Anyone here ever have their legs tingle like crazy for ~12 hours after a workout (Bike & Run)? I usually do my run or bike workouts around 6:00pm and I’ll often be woken up because my legs are tingling so hard. They don’t hurt but its like they’re almost humming. I don’t experience any fatigue during the days after and I’m never sore; not sure if other people experience this?
I’ve been actively running seriously for about 4 years and biking hard for 2 (doing first HIM in June).
I know for a fact that I don’t hydrate like I should…could that be why I get this?
My wife had this. It would start toward the end of a run and last only about 20 minutes though. Her doctor at the time had no idea what it could be, but didn’t really bother investigating much either.
Look up Restless Legs Syndrome. I get it also. Seem to get it after long or very intense workouts. I get it more in my quads and found that Tylenol (or Advil) before bed seems to help me sleep better.
Unlikely Restless Legs Syndrome (distressing sensations deep in one leg with big-time urge to move the leg). You said “tingling,” which implies nerve involvement. Does the term “twitching” apply? If so, google Benign Fasciculations.
Anyone here ever have their legs tingle like crazy for ~12 hours after a workout (Bike & Run)? I usually do my run or bike workouts around 6:00pm and I’ll often be woken up because my legs are tingling so hard.** They don’t hurt but its like they’re almost humming.** I don’t experience any fatigue during the days after and I’m never sore; not sure if other people experience this?
I’ve been actively running seriously for about 4 years and biking hard for 2 (doing first HIM in June).
I know for a fact that I don’t hydrate like I should…could that be why I get this?
Thanks!
Elliott
I have that. In my case it’s epilepsy - if a seizure is coming on sometimes I’ll get tingling in miscellaneous bodyparts, often legs. So I agree with the guy above ^^^^^^^^^^ that it’s probably nerve related. Since you don’t mention seizures I expect that in your case it isn’t epilepsy
It does not appear to be benign fasciculations as the dx appears to be more chronic and occurring in many extremities. RLS can occur after intense exercise and is relieved with movement. BTW, I am a boarded sleep doc so I actually do see a lot of folks who get RLS exacerbated by exercise. The fact that his occurs after strenuous exercise tends to rule out a neuropathy as they tend to be reoccurring.
This is a tough one to armchair. Not enough info to work with. Medical history? The lack of urge to move legs doesn’t fit classic RLS. Periodic leg movement?
Sounds like it may be a potential nerve issue. Your symptoms sound similar to what I experienced in the early stages of a ruptured disc. I did some trial and error at the timed to try and solve the problem…changed diet, took some time off…ect. I let it go to the point where my legs now tingle 24/7.
If you start to notice these symptoms I would consider getting an MRI.
Tingling intensifies
Pulsating/Throbbing down the leg
If sitting in certain positions, your legs fall asleep.
Feels like a sort of disconnect between your legs and body (Lack of power)
I frequently have trouble sleeping after shorter (high intensity) time trials. Legs feel like they’re buzzing - strange description but it best describes the sensation. I find an ice bath, sleeping in compression bottoms and ibuprofen helps.
I completely agree with you. Actually rather than RLS, I meant to say that it is more of a Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) which tends to occur at night. It doesn’t fit the diagnostic criteria of RLS as you mentioned. PLMD/RLS is the closest syndrome that I’ve seen that fits the transient lower extremity tingling, crampiness. For me after a really intense workout I will go to bed w/o difficulty. During the night I will get a sensation of “tingling” but not paresthesia ie numbness. It feels as though I am contracting and relaxing my quads. It tends to affect my quads rather than my calf but will occassionally do so. My suspicion (but have no way of proving nor have I found any evidence to support my hypothesis) is that the muscles are a little inflammed and swollen so it gives the sensation of pressure/tingling that is commonly described by patients with PLMD/RLS. There is no pain just the annoyance at night that messes up my sleep. I think that is why I do so well with Tylenol/NSAIDS.
As everyone else mentioned, neuropathy or impingement is alway important to consider. The OP didn’t mention weakness which is often seen with nerve issues though possibly not til the issue becomes more chronic.
Yeah, I had something like that after getting flipped on my back by a Judo guy (Judoka)…BAck injury, long, slow rehab, MRIs, numb toes (smaller toes on each foot depending how I would sit). I learned some stretches and sleept/sleep with pillows under my legs. Get your S$%t checked out.
To answer some of the questions: I don’t have any past health issues like siezures. I’ve been pretty fortunate in the health department. That being said, I am now the ripe old age of 24 and starting to experience some of the stuff, that as a 16 year old, you know will never happen to you (slower recovery, sore easily, throwing out your back). One such experience has been a nagging back pain in my lower back on the right side (just below my rib cage). If I torque/twist my back hard enough it’ll scream at me and put the kibosh on any swimming, running, or biking until I’ve popped some IB profuen and stretched it out (cat/camel yoga stuff).
What yimmy said about a ruptured disc kinda rang a bell so I consulted my doctor (google), and sure as shit it sure sounds a lot like something to do with one of my discs, which could also cause that sensation in my legs. So, now two more questions for you all:
Would this contribute to why I am way more flexible on my right side? E.g. sitting on the floor with one leg stretched out and the other bent in, I can wrap both hands around the ball of my right foot, but can barely get two hands to my toes on my left foot.
For those of you that have had a ruptured/slipped/pissy disc, what did the docs tell you to do? From what I gather, they tell you to take it easy, keep inflamation down, and quit lifting heavy things with a hard, jerking motion from your back. I’ve been doing this (and I quit ‘cracking’ my back at night) and it’s gradually been improving… If I can avoid a trip to the doctor I certainly will to avoid the bills.
Does sitting relieve the tingling, as compared to lying or standing? Does leaning forward (as in pushing a shopping cart) make your back feel better than standing tall? Can you lay flat on your stomach without back pain or legs tingling?
Sitting does seem to relieve it the most. When I’m in bed, I notice it the most when I’m flat on my back and the least when I’m flat on my stomach. I typically don’t sleep on my sides due to the back issue I described earlier, but I do feel it then also. I’m not sure leaning forward helps or not…hard to tell
People with spinal disc or spinal canal compression typically have preferred postures that reduce pain/symptoms. If you notice such compensations in posture, it might help make a preliminary dx. For example, people with a bulging lumbar disc on one side usually have more symptoms when bending forward. People with narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal usually prefer to bend forward. Running downhill is better in the first example, running uphiill better in the second.
