How to ease leg pain!

[misskick]

Went to a barbell class two days ago, and wow my legs are so sore I can barely walk the stairs. I was thinking of going swimming today to try and help but don't want to cause more damage. Any ideas?

Keep moving. You won't cause more damage.

DOMS usually eases up after day 2 so it should get better soon.

I thought it would ease but it feels worse today than it did yesterday. I am supposed to be doing kettle bells in the morning don't think I can. Thought the swimming may do some good though and less painful as in water

I was thinking of going swimming today to try and help but don't want to cause more damage.

Goodness me, that's not damage - it's just DOMS - delayed onset muscle soreness. Probably because you've not done that sort of exercise to that intensity, for some time.

Go for a walk. Do some yoga. Swim. Use a foam roller to roll out your muscles. But it's not damage! Quite the reverse

I am supposed to be doing kettle bells in the morning don't think I can.

Of course you can - just warm up properly - big leg and arm swings, for example. In fact, it's much better to exercise through DOMS than give up. It means you get your body mobile.

Swimming sounds like a great idea tbh!

And keep hydrated! That helps with DOMS. It's always worse on day 2.

Do you have a foam roller? That sorts out my legs if I’ve gone a bit heavy with the weights! Take it a bit easier if you’re sore but don’t stop.

All that above advice is good plus magnesium spray is great for muscle and joint pain.

Well I didn't stop, went to a kettle bell class thursday. Today bent my knees to pick washing up and felt a popping sensation in my thigh and went down like a tonne of bricks. I'm in agony sat in a@e they said sounds like I've tore something. I'm only 35 healthy size 12 don't really get why I struggle so much after exercise. What am I doing wrong!

Maybe:
Your form and technique need improvement
You’re trying to do too much too soon
You’re not warming up sufficiently
You’re not cooling down and stretching sufficiently

I’d guess you’ve tried to do too much without a proper warm up and mobilisation.

Have you just started exercising more intensely?

You need to build up to things and learn correct technique. A lot of injuries come from incorrect technique or starting too intensely.

I went too a barbell class and a kettle bell class, both 45mins, stretches etc are done at the class and wasn't told my technique was wrong. I had depression back last year and really struggled used to feel weak all the time. So I'm wondering if that has anything to do with muscle weakness from not being used regularly for so long.

So I'm wondering if that has anything to do with muscle weakness from not being used regularly for so long.

Er, yes!

As I suspected, you've done too much, too intensely.

In your next pump class, just use an empty bar, or the very lightest weights. In the next kettle bell class, use the lightest kettle bell available.

Just using body weight in both classes will start to strengthen unused muscles. A body weight squat properly done, will do more than a loaded bar if you're not fit.

But IME the warm up & stretching done in group classes is not really enough. And instructors rarely give detailed corrections of people's technique, If you're a beginner to weights, you're not really going to know how to apply corrections anyway.

Maybe i need to book a session with a PT at some point then as i really am a complete beginner when it comes to weights. I can't afford to injure myself as I have a house too run and work to pay the bills! Genuinely scared me this morning when my it happened and the pain! I really want to tone and feel so much better about myself when exercising and eating healthy.