Aching Backs of Legs

[sylviebumblebee]

Hello Everyone! I'm just finishing up Day 2!! I can't believe it! I wanted to quit smoking and I have. I don't even want to smoke. I've gone through some of the most stressful times these last two days dealing with an ex and craziness at work (guess I can't bring my dog to work any more because a coworker snitched on me). Anyway, my legs hurt. It's not like a muscle cramp, but just a sort of constant annoying pain. It's running down the backs of my thighs on the outer edges and into the backs of my knees. I sort of feel like taking some mineral supplements but don't want to go off the program. I wonder if the water I'm drinking (reverse osmosis) is too devoid of minerals? Has anyone else had this issue? Thanks everyone! And cheers to another lemonade!

[hongkongluna]

Hi,
I'm having aches in my legs during the evening, including ache in my thighs. Dont know what thats from. I'm not working out yet. I wanted to do the MC for a few days before so i can get a sense of my energy levels. Weird. Its not too bad though, just a dull ache. I'm currently on Day 3. Legs dont bother me at any other time. (Am feeling a bit spaced out though) :)

rainier

[dolphinazg]

I, too, am having a terrible ache in the back of my legs today (Day 4). The first few days I haven't felt too bad; definitely irritable for wanting to chew something solid and caffeine symptoms... But today I woke up tired, and I have aches in my legs from my hip-bones down to the back of my knees (both on the sides of my thighs and the back). I am also having a slight pain in my ribcage, in between my breasts (I think it's muscle pain though, not internal organs, but I can't exactly tell).

I read that some aches are normal, but is this normal?? going into the cleanse, I had very minimal aches and pains.

Help???

[tallulah]

My calves ache...It's the morning of day 3, and the ache kept me up some of the night. It's not horrible, but it did get too painful to do my normal morning stretches. I'm mulling over taking some of my usual supplements, especially calcium. I don't want to loose the healthy levels of good things that I've built up over many years.

[peanutterb]

are you drinking enough water??


taken from the thread "Detox Stages" http://www.therawfoodsite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194


"During fasting, the body's healing process is at optimum efficiency. As the body scours for dead or damaged tissue, the lymphocytes enter the older, damaged tissue secreting substances to dissolve the damaged cells. These substances irritate the nerves in the surrounding region and cause a reoccurrence of aches from previously injured areas that may have disappeared years earlier. The pain is good as the body is completing the healing process. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected, as toxins accumulate in the legs. Cankers are common in this stage due to the excessive bacteria in the mouth. Daily gargling with salt and water will prevent or heal cankers."

[lmo]

this definately happened to me during the first few days of my first cleanse. i usually woke up with a dull ache in the backs of my legs, and i really wanted someone to massage them. my guess is (as peanutterb showed) that it is a build up of toxins being released. a massage really might help, although i never tried it. i've heard massages release toxins. i don't think it has anything to do with a mineral deficiancy. hang in there, it will subside after the cleanse progresses!

[cleen1]

happened to me too on day 5; I read somewhere that this is common at this stage, and that, yes, it is toxins. I was doing yoga and could hardly bend over w/ straight legs. It went away.

[tallulah]

Thanks for sharing everyone. I did step up the water, and the ache has been much less yesterday and today (days 4 & 5). It moved to my hips, and on day 3 it was shockingly painful...I was actually moaning, and succombed to a tylenol. (Has anyone else done that? I would have given up if I couldn't quell the pain.) Since then I've found a way to mentally merge with it, and think I can manage any reoccurances.

I went for acupuncture yesterday, and the doctor told me that the liver and stomach meridians go down through the hips and legs. He thought it made sense that they would throb during a detox. Otherwise things are great. No trouble with the salt water; love the lemonade. I'm going to put cayenne in EVERYTHING from now on!

Oddly enough, my MD was more supportive of the MC than the acupuncturist. The latter solomnly said, I haven't seen any miracles but no one I know has been harmed by it. The MD told me it was fine to go off my supplements for a week, and was generally enthusiastic.

