Foot and leg pain

[ruthymg]

I'm not sure whether this has been written before, can't seem to find anything anyway. For a few months now I have been sufferin with muscle pain, bearing in mind that for the last 8 months or so, I have had no meds the majority of the time, so it can't be a side effect. Its mainly in my thigh and calf muscles in my legs but in my feet, the heel, ball and even the tops of my feet ache and my ankles. Could this be part of the crohns? its not that I walk excessively as I ache even when I've hardly done anything and if I take the dog for a short walk or walk like a mile and a half, I ache like mad. Any help would be greatly appreciated.



Regards


Ruth

 

[katiesue1506]

I would say to look into your potassium levels... low potassium can cause cramping.

Another thing would be your level of hydration.

The last thing I can think of is to have an ultrasound on your leg (I had one) to look for blood clots in the leg. Mine just turned out to be arthritic problems. But I would really take a look at your potassium levels because our malabsorption really instigates poor levels of important vitamins and minerals like that.

 

[Jeff D.]

Yeah I think katiesue has it right. Check potassium and water intake. If that doesn't help after a week get an ultrasound.

Best of luck, also check your protein levels.

 

[ruthymg]

Thanks guys, never thought it could be potassium levels, I don't drink as much as I should but I'm better than I used to be. I see my GI next month so I'll mention it to him.


Ruth

 

[Jeff D.]

Yep drink half your body weight in ounces of water. Also, a banana a day does wonders if you can tolerate them.

 

[Kev]

I don't know if that rule of thumb on drinking still holds water (pardon the pun). It used to be recommended to drink a minimum 8 glasses of water a day. New limit is to have that much 'fluid' a day, of which no more than 5 glasses should be H2O

Overhydration will compromise electrolyte balances, and can cause heart damage, etc..

 

[Jeff D.]

That's opposite what I learned in health science class in college. I learned that I should drink between 40 and 64 ounces of water a day. You do have to watch your salts and make sure you are getting enough but with the modern diet there is so much salt in everything that electrolytes should not be of much concern.

 

[Kev]

Well, the study was just released here in Canada 2 months or so ago. I left out that the new rules DON'T apply to athletes exercising, etc., or to folks in very hot climates... But if you're an ordinary person, and you think that drinking 8 glasses of water (on top of your other fluid intake) is helping you, it isn't. It is doing just the opposite. Now, sport drinks, etc., that are already electrolyte balanced aren't 'water'.. And most folks just took the advice literally, drinking all that water without worrying/checking on their electrolyte levels.

 

[Jeff D.]

Yeah I have always lived in a hot climate so water has always been an issue for me. I drink probably around 32 ounces of water a day with about 20 ounces of gatorade. Then I add a banana and some other things.

 

[ruthymg]

Thanks again guys. Thats really interesting about the limit on how much water we should drink daily. I personally am not a water fan anyway, its boring. I tend to drink tea, coffee or diluted juice. Its quite scary to think you can cause heart problems with drinking too much of the stuff though.

Ruth

 

[Jeff D.]

The problem with coffee if you drink too much of it is that it can actually dehydrate you. Try adding some water into your diet and see how you do. It should help you to feel a bit better.