23 y/o female w/ tightness in calf, painful cramping, and muscle twitching

[doe1804]

Good evening!

First of all, my sincerest thanks to those of you who take the time to educate people like me on this illness.

I am a 23 y/o female who has recently began feeling tightness in my left calf and keeps getting very painful Charley-horses. I don’t think I have weakness or total loss of ability to do things. I can still stand on my toes and walk on my heels, my left calf just feels very tight. I’ve tried stretching, massaging, and rolling to get feeling out of my calf but pressing it or flexing it just puts it into very painful cramping, I also get them when my legs are at rest, and the tightness hasn’t improved.

I know it is extremely rare in people my age, and less common in women then men. I just wanted to know if motor neuron weaknesses shows up before cramping, tightness, and spasms or vice versa, and if I should be seeking a doctor.

Thanks again

 

[lgelb]

Yes, I would see a doctor. That way, they can refer you to PT or therapeutic massage if needed.

ALS doesn't present as a tight calf as you describe. If you couldn't do normal things with it, you would certainly notice. I would stop the stretching, massaging and rolling, because if there's an injury, let's say, you could be putting extra stress on it, since this isn't your line of work.