I would like to know what is going on with my legs I’m now 39 yrs old and I have the hardest time trying to get in shape because of my lower legs. When I begin to go walking to get into shape the front, calf and behind my calf muscle hurt so bad, even when I try to do aerobic exercise not really the high impact exercise it begin to hurt it feel as though the muscle begin to get tight till it can’t get tight any more and then it begin to hurt severally keeping me from finishing the exercise, if you can please tell me what is going on and what can I do to make this better?

When you walk at a moderate pace do your shins start to burn? Do you find that your feet start slapping the ground slightly more awkward than they should do? You may have a touch of compartment syndrome in your calfs; this is where your muscle, ligaments that control your foot drop get so inflamed they bind causing quite a bit of pain. A physio, chiro or pediatrist will be able to diagnose this.

I’d consider some stretching exercises; if it’s bugging you so much I’d spend £30 on a professional consultation rather than rely on YouTube videos.

Sorry Seanoc, we’re all called Podiatrists now.. pediartist sounds a bit dodgy 😉

nancy609
Get yourself to a Podiatrist as soon as you can. If its compartment syndrome its a must that you do. It could be loads of things, muscle tightnes/imbalance. It could be something called ‘intermittent claudication’, even at your age. You need professional advise and clinical examination now. Dont go to a ‘chiro’, or a physio first. If it needs physio treatment a Podiatrist will tell you and refer you on. Intermittent claudication and compartment syndrome is our area of expertise.

Good luck!

Oops sorry, I’m corrected. Definitely don’t go and see a pedophile about it…..they know naff all about compartment syndrome.

Your GP can refer you to a specialist physio for free, the referal may be expedited by a ‘paid for’ visit to a specialist though…..that’s what I done when having knee trouble; the physio spotted the compartment syndrome without me telling him about it. I just thought it was meant to hurt like that!

Good point, but referrals take time.
Worst case scenario… lets not go there unless you fancy a handcycle.
Private pod asap. Physio’s are ok but the name physio isnt protected, and there are some sports massage therapists who have the right to call themselves physio’s, and do a great job, your choice at the end of the day.

Put it this way. Intermittent claudication can lead to 70% of sufferers having amputation within 5 years. Which if not bad enough, is statistically proven to greatly shorten life.

Podiatrists are lower limb specialists, we dont just do feet!

When you walk at a moderate pace do your shins start to burn? Do you find that your feet start slapping the ground slightly more awkward than they should do?

i have this exactly as described.

captaincarbon:

How do I go about finding a reputable podiatrist to the west of London. Had a quick google/yell search and there’s quite a range of people and I don’t know how to tell a good’un from a bad’un.

One of my best friends has a podiatry practice in Marlow, which is sort of West of London. He’s a mountain biker too so he must be good at his job. Orthosport

Cheers Paulio Marlow would be fine.

Just look for one thats HPC registered.

claudication can be neuro or vascular though captain, so the OP should really see a GP before anything else I imagine?

would like to echo all of captaincarbons comments.
‘fellow pod here! private practice’ but not in your area.

Just taken a look at the orthosport website and it doesn’t really tell you much about the qualifications and experience of the person(s) that are likely to be treating you. I’m much more interested in the skill of the person rather than what equipment they have.

It might be an oversight on the website but it is a bit off putting to be honest.

Paulio, maybe have a word with your mate about adding a little more info to the site.

GP first IMO.

Physiotherapist is a protected title I believe BTW –

Sorry TJ, would like to think it is but im afraid not! Woody, indeed your right. G.P. would normally be the first point of contact but this needs seeing to now if only for piece of mind. Visiting the GP means further referral to a specialist for confirmation and treatment, all of this takes time. You could book and see a private Pod straight away.

http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutregistration/protectedtitles/

The name Physiotherapist is ‘so called’ protected UNTIL you prefix it with the word Sports, or Massage, for example. All im saying is make sure its a proper Physiotherapist.

Cool, I’m going to start up as a “Sexual Physiotherapist” then. Would that work? 😀

I honestly can’t believe that’s allowed though, totally misleading 😕

Paulio, maybe have a word with your mate about adding a little more info to the site.

Fair point, I’ll let him know. That would put me off too. He’s on the HPC register and has been qualified (Podiatry BSc from Northampton I think) and practising for at least 10 years.

CaptainCarbon Physiotherapist and Physical Therapist are protected titles same as chiropodist and podiatrist. You cannot use physiotherapist or physical therapist or sell physiotherapy or physiotherapeautic treatments in the UK wihout being HPC registered.

If you took your point about a prefix to its logical conclusion calling yourself a qualified physiotherapist would get round the title protection, which is of course utter nonsense.

muppetWrangler I wouldn’t worry too much about it, I spent 10 years in the military suffering from the same symptoms but managed to get on fine in some fairly arduous courses. No need for amputations; used to just push through it. Resolved completely with foam roller and stretching exercises.

Hello guys,what up? I am now well enough by a podiatrist suggestion.So please help me if you have any new idea to do to remove my pain.

http://drjexpodiatristhouston.com/