Leg cramps

[wilmawemyss]

Has anyone else suffered from excruciating leg cramps? Did you manage to overcome them?

[ABD58]

I know it sounds crazy, but 1 teaspoon of yellow mustard will stop cramps for me. Magnesium is supposed to help, but I was already on it.

[Herman7275]

I suffer from leg cramps and now for last 3 weeks both of my hands go numb when I go to sleep and when sitting in recliner in evening. Sometimes my legs and feet go asleep also., Dr raised my intake of magnesium to 1500mg's daily.

[AyrshireK]

A banana a day for hubby (help with potassium levels). Get tested for your magnesium and potassium levels which are common causes of cramp in liver disease. Some people also take some tonic water which has a trace element of quinine which can help and some folks even get prescribed quinine.

Run it past your doctor for tests and possible interventions.

Katie

[Kji378]

Hello 🙂

Yes they are rotten to have, I was prescribed magnesium, but because my liver was decompensated, I was told not to take any medications that weren't essential.

Tonic water was suggested, however the amount of Quinine in Tonic water is so very little it would be more of a psychological effect.

I do think the magnesium helped me - but check with your Consultant everyone is different.

I also used to breathe whilst swearing, a bit like a contraction during labour! That helped!

🎶 It will go...$*‽#...😬 -

It will pass...$*‽#...😬 🎶 ~ was my cramp mantra!

Hope it goes soon! 🙏

[Hidden]

I cannot take quinine because I have low platelets, but as Katie said bananas have a lot of potassium and I eat half a banana, late evening whenever I have had bad leg day and it usually stops me waking.

Also, just reading what Herman wrote about numb hands, reminded me that vitamin B12 deficiency can cause cramps (and pins and needles in our hands) perhaps some B12 supplement may help.

Dave

[ciroze_05]

me too experience some hand cramps, i asked my doctor about it and he prescribed me a calcium medicine for one month and it went well.As Katie said you must go on and have a check up for that..

Have a nice day😊

[Soundcalm53]

Yes, I started with excruciating leg and foot cramps a year or so since. My doctor pointed out that my potassium levels were a little low so suggested a small banana daily. I take a high dose of Furosemide diuretic as well as spironolactone which can cause these issues apparently.

[Beture47]

Magnesium I have treble dose and my transplant surgeon and GP approve it keeps it under control

[Bikafella]

Pre-liver transplant I had excruciating groin/inner thigh cramps in the middle of the night. I tried to ascertain if there was a diet trigger but couldn't find anything. Magnesium flakes in bath water may have had a minimal (placebo) effect. Doctors aren't sure exactly why they happen or what really prevents them. Salts ingested may work for some but won't stop it once the cramp starts.

Important to try really hard to relax as soon as the feeling starts. Cold water shower or cold flannel is very effective.

Post 'op they're exceedingly rare for me thank heavens. It's a dreadful liver disease side effect without a doubt. Sorry for anyone going through this.

[wurzle in reply to Bikafella]

Hi yes I also get that excrutiating pain in my left groin. It feels like somebody is pressing their fist in there really hard

[Bikafella in reply to wurzle]

I can share a funny episode with regard to bad leg cramps (which always happened to me very late or in the middle of the night). Our grown up daughter was staying with us overnight when I had a really vicious cramp attack causing me to cry out in pain. Next morning at breakfast she gave us both a big smile and said that we could have been a bit more discreet and restrained considering she was in the room next door and she only visited once in a while ! ... She still doesn't believe us.

[wurzle in reply to Bikafella]

😅

[Hidden]

Hi feel for you, they are horrid. I’ve suffered with them for years, never put it down to my liver. I tend to get them at night a lot in the calves but also started getting them in my feet. Have read everyone’s comments and will mention them to my GP when I see him tomorrow. Hope you get it sorted soon x

[Liverandlife]

I have tried a number of remedies including most of the ones already posted (except mustard - how do 'take' it?). The only thing that helps is keeping my legs elevated when I first go bed. That seems seems to stave off the problem for an hour or so. Later on the night it is generally not so bad, and I can sleep on my side.