Aching legs after drinking

[breakfan]

Since a few months I've been experiencing really aching legs for the 1-2 days following a night of drinking.

Its a dull ache (not painful, just aching), spread throughout my thighs. Its worse when lying down / inactive but I also feel it when I'm on the move. It makes my legs feel weak.

I'm late twenties and otherwise reasonably fit. I run 5k three times a week, even if/when my legs are aching, so I don't think its anything serious like my muscles deteriorating.

I'm curious if anyone else has also experienced this or has any theories as to what may be happening?

[CoolHands]

Perhaps you’re up to something you can’t remember the next morning

[Monkeylegend]

breakfan said:

It makes my legs feel weak.

Ditch the IPA, you need Strong Brew.

[CoolHands]

Then he’ll feel like superman?!

[Monkeylegend]

Superwoman unless he is,,,,,,,,,,,,well you know.

[bmwmike]

breakfan said:

Since a few months I've been experiencing really aching legs for the 1-2 days following a night of drinking.

Its a dull ache (not painful, just aching), spread throughout my thighs. Its worse when lying down / inactive but I also feel it when I'm on the move. It makes my legs feel weak.

I'm late twenties and otherwise reasonably fit. I run 5k three times a week, even if/when my legs are aching, so I don't think its anything serious like my muscles deteriorating.

I'm curious if anyone else has also experienced this or has any theories as to what may be happening?

How is your hydration, could it be kidneys or bowel pain? Constipation?

[Derek Smith]

breakfan said:

Since a few months I've been experiencing really aching legs for the 1-2 days following a night of drinking.

Its a dull ache (not painful, just aching), spread throughout my thighs. Its worse when lying down / inactive but I also feel it when I'm on the move. It makes my legs feel weak.

I'm late twenties and otherwise reasonably fit. I run 5k three times a week, even if/when my legs are aching, so I don't think its anything serious like my muscles deteriorating.

I'm curious if anyone else has also experienced this or has any theories as to what may be happening?

I have experienced symptoms very similar, this back in the late 70s, when I was your age. I was fit in those days, exercising for an hour for a week, and then two hours the following week, swimming, gym, running and general aerobic. I was also in an active role. I just put it down to being a bit of a wimp. Then mine increased to five days of pain.

One Xmas I was really rough, vomiting blood, stomach cramps and, much more painful, cramp in muscles, particularly calf and foot(!). How do you get cramp in the base of your feet?

Turned out I am 'intollerant' of alcohol. This can take many forms, with many causes.

Get it checked out is the only suggestion I'll make.

If it is that, giving up the demon drink makes you feel so much better that the negatives are overcome.

[Boosted LS1]

Obviously you should try drinking less to perhaps form a diagnosis.

[mike9009]

Just getting older. Wait until your late forties.....

[Badda]

Derek Smith said:

I have experienced symptoms very similar, this back in the late 70s, when I was your age. I was fit in those days, exercising for an hour for a week, and then two hours the following week, swimming, gym, running and general aerobic. I was also in an active role. I just put it down to being a bit of a wimp. Then mine increased to five days of pain.

One Xmas I was really rough, vomiting blood, stomach cramps and, much more painful, cramp in muscles, particularly calf and foot(!). How do you get cramp in the base of your feet?

Turned out I am 'intollerant' of alcohol. This can take many forms, with many causes.

Get it checked out is the only suggestion I'll make.

If it is that, giving up the demon drink makes you feel so much better that the negatives are overcome.

Hahah at lots in this.

[jackh707]

Aching with alcohol can be an early sign of lymphoma, you said legs, it’s a bit tenuous but probably worth a phone call to your GP given your only young.

[Caddyshack]

It is pretty common, I used to get it when I was drinking. I was in France pre-lockdown and my friends 23 yr old daughter was also complaining of it. I had it in my teens, 20s, 30s and 40s.

[Caddyshack]

First thing on google search: There are two reasons for this. First, alcohol causes lactic acid—the same buildup in the muscles you experience after intense exercise—to accumulate in the body, which can cause muscle spasms and soreness. Second, heavy alcohol consumption has a dehydrating effect


My legs ached a bit today, I was dehydrated yesterday after working in the sun.

[MattS5]

I always do my long run on a Saturday (12-14 miles) to enable me to keep Saturday nights free for drinking, if required.

Aftter a decent intake of alcohol my calf’s are always sore the next day.

I put it down to dehydration.

[Mr Dripping]

I used to drink a lot. Yes, I was younger, and stupid. I used to pack away a lot on a work night and go into work the next day feeling appalling, screw the consequences.

My worst memories are of the most appalling leg cramps at night. I would wake up in the middle of the night in bed screaming. I'd fall out of bed and thrash around on the floor desperately trying to get the cramps to stop. This wasn't necessarily the same night as I'd had a skinful, but it was around the time.

These days I drive everywhere, I've grown older and more boring and as such, never have more than a bitter shandy or small glass of red in an evening. I don't miss getting pissed up at all. Most importantly, I never have these leg cramps any more.

[Kiribati268]

MattS5 said:

I put it down to dehydration.

This. I'm relatively fit. Gym 2-3 times a week and can run a 5k in 25 mins and have done a few 10ks in 55 mins.

After a night of a couple too many beers I also get a similar feeling but not as bad as you describe.

Sometimes I feel 'dead', and that my legs struggle to hold my weight, my arms are an effort to lift.

I think it's just the de-hydration, the body is doing what it does and takes the water from the non-essential muscles to the essential ones.

Odd that it lasts so long with yourself, mine has usually gone after about 24 hours.

[sbarclay62]

Also get this after a night on the sauce. Heavey legs and generally whole body, legs sometimes cramp up etc.

There are definitely pro's and con's to drinking!

[Trevor555]

Nearly 30 years ago I had similar, aching arm after drinking alcohol.

Turned out to be hodgkin's lymphoma.

Speak to your doctor to rule that one out.

[markcoznottz]

My dad had a problem with feet......they kept taking him in the pub.