Leg pains

[97redtib]

Ok so this isnt happening to me its happening to my friend!! Lately he has been complaining of getting really bad pains in his legs and how he describes them is they feel like the start of a charliehorse and than they go away and then come back! I figured they were just muscle cramps so I told him he needs to take in more potassium (it gets rid of cramps) so we got some orange juice that had potassium in it but they still havent gone away!

Is there another reason for these? He did fracture his right leg a couple years ago and he believes he may have refractured it. He also feels that in some way the cramps might be related to that injury. Is this possible? And if so what should he do, he doesnt have insurance? And if not what could it be and how should we treat it?

Thanks,
Krystal

[Doc]

There are several things possible. Not enough water, magnesium, and or possibly potassium (just drinking orange juice doesn't mean he's getting enough). It could be coming from his low back (disc/nerve irritation). There is the possibility that he fractured his leg again, but nothing was mentioned of trauma like a fall or re-injury to his leg.

If he feels he re-fractured his leg he should get medical attention, regarless if he doesn't have health insurance. If this doesn't get better in 5 days it would be best if he seeks medical attention.

[97redtib]

I have some multi-vitamins, could he take those and see if they work? He injured his leg at work...he was unloading a truck at his work in the freezer area and he slipped and he landed on his knee almost at a 90 degree out to the side! He was wearing a medical boot for awhile and he was supposed to get a MRI but couldnt afford it...so he just kept wearing the boot and it started to feel it...it gets sore every once in ahile but he said that its sore in the spot where he originally injured it which is why he thinks he may have refractured it! I think its actually in his muscle on his calf. Could he also possibly try like a heat and ice therapy or something like that?

[Doc]

That's a workers comp injury and they will pay for everything medically necessary to get him better. That is if he opened a claim. If he didn't open a claim then that's his mistake...

Sounds like he could have injured the knee ligaments. If he wears the boot too much his leg muscles will get smaller and weaker and hurt more easily.

Ice when an injury first happens 20 minutes on 1 hour off as needed over first 24-36 hours

Heat moist 20 minutes on 1 hour off.

[97redtib]

Yeah he opened a claim but L&I kept losing it and than his old employer told them that he never opened a claim or something shady like that! Thanks I will let him know that he needs to ice it and whatnot!