Hi,
This is my first post as I have been searching the internet and can't seem to get an answer.
I stopped getting my period in October--three month's ago. I went from an 18-day cycle for two years to just being finished. My GYN did blood work and my hormone levels are low enough to go on HRT if I so desire. I do have all the typical symptoms of menopause--hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, weepy with mood swings, headaches, etc.
My biggest problem is that I have pains in my calves. They started in September and vary in intensity. I find my calves both start tingling as soon as I wake up every morning and then the feeling just changes to a nagging ache.
I have had general blood work, a brain MRI, an arterial ultrasound, Lyme tests, Neurologist appointment, and so far nothing shows up.
So, I am trying to find out if others have the same type of pains in their legs due to menopause. I am next scheduled for a CAT scan of my spine and an EMG. If this is just part of menopause, I'd like to figure that out before going through any more tests.
I'd truly appreciate hearing from anyone who has had calf pains during menopause. (Also get some tingling and numbness in arms and legs.) Also would ask that no one suggest any other possible ailments as I've already gotten myself crazy worrying about different medical problems. I'll let my PC doctor take care of that approach. Just really want to know if anyone has sore calves.
Thanks so very much!
Hi Merry Mom, I am a 55 year old female and stopped having my perioids 2 years ago. I was having mostly night sweats, moody, crying. My doctor wanted me to go on hormones but I was scared to do that....so over the past two years, I've coped.
OK, now to the legs. This past September, I too, started having leg problems! It started in my left calf...then moved to the right as well. I have had "buzzing" from time to time. I don't have cramps, just moderate achiness. The pain will move around the leg...like sometimes it will be in the calf, or behind my knee, or more toward the ankle. I have mentioned it to my doctor several times but so far he is not concerned....I asked him about several things it could be and he said...no way.
Last year I was diagnosed with hypothyroid and general anxiety disorder...which for me, that was a big year healthwise. I have heard that having anxiety could cause muscle aches, tension, etc. So, mine could be from that.....but I have also heard that women can feel AWFUL when they reach menopause.....my doctor wants me to go on hormones, which I have bought, but not started yet. But I believe I am going to start them because two doctors tell me they will make me feel so much better and the quality of my life will be much better. I don't know if that helps you in anyway, at least you know you are not alone. I find that if I keep myself busy I don't notice my legs ... at least that much. Maybe too, you could have some anxiety (also from menopause) and that is just making things worse for you. Would love to hear back from you!
Thanks for writing. Sorry that you, too, are having discomfort! I have read that hypothyroid can cause leg pains. I wonder if yours are from that or from menopause in general. The pain you have sounds very similar to mine. It does move around from behind my knee to lower in my calf. And, like you said, sometimes I get busy and don't notice it as much. It's just those days when it hurts to the point where it is painful to walk a lot. Also, it does wake me up often in the morning.
I, too, have the HRT stuff sitting on my nightstand. I think I will do a lot of reading over this weekend as I am not well informed on hormone therapy. Do me a favor--if you do start the HRT, and your legs feel totally better, please post it here.
Good luck with your journey and keep me posted!
Hi MerryMom, just checking in with you to see how you are doing. As I posted before, we had similar symptoms, etc. I went to my doctor about 4 weeks ago for my physical. I mentioned my calves/legs and everything going on with them....tingling, aching...etc. He at first thought it was restless leg syndrome but I said...no way. I told him I was worried about other things it could be ( and he once again forbid me to go on line to look this stuff up)....he said he "honestly" believed it was anxiety. He said I am healthy and it was glad I had started on my medication (which I fought going on). I am on 1 mg of clonazepam (1/2 pill in am and 1/2 in pm). I also take 10 mg of Lexapro a day. I do feel better but I don't want to stay on both for an extended time ... so he said that maybe once the meds are really working, we could wean off the clonazepam since the lexapro is for anxiety and depression. I also went on the hormone patch and I guess that's been 4 weeks. He assured me that the breast cancer scare with hormones is minimal....and that the news blows it out of proportion....and of course, I won't be on them forever....hopefully. So, I know you were going to do some reading on hormones and wondered what you decided. But most importantly, are you feeling better? I have been feeling much better since he thought it was anxiety and not some terrible disease. I am so glad I went on the meds. I see him this Tuesday to discuss how everything is working and I am going to suggest that we add a little more lexapro. I do get bouts of anxiety but not as bad as before....so, I think a little more will be beneficial. Hope to hear from you and how you are doing! Take care, Deb
Hey sealear and MerryMom,
I am 58, on HRT and am hypothyroid and I have terrible tingling and pain in my calves also and down into my feet. The pain radiates from the back of my knee down. The pain will also be worse in one leg sometimes. Right now, my right foot is tingling and burning. It's a lot worse when I'm sitting. I usually get some relief when I get up. Sometimes my feet also feel very cold, even with socks on. My armour thyroid has been upped and I also take cytomel 3 to 4 times a day. Maybe I haven't taken it long enough for results. I am very frustrated like you folks. My back doctor thinks its in my spine, but Im not sure. He wants to put me on Neurontin, but I don't want that. My back doesn't hurt. I know that I know that I know it's something else. Any idea?
