Help with leg muscles

This question is specific to me. I am overweight and am trying to walk more.  So my problem is this - when I walk my lower left leg muscle starts to hurt.  Its the side of the leg not the back.  It gets very tight and I nearly have to limp.  It does not loosen up if I walk longer and is sometimes very painful after I've stopped (reached my desitination) until it relaxes again.  I imagine it happens because I'm out of shape but it doesn't happen to my other leg.  Can anyone offer an opinion on how to help it so I can enjoy walking more.  Thank for listening.

Are you stretching beforehand?

And how old are the shoes you're walking in?

And to follow on Mort's questions: Is it a cramp?

You might want to eat a banana b/c the potassium helps prevent cramping.

I started walking recently.  At first I had leg pain around the side and front (but not the calf).  The supporting muscles were not developed as much as my calves and quadriceps.  So most of my leg would feel fine but the side and front would burn and feel cramped.  In addition, progress on the tread mill didn't directly correlate with walking for real.  Also, walking down hill or on even a gradual down slope made my lower legs burn.

I just started slow.  There must be a length that you can walk before you have pain.  Go just that distance even though it probably wont feel like accomplishing much.  Then walk a bit farther next time.  I am up to 9 miles at a stretch now but it took a while.

Maybe these websites can help:

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_5/196.shtml

http://arthritis.about.com/od/legpain/Leg_Pain_Causes_Symptoms_Diagnosis_Treatment_Pain_Relief.htm

http://www.chiroweb.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=38468

Thank you all for the help.  I would not say it was a cramp.  But it does burn (I had forgotten that) and I do not stretch before hand.  I guess I did not think it necessary as the other leg didn't have this problem.  Weird huh?  I think I will have to try stretching that leg at least.  I walk to work and it takes about 20 minutes.  That's the shortest walk I can do and it usually starts in the first five minutes and lasts for the whole time.  It make me not want to walk though and that's my worry as its my best form of exercise at the moment.  I will look up those sites too.

Thank you all for the help.  I would not say it was a cramp.  But it does burn (I had forgotten that) and I do not stretch before hand.  I guess I did not think it necessary as the other leg didn't have this problem.  Weird huh?  I think I will have to try stretching that leg at least.  I walk to work and it takes about 20 minutes.  That's the shortest walk I can do and it usually starts in the first five minutes and lasts for the whole time.  It make me not want to walk though and that's my worry as its my best form of exercise at the moment.  I will look up those sites too.

Ivory,

I asked you about the shoes, cause they are very frequently a problem especially for beginner walkers and overweight folks like us.

If you're walking in just your street shoes, or in old trainers (even as little as six-months to a year old) spend some money on a good, well-fitted pair of walking shoes for yourself. Seriously, it'll make a ton of difference.

Go to a sporting goods store and ask someone to fit you: they'll check if you pronate (roll your foot inwards as you walk) or supinate (roll it outwards.) They'll tell you if you have a high or normal arch or if you're a flat foot and they'll pick out a pair of walking shoes that'll work best for you.

Just a good pair of shoes could be enough to solve your problem, seriously.

Thanks for bringing that up again Mort.  I did buy new trainers about a year ago though.  I usually buy a walking trainer and these seemed to fit very well.  But I had major trouble with them and had to stop wearing them for a while.  They were causing a swelling in my foot (right one though).  Now this doesn't happen - no idea why.  I'm not sure such a shop is in Swansea.  The shoe store I bought these in I could not even get someone to measure my foot.  But I will have to research this a bit more I think.  I'll take your advice and research a bit.  Thanks for your help.

It's possible that the problem with your gait is in your right foot and the left is burning because it is compensating. No way of telling, though, unfortunatly.


It's a great thing you're doing for yourself, btw. I hope you solve the problem, whatever it is, and are able keep it up.



For a quick-and-dirty test, you can walk for about ten minutes in another pair of shoes (something comfortable, doesn't have to be trainers) and see if you still get the pain and if it's at the same intensity.

Might be worth just making a appointment with the doctor.  What leg are you getting the pain in?  Left or Right? 

ETA: Sorry, just noticed you said left leg.  You should get that checked out incase its a thrombosis, not to scare you..but worth eliminating it.  Have you flown recently?

i would say consult a doctor. if they think it is musclar they would send you to a physio to help you out .

  I did buy new trainers about a year ago though.

while there's not enough research on how long you can keep wearing your trainers before they wear out , i am sure my physio said between 200-300 miles.

how much you weigh has alot of bearing on it too. the more you weigh the faster the cushioning will wear out obviously.

a rule of thumb is how you feel. if u feel that the bounce is gone and the cushing is not that amazing , get rid of the shoes. if you exercise , then roughly every 3 months.
it can be costy ....   however, you can buy the shoes , but you cant buy healthy legs...

what i do is go to shops like nike , or adidas outlets and get them for a fraction of what they cost. 30-50£ ... which is pretty amazing considering buying the same trainers for 130£ at the high street shop!!!

I highly suggest stretching.
Also, I suggest a warm up phase bfore you ramp up to a full walk.
Start out walking slowly and when your muscle is acustomed to the activity, then you can pick up the pace.
I often find that people are so eager to start walking that they overstrain themselves and get discouraged from the pain.

Also make sure your shoes are good for you feet!
If you have a high arch and your shoe is for flat foot people, you will suffer a great deal and vice versa.

If you go to a proper running shop they will be able to let you know what type of gait you have and whether you pronate or supinate. You can actually by just looking at the wear on your shoes if you do this. It could also be that when you walk you tend to favor one leg over the other which is why you're only getting pain on one side. My old yoga instructor was very big on walking balanced. Once I started paying attention to how I walked I realized that I would always step up with the same foot or push off with the same foot. This can cause your body to go out of balance and cause pain.