Tight calf muscle advice

[garetharn]

I have been twitching 24/7 in both calves for 5 months, during the last three days my one calf and foot has become very tight and it has become painful to walk, I was diagnosed with bfs back in December after a neurological examination. Has anyone experienced similar tightness? And is it normal with bfs?
Thanks gareth

[Red Raider]

I get tightness in my calves sometimes the left or it might be the right but they hurt and feel tight sometime in the morning when I wake up I just try and stretch it out and go on. All my troubles started in January 2014 and since then I've had two Neuro exams one done by a ALS specialist and had a EMG Feb 14 by the specialist said it was neg and said I had BFS and anxiety. So I've had two Neuros tell me BFS and my calves are stiff and sore sometimes when I get up so I don't think your alone hit me back if you want we are in this all together I'm new as well. My big thing is sometimes when I put on my shoes I loose sensation in one of feet it's weird but I'm still able to do things. Did you have an EMG?
Houston

[garetharn]

Thanks for your reply, I did not have an emg as my neurologist was happy to diagnose me with bfs without one. I am very much the same as you suffering with anxiety and any change in symptoms worries me to bits because my leg and foot had gone stiff I have been concerned about spasticity.

[leaflea]

Is the tightness on the front or back of the calf? I think this is a brand new symptom for me, also my ankle. Tibial Anterior muscle which is the one that causes foot drop. OY

[garetharn]

It's more on the back of the calf but the tibial anterior is slightly tight my ankle seems fine the pain and tightness in the foot arch does bother me.

[specialboy]

Hi .... Haven't visited site for a while but going through a stressful period at present with twitching and cramps going mad - in calves and sometimes in thighs .... I find reading posts reassuring ....was really interested to read your posts about tight calves ..... I run a lot and a recent injury with achilles has stopped me running ( causing increased anxiety !) I have always had a slightly weak right achilles but the problem is taking much longer to clear up .... reading your posts I realise tight muscles in lower calves (front and back) is not helping the problem ..... first thing in the morning I have very stiff ankles and pain in the muscles in my lower legs front and back ... it takes a period of stretching to 'get going' anything either of you do specifically to relieve these symptoms ? I was diagnosed with bfs by a neuro last year after having all the tests ...one set at the beging of the year and one set at the end of the year....

[ShawnW]

I get tightness in my calves sometimes the left or it might be the right but they hurt and feel tight sometime in the morning when I wake up I just try and stretch it out and go on. All my troubles started in January 2014 and since then I've had two Neuro exams one done by a ALS specialist and had a EMG Feb 14 by the specialist said it was neg and said I had BFS and anxiety. So I've had two Neuros tell me BFS and my calves are stiff and sore sometimes when I get up so I don't think your alone hit me back if you want we are in this all together I'm new as well. My big thing is sometimes when I put on my shoes I loose sensation in one of feet it's weird but I'm still able to do things. Did you have an EMG?
Houston

I wonder...have you had a nerve conduction study in that foot? Sounds a bit like tarsal tunnel syndrome to me. Your history with ankle pain and numbness of the foot on compression makes me believe that could be an issue.

[Red Raider]

Ya the specialist did a NCV on all 4 limbs Shawn but only did EMG on Lt leg, rt arm, lt arm, under chin and para spinals. Now I'm having trouble in my right hand man. My hand feels weak and my finger want to claw up still strong but I feel a weak weird sensation. I feel a pain in my right bicep as well like a dull ache but my hand feels tight to open and weak I go see a rheumatologist next week. On my EMG in Feb the specialist said I had mild ulnar neuropathy in my right elbow you think this could be causing this? This has me concerned my hand feels weak and stiff man. Oh I had my cpk levels checked and they were 850 dude wow but I had also started physical therapy a week before the test and did physical therapy a day before the test and I was pretty sore so hopefully that's why my cpk levels were high. Just got me worried.
Thanks for your reply
Houston

[BFSBurger]

I have been twitching 24/7 in both calves for 5 months, during the last three days my one calf and foot has become very tight and it has become painful to walk, I was diagnosed with bfs back in December after a neurological examination. Has anyone experienced similar tightness? And is it normal with bfs?
Thanks gareth

My calf locked up for about 2.5 months at one point. I believe this is when my system was at its most "enflamed". Some very strange things helped. First, I began walking on the treadmill for about 5 minutes (its all I could handle given my fatigue levels at the time). Incline of 5.0 and speed of 3.0. After doing this, resting a couple days, then doing it again, I really felt significantly better.

Secondly, dead sea salt baths. 30 minutes. Very hot water. About 2 cups of the Dead Sea Salts. 3x a week before bed. Immense help.

Lastly, strange things like - I juiced a bunch of Pomegranates one day. Immediately as I drank the juice, my calf literally unlocked. I think it took about 2 minutes. I came running to this website to announce that it had worked. It was the strangest thing. After about 40 minutes it began to wear off and locked up again. Ran into some studies online about how pickles had been used to relieve cramping in athletes legs and how it worked in mere seconds. Strange stuff, but legit either way.

I would like to highly recommend you consider switching to a non-inflammatory diet for 3-6 months. I dont understand why, but I strongly believe it was the key to my body finally "calming down" physiologically.

-B-