Hi Cougparent, sorry to hear about your troubles. I'm not sure I know what cytomel is used for....could you let me know? Do you have bouts of anxiety? Or stress? You know, it could be a nerve coming from your spine.....it doesn't mean your back has to be bothering you necessarily....but a nerve going down your leg and foot. I guess if it were me....and even though I HATE going to doctors....I would go to my primary care and talk to him/her and see about doing some tests if the pain is that bad....This is a tough one. It could be thyroid, menopause, anxiety....back/nerves. But I would be interested to know what cytomel is. Sorry, I wasn't much help but I'd love to hear back from you. Deb
So sorry to hear about your pain. Have any of you seen a chiropractor? It sounds like it could be Sciatica. It can start anywhere in your spine and generally goes down into your legs and can also cause tingling and numbness in your extremeties. It's also hurts worse while sitting and getting up and stretching exercises helps. It might be worth a try to see what's going on.
Hello again. My chiropractor is practically my best friend. Sometimes they get a little better from adjustments, but not appreciably. Cytomel is T-3, and I take it 3 to 4 times a day along with armour thyroid. I've had sciatica before and this has not been anything like the other two times I've had that. Though I'm not discounting that possibility. I do have some days when my legs don't bother me at all. I live for them!! Let's keep talking, maybe we can get a bead on this thing. Thanks for the response.
hello ..i also am going threw menopause and i have restless leg syndrom..they ache on and off and when i go to bed at night they keep me awake..feels like i have to move them when im resting...i dont know if you have r.l.s but sure sounds like it..and there is medication for it....hope this helps........take care....
Thanks for checking up on me and sorry to have disappeared for a bit. I'm still plodding through many tests trying to get to the bottom of this leg issue. My primary doctor was insisting that I go on Lyme meds, even though my tests came back as inconclusive. I sought another opinion and am now having tests for folic acid deficiency and general neuropathy. New doctor also thinks an unlikely possibility could be menopause. The doctor thinks I most likely have Restless Leg Syndrome as mentioned in some posts. That's why these medical boards are so helpful--many people have gone through similar experiences and have ideas about what could be going on with others. I am dreading the EMG test as I hear it is terribly painful. (My lumbar MRI came back with no back issues.) This specialist also mentioned that the thyroid is a big contributor to pain like I have. My test for thyroid problems came back negative. Since my legs have been hurting so much, I hadn't been able to sleep. That was wreaking havoc on me! So, I'm taking a Xanax at bedtime and that seems to keep me sleeping for a good eight hours.
I got too nervous about taking the hormones. I'm now using some natural alternatives that seem to be working remarkably well. I think I'm very lucky to have such a positive result from just taking soy and Estrovera.
Thanks again to everyone. The support always helps! Hope you are all managing well.
sorry to hear your going threw all of this... i posted the thought you may have restless leg syndrome..i think it is ironic you too have thyroid issues as well as going threw menopause as i am going threw all this too...i am on meds for r.l.s. and still have them twitching when i go to bed ..they ache when im on my legs for short periods..very frusterating..i know what your going threw and as soon as i get the answers ill be sure to send them your way..unless you get them first...what is wrong with your thyroid..do you also have a multinodular goiter??/...enlarged thyroid..i wonder if its from going threw menopause without hormone replacement because i dont take nothing for menpause...i had a hysterectomy 7 years ago...let me know im really curious now..if there is a connection to r.l.s.and thyroid and menopause?????
YES i have the same problems with my legs as well, but i also have heaviness in my legs which causes me to be un able to stand for more than 5 minutes and it does not matter how much rest i get its always there. i have an apt to see a neurologist as well so i'm wondering if that would be a waste of my money and time.
Seems that I have benign fasciculation syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that causes twitching while my legs are at rest. So, when I sleep at night, my calf muscles are constantly spasming. When I get up, my muscles are fatigued from all that movement and are sore. (It is different than RLS as my legs don't actually move around while I sleep.) Not much information available and it seems that I'll just have to wait until it goes away. One of my friends is having a similar autoimmune issue that also happened with the onset of menopause. I have to wonder if the hormone change can bring on other issues...
Thanks all!
The Following User Says Thank You to MerryMom For This Useful Post: sealear (04-22-2011)
i am so thankful for your post, i wake up every morn for 5 days now ,and your story could be me, stopped the period around a year and a half, but had it hanging around 8 to 10 days every 2 weeks, since last august, no period but sweats,yes, moody, yes, anxiety, yes ,leg pain yes, get out of bed, go to bathroom, and then the numbness/tingling/and then pow mega pain in the back of my left leg so severe,heating pad goes to the bathroom with me/not kidding/and we wait 4 10 min till the pain goes away for the day its horrible, my husband actually said take the heating pad to the bathroom w/ you , cuz getting up was difficult, now its patience and fortatude before i start my day............
because i wanted to make sure that you were not just starting menopause. yes i have had the pain in my calfs as well, but i only had a neoroligist check me due to b6 overdose. but i wanted to know if anyone else had the same problem as well and if menopause could be the blame. but if it is then WHY that symptom?
i know what your saying, i ask myself the same question every morn as i sit with the heating pad for 20 min and then pray it does not come back/ until next morn and each day is different the tinglings then numb/ and i hope it will pass and no it is worse then the day before/ and again i pray it does not happen again threw the day
its horrible, my husband actually said take the heating pad to the bathroom w/ you , cuz getting up was difficult, now its patience and fortatude before i start my day............
