My thighs hurt, I'm in pain!

jojo

jojo

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Don't usually ask these sort of questions, but maybe someone has an idea of what's going on with me?

I'm probably the most unfit bloke ever, and working in fastfood, I love my junkfood! Just some info before anyone asks, I've just turned 36 around 5ft11, and around 15st.

Started light exercise just over 2 weeks, nothing spectacular, just 5 minutes on an exercise bike(stop laughing now!) for the first few days, then slowly raised it to 10 minutes sessions to increase with bursts of 15secs of maximum attack as a form of high intesity training(HIT) to break a sweat and increase my heart rate. Always stretched and warmed up prior and post sessions. A week ago Saturday though, I gave a 3 minute HIT sessions a try, 3x20 secs as hard as I could pedal with 1 minutes slow pedaling in between to catch my breath back. That really hit me hard, my heart was pounding, and I was out of breath, almost to the point of puking up!... no pain no gain I thought.

Following Sunday I did sod all, I felt tired, so gave myself a break, Monday and Tuesday, I felt my thigh muscles was tight, and fatigued, so continued my break, then on Wednesday, the soreness came, my muscles started to hurt bad, but I was half expecting this, no nothing unnormal there. But in the early hours of Thursday, I woke up @3.30am with pains in my thighs, had to take pain killers(Panadol) before I could go back to sleep! Got through Friday night on pain killers, woke up @2am on Saturday night trying to sleep with no pain killers and last night/this morning I woke up @6am again, and needed pain killers before I could get back to sleep.

I used Voltarol for three applications yesterday, didn't seem to have any effect. During the day, I'm mobile, but I can feel my thigh muscles is weak, I'm almost shaking if standing for long periods, and it's not comfortable to walk up and down slopes/stairs.

I've had this sensation before in small hits after working under my car for a day, and recovered in a few days, but this is on another scale! Feels like I've just ran a marathon without warming up! Was close to going to A&E if the pain killers had no effect.

Apologies of the long post, but I'm in need of help.

Apart from the obvious rest, anyone knows if it's anything else other than muscle fatigue(DOMS?) from riding an exercise bike? I'm going to try and book to see GP first thing tomorrow, as it doesn't feel normal.

Quite shocked a 3-4 minute workout would lead to this!
 
It your diet after you exercised that caused it. You need to stock up on minerals and protein after a good workout, or else your muscles have no food, and they hurt, just like you are now experiencing.
 
You should before taking up any exercise speak to your GP,you probably have strained your quads.
 
Do a day riding MotoX and Endurance bikes, my legs was killing for about a week or so after.
I was unable to walk properly for several days after, they slowly started getting better to the point I was able to walk correctly and start using my legs to help me pick items up.

The only thing that helped me was stretch my legs muscles.
I would sit on my legs and try and lift my self up by pushing my lower legs down.
It hurt at lot at first but the pain got less through the day and I was able to do it for longer.
No idea if it was a good thing to do or not but it definitely helped.

I still do the same thing today after a hard long bike ride.
 
On a serious note.... does your pee look darker than normal??

If it does then get yourself down to a&e QUICK!! Its a sign of muscle breakdown. Rare with that level of exercise, but possible.
 
Ads said:
On a serious note.... does your pee look darker than normal??

If it does then get yourself down to a&e QUICK!! Its a sign of muscle breakdown. Rare with that level of exercise, but possible.
Click to expand...

I think it's safe to say I'm not having muscle breakdown! But I am awake from muscle pains again!
 
First of all, well done on getting started and try and keep it up :) I know you wrote on my workout thread a few weeks ago.

I don't know what you've done but I was heavily into mountain biker/BMXer and I can bet you have the seat too low on the bike. It puts unbelievable amounts of stress on your knees or thighs. With you doing HIT you might have torn a quad. Do they burn when you stretch them? I used to strain my quads playing football even from warming up, it was just bad technique from kicking the ball I think.

Your quads are one of the biggest muscles you've got so maybe go for a walk and stretch before you get back on the bike. Google how high the seat should be it'll have pics to make it easier to figure out. Most exercise bikes are built for 5ft ladies AND 6ft 4 blokes so they are never going to be ideal in size unless you can adjust the bars/stem/seat.
 
I'll add my two pence worth...

1. If the pain is as bad as you say it is see your GP. It could be something simple like pulled quad muscles, but equally it could be a trapped nerve or similar (especially as you've had similar pain from laying under the car previously). Bottom line - getting a check up is the right move.

2. What are you trying to achieve with said exercise? Weight loss? Improved fitness? Muscle growth? Toning?
 
Try drinking some milk after exercising. Milk is supposed to be excellent for aiding muscle recovery.
 
Thanks for the input guys, I'm trying to reduce my blood pressure and cholesterol levels, they was high for some reason or another. I had planned to up my fitness this year anyways and lose some weight in the process! This is a setback, as I was quite motivated since joining the Gym last November, and all this exercise bike stuff was done at home to boost my confidence and stamina progressively.

@Judder, I have the seat quite high, so my legs are almost straight when the pedals are at the lowest point.

@DB, I'm looking at increasing my protien intake, but the other half being a typical woman, is reducing my calories to help me slim down. It's a tough act to balance whilst working in a fast food joint I tell you!! :laugh:

I have an appointment with the GP to get to the bottom of this.

Cheers.
 
Fast food joint and exercise - Nothing like a bit of torture!

Good luck chap - just remember that banzai exercise sessions won't do much without a decent diet to back it up :thumbsup:
 
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Sounds pretty much like you have torn muscles in your legs, did you get any bruises etc come up after? (tell tale sign of a decent tear)
used to do it allot to myself off-season from rugby when i would play hockey. (rugby i bent at hips not knees so would tear quads/hammys easly when trying to sprint crouched over).
best recomendation is try to get back to normal range of movement very gently. either get on a bike and peddle with little/no resistnace to get movement back. you may find its burns a little at first but it should ease off as the overtensed and very tight muscles start to ease from movement.

you might find you have just tried a little too hard when you did your sprint and your muscles essentialty couldnt keep up.
as above also check the height you should have the seat at as too low and you will be adding allot of extra stress that if your fitness is quite low will have a huge impact.

also are you taking anything after these sessions? things like a protien shake etc are really good as they help the muscle heal and help avoid the "John Wayne" walk the next day
 
No bruising, but when I wake up in the night, it feels my muscles have been going into spasms during my sleep. The pain moves around too, sometimes near my knee, usually more painful on the outside of the thigh, and around my buttocks area has had some mild pains.

I've been mobile for most of today buying stock, not struggling as such, but holding back when going up and down steps, as I can feel my thighs are under pressure.
 
Your GP will be able to give you a good run down. Perhaps you've just overdone it, better to be safe than make an injury worse.

I consider myself to be reasonably fit and did the 3 peaks challenge last year - it took me two days to walk properly again. John Wayne had nothing on me!
 
Ouch Joe. Never go at exercise like a bull in a china shop! Seriously though, hope you get sorted. Nothing like muscular pain
 
jojo said:
I've been mobile for most of today buying stock, not struggling as such, but holding back when going up and down steps, as I can feel my thighs are under pressure.
Click to expand...

You will feel the pain at night as its when your body will be trying to re-build the damaged muscle and prob twitching while you sleeps whats waking you.
Just keep taking it easy and gently stretch out any tight muscles, they will tighten back up after a stretch but not to the same extent. Apart from that mate it will be a grin and bear it. Some heat/ cold when watching tv at night may help a little by increasing the blood flow to the area but effect will be minimal other than flushing out what lactic acid may still remain in the muscle

Look at investing in whey powder from somewhere like myprotein.com and take that after gym to try aid the recovery of muscle.
 
Sit in a bath of cold water. First few seconds are worst! For about 10 minutes. Colder the better.

Rest.

Take Ibuprofen (anti inflammatory).

Stretch. Google stretching exercises.

Good luck!
 
Instead of using an exercise bike... go for a walk
you burn 2-3x more calories than you do on a bike, and it will be less of a chore.

After a workout have either a bottle of lucozade or if your feeling like you want to get more into it, i suggest PHD Battery (this is like an energy suppliment) I used this during and post sessions at the gym, refuels and restocks your levels.

eating some protein after a workout will also help as this helps rebuild muscle.

Try a variety in different exercises, even if it is a walk around the block, try a slow jog and add short sprints into it.
Swimming is also a good one to do, especially if its after youve been working out as you continue to exercise but as your in water you feel like youre body is supported so you put less strain on joints, also soothes you and relaxes.
 
Ouch Joe, that sounds really painful, you take care and watch what your doing. Hope it feels better soon. :) x
 
voorhees said:
You should before taking up any exercise speak to your GP,you probably have strained your quads.
Click to expand...

Give over, just get on with it. There is really no need to see a gp before you exercise. No wonder they're over stretched on workload!

Jojo, just start slowly. As has been mentioned, make sure you have a healthy diet (might be hard ha) and work your way up. If you go hell for leather you'll hurt too much, not enjoy it and then won't carry it on. Start by taking some brisk walks? Build up to a jog or bike ride.

Also, exercise bikes are a killer, as you don't get the wind in your face so you feel like you're gonna pop from heat. Getting out on a bike is best if you can.
 
here is my expert advise.... right you ready..

stop all forms of exercise.... then consume cake at vast quantity's, then continue to be a lazy sloth eating pies and more cake.

then the pain in your legs will go and more than likely never come back, but if it does don't worry as now it will just be chafing this can be sorted by vaseline.

:thumbsup:
 
But that's no reason to go see a GP. All they will say is to do what we've said, gradually build up and not go hell for leather. There's no two ways about it, seeing a gp to ask about fitness is retarded!
 
Seeing someone who knows your medical history before fitness is wrong ?
lol
Your not in the health/fitness industry ? ( I hope )
 
Unless Jojo has serious medical conditions...which I don't think he does, what do you expect a gp to say? They will say to start basic and build up.

