Fibromyalgia can cause pain anywhere and everywhere, and to any degree. That makes it really difficult to identify other sources of pain -- we tend to just write them off as fibromyalgia. I've done it more than once, but fortunately my doctor always asks where I'm hurting and she's been able to hone in on problems I didn't realize I had.
A recent comment from a reader really caught my eye because it described something I at first attributed to fibro and later learned was something else entirely:
"When I get stressed at work or I am having problems with employees, I get unbearable pains down both my legs. It feels like shin splints. This last for several days at a time. I find it hard to walk. I'm almost dragging my feet. When I get home I lay on the couch in a fetal position and rock in pain." -Karen
When I described this type of pain to my rheumatologist, she did some poking around on my legs and told me I had something called iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome. It's typically a runner's injury (yeah, I know -- I tried not to laugh!), but I have to wonder if those lax connective tissues we have could contribute to it. Of course, I can't say that is what Karen has, but it's certainly something to ask the doctor about. The good news is, some simple stretching exercises can really help.
ITB Syndrome
The iliotibial band runs down the outside of the thigh, from the hip to the knee. However, when it's aggravated and ITB syndrome develops, it can hurt clear down into the arch of your foot. When I talked to my doctor about it, the pain was severe and really interfering with my sleep (which was bad enough already, thank you!) After a couple days of doing the right stretches, however, it started feeling a lot better.
Here are links that can help you get started with ITB stretches:
- Standing Stretch
- Standing Stretch for Those With Balance Problems
- Laying Down Stretch (This one's my favorite.)
Other than the stretches, I've had good luck with capsaicin on my calves (be cautious -- it can burn) and with alternating heat and ice right at the hip. I may start getting acupuncture for it as well, at my doctor's recommendation.
Other Possibilities
Something else that could cause that shin-splint pain, and that's common with fibromyalgia, is myofascial pain syndrome. Triggerpoints.net has a great illustration of how trigger points at the hip (the x's) cause radiating pain (the red areas) down the outside of the leg: Lateral Leg Pain. (That site is a must for anyone with MPS.)
Is it possible for fibromyalgia to mimic the pain of shin splints/ITB syndrome/myofascial pain syndrome? Sure. When it comes to pain, fibromyalgia is a jack-of-all-trades. But it's worth looking into other possibilities, because those other causes of pain are usually a lot easier to treat.
Have you had pain that sounds similar to ITB syndrome? What has helped? How debilitating has it gotten? Help us all learn by sharing your comments below!
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Adrienne,
Oh My Yes!,, I have just started getting leg pains in both my legs since 2 months ago, it feels like a bad tooth ache wrapped around my bones from my hips to my toes, it might be Myofascial but not sure yet, it gets so bad it hurts to walk on them.
Exersise hurts me before it helps me, wish I could do more in that area of my life, they use to have the pool at the school open but I don’t think they are doing that anymore:(.. I love water too.
The only thing that has helped some is my pain medicen and keeping warm, I have tried rubbing them but no help there eather. I might give your stretches a try, Thank You!!
It truly is amazing how the iliotibial band can cause so many problems. In order to fully take care of an iliotibial problem, many factors should be considered. The sacroiliac joints of the pelvis and the lumbar spine should be in their optimal position. If they are out of line, stress can be placed on the iliotibial band. Also, the feet should be evaluated for proper alignment. If they are malaligned in any way, once again, stress can be placed on the iliotibial band. Of course the soft tissue itself should also be considered and worked on with trigger point therapy. The site that was given in the article is excellent if you can nagivate around it.
If your iliotibial problem returns after taking care of one of the factors above, you may need to check out the other two to make sure they aren’t contributing to the problem. IF you have or can find a good chiropractor who truly understands the iliotibial band and what is involved, you may be able to get all three of these factors evaluated by one doctor.
The top four products on this page:
http://www.myfibrohelp.com/other-products/
are excellent products for working out your own trigger points, if you wanted to begin there.
Good luck to you in all you do!
30-7-2011 Simple treatment of ileotibial band syndrome. –really it is a combination of default mysitis/myalgia of the lateral thigh muscle plus ilieatibial pain
use standard elimination diet treatment especially in morning and early afternoon . therefore eliminate all egg, red meat, canned fish, wheat etc. and most if not all dairy. use only green pears and apples etc.
if you have not encountered the elimination or exclusion diet refer to diet which also excludes artificail preservatives eg “failsafe ” but the full exclusion diet should be used in AM .
if you still have trouble contact me at bravenewlogic@yahoo.com.au.
sometimes the thigh pain is also medial and sometimes pain in calf or back or even knee.
please let me know how you respond
malmaxmin
I’ve experienced profound relief from these leg pains (which I’ve had for approx. 8 years) with increased potassium and decrease of wheat.
Also, Tonic Water (quinine water) seems to have helped a lot with all body aches & reducing chronic fevers.
Good luck & good health to all of you!
Here is one I have never heard of, or my doctors. I have a radiating pain, like a muscle spasm almost that goes ACROSS my thigh, from inside to outside. There is no muscle that does that!
