I have no energy in my legs & get cramp-like feeling in my calf & thigh muscles. Dr Zoe Williams answers your questions
LOWER back pain is something I get asked about all the time.
It is common, yet naturally many people worry or want a scan to find out the root cause.
But often reassuringly, most cases resolve themselves.
You may want to lay in bed to relieve the pain, but this is the worst thing you can do.
Instead, finding an exercise or activity you can tolerate is important.
Some things you could try include swimming, Pilates, yoga or walking.
Of course, there are some causes to see a doctor – if it has been a few weeks and the pain isn’t improving, or if you can’t do normal things.
There is the possibility back pain means a slipped disc or sciatica, for example.
Always call 999 for back pain with tingling or numbness in the legs, around the genitals or bottom, or loss of bladder or bowel control, or chest pain.
These symptoms can indicate a heart attack or cauda equina syndrome, which need urgent medical treatment.
This is what readers have asked me this week . . .
Legs giving up on me
Q) I AM a young 81-year-old man/woman? (in the mind, if not body) and have no energy in my legs.
I cannot walk 50 yards or climb the stairs without having to stop with a cramp-like feeling in my calf and thigh muscles.
The muscles seize up and I have to wait for quite a few minutes.
I am taking medication for cholesterol and blood thinning.
Nurses tested the circulation in my feet and took the results to a vascular surgeon, who said they could not do anything because the distances I had to stop for resting was not the same distance every time!
I am really struggling with life and mobility, walking the dog and I cannot play golf.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
A) I’m so sorry to hear that your quality of life is being so significantly affected by the leg symptoms you describe.
My first thoughts do go to whether you have a circulatory problem in the legs, something called intermittent claudication.
This is a type of peripheral vascular disease caused by narrowing or blockage of the main artery taking blood to your leg (femoral artery).
This is usually due to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
It results in reduced blood supply in the leg.
And cramp-like pain is usually experienced when walking up a hill for example, because the muscles of the leg need additional blood.
This pain usually eases after a couple of minutes of rest.
The risk factors are the same as those for heart disease and stroke – such as being aged over 50, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
This is usually a condition that would be referred to, investigated by and potentially treated by a vascular surgeon.
But of course, you have seen this specialist and team already.
It is not clear to me what their assessment of you revealed, and if they confirmed that the arteries supplying the legs were OK.
They would usually assess you with a test that compares the blood pressure in your ankle to that in your arm, called an ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI).
Do you recall having this done, and were you reassured afterwards?
If in doubt, it is best to explore this with your GP who can look at the letter from the surgeon and see if you need to be assessed again.
And of course, you can always request a second opinion.
Head suddenly drips with sweat
Q) I HAVE a serious problem with head sweating nearly every day.
I feel very cool as normal, then it just erupts and I end up dripping wet.
I’m a 78-year-old woman, but have had this problem for the past ten years or so.
I have asthma, but otherwise I’m very fit and healthy, with lots of line-dancing and Zumba.
A) Unusual sweating is not something to be ignored.
And if you haven’t already, it is important to be fully assessed by a doctor.
Many things, from infections to thyroid issues and cancer, can cause abnormal sweating that has not always been there.
In your case, especially with a ten-year history, one of the first things that springs to mind is you could be experiencing hot flushes associated with menopause.
You do not say when you went through it, but it is not completely uncommon for women to still be getting symptoms into their seventies.
Tip of the week
ARE the kids coming home with colds already?
It is a good time to pop a packet of antibacterial wipes in their school bag.
Hand-washing is the best way to prevent the spread of these bugs, including to siblings.
But they won’t always be able to wash their hands during the school day.
We know from research that hot flushes and night sweats are often the last symptoms of menopause to disappear.
Did you previously take HRT and did stopping it coincide with these symptoms?
Self-calming techniques can help – things such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques.
But it is also worth making an appointment to speak to your GP.
Please do not suffer in silence when there is help out there for you.
While you wait for an appointment, it is worth thinking about sleep hygiene too.
Use natural-fibre pillows and pillowcases instead of synthetic materials such as polyester or nylon, as they are not breathable.
Bamboo is a great natural fibre that will wick away sweat.
Look at the temperature of the room you sleep in and make sure it is not too warm (an ideal temperature is around 18C).
And if you wear nightclothes, make sure they are a natural fibre too.
FOR about eight months, I have been experiencing a loud buzzing in my ear.
I went to the doctor, who said there was no blockage.
She referred me but I’m still waiting. I was wondering if there is anything I could do to help it. I’m 51 man/woman? and keep myself fit and I’m quite healthy.
What you are describing sounds like tinnitus.
It is a condition where you hear a ringing or buzzing or other noise in your ears that isn’t caused by an external sound.
It is common and can affect around 15 to 20 per cent of the population.
For many people, no definite cause is found, it is not dangerous and often resolves of its own accord.
For others, it can be a symptom of an underlying condition like age-related hearing loss, an issue with circulation or an ear injury. Diabetes, thyroid issues, MS, anxiety, depression and certain medications such as those used in chemotherapy can cause it.
Some people do not get too bothered by it but for others, it can hugely affect both sleep and quality of life.
You say you have been referred, but not who to.
It should be to your local ENT team, who will be able to do further tests to check if there is an underlying cause.
Relaxation techniques and meditation can help with tinnitus and both are something you can try at home while you wait for your referral to come through.
I would advise going to the tinnitus.org website, where there is lots of advice regarding self-help tips.