit comfortably and mostly have pain when walking. I know a number of major things that could be wrong but before I subject myself to a bunch of tests I thought I'd see what I could find out with you first. I am female and 75 years old. I do not smoke and my drinking might happen once a month or so with a glass of wine.
Brief Answer:
This could be related to poor blood supply during walking!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks so much for this query.
I have reviewed this information fully. Pain that only comes on with walking raises a possible blood supply problem. This is also more likely as you are taking statins which are a major risk factor for narrowing of blood vessels. In addition, I will like to know whether you have any other disease condition such as diabetes or hypertension. Also, have you ever had any heart disease or interventions?
In all, I am concerned of a possible insufficient blood supply to the muscles during walking caused by narrowing. Let me know if you have been managed for diabetes, hypertension or any other heart disease. My preferred test would be an ultrasound to map the blood flow to your lower limbs.
I hope this sheds more light on the current worry and also guiding enough. Follow up with me on the above questions and also feel free to ask for more clarifications if need be.
Hope to hear back from you at your earliest convenience.
This could be related to poor blood supply during walking!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks so much for this query.
I have reviewed this information fully. Pain that only comes on with walking raises a possible blood supply problem. This is also more likely as you are taking statins which are a major risk factor for narrowing of blood vessels. In addition, I will like to know whether you have any other disease condition such as diabetes or hypertension. Also, have you ever had any heart disease or interventions?
In all, I am concerned of a possible insufficient blood supply to the muscles during walking caused by narrowing. Let me know if you have been managed for diabetes, hypertension or any other heart disease. My preferred test would be an ultrasound to map the blood flow to your lower limbs.
I hope this sheds more light on the current worry and also guiding enough. Follow up with me on the above questions and also feel free to ask for more clarifications if need be.
Hope to hear back from you at your earliest convenience.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
FYI am also on Lisinopril 40mg-HCTZ 25mg-clopidogrel 75 mg and the simvastatin-20mg
I have not had a heart attack but have a family history of heart disease. Both parents died at 69 and 71. The meds have been prescribed as a preventive measure after blood tests revealed possible issues. I certainly understand the possibility of low blood flow but never have swelling and don't understand why the pain will go away for days at a time and sometimes weeks
I have not had a heart attack but have a family history of heart disease. Both parents died at 69 and 71. The meds have been prescribed as a preventive measure after blood tests revealed possible issues. I certainly understand the possibility of low blood flow but never have swelling and don't understand why the pain will go away for days at a time and sometimes weeks
Brief Answer:
If teh pains fails to resolve after resting, then we have to think further!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
You are right if this pains fails to stop after resting. It should normally do if insufficient blood supply were the primary cause. This makes the initial hypothesis unlikely.
Simvastatin would certainly have effects on muscles. Longstanding pain might be more attributable to that than reduced blood supply given this additional information. I will suggest that your doctor measures the levels of your CPK. This is a marker of muscle inflammation that will help us see whether simvastatin are causing damage to the muscles that may explain this pain.
Let me hear from you. Discuss this with your treating doctor and also share results of the CPK when they become available with me.
I hope this guides. I wish you well. I look forward to more exchanges with you!
If teh pains fails to resolve after resting, then we have to think further!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
You are right if this pains fails to stop after resting. It should normally do if insufficient blood supply were the primary cause. This makes the initial hypothesis unlikely.
Simvastatin would certainly have effects on muscles. Longstanding pain might be more attributable to that than reduced blood supply given this additional information. I will suggest that your doctor measures the levels of your CPK. This is a marker of muscle inflammation that will help us see whether simvastatin are causing damage to the muscles that may explain this pain.
Let me hear from you. Discuss this with your treating doctor and also share results of the CPK when they become available with me.
I hope this guides. I wish you well. I look forward to more exchanges with you!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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