Hi to all,
I don't recall reading about this problem on here so am going to take a chance and ask.
I'm going through a terrible flare-up and this time my legs are feeling like dead weights. I can hardly walk b/c they feel SO heavy and have not had 'this' issue before (least that I remember).
All I want to do is lie down & yet I know this will cause me more grief with these cement legs.
Anyone else experienced this? If so, what did you do to overcome this horrid feeling?
I have experienced what I describe as my legs being so heavy that I feel like I am walking through water. This happens mostly when I have overdone it or am exhausted. After I rest it gets better.
Geranium, I was just talking to another fibro sufferer who also experiences this. I haven't myself, but can see how concerning it would be. I'll see if I can find any info on it for you and get back to you.
LATER...
I looked through SIX PAGES of "Hits" (I typed in "legs feel heavy fibro") and found six plus pages of fibro people with the same complaint! Apparently it's VERY common in fibro and CFS, Geranium. I tried to find a medical explanation for WHY (digging through six pages) and could find none. I gave up looking after six pages. All i can say is that it sounds extremely distressing.
Have you brought it up with your doctor? If not, maybe you should and maybe, just maybe, he might know why it's happening. The closest I could come in my search is that someone's CFS doctor understood it right away and said it's very, very common in CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome.) Apparently it also is with fibro.
This sounds like a symptom of restless leg syndrome.
Geranium:
Here's something very interesting that ties in Vitamin D deficiency (surprise! Many of us fibro people suffer from this) with legs feeling heavy:
A vitamin D deficiency can cause your legs to feel heavy, tire easily and experience general muscle weakness.
From: http://www.livestrong.com/article/421308-nutrition-and-tired-legs/
Within the same article, iron deficiency is also cited for this feeling AND can cause restless leg syndrome:
Not getting enough iron can make your legs feel tired, HelpGuide.org reports. An iron deficiency can cause restless leg syndrome, or RLS. One of the symptoms of RLS is a tired and heavy feeling in your legs. This predominantly happens when you lie down or rest, and usually only affects you during bedtime, but it can occur much earlier in the day depending upon your deficiency.
Yes it’s the severe fatigue. Time to chill at that point. I have it every morning though but I have to drag myself out. Do you get it in your arms too? Killer just putting in a light bulb. How I manage to work is beyond me some days Lol
Yes...like trying to walk through deep water. I am ALWAYS exhausted so I can't say it's because I've overdone a darn thing.
Thank you for your research Petunia, there is great info on these links. I haven't talk to my Dr. about it as of yet because it always seems that every time I see him,....I have yet another complaint that seems to confound him.
I'm sitting here looking at a req. form where he has ordered sooooo many tests and I am just too exhausted to get to the lab and 'git-r-done'. This is the 3rd time he has made out this form and I STILL haven't been able to comply. So I guess I certainly can't blame my Dr. for not trying to help me..can I? hmph.
I thought I'd post this b/c I had not heard anyone else complain....am sure glad I did now.
Thx again
I was actually hoping it was the severe fatigue.....am afraid thinking it's PAD. Yes Jo, I've started to get it in my arms now too and have trouble twisting the darn door knob. Light bulbs would be a no-no IF I have to hold my arms up. They are just toooooo heavy now even though I am of relatively slight build.
I don't understand/comprehend how anyone is able to work with this horrid condition/disease. Yep...beyond me too.
Thanks for your reply
I can tell you for sure that I'm definetly a Poster Child for CFS. It seemed to come hand in hand with the Fibro for me but I have a FM friend who doesn't have CFS.
Yes, it is most distressing and makes me feel like a 200yr old Zombie. ha
Geranium,
I have CFS also, so I don't know if it makes a differnece. But sometimes i feel like I'm trudging through quicksand. Every step feels uphill.
But just to safe, Do you have any back problems? I do and occasionally my right leg will feel heavier than the left. My surgeon said it's stenosis in my spine.....but if you're not experiencing any numbness, tingling or pain also, it's proabably the fatigue.
warm hugs,
P
p.s.
I've had this since i was 35 and have had the same weakness....so I'd bet on fatigue. But if it NEVER improves even for a day, and it's new, I'd mention it to your Dr.
Oh yes....trudging through quicksand is a great analogy. Uphill all the way. Yes, I have back problems & have had ever since an inept surgeon cut into my spinal column during what should have been a simple surgery/fusion. I ended up on life support for quite some time b/c the spinal fluid got into my bloodstream. Bad news!
I had 'repair' surgery 14months after that mishap (?) grrr...and the NEW surgeon pulled 2 of my stomach muscles (probably the obliques)around to my back and tied them like an X to support the area of my spine where there is missing bone from the lamenectomy. Needless to say...there is always spasms going on with my back.
Like you, my Dr., says I have stenosis now but I don't have any numbness or tingling. Just pain...yikes did I say 'just pain' !!!!
I didn't get this CFS until I got FM so I wonder if it's all related to the botched back surgery. 'We' FM people are told that we've got this dreadful condition b/c of a physical trauma to our body. At least that's what I've been told. Then there is the emotional trauma stacking the deck too.
Do you work Penelope?
Thanks for the hugs & I send many right back to you.
G
LOL, I know exactly what you mean about getting those lab tests done, Geranium. My doc wants some done with fasting...but I work in the morning, physical stuff, so how am i gonna fast???
