Question:
5 Mos post-op w/ leg pain that feels like a shin splint. What could this be?
It bothers me most in the morning, mainly on the front to left side of my left leg. It feels like a shin splint, but I haven't been doing any vigorous excersize to cause it. The library talks about vitamin deficiencies, but I take a multi, and supplement w/ calcium, biotin, iron and B12. Any ideas what it could be? — mom2jtx3 (posted on January 22, 2002)
January 22, 2002
Shin Splints aren't necessarily induced by vigorous excercise. Walking in
poor quality shoes with no support can contribute, as can walking on very
hard concrete for a long time. My fiance used to be a waiter and got them
just from walking around in the restaurant. Ugh! But go to our PCP, as they
will be able to o bloodwork and determine if it is a vitamin deficiency or
just a fluke not related to surgery! Good Luck, I hope the pain subsides!
— Deborah W.
January 22, 2002
Try some added potassium ... it helps me...
— Sharon H.
January 22, 2002
Check your sleeping position! Are you now a stomach sleeper, and sleep with
left leg at point (like a ballerina) You may be overstreching the lower
leg muscles. If the pain is like a swollen muscle and gets worse with
activity, have your doctor look into 2 possibilites- intermittent
claudication and (rarer) compartment syndrome.
— [Deactivated Member]
January 24, 2002
Linda - I had the same thing happen to me starting between month 4 and 5
post op. I went to see orthopedic doc who sent me to neurologist. He did
a bunch of nerve testing and discovered that I had a pinched nerve in my
lower leg that was causing the "shin splint" feeling. It also
caused me to have a droopy foot that I tripped over and numbness on the
side of my calf. I had surgery about a month ago to release the pinched
nerve and my foot/leg are working just great now. The sudden weight loss
causes your body to reshift its remaining weight and sometimes that causes
things to become pinched. That's what happened, but it was a pretty easy
fix with the outpatient surgery. Check it out with your doctor, because I
had already had a 50% lose of muscle use at the time of my surgery. If I
had continued on the same way, I could have completely lost the use of my
lower leg and foot.
— gina P.
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