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Aching legs and feet

(31 Posts)
HelterSkelter1 Tue 20-Jan-26 08:01:46

Over the last few months I have seen posters saying they have either aching legs and feet or both.
For the last 2 years I have been using our stairs 100x more than normal as DH is bedbound. I also had chemo 4 years ago.
My legs felt a little ache after the chemo but I was told by a rather indifferent neurologist it wasn't peripheral neuropathy.

Since November time I have had tingling and aching shins, calves, thighs and ankles. Which all make walking rather uncomfortable. I am wondering if it is the result of overuse and am trying to cut down the up and down stairs as much as is possible.

I would be pleased to hear what other GNs reasons are for achey legs and feet and what they find helps.

dragonfly46 Tue 20-Jan-26 08:14:24

I too have had chemo which gave me peripheral neuropathy. I suffer from aching legs and take paracetamol regularly which helps. Mine are worse after I have been sitting for a while so try to keep moving. Walking seems to help.

HelterSkelter1 Tue 20-Jan-26 08:28:53

Thank you dragonfly. I will try more regular doses of paracetamol. Sitting does make it worse. But I am mostly on my feet all day. It has got worse over the last 3 months.

I will mention it at my next telephone cancer check up. I would love a scan or MRI to check it out. My best friend died of bone cancer so of course that is in my mind which I can't help worrying about. But the consultant who rings me quarterly I know will not countenance one. Still I will ask for her opinion.

dalrymple23 Tue 20-Jan-26 14:20:32

Do you take statins? They can cause horrendous leg/muscle aches. Different statins can affect people differently.

hulahoop Tue 20-Jan-26 14:31:52

I'm another who had chemo and I also take statins my legs ache especially when I have been sat like you ,I take Amytryptalline at night for nerve pain .

HelterSkelter1 Tue 20-Jan-26 14:42:23

No I don't take statins. I was prescribed Amitryptiline when I had shingles across the base of my spine and buttock shortly after the chemo finished and I came off the anti virals I had prescribed while on chemo.. It didn't help a great deal, but maybe I didn't take it for long enough.

The pains are intermittent. At this very moment I have no pain at all but that could change by this evening and in the night.

The only meds I am currently on are eye drops for glaucoma.

HelterSkelter1 Tue 20-Jan-26 14:43:20

I am 77 and prior to cancer at 72 was pretty fit and walking many miles per week.

DollyRocker Tue 20-Jan-26 14:52:14

Fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases, spondylosis/arthritis, vitamin deficiency d, b12 etc, chronic regional pain. My friend gets leg and hip pains from osteopenia. Small fibre neuropathy is very rarely properly tested for in the UK & nerve conduction studies don't pick it up.

dragonfly46 Tue 20-Jan-26 15:38:04

You could ask your GP for a blood test to check calcium levels if you are worried about bone cancer.

Elusivebutterfly Tue 20-Jan-26 15:52:03

If you are on your feet and up and down stairs most of the day, it is quite likely overuse. I have mild arthritis in hips and knees and tendinopathy in my heels. I am stiff and sore if I sit too much, but it all gets very painful if I overdo things.

HelterSkelter1 Tue 20-Jan-26 20:41:15

Vit d and calcium levels are fine in blood tests. I still have regular blood tests with cancer (non hodgkins lymphoma) check ups.

I think it could be over use so for the moment will try and reduce the stair climbing as much as I can and see how that works. Thank you for your replies everyone.

midgey Tue 20-Jan-26 21:26:43

Could it be your footwear? I find my legs and feet really ache if I wear very flat shoes or unsupportive slippers. I totally understand about going up and down stairs to a bedbound husband, it’s jolly hard work.

Basgetti Tue 20-Jan-26 22:36:00

Just veinous insufficiency and varicose veins. I find knee high compression socks and walking help enormously.

sharon103 Wed 21-Jan-26 13:38:36

Is it possible to have your husbands bed downstairs to save you from walking up and down?

Mmc123uk Wed 21-Jan-26 13:41:25

Socks help achey feet ...I cant believe the difference!! I bought some of these from Amazon & have just reordered another set. Have 100% improved my quality of life (osteo arthritis in feet)!

DANISH ENDURANCE Outdoor Walking... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BV7G33N3?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&tag=gransnetforum-21

HelterSkelter1 Wed 21-Jan-26 13:50:22

No I don't want the bed downstairs as the bathroom is upstairs and I sleep upstairs. It seems a good suggestion but doesn't suit me.
I wish we had downsized to a flat/bungalow a few years back...but we didn't so this is the result....be warned.

Grantanow Wed 21-Jan-26 13:57:55

I've taken Simvastatin for over 10 years with no muscle pains. My GP advised it's uncommon and only affects large muscles. Pains in limbs can be referred pain from sciatica.

Lemonred Wed 21-Jan-26 14:14:23

I’m sorry you are suffering with this. Nerve pain is frustrating and fickle. One moment you’re fine, next movement, or later in the day it’s ghastly.
Check out a condition called Meralgia paresthetica. I’d not heard of it, until I got it, and I was an orthopaedic nurse 😁. Sounds similar to your symptoms, and it’s a type of neuropathy.

cc Wed 21-Jan-26 15:06:16

I've also had pain since starting taking statins which my GP just dismisses as not being the case. Some days I literally had to haul myself up the stairs using the banister as my legs just wouldn't do the work.
I've started going to the gym 3 times a week which has definiely helped, previously I needed to take a full dose of ibprofen before going to bed to have any chance of a decent night's sleep.

Nicolenet Wed 21-Jan-26 15:07:47

I would check with GP and not take any paracetamol or anything unless they told me too.

Lahlah65 Wed 21-Jan-26 15:24:05

I am not sure if the general discomfort you describe is likely to be from having overworked specific joints/muscles. It sounds like a more general discomfort.
The tingling you describe has made me think about vasculitis? Perhaps talk to your GP about the possibility of having a Doppler test on your feet/legs just to rule out a circulation problem?

DM has recently been diagnosed with this following worsening leg pain. Mainly when she is walking - it wears off if she sits down for a while. But her feet often feel numb/tingling when she wakes up in the morning. It is worse in bad weather. She has been told to continue to be as active as possible, walking is good apparently.

I understand why losing your friend to bone cancer would make you feel anxious about that. You should certainly mention it to your consultant - it might be useful to keep a record of when/how often you get it, how bad it is etc and see if there is a pattern you can describe at your next appointment.

HelterSkelter1 Wed 21-Jan-26 15:28:33

Meralgia paresthetica. Like you Lemonred I have never heard of it. But the pain and tingling in the thigh muscle is so similar.
Today my legs and ankles are behaving themselves. And I am having a quiet day and resting my legs as much as poss. I will try to rest them for the next few days and see how they are next week.
Thank you everyone. You don't think about the nerves in your legs...until you can't think of anything else!!

tattygran14 Wed 21-Jan-26 15:36:56

I was given support stockings, which seemed too tight everywhere, especially on my feet, size 8. Apparently they don’t do larger foot sizes?? I think my feet were distorted, certainly my legs have dents they never had before. It all fell on deaf ears though. My toes still haven’t recovered, I have very sore places where the knuckles hit my roomy trainers! But I haven’t got such swollen legs… so?

Rainnsnow Wed 21-Jan-26 16:35:08

Have you had your cholesterol tested lately, the pain you describe can be due to flow in the veins , peripheral arterial disease .

Vintagegirl Wed 21-Jan-26 18:36:19

I had to work hard once in a house clearance and on my own so legs ached dreadfully by end of day. Being on my feet all day and moving stuff about did not help. Support tights were the answer and online order came quickly and rescued my aching legs. Christmas day is another day for trouble but now put the tights on in advance and magic!