Effects of T on gait, walking, and joints

[James80]

I started T (topical, not injections) 1 month, 9 days ago. I'm trying to figure out if it's the reason my shins are killing me.

I know my gait has changed slightly, but I'm not sure if it's because compensating for the pain or if it's the cause. My knees and ankles hurt too, but not as much, and that might be from climbing more stairs that usual. Prior to starting T, I went to the gym four-five days a week, and am still doing four days. I can walk a little over a half-mile before the pain starts.

I also moved to a new area that's at a higher elevation, but historically, I've been good with altitude.

I started T on the day after the move, which makes it more difficult to consider each of these things (T, altitude, incline, activity) separately. The pain is making it harder to work out, which I really need to be doing to help with the transition.

If anyone else has experienced this, I'd like to know. Ya know?

Thanks.


PS. I intend to see a doctor, but my insurance won't kick in until June 1st.

[Silver Centurion]

I don't know if this is helpful or not but I have had similar problems since I started T myself. My joints ache quite a bit when I am a day or two before having to do my injection. My muscles are pretty much cranky all the time I have gained a lot of strength since starting but I am sore a lot and they tense up. I think I need to take supplements and eat better to try and help them repair better.

I live in a mountainy area but I don't think the altitude does much. Temperature changes can kick everyone's butt and there's a lot of that going around in the NE right now. Going from 90 to 65 in a day is rough on the body. I haven't figured out how to fix any of this really. It got a little better taking an otc anti inflammatory and stretching a lot seems to help but I myself am going to talk to my doctor about this when I get a chance. The joint pain is the worst! I think it has a lot to do with your body switching things up to be honest. Things are shifting, getting stronger, being used more etc. It may just take time to sort it out.

[Kylo]

To be honest I've only seen improvements since T; before it I dealt with DOMS following exercise for a week plus, bones that would hurt under pressure and sore joints all the time. Since then I haven't had any of that and the DOMS is minimal when pushing my physical limits. But I've also been shedding weight which does reduce strain on joints.

Hard to say what it could be - half a mile isn't much at all before onset; I used to get aches in my legs if I walked 5 fives over rough country that would come on slowly usually after I stopped walking... ibuprofen used to work well on those kinds of joint and lower leg pains. But 5 miles is pretty poor too for me who used to be able to walk most of a day without any kind of pain. I did find that both natural T and E were low before I was officially signed off on T and my joints were horrendous at that time... and they improved since, so the hormones were probably something to do with it and with healing speed in my case.

How long has it been happening? I would give it 1-2 weeks to be sure it's not just from increased unexpected levels of activity or something.

[James80]

I think 'tensing up' is a good way to describe this. I'm actively trying to get enough protein, and usually succeeding, and I take a decent quality men's multivitamin. My upper body strength is definitely improving without any discomfort. The legs, though, they suck so much right now.

How long has it been happening? I would give it 1-2 weeks to be sure it's not just from increased unexpected levels of activity or something.

I first noticed it about three weeks ago. It's just gotten progressively worse, probably because I'm not taking rest days. I think maybe I would be better off taking it easy a couple days a week at this point, at least with walking/hiking.

Back east on level ground, I was averaging three miles a day without any problems (except boredom). There's so much more to do here, that it's hard not to go out and do it.

I think I'll take an anti-inflammatory for a few days, see if that helps. Maybe some stretching.

Thanks, guys!

[CursedFireDean]

I started to have joint problems before T (mostly tendonitis in my elbow from playing volleyball) but shortly after T developed it in my wrist as well (art student) and now after about 2-2/5 years I also have knee pain. My doctor put me on a daily anti-inflammatory and it's helped worlds. Used to have to carry around 3 different types of OTC pain meds with me all the time but I haven't taken anything except that daily med in the past month.

Don't know if it's T or if it's just my active lifestyle as a kid doing high impact sports catching up to me now that I'm not staying fit.

[Clever]

Something I've noticed, as I play an amateur sport, is that while I can certainly see very quick muscle growth, the muscles themselves sometimes feel weirdly "unstable." Almost like the ligaments are unable to keep up with the changes? Or something?

After a few years on T, I can honestly say no physical changes surprise me anymore. Back in the first six months, I lost so much fat in my butt, and so quickly, that I would regularly pinch a nerve in my butt when I sat down on the toilet. So dignified!

[Kylo]

Noticed that before T I used to get severe muscle cramps in the last couple of years when exercising, sometimes would put my back or leg out with it for a few days the muscles would contract so powerfully. Since T I've been considerably more active, that does invite more injuries and cramps, but I would say the cramps are effectively rare now.

For example the other day I was getting my gear on for sea diving and the sea wasn't exactly gentle that morning, I totally sprang the rectus fermoris in my left leg trying to fight currents for a while, so I hauled out on a rock for a while to recover. I expected some severe pain for the rest of the swim but five minutes' rest and it was back to normal and I didn't feel it at any point after. If these had been pre T conditions I think I'd have been guaranteed three days of agony walking on it or just flexing it, much less swimming against sea currents with it. Whatever changes have taken place recovery for strains on the muscles is incredible. But all the same it's still easy to pull something with unpredictable activities (like sea diving or team sports). 

[James80]

I think my problem was shin splints from just not being in good shape to do the things I've been trying to do. They're getting better.