And see the other side. Imagine you're in a doctor's waiting room, you're ill and you've got your young kids with you who are also ill, the man sat next to you starts chatting and says "I'm here because I don't know how to exercise, so came to see my gp, and now your wait is another 20 minutes"

I think you'd be annoyed that someone couldn't just figure out basic exercise by themselves.

It's just a huge over reaction to go to a doctor's. If you have known serious medical conditions, then yes go. But being unfit isn't a medical condition.

I had a headache once. I took a paracetamol and it was all over. I guess I could have booked an appointment with a gp just to check it was a headache I had after all.

Edit: and I hope you're also not in the fitness industry otherwise the nation's gp's will be flooded with unfit people asking for really basic advice.
 
bleedout said:
legs slowly recovered then?. the plus side of this mate is seen as you have done it once it shouldnt be as much of a shock for your body if you push it so far again. (not advised)
Click to expand...

It's a bit embarrassing to be honest. Still waking up mid sleep, but can get back to slewed if I adjust my sleeping position, so signs are I'm recovering! Doc checked my leg muscles out, and having blood test to check a few things out as a precaution.

Cheers.
 
crazy88 said:
Unless Jojo has serious medical conditions...which I don't think he does, what do you expect a gp to say? They will say to start basic and build up.

And see the other side. Imagine you're in a doctor's waiting room, you're ill and you've got your young kids with you who are also ill, the man sat next to you starts chatting and says "I'm here because I don't know how to exercise, so came to see my gp, and now your wait is another 20 minutes"

I think you'd be annoyed that someone couldn't just figure out basic exercise by themselves.

It's just a huge over reaction to go to a doctor's. If you have known serious medical conditions, then yes go. But being unfit isn't a medical condition.

I had a headache once. I took a paracetamol and it was all over. I guess I could have booked an appointment with a gp just to check it was a headache I had after all.

Edit: and I hope you're also not in the fitness industry otherwise the nation's gp's will be flooded with unfit people asking for really basic advice.
Click to expand...

You make some good points regarding a slow build up to exercise, then ruin it with pure ignorance.

Unless I'm very much mistaken, you don't know the person in question, have no clue towards his physical condition or medical history and you're very clearly not a health professional.

You (or anyone else for that matter, myself included) are therefore not in any position to judge whether the pain he is experiencing is 'normal' based on some words written on a car forum, especially as he has mentioned a high blood pressure condition.

As for your "20 minutes in a waiting room" comments, please, do me a favour. There are these things called 'appointments' for non-emergency conditions. Also, perhaps you'll 'consider the other side' that if he did have an underlying condition made worse through exercise, the additional NHS cost and resource for subsequent treatment/correction, let alone the additional pain for the individual in question.

I don't claim to 'work' in the health and fitness industry but I do know my stuff. When it comes to your health, if you're ever in doubt seek advice from a professional.

JoJo, it's nothing to be embarrassed about - always follow the advice of your GP in the first instance. Once given the all clear, if you need any advice on nutrition or simple exercise routines that you can do from the comfort of your own home, drop me a PM. :icon_thumright:
 
Pure ignorance? I think not.

And I still disagree about seeing a doctor FIRST! OK, we may have appointment waiting times, but it would still add to your overall waiting time if the surgery was full of people asking basic medical advice since you couldn't get an appointment since the waiting room is full of unfit people trembling as to what the GP would say. Also, many doctors have drop in sessions now in which I would be rather annoyed if I had an ill child and found out that the person next to me was checking whether it was ok to do a pressup. I stand by what I said, basic fitness advice does not require a GP's input. It really doesn't. Did you not learn basic keep fit at school in PE? I've considered taking up climbing, should I go see the doctor first?

I agree that I am perhaps not trained to give medical advice as to the pain he is receiving...but then why would he post on here? None of us are, so you could argue it was a completely pointless post in the first place?

We can assume that jojo had no medical conditions othersise he'd have said, maybe. But if he had underlying health conditions he should see a doctor before exercise...I already said that in previous posts. But if he had nothing to suspect, why go see a doctor? The doctor would also have nothing to suspect, so would clearly say take it easy and build up. No offense to jojo, but it doesn't seem like he took it easy. If he's unfit as he says (he did clearly state that himself) then his somewhat mild workout would be a shock to his system.

So whichever way you look at it, seeing a GP first is just a waste of money, time and petrol. The world these days, it winds me up! Such a bunch of wimps, just get on with stuff. If I told my dad that I was going to the gp to get medical advice for basic exercise I don't think he'd talk to me for a week.
 
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Westy said:
I'm part of this forum:
MuscleTalk Bodybuilding Forum
Get on there, search, post questions, and learn. Then get out the Doctors waiting room.
Click to expand...
also on there, pretty good for general info other than just the lets get mahoosive crowd.

with regard to the argument above i actually agree wuith both points.
personally would say dont go to the docs before starting exercise unless you have a underlying medical condition.
would actually recomend booking a 1off apointment with a PT before starting exercise.
that way they can guage your level of fitness, teach you exercises to achieve what you want will prevent bad technique etc that leads to the majority of injuries. would be a happy medium with regards to professional advice about exercise and all for £20-30 most of us spend more than that on furry dice for youre rear view mirror.
 
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