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What Causes Severe Muscle Pain In Legs?

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Posted on Tue, 1 Jul 2014
Question: Good evening - I am 59 a 69 year old male - for the past 10 years I have suffered from painful muscles in legs (calf muscles and thighs and now my butt thighs) ...I do have peripheral neuropathy in my feet and ankles....my entire legs feel heavy, and also weak and they feel tired after walking short distance - I am not out of breath but legs are very tired...there are no blemishes or discoloration in legs - they look normal. Muscles are painful especially my calf muscles, and now recently the muscles in bot butt areas are painful...going up stairs is an issue...i can go up but very slowly...at times my knee joints (both) get painful...I feel like I am not walking in a straight line at times...I do have type II diabetes....I have come to my whits end...just have not found the right doctor - I live in XXXXX cell YYYYYYYY email" YYYY@YYYY
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Supplements needed.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The painful and weak muscles are often found in vitamin D and magnesium deficiency.

I suggest you to consult an endocrinologist and get prescribed vitamin D and magnesium supplements. Your symptoms should improve with that. Also eat magnesium rich foods like bananas, beans, chickpeas, fish, nuts, soybeans, spinach etc which are natural sources of magnesium.

Regarding vitamin D levels, you need to take a XXXXXXX of vitamin D with milk or curd once a week for 8 weeks and then once a month. Each XXXXXXX contains 60,000 IU of vitamin D. But these should be taken only after getting your vitamin D levels checked.
The pain in the knees is likely to be due to osteoarthritic changes. These are basically age related degenerative changes in the weight bearing joints like knee and is characterized by joint pain and stiffness.
The treatment options include pain killers, hot fomentation, lubricating agents like glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin , dycerin, etc and some life style modifications and physiotherapy.
Right now you can start taking Tablet Tylenol ( Acetaminophen) Double Strength after breakfast and after dinner. It is suggested to add calcium supplements 500mg each twice daily. This will take care of your mild symptoms in 3-5 days.

I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (14 hours later)
Dr Tayal - Thank You so very much for your expeditious detailed response. Your response is very interesting, an internal medicine doctor I had back a year or so ago prescribed me 60,000 units of Vitamin D (dosage - once a week) and to be honest I was not sure why he did that - NOW I KNOW. I STOPPED (on my own - Silly Scotsman) taking the Vitamin D back a few months ago; and now that I know what it is for I will most definitely go back on it...starting IMMEDIATELY.
When walking my legs get tired easily, and soles of feet feel spongy, ankles hurt, and calf muscles are sore and tingle up to knees - trying to get out of a seating position is tough. I guess, it is like someone that has arthritis. The more I think about it, the condition has got much worse since stopping the Vitamin D. My joints are not swollen - lets look normal in color and have no loss of muscle - they just plain HURT inside.
Need to get relief.....BTW: I am 69 not 59 - have NEVER smoked cigarettes. Born in Glasgow, Scotland. Doctor, Thank you so much again -
Question:
I live in Ellicott City, Maryland (south of Baltimore) - you wouldn't happen to know of a good Internal Medicine doctor? Probably not - thought I would ask

Sorry Doctor Tayal - I did not realize you were located in XXXXXXX - I had asked you about the name of an IM doctor in my area....of course you would not know....have a WONDERFUL day....will start your recommendations IMMEDIATELY.....I already have an appointment set up for this Friday with a Physical Therapist - is there a difference between Physical Therapy and Physiotherapy?

Good Luck !!!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You are welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you.
I am glad I could help. A physical therapist is same as physiotherapist. There is no difference. Sorry I can't give you recommendations regarding an internal medicine doctor. You can contact our customer care for that.
You can consult me again directly through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Please accept my answer in case there are no further queries and recommend our services to your friends too if you have found it helpful.
I wish you the very best in whatever you do.
Warm regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (17 hours later)
Doctor I picked up my Vitamin D in pill form (a prescription) last night - I took one pill last night with milk.

QUESTION:
1) Is it harmful if you continually take Vitamin D once every week? rather than cut back to once a month after the first 8 weeks...
2) Dosage of Magnesium? Daily?

Cheerio for now, XXXX

If there is anything you need from the USA I would be obliged to help you out.

doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Details below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
It is best to decrease the dose of vitamin D3 to once a month after 8 weeks if there is no actual D3 deficiency. This is sufficient to meet your daily body requirements.
Daily recommended dose of magnesium is 350 mg.
Thanks for asking. You can send anything as per your convenience. Gifts are always welcome.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (21 hours later)
Hello Doctor - I now have all the supplements you recommended in your messages and have started taking them - however, the drug DYCERIN is NOT available in the USA....

Just wanted to let you know.

Thank you

XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Take glucosamine.

Detailed Answer:
You can take glucosamine sulphate instead. It will also be equally effective.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 12314 Questions

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What Causes Severe Muscle Pain In Legs?

Brief Answer: Supplements needed. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for posting your query. The painful and weak muscles are often found in vitamin D and magnesium deficiency. I suggest you to consult an endocrinologist and get prescribed vitamin D and magnesium supplements. Your symptoms should improve with that. Also eat magnesium rich foods like bananas, beans, chickpeas, fish, nuts, soybeans, spinach etc which are natural sources of magnesium. Regarding vitamin D levels, you need to take a XXXXXXX of vitamin D with milk or curd once a week for 8 weeks and then once a month. Each XXXXXXX contains 60,000 IU of vitamin D. But these should be taken only after getting your vitamin D levels checked. The pain in the knees is likely to be due to osteoarthritic changes. These are basically age related degenerative changes in the weight bearing joints like knee and is characterized by joint pain and stiffness. The treatment options include pain killers, hot fomentation, lubricating agents like glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin , dycerin, etc and some life style modifications and physiotherapy. Right now you can start taking Tablet Tylenol ( Acetaminophen) Double Strength after breakfast and after dinner. It is suggested to add calcium supplements 500mg each twice daily. This will take care of your mild symptoms in 3-5 days. I hope this answers your query. In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Praveen Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal