Front part of my calves hurt from the knees down.
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
August 22, 2008 8:14pm CST
I found that lately the front part of my calves hurt. I thought it might be not enough calcium, but I usually drink a glass of milk a day plus yogurt, and then I thought it might be because I do not do as much walking as I should. I have tried to alternate standing on one leg and then another. I find it happens infrequently, not just when I wake up but sometimes during the day. Is this a part of being over sixty-five? I did fall down years ago, and I have bruises on the lower part of my legs. So is it a result of a former fall or related to my age, or some other reason?
4 people like this
16 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Not your age. am older than that I dont have it.
And do you mean your chin bone the front of your leg fot thats all I can think would be the front of your calfs. Since your fall did bruising go away and come back?
if not that can be from the fall . If so the brusing could be from a no. of things.
Right now I brsise so easy that it is awful I can look at myself and a big PURPLE bruise will come out its cause they have me on 2 blood thinniners and high dosages at that .
BUt if you are all that worried about it go to Doctor for you could also have Diabetes but I would get it checked out if it bothered me that much.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
The bottom front of my legs are yellowish pink blotches and it is above my ankles where I fell so it could be from the fall. I do not get large bruises unless I knock against something. I bumped my knee against concrete a couple of years ago and except for a slight scar that part is still all right, but the part on the lower part of my shin just two inches above my ankles and three to four inches below my knees has this yellowish brown pick blotches. When I was in Edmonton, a friend who worked in a doctor's office told me it was water retention.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
23 Aug 08
It could be anything from aging to a vitamin deficiency to a medical condition you need to have looked at. If I were you I'd go to a doctor as soon as I can. I hope it's nothing serious!
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
I don't think so. I think it could be that I have not been walking as much. And I certainly do not do as much stretches as I should. I sort of feel that I have to get going as soon as possible. I will have to remember to ask the doctor about it when I have my checkup in October. It is hard to get an earlier appointment. They sort of discourage private practice up here so there is not that many doctors going around, so people tend to use emergency clinics and I am not that bad.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Our province has the New Democratic Party sort of like the Far left Democrats down there, and they do not like private practices, they think it is just for the rich, and for someone they prefer socialized medicine. In other provinces, you can have a choice, but here if you need something done in a hurry, you go to a private clinic either in the states or the other provinces. If a doctor wants to start a private clinic they penalize him.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
24 Aug 08
That's a strange system you have up there! I hope it gets better before your appointment!
2 people like this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
24 Aug 08
I have trouble mainly with my joints, knees and ankles. I played a lot of sporst as a youth and young man, and was still playing competitive squash into my forties. I put my problems down to these factors. I wish we had the quality footwear they onsider myself a lot luckier than many of the same age.have today,
I also have problems with my calves, but I now believe I have to live with all these problems as I get older. I take cod liver oil for the joints, and that works well. I know I should get in the pool to help my body, but I am really too busy. This will be a priorioty when I retire in seventeen months.
Have a nice day, and enjoy what you have. I consider myself lucky, the'remany worse off than I am.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
I did not do that much exercise when I was younger, but I did drink a lot of milk, but I often wonder where there is a happy balance. If you do too much, as in your case, you suffer and have aching joints, but if you do not do enough, you also suffer and have aching joints. I think it is because I have not been walking as much as I should and really I should do more, but where is that happy medium where you do not suffer when you get older?
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Okay I will be going for a walk today. I have something to look at and I hope the 45 minutes is considered the right time factor. I might even lose more weight in the process.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
25 Aug 08
I wish I knew. I am lucky too Doctor, and thankful for what I have. At least, I can look forward to each day as it dawns.
Have a great day.
2 people like this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
23 Aug 08
No it is not your age..It sounds like sore muscles..If you have not used your leg muscles it could be Fibromyolgia,thats pain in the muscles..it is like artrities but it is in the muscles...I don't know about the bruses but brusing is not a good sign unless you have hit your legs.it is a sign of a blood condition though.If they continue to bruise ,i would consult the doctor..Bruses only should occur if you have it your self...
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
I will. He has enough vitamins to last a year though. Maybe I can buy a good package and flush the bad one while I take the good ones. I am very sneaky but I do not make that much money. I will have to see about the bruises I have heard that there are bone bruises, and they take a while to get rid of though, and i will have to check the web to see if that is the case.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Well i supposs it could be from your fall from a while back..If it does not go away soon though you might should check with the doctor.i know when i stay on the computer alot my feet will swell...I do know that as we get older we do develope some things but you are not that old plus you don't get bruses as you age either..Maybe if you would like rub some liniment or something on your legs it might help..I don't know how long it has been since you fell but it seems like i remember you telling us & it has been a while..No don't let your husband buy your vitamins men buy the cheapest thing they can find at least thats what mine would do...anyway keep us posted on how your legs get,hopefully they will improve ...
1 person likes this
@Munchkin547 (2778)
•
24 Aug 08
It could be being caused by a lot of things! A lot of walking or uncomfortable shoes or long periods of standing. i don't think it is likely to be related to the amount of milk you are drinking now as i think it's during the younger years that the bones are formed and get their strength, we lose bone density as we get older! i suppose there is a possibility it could be osteoporosis or something similar, if this is something that is causing you problems it's probably a good idea to go to see the doctor to get it checked out! Unfortunately though it could just be one of those things that happens as our bodies get older! xxx
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
I do a lot of walking, but I have not done that much in the last couple of weeks and when I did it was with my husband and he cannot walk that fast since he had his mini stroke. I drank lots of milk when I was younger, but I heard you have to increase the amount you should when you get older. Also we have been in the house a bit since we had a couple of rain storms and my husband always insists on closing the blinds. So maybe there is not as much sunlight getting in or maybe I need more than usual.
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
I plan to. I have an appointment the beginning of October. It is just a month from now and a few days, so it should be all right. I am more concerned with high blood pressure and diabetes as they run in my family, although not to a great degree. One side has high blood pressure, one side has diabetes, take your pick. So far I have watched my food intake, but my dad had bad legs that bruised a lot and I do not want to get what he has.
@Munchkin547 (2778)
•
24 Aug 08
I think drinking milk is always a good thing at any age, especially for women. It could be being caused my a number of things, or it could be something and nothing, if it's still bothering you even after a period of rest it might be best to go to the doctor and get it checked out! xxx
2 people like this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
24 Aug 08
I am sorry that your going through this. Maybe try some bananas. I have also heard that drinking milk helps with leg pains. I hope that this helps you out! Let us know if your feeling any better!
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
I am drinking more milk and it seems to help. We usually buy bananas on Tuesdays, and I have also been doing more walking. So I have to see if there is a definite improvement rather than just a temporarily relief. I think it is helping. NOw I have to get rid of those bruises on my lower leg. They are not that bad, at least not as bad as what my father had.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
A few years ago, I was walking across a parking lot, and I feel, hit my shins quite hard. It was quite slippery at the time. So my shins got bruised. So I figured it happened then and I heard that it takes a long time to heal.
1 person likes this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
25 Aug 08
Ok I have missed something here. Why are you bruised?
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@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
23 Aug 08
Have you tried eating bananas? You could just be deficient in potassium.
How did you come to the conclusion that you may need more calcium?
2 people like this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
23 Aug 08
I think that getting extra calcium is only a piece of that puzzle though. I don't know a heck of a lot about menopause since I am not that old yet, but I know your hormone levels also contribute to bone density loss.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
I had lots of milk when I was young, and I thought being large bones sort of protected me against bone loss, but I checked my multivitamin and it has only the minimum amount and we ate all our bananas, so I am stuck. It could be I am not walking enough. Anyway I do have a doctor's appointment for October, so maybe he will tell me what is going on.
@venshida (4836)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I had pain in the front of my calves recently really painful. The reason why I was experiencing the pain was muscle related. I had recently started excersing, and I over did it. Age does cause some changes to our body, I am not sure if it is in your situation. Have you done anything physicial that might cause this pain. If it continue, I would get an opinion from my doctor.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
I have been increasing my walking, but I did not think it was that bad. I had a fall some years back, and I had been alternating standing on one leg because I have a hard time loosing weight and I did not want to be off my feet for very long. I think the pain is a combination of things.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I think it could be either 'age' or the fall or could be a combination of the two/three if you count the calcium which you may just need more or your body isn't making good use of the calcium. I can't remember what it is but a deficiency in one of the vitemines will cause calcium not to be absorbed into your system.
I hurt all over right now but have been on my feet all day and into the night - canning again :)
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Aug 08
I would assume that the calcium is not being absorbed. I will have to look it up on the net and find out what vitamin I need more of. I do take a multivitamin supplement but it is a basic one and I do not think it has the major qualities one needs. But it is not through hard work.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
I think I am getting enough calcium and I do go out, but my husband closes the drapes in the house so I suppose that does not help. So I guess I need more sunlight.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Vitamin D - I found this article :)
"Calcium and vitamin D are essential to support bone growth and teeth formation early in life, and to reduce bone loss later in life. Vitamin D helps your bones absorb calcium."
http://www.sjmercyhealth.org/body.cfm?id=133
1 person likes this
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I hate to tell you but age does take its toll!i have more aches and pains these days than i have places to have them LOL
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Aug 08
I thought I was going through this aging thing like a breeze, gradually get into it. Now not only do I have this extra flesh on my torso, my knees are sore when I run, and I am expanding, but now I have to worry about my chins. I am not a happy camper.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Aug 08
And I thought it was us not being in heaven and not being to fly off the ground, not being able to walk through walls, and not looking like we should have been when we were twenty-one.