Having been diagnosed with both fibro and myofacial pain syndrome, that link is amazing.
Thank you!!
Okay, this may sound crazy, but I had intense lower half body muscle aches for years, mostly in the thighs (quads), but also hamstrings & glutes. Stretching helped a bit, plus that yoga position where you lay flat on your back with your legs vertical resting against the wall was good, too. But nothing really worked until I got on an elimination diet and cut out wheat & dairy and a few other things that caused me to have very bad IBD symptoms. Turns out my leg aches were a direct result of straining to go to the bathroom on a daily basis for years on end, and once I cleared up my diet issues those particular pains went away. I realize this will not fix the other more serious stuff, but I thought I’d throw it out there b/c the ensuing muscle relief was significant.
I have never had leg pain with my CFS, until a few months ago. The pain is mostly in my knees. It is a burning pain that just effects the knees. Then my legs get the sensation that they just need to be streched over and over again. So I lie in bed trying to stretchh out my legs. After a while all the pain goes away, and it might be a week or so until I get the pain again. I also get pain at the top of my shoulders, like someone is taking their hands and pressing down into me.
Wow! I am going to have to research this further, but it seems to fit what I have been experiencing for a few years, with my FMS/MFP.
I get a “charlie horse” cramp type pain on my shins or outer aspect of calves – NOT the typical back of calves. It happens at nite and is not relieved by standing up on cold floor & stretching it out. And I cannot use capsaicin or NSAIDs. Any computer research under “leg pain” or “Leg cramps” . . . shin cramps,etc doesn’t cover this.
In fact, I’ve tried many ways to fix this painful awakening: food, supplement for any possible electrolyte
or mineral deficiency; stretching & self-massage; position change; hyper- and hypo-extending my foot – all to no avail. It is such a deep, penetrating crampy pain, I’d rate it a 10/10 pain scale, that I am often left just beating my legs up/down on the mattress!
I am looking forward to trying the above mentioned treatments & to checking it out more online. Will report back later! ~ annasan
When I was 26, I started having sharp shooting pains from my inner thighs, down the back of my legs all the way to the arches of my feet, that would knock me to the floor, or make me jump out of my chair. The pain was sparked from the slightest touch to my skin, walking on/sitting on hard surfaces, cold weather, sitting/standing too long, and pretty much blinking wrong (or so it feels). I was diagnosed with Neuralgia and shortly after, I began having Fibro symptoms as well. I try to make sure I have a well-balanced diet with fiber so that no strain is put on my body. I’ve always had digestive problems. I have to be extra super careful when exercising or stretching.
I finallly finished reading this article, and I want to thank you. In the past year I have developed leg pain such as you have described here, mostly in the upper leg. It could be ITB or MPS – I have the latter in my back already, and I did find the trigger/tender point in my hip. I’ve added the ITB stretches to my regular stretch list! I hope it helps. Sometimes the leg pain is much worse than my back pain, because it isn’t relieved by laying down in any position. The only thing that has helped it so far is sitting it a hot bath – but of course I can’t live my life in the tub LOL. Thanks again, Adrienne
I too was diagnosed with fibro. and have recently started
getting pain down my left leg that hurts worse than the
most painful toothache.Before I got this it pain was just
in my hip and shoulder the doctor said it was bursitis and
treated me with a cortizone shot it did work but every few
months I have to get another shot. I am going to try the stretching hoping it will work.If anyone has any other ideas
please write back. thanks Carol
30-7-2011 Simple treatment of ileotibial band syndrome. –really it is a combination of default mysitis/myalgia of the lateral thigh muscle plus ilieatibial pain
use standard elimination diet treatment especially in morning and early afternoon . therefore eliminate all egg, red meat, canned fish, wheat, dairy etc. and most if not all dairy. use only green pears and apples etc.
if you have not encountered the elimination or exclusion diet refer to diet which also excludes artificail preservatives eg “failsafe ” but the full exclusion diet should be used in AM and early PM .
if you still have trouble contact me at bravenewlogic@yahoo.com.au.
sometimes the thigh pain is also medial and sometimes pain in calf or back or even knee.
please let me know how you respond
malmaxmin
Wow…just diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic with leg Fibromyalgia. That explains the pain strong enough and long lasting enough to bring tears. Sometimes I simply cannot walk.
I need new knees but the surgeous basically said the Fibro pain will not go away so why bother with the knees?
I truly believe it’s related to stress. When the person causing MY stress is not around, the pain subsides a bit.
Thanks for this site.
All you people who are experiencing leg cramps or pain need to ask yourself: have you ever taken Cipro or Levaquin? These two antibiotic drugs are horrible and cause severe leg, muscle and tendon issues. I was a marathon runner until I took Cipro.
Only 2 things help at all..
super super hot water (burns my feet but relieves leg pain)
arnica gel (helps somewhat)
Thanks for your comments and ideas.
Hang in there everyone.
Hi.ihave some of the same symptoms. that some of u all have the only thing that helps is a b.c powder. but the pain comes back later so i just stay off it for a while.i hope u all feel better eventually