yes ! I almost always get lower back and calve pain when I walk...I am hoping that if I do it every day and soak in a hot bath afterwards it will eventually lessen.
I am speaking from experience a few years ago, when I was exercising and losing weight. I too had back and calf pain. Stretching before and after, took Aleve daily, and a regular treadmill schedule all helped and over time the pain got less and less. It was getting easier. I bet the same will happen for you.
Hi Fran, I too have had the severe calf pain when walking. One thing I've noticed is that if you are walking outside or even on the treadmill if you change the grade you're walking on with a few small hills up and down then that helps. Also like has been said, stretching and maybe some Motrin or Alleve before you start helps. It's hard walking through it but start out gradual and your body will get use to it and the pain will lessen.
I don't really have anything more to add, except to tell you that I experienced the same thing. I just took it slowly (walked slowly & only a little at a time at first). Make sure to stretch before & after & eventually it will get better. Good luck!
Is it 'shin splints'? That's what it sounds like. Ughhh I've had the worst time with them. They do gradually go away. Mine were towards the outside of my calves although the pain permeates into the calf. Look it up on the net, very common. They will gradually decrease and then go away. It took me about 2 - 3 months, but I promise they will subside. I can tell you what works for me.... I always stretch before and after I walk. The best thorough stretching I've found for calves is to sit in the floor, legs open to each side (think V), and lean to the left to grab left toe and then right to grab right toe. Hold it each time you do it and you'll feel it stretch your thigh and calves. Another great one is the 'stairs' stretch. Stand on the edge of a stair or step, heels wheel be hanging out with nothing under them, and raise yourself up and down several times using your toes and uppper half of feet. You'll feel that in your calves too. Also, if you are walking and it starts to hurt, stop for a couple minutes and sit down. If you do this as soon as it starts to hurt, you will probably be able to walk longer overall, although you may have to stop a few times. My next suggestion is a really good pair of walking shoes. The average person does not distribute their weight evenly when they walk. Although we don't realize it, most of us shift our weight to the outside or inside, front or back. The majority of population is not perfectly centered when it comes to walking and this makes shin splints worse and can cause additional stress on calves, ankles and back. It basically makes your body out of 'alignment'. There are some particular shoes that help to balance this and relieve pressure to the ankles (my chiropractor says that the pain generally permeates from their up). I like the New Balance 991's. Reebok has a shoe designed for this too... rollbar something or another. They usually run about $80 - $120 but you can feel the difference as soon as you put them on. I'd been wearing another pair of shoes and my shin splints were giving me fits but when I bought the NB 991's, it was less than 2 weeks before they stopped. Immediately the splints weren't as bad and I walked longer before they started. Oh, one more thing, a track will probably make the pain more substantial b/c the ground is not perfectly even. My Doctor recommended a treadmill on level ground with no inclination for walking until my shin splints stopped.
I have the same problem...big belly and big caboose...so that strains my lower back...
I do walk away the pounds in my livingroom...started doing just a half mile...(again) I stopped exercising but I was feeling great when I use to do it, and I worked up to one mile. So I am back at square one.
Fran, I had the same problem with the calf pains, both on the treadmill and on the sidewalks, and its worse on the sidewalks, for me anyways. I have found that if I do the walk away the pounds videos at home, that I dont have that pain, I think its because you arent "walking" per se, you are more marching, so it keeps you centered better maybe. All I know is that it doesnt hurt :) I dont know if you have tried these videos but they are great, very easy to do in terms of no complicated moves and they give you a great workout. I hope you get the pain worked out soon so you can stay motivated with your exercise routine.
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I am speaking from experience a few years ago, when I was exercising and losing weight. I too had back and calf pain. Stretching before and after, took Aleve daily, and a regular treadmill schedule all helped and over time the pain got less and less. It was getting easier. I bet the same will happen for you.
~Kathy
Hi Fran,
I too have had the severe calf pain when walking. One thing I've noticed is that if you are walking outside or even on the treadmill if you change the grade you're walking on with a few small hills up and down then that helps. Also like has been said, stretching and maybe some Motrin or Alleve before you start helps. It's hard walking through it but start out gradual and your body will get use to it and the pain will lessen.
Renee
Is it 'shin splints'? That's what it sounds like. Ughhh I've had the worst time with them. They do gradually go away. Mine were towards the outside of my calves although the pain permeates into the calf. Look it up on the net, very common. They will gradually decrease and then go away. It took me about 2 - 3 months, but I promise they will subside. I can tell you what works for me....
I always stretch before and after I walk. The best thorough stretching I've found for calves is to sit in the floor, legs open to each side (think V), and lean to the left to grab left toe and then right to grab right toe. Hold it each time you do it and you'll feel it stretch your thigh and calves. Another great one is the 'stairs' stretch. Stand on the edge of a stair or step, heels wheel be hanging out with nothing under them, and raise yourself up and down several times using your toes and uppper half of feet. You'll feel that in your calves too.
Also, if you are walking and it starts to hurt, stop for a couple minutes and sit down. If you do this as soon as it starts to hurt, you will probably be able to walk longer overall, although you may have to stop a few times.
My next suggestion is a really good pair of walking shoes. The average person does not distribute their weight evenly when they walk. Although we don't realize it, most of us shift our weight to the outside or inside, front or back. The majority of population is not perfectly centered when it comes to walking and this makes shin splints worse and can cause additional stress on calves, ankles and back. It basically makes your body out of 'alignment'. There are some particular shoes that help to balance this and relieve pressure to the ankles (my chiropractor says that the pain generally permeates from their up). I like the New Balance 991's. Reebok has a shoe designed for this too... rollbar something or another. They usually run about $80 - $120 but you can feel the difference as soon as you put them on. I'd been wearing another pair of shoes and my shin splints were giving me fits but when I bought the NB 991's, it was less than 2 weeks before they stopped. Immediately the splints weren't as bad and I walked longer before they started.
Oh, one more thing, a track will probably make the pain more substantial b/c the ground is not perfectly even. My Doctor recommended a treadmill on level ground with no inclination for walking until my shin splints stopped.
Hope this helps!
I have the same problem...big belly and big caboose...so that strains my lower back...
I do walk away the pounds in my livingroom...started doing just a half mile...(again) I stopped exercising but I was feeling great when I use to do it, and I worked up to one mile. So I am back at square one.
SussieQ
Fran,
I had the same problem with the calf pains, both on the treadmill and on the sidewalks, and its worse on the sidewalks, for me anyways. I have found that if I do the walk away the pounds videos at home, that I dont have that pain, I think its because you arent "walking" per se, you are more marching, so it keeps you centered better maybe. All I know is that it doesnt hurt :) I dont know if you have tried these videos but they are great, very easy to do in terms of no complicated moves and they give you a great workout. I hope you get the pain worked out soon so you can stay motivated with your exercise routine.
Rebekah
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