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
23 Aug 08
ME NEITHER I hate getting old but look at it this way the pain is Gods way of letting us know we are still alive LOL
1 person likes this
@sweethomecatring (1563)
• India
23 Aug 08
Neither it is a age factor nor it relates to bone density. You might have got deb tic which losses the muscles. Try to have daily a morning walk and evening walk and better use some ointment for relief. I think you will get relief. Do things according to your age. My lotting is best for u and I I am ten less than u.
Take care.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Aug 08
I will try to increase my walking. Usually I just walk in the morning and I have some ointment and that should help. I do like to run, because I do not loose weight that easily. I have a slow metabolism and even cutting out and eating healthier do that good.
@manunulat (604)
• Philippines
23 Aug 08
Have you checked with your doctor yet? Pain is an indication of many things when you experience it. What is the quality of the pain? Does it last all day? Was there comfort when you try to change position, exercise, pain medication or massage? It is not enough to drink milk and yogurt. You have to let it be evaluated by an orthopedic. Previous injuries may be another factor but foods rich in Protein could be a culprit. Should we suspect arthritis, a doctor could evaluate that. If you are overweight, maybe you can try reducing. Alternate standing is not the proper way to manage it. You have to have a set of range of motion exercises.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
The pain is not that bad, just slight and it is not steady. Massage does help and it happens when I wake up more. I do not think I have arthritis and as for weight, I am trying to lose but well it took me a while to gain this weight and with losing two pounds a week it will take a while. I find it is better when I have my leg up. And I do not think I am having too much protein, besides protein sort of helps keep the edge of hunger off of me in the morning and if I ate less, then I would fill up on carbs.
1 person likes this
@izzybutt (30)
• United States
23 Aug 08
hi me again. Are you referring to the front of your lower leg? If that's the case, those would be your "shins". The calves are the meaty part in back. If you fell years ago and only now are having pain, it wouldn't be from that. It could be something simple like "shin splints". But has it been on and off over a period of time. Or did it start fairly suddenly? Have you been wearing new shoes or recently did more walking than usual? Have you been checked for osteoperosis? As we get older, we lose bone density. You might ask your doctor. Also, you might ask about getting insoles (cushioned inserts) for your shoes, especially if you are standing for long periods of time. It is also not a good idea to walk barefoot a lot on tile, marble or stone flooring, if you have this in your house. Always wear slipper or shoe with a good cushion. See your family doctor or a podiatrist.
And put your feet up on a pillow when at rest.
Take care!
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Aug 08
I do walk barefoot in the house, we have carpet and linoleum, but I go to the basement to get food for supper and it has a concrete floor. I start suddenly and I did get new shoes, and I usually only wear them for best and not for any heavy walking so it cold be that. Also about that bone density thing, I ate a lot of milk and cheese when I has young, does that not prevent me from losing it? I will put my feet up and it could be that I walk barefoot in the house, and then only wear my shoes when I go out.
@mikinikih (201)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Definitely worth a trip to the doctor, before it gets any worse. Could be anything from arthritis to shin splints to vitamin deficiency to osteoporosis. There are enough medicines out there that you shouldn't have to live in pain--even if it's infrequent. Better to have it fixed now than let it become a major problem.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
I do have an appointment but it is not until the first of October. It is hard to get a family doctor here and that is at the free clinic. In the meantime, I am going to drink more milk and take more walks and also put my feet up instead of putting more pressure on them. I heard that if you fall on your shins, then the bones bruise, and that could be it since there is not much covering them and it takes a while for them to disappear. But I want to make sure that is that. They are not as bad looking as they were.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
23 Aug 08
It sounds kind of like shin splints to me. You get that when you increase your walking and running without wearing appropriate shoes and stretching and warming up. I do not know what to tell you other than ibuprofen. With your calcium you need vitamin D and magnesium to make it all work together. That is why it is good to be in the sun about ten minutes daily, and to eat a banana, it has magnesium as well as potassium. Both are good for your heart and blood pressure, too. There is another affliction, intermittent claudication that can cause lower leg pain, too. It is more serious. You could search both terms, to see what I am talking about, then be an informed patient and see your doctor.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Aug 08
I really do need new walking shoes. I use sandals, but I have to be careful as I have wide feet in front and narrow in the back so my shoes tend to rub against my heels and I need a lot of padding there, but boy are they expensive. They cost over one hundred dollars. I love bananas, but so does my husband and they are gone in no time. I guess we better more where there are some banana trees so we can pick them off the branches.
@agnes4mail (131)
• Indonesia
23 Aug 08
I think its related to the age, do you have lack of activities when you're young? When you're getting older you lost calciums plus the absorber activities for the calcium getting lesser too, or it might because of high colesterol or sumthin, u should see a doctor to know precisely.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
23 Aug 08
I did a lot of activities when I was young, but I was not built for speed and I was not that athletic. It could be that the calcium is not getting absorbed as it used to be and I have not been walking as much as I used to. I think I will have to go for a walk pretty soon though. And I will see what is keeping the calcium from being absorbed.