leg muscle cramps: Hi everybody, Just... - British Liver Trust

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leg muscle cramps

thewayforward profile image
24 Replies

Hi everybody,

Just wanted to ask if anybody experienced here strong leg muscle cramps as a complication of cirrhosis.The kind of cramps that make you jump out of chair or of bed and struggling for your breath?

And also if anybody has thrombophlebitis?

How are you managing it,any tips will be appreciated.

thanksssssss:)

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thewayforward profile image
thewayforward
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24 Replies
RodeoJoe profile image
RodeoJoe

Yes I had a bit of the cramps. My best guess was due to a very restricted salt/sodium diet. That was my own diagnosis mind you.

thewayforward profile image
thewayforward in reply toRodeoJoe

Thanks,he is not on salt restriction diet,but thanks anyway.

susieanna profile image
susieanna

Thats what i want to know about; muscle cramps or shooting pains that make you jump?

thewayforward profile image
thewayforward in reply tosusieanna

yes a bit of both...

AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireK

No experience of the thrombophlebitis you ask about but hubby did have a spell of the most horrendous leg cramps - his was just after starting a dose of prednisolone to combat some signs of auto-immune flaring in blood results. His often came on when he was walking and he had to freeze on the spot and was near crying in agony.

He found that by eating a banana a day (bit of extra potassium) the cramps seemed to disappear - other people swear by a glass of tonic water each day due to its quinine content.

Worth a try?

All the best, Katie

thewayforward profile image
thewayforward in reply toAyrshireK

Bananas don't help but we will try the tonic water,many thanks and all best for the hubbyxx

in reply tothewayforward

Take Magnesium Caltrate and supplement your potassium with dates instead of bananas❣🇨🇦

ballie52 profile image
ballie52

I get horrendous leg cramps..mostly at night even in the thighs. .when it attacks my leg it is difficult to walk on it for a few hrs..don't know if it's related to my cirrhosis or not!

thewayforward profile image
thewayforward in reply toballie52

I think it is,since so many have this symptom.Got some interesting tips from people here that I think worth trying.

Anne48 profile image
Anne48

Hi, I had leg cramps whilst on Prednisolone. Used a Magnesium oil spray, worked wonders for me. Nowadays use Epsom salts, mug full in bath and soak for 20 minutes, it's meant to relieve muscle pain and cramps and draw toxins from your body. As always a good idea to check with GP first. Anne X

thewayforward profile image
thewayforward in reply toAnne48

We will try them both,many thanks!

in reply toAnne48

You can even take once a day magnesium Caltrate and eat some dates instead of bananas. Epsom salt with baking soda in your bath does wonders. I'll call it my drug of choice lol. Make sure when you take that bath you bring a large glass of water to drink while emersed in the bath and than drink two more glasses of water. It replenishes the water that the epsoms salts draws out of your body. The baking soda acts as a water softener to make you feel smooth and soft❣🇨🇦

SweetJaney profile image
SweetJaney

I had leg cramps bad, normally down BOTH legs at same time in calf muscles. I am now on Quinine Sulpate 200mg once a day. I was told Tonic Water was good for it as well. x

thewayforward profile image
thewayforward in reply toSweetJaney

Thank you very much,got him tonic water and we will see if it helps

annew272 profile image
annew272

I take 300mg Quinine Sulphate, I was originally given the quinine a few months before my liver problems were diagnosed, the tablets worked for a while and then started to return. My Dr increased the Quinine to 300mg, now another few months later I am getting cramps again. Not as often but can get woken 3 or 4 times some nights which really doesnt help with the fatigue.

I read somewhere that it is down to the build up of toxins in the blood, but cant remember where I read it so no joy in finding any more details

Anne

dooley1 profile image
dooley1

Is your dad on water tabs? If so get a blood test to check his sodium levels. You can take too high a dose and this leads to horrendous leg/feet cramps. This happened to me, if sodium too low GP will prob reduce dose. Good luck

Bermuda1 profile image
Bermuda1

Cramps are exceptionally common , as well as achey joints. Magnesium capsules will do the trick. I take a capsule of Calc, Magnesium and ZInc , aches and cramps are gone. This works for most people. Low Magnesium doesn't often show up in blood tests, but it can still be low. These 3 minerals many with cirrhosis are deficient in.

I do eat a banana a day fro potassium , but that made no difference to me either.

thewayforward profile image
thewayforward

Thank you very much,dear people for all your response advice.Tonic water helps!xxx

Bolly profile image
Bolly in reply tothewayforward

Tonic water has quinine in it so it's the quinine ( which others take in tablet form) that is possibly doing the trick.

Or it could be the increase in fluid intake.

Or the sodium, as some say cramp is low sodium.

Whatever, I like the tonic water with a slice of lime and ice and then I can pretend I'm having a G&T!

Glad something worked!

in reply toBolly

I'm curious what is quinine, I had it so bad and I was told to take Caltrate Magnesium and eat dates for the potassium. It worked amazingly!!

Catfishjumpin profile image
Catfishjumpin

I had them for months and it is a low serum sodium. I told my doc I was gnarling up, my legs and arms, it became extremely painful getting it to stop. Then I went into bleed out and seizure and landed in ER then the doctor took me off diuretics. Are you on diuretics?

thewayforward profile image
thewayforward in reply toCatfishjumpin

It's my partner,no he is not on diuretics.Thank you for replying and hold on!

I think I informed someone else about what to take as I've been living with those horrendous cramps for over two years. They have lessen considerably by taking a vitamin called Caltrate-Magnesium. You can also eat dates as well as bananas for potassium supplement to your dietary needs. However, my dietician and friend both advised me to start the magnesium right away as I couldn't even walk across the street!!! The muscle spasms and cramps were so bad. I almost got hit by a car. I empathize with what you are going through. Try it! it did work for me And now I hardly get those cramps anymore. I also do a lot of stretching as I was a classical dancer before this disease took hold of me❣🇨🇦

thewayforward profile image
thewayforward in reply to

thank you very much

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