So a week ago from today I went out for a run. I think I was a little dehydrated and my quads crampped up. Usually if they had ever crampped in the past they were better in a few days.
This time they weren’t. After several days I went to the doctor. She didn’t really know what to tell me. Other than she thought I strained them. But she did have me do a blood test which checked my electrolytes and my CK enzyme levels.
I assume my electrolytes were fine, but my CK came back elevated. She then told me I was to do no exercise, which I couldn’t do anyways.
This is the part that gets me with this. I can be walking around for a good period of time and my legs will not feel any pain. But many times after going down stairs or sometime my quad begin to hurt as I walk. It doesn’t feel like cramping, just pain in the muscles.
I’m just wondering if anyone has any insight into this or if they had it happen with them. I also wonder what kind of treatment I should be asking for from the doc.? Wether that be some sort of Thearapy from a PT or what. Right now all I’m doing is Advil like crazy and stretching them.
Thanks for any insight you have on this. One week of no biking or running is killing me I don’t know what I will do if it goes for more than another.
I think don’t think it’s abnormal for CK levels to be elevated after exercise.
How far had you run when it happened?
How intensely were you running?
How far do you normally run each week?
Hi Floydie, did this happen after a period of little or no running? Did it happen on a down hill stretch? I get a condition called “Quad Lock” (as called by Dr John Hellemans and Scott Molina) quite often. I describe it as feeling like my quads are tearing apart rather than a cramp sensation. It only ever happens when I am running down hill, so has something to with an eccentric load. When it happens I am usually reduced to a very slow walk and then a couple of days pain. There is no pattern that I can see other than after a lay off from running. Does this sound similar? The only way for me to stay on top of it is to maintain my running. Also find it gets worse if I do a lot of cycling without maintaining the running.
I would be interested in hearing if it is similar.
That’s all, Cheers, Scott in NZ
Muscle Imbalance? Perhaps your glutes and/or hamstrings need strengthening, I’m not a PT or anything, but maybe your quads are
taking all the pounding due to weakness in your glutes/hams & core. You might let a PT or physio test this.
Well my CK was really elevated normal is 5-500 and mine was at 11,000 last week and down to 5,000 today. I’m not sure what that means. but at least its going down. I havent been running enough. I have been doing lots of cycling lately since it is collegiate racing season. normally i run at least 15 miles a week not a ton, but lately i have only been running at the most 5.
As i replied in the last post, I havent been running too often. This quad lock seems to descibe my symptoms. It wouldnt suprise me if thats it. i will look it up on the net to see if theres something else. I do a lot of cycling and do a terrible job maintaining my run…but its what i love the most.
thanks for your insight.
Hi again Floydie, I doubt that you will find anything under"Quad Lock" as I think this is a term that Dr H and Scott M have come up with, could be wrong though. Good luck in your search.
Scott in NZ
yeah my two minute seach found nothing. but, i do thank you for your insight. i’ll just rest this one out for a couple weeks.