Have you ever thought of the possibility that you have "gout" that can cause very bad leg and foot pains especially around the joints... it is a high uric acid level in your system, which can be caused by certain foods... I know, I have it... but I keep it under control with a lot of exercise, not drinking much and watching what I eat... I will know when I am eating wrong... it will hit me immediately.
trust me, I know how the pain feels... it is almost like you are walking around on broken bones... I used the following suppliment (herbal) when I could not get the dr's to figure out my problem... It was excellent and got rid of my attacks very effectively.
http://www.goutcure.com/Ibuprophen will help ease the pain...but it will not cure or control it.
Potassium is also a good reason for leg cramps and pains as MoiNouvelle suggested... Are you taking blood pressure meds at all? they strip you of your potassium... if you do not like banana's... you can get a suppliment... but you should also add things like oranges, spinach, and other greens to your diet... they are all excellent sources of potassium.
here is a description of Gout for you:
What causes Gout?
Uric acid is a chemical which is a natural part of the normal breaking down and building up of food and body tissues. The level in the blood can be measured and shows how much there is in the body overall. The condition of raised blood uric acid is called hyperuricaemia. When this is present the uric acid which is normally dissolved in the blood may, from time to time, form microscopic crystals in the joint. These crystals set up the inflammation which is called acute gouty arthritis or acute gout.
It follows that gout may develop in persons whose uric acid is higher than normal. There are many causes of this. The following are some of the more common causes:
* Higher than normal levels of uric acid can be part of the inherited make-up of some families
* Obesity
* High alcohol intake
* High intake of food containing purines (see below)
* Some of the drugs used to treat high blood pressure.
* Less commonly, longstanding kidney disease may result in high blood levels of uric acid.
Treatment of Gout
The first step wherever possible must be to correct those factors mentioned above which give rise to high uric acid levels. Purines are substances found in food, which, when broken down produce a lot of uric acid. Therefore the following foods which are high in Purines should be restricted or avoided:
* Offal foods such as liver, kidneys, tripe, sweetbreads and tongue.
* Excessive amounts of red meat.
* Shellfish, fish roe and scallops.
* Peas. lentils and beans.
* Alcohol intake should be reduced. Two glasses of beer a day or less is sensible. On special occasions you can drink more.
* Weight loss may be very important.
* Medication for high blood pressure may need to be altered.
Treating the Acute Attack
One or other of the anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be very effective but to gain the best results the dose should be adequate and the drug taken as soon as possible at the first sign of an attack. Hence medical advice must be sought early. With effective treatment the attack may be controlled within 12-24 hours and treatment need not be continued after a few days. Rest and elevation of the part involved and a fluid intake increased by an extra 4 or 5 glasses of water a day are also important. Drugs used for the acute attack have no effect on reducing uric acid levels.