[mplsvirgo]

epsom salts are definitely crucial! soak for at least 15 minutes in the tub once or twice a day (also helps with any "bum discomfort")

i have been soaking every day, sometimes twice daily...and I have just completed day 5. it's so important for the cleansing process.

in the morning, i go from the toilet to the tub to the toilet to the tub after drinking the salt water flush. the warm bath water helps get things moving down there in a more peaceful manner.

the epsom salts will also help with the headaches (magnesium helps prevent migraines!)

[abluecloud]

On day 6 of my cleanse my calves locked up so tightly day and night for 24 hours they were painful to touch..... I am a walker and runner and have very tight calf muscles.. I think pains such as this are simply a sign that the toxins are leaving the muscle (a high majority of toxins are in the leg muscles). My pains were excrutiating beyond belief, HOWEVER were completely gone the next day.
Strange things may happen on this fast depending on your original toxicity and the ways in which your body deals with this.
On day 9 my nose began running in the morning, by the evening tissue after tissue after tissue, my nose was still like a tap!!!
Next day. NOTHING.
On day 11 now.
So... if I could offer any advice it would be...
DONT WORRY about weird occurances unless they last for prolonged periods of time. REJOICE in the notion that your body is ridding itself from all the waste!

[sunshine13]

On day 6 of my cleanse my calves locked up so tightly day and night for 24 hours they were painful to touch..... I am a walker and runner and have very tight calf muscles.. I think pains such as this are simply a sign that the toxins are leaving the muscle (a high majority of toxins are in the leg muscles). My pains were excrutiating beyond belief, HOWEVER were completely gone the next day.
Strange things may happen on this fast depending on your original toxicity and the ways in which your body deals with this.
On day 9 my nose began running in the morning, by the evening tissue after tissue after tissue, my nose was still like a tap!!!
Next day. NOTHING.
On day 11 now.
So... if I could offer any advice it would be...
DONT WORRY about weird occurances unless they last for prolonged periods of time. REJOICE in the notion that your body is ridding itself from all the waste!

Thanks you have no idea how much this blip has helped me. I woke up with the aches this morning and am in the middle of the jungle and felt like "what the hell am I doing" But this message helped me.

Thanks and you are right, I am ridding this crap!
Sunshine

[skiba]

Thanks for your information. I am beginning Day 3 and have intense lower back aches, mostly on the right side. I will try a soak and a massage if it isn't gone by tomorrow. Also, I have a hard time drinking 6 drinks. I just can't seem to get it done, mostly I'm not hungry, and just don't want anything. Do you think that's OK?

[sleepyhead]

Thanks for your information. I am beginning Day 3 and have intense lower back aches, mostly on the right side. I will try a soak and a massage if it isn't gone by tomorrow. Also, I have a hard time drinking 6 drinks. I just can't seem to get it done, mostly I'm not hungry, and just don't want anything. Do you think that's OK?

Hi skiba... nope, not ok. You need to drink a minimum of 6 -10 0z drinks a day in order to detox properly and to keep your energy up and NOT go into ketosis. Just sip a little at a time. It is important. best of luck!

[bwokbkaw]

So glad to have read this. This is my 2nd MC and I'm on day 3. I've got the worst, worst leg cramps/ muscle aches. They shift from my calves to my IT band, to my quads, my hamstrings. Omg. Painful. They woke me up! I was hoping this mornings SWF would clear them away, but no luck. I know its good detoxing, but geez, I thought I was healthy!

Anyway, happy cleansing to all.

[Res]

Something you may want to try is this:

Lie on the floor next to a doorway. Put your right leg up on the wall straight, and straighten the leg going into the doorway. Hold for a count of 45. Whip around and put the left leg on the wall and straighten the right leg. Count to 45.

Then, sit up straight in a chair and cross your ankle over your knee. Pull up your knee/ankle straight up and towards your chest (while sitting straight) and count to 45. You'll feel this in your glute. Change legs.

We don't realize that if one muscle tightens it will impact the other muscles it's connected to. If you do this twice a day you'll loosen up the muscle and the pain will diminish. It's actually a good stretch to do for the rest of your life. :) Hope this helps a bit.

Love,
~Res

[bwokbkaw]

Ooh, thanks. I was doing a bit of stretching, but nothing for that long. The pains have lessened considerably today which is a relief. Think I might hit a yoga class. Thanks for the tips!

[bwokbkaw]

FYI: Today is day 6 and the leg pains are gone. For anyone out there suffering, I have to say stretching and light exercise did the trick for me. Also, the next days' eliminations, but while they were sore, I found stretching and a light run to help move things along and ease off the pain. Thanks the tips and support everyone. Happy cleansing!

[britishlady]

I glad your aches are gone. This is day three for me my first master cleanse. My back aches, I have a headache . My husband is not supportive because I am not in the kitchen. but I believe the results will be worth it.:)

[Res]

You hang in there. It's all par for the course. :) Join us in the '2008: what day are you on and how are you doing?" thread.



bwokbkaw: Glad to hear you're feeling better. :)

Love,
~Res

[candice]

I'm having lots of swelling in my feet & calves, though the usual swelling I have in my hands (on a regular basis, not on MC) has gone down tremendously. Any thoughts? Toxins trying exit my body perhaps? I'm going to hot yoga in the morning & will drink tons of extra water - hopefully that will help.

Thanks!

[Res]

Are you doing the swf? That could be part of it. Keep an eye on it.

[alicliff]

I am now on day 10. I too experienced terrible leg pain days 5-7 twice having to rise and take an aspirin in the middle of the night. It was too painful for sleep. The aches were throughout both legs from my hip joints through both legs to the calves, internal, tight and really sore! I did up the water and stuck to the diet, after two days, gone. Had been to the gym (light workout) so didn't know if it had been related, but I think it was the toxins as this sort of workout was much less than the usual. Also, had been walking everyday 1-2 hrs, and the pain seemed to subside while doing so... then returned later in the evenings... passing by morning...!? Seemed odd. O.K. now looking forward to chewing. Good Luck All.

[kj2806eli]

Hello! This is my first post...here goes...

I did this cleanse for 5 days about a year ago and it was so easy, almost too easy. This time is different, which I know is good because I am cleansing but I am wondering how much longer I can go with the pain in my legs!

Today is Day 5 and I would like to go at least 10 days. Two nights ago, I was up most of the night with an aching sensation in my legs. By mid day, the aches were officially pain. The only time my legs feel OK is when I move, walking running. Stretching is hard though but I keep at it.

To help, I have been moving (but it hurts very bad within a half hour of stopping), taken at least 4 epsom salt baths in the last 18 hours, went to an acupuncturist. So far nothing works for longer than a half hour or so afterwards.

It should be noted that I have been doing this cleanse, all steps as written (tea, SWF, juice) and I have been eliminating pretty good. I added a morning cup of the laxative tea to be sure this morning (in addition to the cup I drink at night before bed).

How do I get rid of the pain? Or do I need to tolerate it until it goes away? CAN ANYBODY HELP ME???

[d_noel]

kj2806eli,

If you look back at the first page of this thread at post #5 you'll find the following


"taken from the thread "Detox Stages" http://www.therawfoodsite.com/forum/...read.php?t=194


"During fasting, the body's healing process is at optimum efficiency. As the body scours for dead or damaged tissue, the lymphocytes enter the older, damaged tissue secreting substances to dissolve the damaged cells. These substances irritate the nerves in the surrounding region and cause a reoccurrence of aches from previously injured areas that may have disappeared years earlier. The pain is good as the body is completing the healing process. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected, as toxins accumulate in the legs. Cankers are common in this stage due to the excessive bacteria in the mouth. Daily gargling with salt and water will prevent or heal cankers."

I experienced pain in my hip and upper thigh while on my first cleanse. It was excrutiating to the point I missed a day of work. It was gone in 2 days and has never returned. I had pulled a muscle in my thigh/hip area a couple years ago and it took a week or so for me to get through that. I'm convinced that cleanse pulled those toxins out.

I wouldn't worry and just let your body heal itself as it was designed to do. Keep it up and just try to bear with it. I think the epsom salts are fine and should give you some relief. I know it hurts but that's what happens when you have a healing crisis in your body.

Congratulations on day #5. Keep going and you'll be glad you did
deanna