I just found the overlap with Vitamin D deficiency interesting, to say the least. The iron deficiency possibility is also intriguing.
This also affects people with CFS and you mention having it. But maybe if it is a deficiency you can address the problem.
BTW, I read about your botched operation and the "fix." O.M.G.!!! I hope you sued doc #1. OMG. Cannot believe what he did to you. And yes, many folks do seem to get fibro from a traumatic event, Geranium, so your botched surgery may well have lead to both the fibro and CFS. That idiot doc should be out of business.
I remember when my daughter was little I would always tell her to pick up her feet when she was walking. I hate it when people drag their feet! Now it's me doing it and I can't seem to do a thing about it! The RLS has really increased recently too so I might look into the iron issue.
Thanks for posting this!
Hugs :)
Hi Geranium, you have got a great discussion going here lots of great thoughts. I’m glad you have some blood work scheduled and if that vit D level & iron is not on there please call your dr. And ask him to add them… The other thing that has crossed my mind is are you well hydrated ? We don’t always think about it in the cold months, but with the heat on and not being out we sometimes do not drink enough fluid . But again I’m really glad you have some blood work scheduled, that being said with your back issues I would put this issue at the top of your list when you see your dr, which it sounds like you are going to do that.
It sounds like it could be fibro or CFS, however-its so easy for the dr. To say oh it’s your fibro or your CFS, if you are not happy with his findings, don’t let it go … Keep pressing for him to look for good reasons for this horrible symptom .
Let us know how it works out
Hugs & blessings
No Geranium,
Thank God, i have been on disability since 1995. I had disability insurance at my job. Then a few years ago I was accepted into Social Secuirty disability.
If I had to work, i’d have starved to death years ago! 
I know what you are talking about and I feel the same way sometimes. Usually when I have a flareup of the Fibro, CFS or Sciatica. Take your pick. Just a few minutes ago I was on this computer trying to find a new doctor. I get so tired of going to the doctor and being told basically the same thing. It is the Fibro. I did have a very good doctor, but because of Obama care he went to the VA and I ended up with one of the partners in the practice that acts like he cannot wait to get out of the room. It took almost 1 year to see him (Ihave been seeing his Nurse Prac) She is much better with the patients than the doctors. My yearly physical was listening to my heartbeat, looking at my throat. The Asst. took my temp and blood pressure. I was telling him as he was walking out the door that if he looked at my chart; he would see I have lost over 20 pounds since Dec. and I am not trying t do so. Not that I did not need it, but I would like to know what is causing it. I have a burning in my sternum, and I think, Costochondritis in my right rib cartilage. Is there any doctors who care? So sorry about your leg, but it will stop in the next few hours, days, weeks, as with everything else, who knows. I pray allot and that always helps, but I have lost a few friends over this because they do not understand how I feel. Two of them has mentioned that they wish I would get off the meds because they love me and hate to see me look the way I do when I am taking them. I said "Surprise" the only reason I can act normal sometimes is because of the meds. What they are seeing when I appear to be drugged me with Fibro, CFS, etc and I am not on my Rx. They have it exactly backwards, but I am pretty sure they do not believe me and that really hurts. It can really make you appear to be anti social and confused. I was diagnosed in 1996 and my cousin in 1991. I still feel bad about not being there for her because I was told in Nursing school back then that it was the "Yuppie Housewife Syndrome". I try not to be a buzz kill, but sometimes I get so tired of being like I am with Sciatica mixed in with some nausea thrown in and I get on the computer with you guys.
So, sorry about the leg. The symptoms vary so much. No telling when it will go away or maybe it already has...?????
Hi Cheryl,
Though I am not a nurse, dee has mentioned to me that her nursing training on Fibromyalgia, though brief, was very similar to yours. With the core belief of 'do no harm', it is unforgivable that this illness could ever be reduced to such an insulting definition. Luckily times and attitudes are changing and research is on-going.
I suffer from Sciatica as well, and besides Lyrica at 225 mg, 3x daily. Sportscreme rub really helps me with this maddening burning and pain. It is available in most drug or grocery stores, just do not use it with a heating pad. I've tried these hot pepper natural rubs, and they just heighten the agitation for me.
Linnie Pies posted a simplistic Dr Phil video yesterday explaining Fibromyalgia in basic terms that may help your friends and family better understand and accept. It's a shame that we even have to resort to this, it would seem to me that with such boundless information available at the touch of a button, that they would take a look for themselves. When I drove my best friend to an eye specialist a decade ago to get a confirmation on her MS diagnosis, I went to the library and book store, as I wanted to be able to understand how she felt, and be able to be of help to her, supportive of her.
I hope you can find 'your Doctor', as it seems as though yours at present is far from satisfactory. So sorry that you have to go through this.
Geranium, my friend, I hope that you are doing well, and getting ready to plant your beloved flowers!
Wishing you both well,
SK
Hi Geranium. Yes I get the heaviness symptoms too. Seems it’s the worst when I overdo it (which doesn’t take much) and I also get the heavy legs, heavy arms issues during my menstrual period. I haven’t been dxed with CFS, but I think I have it alongside the Fibro. I’m sorry you deal with the heaviness … it’s quite awful. I also feel as if my limbs don’t “work” because they don’t respond how I want them to respond as if my brain and legs aren’t communicating with each other. This symptom is what distressed me the most before the official Fibro diagnosis. I thought I had a muscle disease or ALS. Very scary.