Everytime I do forms of exercise for instance sport, running, tennis, you name it afterwards all my muscles in my back and legs especially my legs will stiffen up. It's unbearable and the stiffness will start during exercise but will worsen significantly from about the day after and will last a good number of days sometimes up to a week post exercise. Even something benign like a yoga class triggers it these days. Thus I've effectively given up doing any form of exercise. I used to extremely active, when I played football all my life and at a competitive life but when these symptoms first started 7 years ago at the age of 17-18 ever since I've been greatly limited.
Can anyone relate? I've seen numerous people regarding the issue, initially sports therapists who first thought, my muscles had been overworked due to the amount of training I was doing and thus I needed to stretch more. However I can stretch until the cows come home and it doesn't seem to help. Will get temporary relief, but after exercising again the symptoms return.
I've seen a neurologist who assessed my with a visual observation and said that in his professional opinion it wasn't a neurological disorder which was a relief, although frustrating as no closer to finding the root cause. He said some people have unexplained symtoms.
Over the past year or so I've considered this might be an autoimmune related condition that something happens in my body which is mean't to happen when I exercise. I saw arheumatologist had blood tests done and they came back clear. However have never had blood tests done post excercise, which I found strange that he didn't request this?
I've had history of anxiety. I do feel that contributes but I can't comprehend that it cause something of this significance. If it was because of anxiety I'd feel the stiffness all the time, I certainly feel it sometimes even when I haven't done any excercise, but I feel it at it's utmost worse following exercise. I feel very frustrated, I'm 24 and feel like I've got an old man's body and I don't exercise anymore as every time I stiffen up. Even after a gentle yoga class once I was incredibly stiff for a a good 4 or 5 days afterwards.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Or insight or identification? Would be much appreciated.