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That erratic pulsating sensation on your legs after a brisk walk- what is it? And more questions (mander.xyz)

submitted 4 months ago by Mothra@mander.xyz to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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As the title says. I go for a 20 minute walk and when I stop moving, I'm not feeling tired or even agitated at all, yet my legs feel like they're pulsating in different areas, always near the skin. It's not synchronised with my heartbeat. It stops after a few minutes.

Chat GPT says these are just muscle twitches caused by dehydration or lack of electrolytes. I'm not convinced. Why does it feel almost on the skin and not deeper in the muscles? Why do I feel it after a 20 minute walk that doesn't make me sweat but I don't feel it after a 40 minute leg focused workout???? Wouldn't that be more strenuous on the legs?? Does this thing even have a name?

Thanks

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[–] RandomWalker@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

A magnesium deficiency can cause twitching in your legs, but I don’t know if anyone on the internet would be able to help tell if the pulsing sensation is caused by muscles contracting or something else.

If you have decent access to healthcare and it’s bothering you, bring it up with your doctor. It’s unlikely anyone here is qualified to be giving you medical advice. And if they were, they likely wouldn't be comfortable giving a diagnosis based only on a post.

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 2 points 4 months ago (2 children)

No, this isn't something bothering me in any other way than making me curious about it. I'm not seeking medical advice, just physiological or biological information about this phenomenon. It doesn't really feel like a twitch in my muscles, it's more like my skin is pulsating. My body doesn't move. It's just a sensation

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It's just the spiders under your skin.

But maybe it's the nerves or capillaries that run through the layers of fat and skin, as walking shakes them up and gets the blood pulsing through. Even in fit people the skin shakes a little as it slides back and forth over the moving muscles. Once you get into a serious workout, there's too much other sensation from the muscles and tendons, and the blood vessels are as busy and hopefully open as they're going to get.

Bear in mind I have no actual idea, just speculating.

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 2 points 4 months ago

This is the theory I side with the most, I just hope I'll find someone who can confirm or debunk said speculation

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Could just be vascular flow from the motion. like when you work out hard with a muscle group, the area will gain blood and turn flush for a while.

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Is it possible to feel this flush pulsating at different rythms simultaneously on different areas of my skin? I would think it's just blood flow but it's so erratic and not matching my heartbeat

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Possibly, the heart pumps but your vascular system has to return it all and it may feel different. But could also be the reduction of vein size as blood pressure ia dropping that you are feeling

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 1 points 4 months ago

Fair enough, this could be it