Cramping

[Emma_W]

Hi everyone,

My husband has had a really bad night, he’s been cramped up on and off all night. Especially his feet and his neck is the worse, it’s really stiff and all twisted to the side. He also had an episode in the night where he felt really dizzy for a long period before he woke me up. Also he feels like his tablets are not digesting and he has really bad stomach ache.

He had about 20 mins this morning where his tablets worked but now he’s back to being stiff again.

He has had this problem before but not as bad as this episode.

He’s really ill at the moment and I know this is the best place to ask advice or if anyone has had anything similar.

Thank you

[Sydney75]

I am no expert just my HWP advocate. I have read about levodopa that is inhaled so it get into the bloodstream much quicker and it is for emergency PD situations like what your husband may be experiencing. Please call your doctor. Also, read that this sometimes happens under periods of more stress. I hope he feels better soon.

[MBAnderson]

Has he tried magnesium for the cramping?

[Juliegrace]

I agree to call your doctor. The stomach ache may be a sign of something else.

[healthabc]

I am not a dr, but try 1/2 sinemet under tongue- it bypasses the gut -

[johntPM]

What is his drug regimen? When does he take his doses?

The symptoms suggest dystonia. This often responds well to levodopa. I suggest that your husband talks with his doctor about an increase of dose and a more frequent dose. If your husband suffers from levodopa induced dyskinesia, this may be problematic.

[Kia17]

I would remove foods containing Lecithin like walnuts as well as foods containing glutamate from his diet.

[VivaceLargo]

So sorry to read this. When I read cramping in the context of a PwP, I’m translating this as ‘dystonia’ where the muscles twist and contort and cause excruciating pain. Am I on the right lines ? I would video or photograph these episodes and send via email to your Neurologist along with your current dosage regimen. Time the episodes and make a note of exactly when they occur in the night. That way the appropriate level of L dopa can be delivered throughout the night. All the very best.

[honeycombe3]

Hi Emma,When i was first diagnosed 18 yrs ago i suffered 2 yrs of awful and the dystonia. Always anxious to consider other causes rather than PD i looked for information on these symptoms and discovered that quinine (still available in some tonic waters) is widely used and bananas. Why not try some medical legends before or alongside the more sophisticated options? I appreciate that this probably ‘teaching granny to suck eggs’ but it doesn’t hurt to put PD out of poll position every so often.

[Emma_W in reply to honeycombe3]

Thank you x