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What Do Muscle Pain In The Arms, Buttocks, Thigh And Knee Indicate?

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Posted on Wed, 4 Oct 2017
Question: My husband is 72 years of age. He is in extremely good physicial shape & health. The only health problem that he has is Glacoma that he has 2 prescribed eye drops that he uses daily.He is like a 30 year old man. He has just told me that for the past 2 months he has had very unusual muscle pains in his muscle in his upper forearms ( not bisceps), he cannot raise his arms but half way up. He also has muscle pain from his butt muscles down the back of his thighs to involve his knees ( front & back). It is worse in the morning and as he works all day it seems to get less painful. What could this be? What can we do for this?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Can be muscle cramps.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.

The symptoms you have described are suggestive of muscle cramps. These are caused by hyper excitability of the nerves that stimulate the muscles. Cramps at rest are very common and may be experienced at any age, including childhood.

The cause of cramps is as following--

1. Low blood levels of either calcium or magnesium directly increase the excitability of both the nerve endings and the muscles they stimulate. Cramps can also occur in excessive vomiting, dehydration.

2. On drugs which causes excessive urination. Leading to low calcium, Magnesium, potassium level. Drugs given for asthma, angina and Parkinsonism also lead to cramps. Cholesterol lowering drugs like statin also cause cramps on chronic use.

3. Several vitamin deficiency states may directly or indirectly lead to muscle cramps. These include deficiencies of thiamine (B1), pantothenic acid (B5), and pyridoxine (B6).

Most of the cramps can be stopped if the muscle can be stretched. For many cramps of the feet and legs, this stretching can often be accomplished by standing up and walking around. Gently massaging the muscle will often help it to relax, as will applying warmth from a heating pad or hot soak. If the cramp is associated with fluid loss, as is often the case with vigorous physical activity, fluid and electrolyte (especially sodium and potassium) replacement is essential. Certain drugs like baclofen are helpful.

I hope this answers your query.

In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.

Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (32 minutes later)
Thank you for your quick response. But this just doesn't present like muscle cramps. He has had muscle cramps before and they are very strong pain and when he takes a Muscle Cramp pill they go away.
This pain in his forearm muscles and butt muscles down to the back of his thigh to his knees just doesn't go away. After he has been active , he says the pain is less but still there. Also, he cannot lift his arms but half way without really hurting.
He wanted me to mention that back in July he did a Blood Platelet donation instead of his normal Blood donation. This pain began about 2 weeks after that.
Does this still sound like muscle cramps? We don't know what to do. PLEASE HELP us.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Get electrolyte levels checked.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.

The muscle pain that he has can be due to electrolyte imbalance or B 12 deficiency. These are not likely to be related to platelet donation. Do get his electrolyte levels and B12 levels evaluated and consult an Orthopedician to rule out myositis or frozen shoulder.

Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (10 minutes later)
Ref # HCM291393
Just a little more information about my husbands pain:
The pain is 24/7. The intensity of the pain is worse in the morning. As the day progresses, with his activity, the pain intensity decreases, but is still there.
We just want you to know everything so it might help with your diagnosis.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Can be related to arthritis.

Detailed Answer:
Can be related to arthritis or low calcium and vitamin D3 levels. Few blood test will help in having the proper supplements.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 12315 Questions

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What Do Muscle Pain In The Arms, Buttocks, Thigh And Knee Indicate?

Brief Answer: Can be muscle cramps. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for posting your query. The symptoms you have described are suggestive of muscle cramps. These are caused by hyper excitability of the nerves that stimulate the muscles. Cramps at rest are very common and may be experienced at any age, including childhood. The cause of cramps is as following-- 1. Low blood levels of either calcium or magnesium directly increase the excitability of both the nerve endings and the muscles they stimulate. Cramps can also occur in excessive vomiting, dehydration. 2. On drugs which causes excessive urination. Leading to low calcium, Magnesium, potassium level. Drugs given for asthma, angina and Parkinsonism also lead to cramps. Cholesterol lowering drugs like statin also cause cramps on chronic use. 3. Several vitamin deficiency states may directly or indirectly lead to muscle cramps. These include deficiencies of thiamine (B1), pantothenic acid (B5), and pyridoxine (B6). Most of the cramps can be stopped if the muscle can be stretched. For many cramps of the feet and legs, this stretching can often be accomplished by standing up and walking around. Gently massaging the muscle will often help it to relax, as will applying warmth from a heating pad or hot soak. If the cramp is associated with fluid loss, as is often the case with vigorous physical activity, fluid and electrolyte (especially sodium and potassium) replacement is essential. Certain drugs like baclofen are helpful. I hope this answers your query. In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Praveen Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal