These leg cramps . . .

[Nelson Bradford]

. . . are KILLING me!

Am awake now - been awake for close to an hour - like many nights with them and they are killers.

I've been to MD
chiropractor
health food store

NOTHING is working

any suggestions?

Cutting them both off at the knee has entered my mind!

:)

[Hans Deventer]

Nelson, have you considered Osteopathy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopathy)?

[Marg Webb]

I wrote once and thought, oh he will think this is silly. But try elastic stockings. It really helped me and I also eliminated vitamin E from my vitamins.
Ice helps me when they are really bad. I understand your feeling of amputation.:) But I am much better since doing what I have just suggested. Especially the E vitamin.

[Cecil Wallace]

Sorry to hear about the leg cramps.
I cannot guarantee it, but I have heard that the cramps can be eased or relieved by eating a teaspoon or more of prepared mustard when the cramps occur.
You know, the plain old yellow mustard (McCormick's, etc.)
Maybe you could try it and give us a report.

I occasionally have cramps at night in the muscles below the knee, but they go away when I stand up. Mine aren't as bad as what you describe.

[Regena Torres]

Try eating a banana every evening. It will take a few days but it works

[Beth Larpenter-Shurbutt]

I agree with Regena. Sometimes a lack of potassium will cause leg cramps. The banana may help.

When I was pregnant, I had leg cramps and the following exercise helped:
Sit up with your legs extended and grab your toes with your hand and pull they back toward them and hold them for about 10 seconds. Repeat this several times and see if it helps.

I'm praying for you!
Beth

PS Did you ever get a higher resolution copy of that last photo you sent? I'd love to work on it but it really would help if it were a higher resolution.

[Doris Grant]

And if all of these suggestions fail, my sisters takes something called Soma (I think that is what it is). She has bad leg cramps and that is what her doctor told her to take each night before she goes to bed.

Doris

[Nelson Bradford]

a) I'm allergic to bananas

b) I've had blood tests and have TWICE the normal amount of potassium (CECIL! BE QUIET!!)

c) I've tried every stretch exercise known to mankind plus the chiropractor not only stretched those muscles/ligaments but also the electrical stimulation plus deep massaged. (CECIL! BE QUIET!!!)


d) I have arthritis in both ankles so that limits my stretching somewhat - or I really pay.

thanx
-neb

[Sue Pyles]

:bannana Eating bananas was my only solution.
I hope you find a remedy soon.

[Cecil Wallace]

a) I'm allergic to bananas

b) I've had blood tests and have TWICE the normal amount of potassium (CECIL! BE QUIET!!)

But what is "normal?"
Not necessarily what everyone ELSE has.
You're different you know.
(I can't be quiet about this! I TOLD you to do the mustard thingy! Now listen to me!)
And I'm not gonna touch that "banana" statement. It might make a monkey out of you.

c) I've tried every stretch exercise known to mankind plus the chiropractor not only stretched those muscles/ligaments but also the electrical stimulation plus deep massaged. (CECIL! BE QUIET!!!)

Sounds like you ENJOY those chiropractic treatments. Have you tried being stretched on a rack?
Maybe it's all in your mind, and you need someone to stretch that, assuming that it can be found.):rolleyes:

Sincerely. I'm sorry to hear of your plight. While I don't often have leg cramps, I do know what it feels like.

I guess that you are enjoying a snow day today. Got some pics?

[Joel Merrill]

I don't have any remedies that you haven't already tried but I'm praying for you.

Joel

[Gina Stevenson]

Seriously, I eat "tons" (well, a lot) of bananas, yet I've gotten like that on rare occasion. It's then that I've remembered that I've not had my share of calcium---forgotten to take it---for a long time. That is something muscles really rely on to work smoothly, too ... sometimes they might just be crying out for someone to "feed them" just the right vitamins. [what I get that reminds me I've not remembered calcium in awhile---bad with remembering vitamins, when they sometimes seem like "pills"---is what's known everywhere as "Charlie Horse" --- OUCH!!]

If you've enough potassium, I would consider a decent/plentiful calcium supplement, if you don't already have one. It's not just for bones/osteoporosis, but muscles need a goodly dose of it, too.

EDIT: OK, guess I just was taking the magnesium-calcium mix for granted, when not mentioning that. When I get calcium, I always try to make sure it has the Mg (magnesium) with it, as I've heard long ago it help us metabolize the calcium. 'Forgot to mention that. Anyway, found an interesting site or two when browsing that mentions how they work together ... basically, that calcium helps the muscle contract, and then magnesium helps it relax again. Hey! Calcium should then help our heart, too ... it's one big muscle! ;)

(back again) Oh yeah ... here's one of those sites, mentioning calcium for muscles, not just bones:

http://ific.org/foodinsight/1999/jf/calciumfi199.cfm

Hope one/some of these remed(y/ies) help(s).

gs

[Marg Shurtliff]

I didn't see this posted so will share what my doctor suggested . Tonic water ! It has quinine in it and seems to help. I don't know if you could use it preventative or not but if I wake with those excrutiating leg cramps , I have about 8 oz tonic water and usualy go back to sleep and am not awakened with them again that night . On very rare occasions I have taken a second dose later on but only once or possibly twice .
I use the diet tonic water as no way am I wasting good calories on stuff that tastes so bad . I also add flavoured crystallite to the tonic water . You can at least make it through it that way . I've used lemonade most but used a tea one that last time ( Nestea , I think ) and it actually tasted not bad .
I highly recommend the tonic water . Potassium helps but this really works !

[Nelson Bradford]

is AWFUL!
The chiropractor also recommended that acid-in-a-bottle.

I cannot imagine anyone drinking that stuff just because they enjoy the taste.

Bought two bottles.
Attempted to get down an 8 oz glass two nights in a row.

DOWN the drain it went and the empty bottles are in the recycle bin.

Thank you everyone.
I made it successfully through Friday night w/o any cramps and I am thankful.

-neb

[Marg Shurtliff]

Sure wouldn't recommend it straight but with crystallite or a tea mediating the taste it is drinkable , slowly . But I can't even imagine what it tastes like "naked ". Try "covering " the taste . Its the only thing I have found to really work . I know there are medications out there that can be taken as well but I take enough of those already . So this to me is better . I can go for a week or more and not need any and then need it two or more nights in a row . I also eat a banana almost every day and take potassium pills but I have always had a problem with low potassium levels every so often .

[Gord Evans]

is AWFUL!
The chiropractor also recommended that acid-in-a-bottle.

I cannot imagine anyone drinking that stuff just because they enjoy the taste.
-neb

Nelson, squeeze fresh lime or lemon into it ... it actually, over time, becomes palatable. If it works for you, you'd hate to miss out only because you didn't like the taste!

Did you like the taste of the first couple of olives you ate?

You probably didn't even like the first couple of Vernor's you drank!!

May I remind you of the words of the Apostle Paul (Romans 5:3-4): "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

What do you mean, context?

:cool:

[Dana Grant]

is AWFUL!
The chiropractor also recommended that acid-in-a-bottle.

I cannot imagine anyone drinking that stuff just because they enjoy the taste.

Bought two bottles.
Attempted to get down an 8 oz glass two nights in a row.

DOWN the drain it went and the empty bottles are in the recycle bin.

Thank you everyone.
I made it successfully through Friday night w/o any cramps and I am thankful.

-neb


Nelson, you can also get quinine sulfate as a prescription from your doctor in tablet form. It has long been prescribed for leg cramps. It was prescribed for restless legs syndrome for years and years before anyone realized that RLS is NOT leg cramps, but something totally different.

The flavoring in the tonic water actually might help -- Great idea, Marg.

Talk to your doctor about quinine sulfate.....

Also, have you been tested for peripheral artery disease?

Dana

[Terri Knoll]

is being hailed as a hopeful for arthritis, and since you have arthritis in your ankles, sweeten your tonic water with the black cherry juice. I promise it works, also low sodium V8 juice too, if you don't like tonic water. I googled both and found great info on them both, but my customers at Publix actually started hounding us for them after alot of articles in health and womens mags.

I have RLS and know it is NO fun, so wish you cramp free leggies!