Stephen's 550L tank log:

[Andys temperate tank]

Brilliant @Stephen

[Stephen]

Checking the plecos.
George is often in the clay cave to the right cleaning or whatever he's doing and still clearing the sand of debris at the front of the cave.
Mildred (possibly female ?) has been clearing sand (I think it's Mildred doing it) at the far front left of the aquarium (not by the cave); maybe Mildred is male, hard to tell.
I have not seen Mildred enter either of the caves and is usually on the wood or glass.

I have read that plecos will naturally dig the substrate to make a cave.

[Stephen]

I didn't sleep well last night due to being in severe pain with my left leg muscles. My left leg has been like this since Friday and I was hoping it was just a 24 hour thing, but no.
Despite everything, I have done big water changes today and syphoned up the debris. (no pain, no gain)
I'm taking a short break before I clean filter #1. I can then relax a little.

[Andys temperate tank]

Take it easy Stephen mate.

[Stephen]

Take it easy Stephen mate.

Thanks Andy.
I've just finished cleaning filter #1 after the big water changes.
I do tend to push myself though but not when my back goes (like it did 3 weeks ago), I can cope (just) with the leg pain.

All the best

[plankton]

Hope it is muscular rather than nerves.

[F3l1ss]

Sorry to hear you're in pain x

[Drifty]

hope you recover soon

[Gingerlove05]

Don’t be overdoing it Stephen, although I know sometimes doing nothing is worse. Just be careful

[Stephen]

Hope it is muscular rather than nerves.

That's a thought Ian. I hope so too. My vertebrae are damaged (severe spinal stenosis) and have been for many years.
I had another bad night last night, I was on the edge of tears it was that bad.
Like yourself I am used to the normal day-to-day pain but this in my left leg from just above the back of my left knee and upwards in to the buttocks is something else.
The pain is most severe in the middle to upper part of the large leg muscle (at the back of the leg). I've tried to massage it, thump it, slap it, stretch it and everything else.
During the day the pain varies from mild to severe, I can cope with that but as soon as I go to bed it really does hurt. It could be that lying down aggravates it.
I will attempt to go back to bed shortly and try to catch up on my sleep.
I will also contact my massage therapist for advise.

Thanks for the kind thoughts everyone.

Edit:
My massage therapist suggested that I carry on with my self massages (as I described above) and also try the hot/cold treatment.
She also suggested that I see or speak to my GP and maybe get a scan/x-ray of the area as it may be to do with my damaged vertebrae (nerves).