Hi ! Would like to know if anyone is having leg cramps at night and if so what to do to get rid of the painful cramps and also how to prevent it from happening again. Thank you
Leg Cramps : Hi ! Would like to know if... - Cure Parkinson's
Leg Cramps
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Cutie2001
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Do stretches and take magnesium glycinate
Quinine in tonic water may help.
Ty
Magnesium, magnesium oil , stay hydrated
Quinine tonic water has for me, (I use diet tonic water) along with drinking a lot of water (coffee tea what have you) generally....
Now I would like to be sure what I have or others have are the same as what you have or perhaps different. My kinds of pains tend to be those quick spasms that are odd places, inside my instep (which takes me putting my full body weight on them for a bit to get it to quit), the outside of my calves, occasionally my midriff. They are mainly muscle spasms.
Making note that pain in legs may be more than one source or cause or type of symptoms so I am taking pains (sorry about that) to specify here what mine are and what works for me, so you can determine if yours are dissimilar or similar, so it makes sense for you.
We have a doctor or two on the list and I think maybe a little input or question from them might help with whether there really are different kinds of pain or source.
I copied this for cutie.
I am a retired Podiatrist so I know some about pain and LE cramps. I never had them myself, but used to prescribe quinine for cramping. Of course there are different types of pain. It is a very individual experience. That's why there are varying types of pain medication. One has to find what works for them.
Thanks. Since I have you, from another conversation I'd like to ask you about: have you ever encountered the idea that "too much melatonin," whatever that means because it is somebody else's phrase, can cause pain in legs. Do you have anything to contribute on that idea?
Never heard the phrase. I was taking high doses of melatonin for a year or so. Didn't do much for me (or so I can tell) but no side effects either.
Hi Cutie2001 , Magnesium helps for sure with cramps and sleep also. Pasting another thread here:
I take CD/LD dose before bed , again in middle of night and when I awake in morning . It is always close to be with water.
Please tell us what CD/LD is?
Carbidopa Levodopa
You can use magnesium chloride oil in a spray form typically called mag oil, available on Amazon. Spray it on and rub it into the problem area('s) before bed and that should prevent cramping or wait until cramping develops and spray it on and rub it into the problem area to usually relieve the cramp in a minute or so. It acts quickly. It synergizes with any oral bioavailable form of magnesium such as magnesium glycinate.
Here is a typical product :
amazon.com/Magnesium-Oil-Sp...
If you find the feel of mag oil uncomfortable on the skin, simply apply a small amount of your favorite body lotion on top of it.
Art
I was going to try this for my leg cramps. Don’t know if it works prophylactically/preemptively? That is, can I apply it before I go to sleep rather than having the cramps wake me up and then apply the spray?
Yes, it can be applied right before bed and will usually get you right through the night, but it won't hurt to keep the spray on your nightstand in case you get a cramp in another area.
It is also useful to increase your intake of foods high in potassium because low potassium can also contribute to muscle cramping, but the mag oil seems to always be effective.
Art
Now that is an idea, low potassium. Often we don't think of that, and potassium in food is sometimes crowded out by a couple other electrolytes like sodium which is very heavy industrial food dopant. I hope people take notice of your idea there.
I hope they do too, but I am a realist !
The thing with potassium is that I think few people even consider it when thinking of supplements they would consider taking. The other thing with potassium that I think many people are not aware of is the RDA and I think most people would be very surprised if not shocked to see exactly what that RDA for potassium is. I think few if any people ever get to the RDA.
Lastly, for people with high blood pressure, it is worth doing a little reading or experimenting in the range that approaches the RDA to see if that has any effect on their high blood pressure? If you have high blood pressure and cramping, it might be worth looking into potassium or discussing it with your doctor.
Art
Well you know first they have to know to do it. I forgot, I probably didn't really think about it at all, and if I did, not in the appropriate way. Usually I'm a little more cynical, as in the phrase "hope is for suckers." But your suggestion is so easy and simple and on the mark, since simple being aware of the issue was the basic obstacle, maybe you'll be solving it for some folks!
Well, if magnesium at the appropriate doses of oral and spray does not get a resolution, then potassium would be worth consideration.
Art
FOODS HIGH IN POTASSIUM :
healthline.com/nutrition/fo...
The RDA for Potassium
ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/P...
Table 1: Adequate Intakes (AIs) for Potassium* [11]
Age Male Female Pregnancy Lactation
Birth to 6 months 400 mg 400 mg
7–12 months 860 mg 860 mg
1–3 years 2,000 mg 2,000 mg
4–8 years 2,300 mg 2,300 mg
9–13 years 2,500 mg 2,300 mg
14–18 years 3,000 mg 2,300 mg 2,600 mg 2,500 mg
19–50 years 3,400 mg 2,600 mg 2,900 mg 2,800 mg
51+ years 3,400 mg 2,600 mg
Art
This is probably dystonia linked to low levels of dopamine. You may wish to discuss with your doctor an increase of C/L. Alternatively, if the pain is in the calf muscle and it's not too serious, you may wish to take the hit and deal with it by standing on your toes and flexing your calf muscle.
You know if that were to be the case then he would be fine to take something that does not cross the blood brain barrier and cause complications with his basic treatment. A lot of dopamine is naturally manufactured in the gut and doesn't make it into the brain, but is consumed in muscles and nerves outside the brain such as, exactly, those causing his pain. So then we are talking over-the-counter precursor supplements such as L-tyrosine. Easy enough to test in that case.
Topical magnesium foam from theraworx. I get it at Walmart. Also oral magnesium supplements for relaxing muscles.
If you salt too much, your sodium/potassium balance could be out of whack. Suck it and see with either substiting with LoSalt or a potassium supplement.
i suffer from leg cramps too. The advice above helps. I also find it helps to stretch the calves before bed. Also, if I do get cramps, rather than panic, I’m learning to actively will my legs to relax. I find this really reduces the severity of the cramp and reduces the anxiety over getting further cramps.
Too much Melatonin will cause pain in the legs. Not sure if you take it but my two cents. Good luck!
Too much melatonin? That is quite a statement considering how much melatonin is talked about here on this list. How much is too much? And I'd like to follow up on that, do you have some sources to help me do that?
quite a statement? Aren’t we all making statements on here? I’m not blowing crap out of my mouth.
alaskaregional.com/blog/ent...
That is one easily accessible.
Some forum members have reported that melatonin can worsen RLS and a couple have reported that it doesn't worsen RLS for them., but none have reported that it caused them leg pain. I have taken 132 mg /day for over a year and have not experienced leg pain. Some side effects I have heard of for melatonin include dizziness, next day tiredness, diarrhea, nausea, headache, vivid dreams and I have heard several forum members report it prevents them from going to sleep. On the other hand I have seen melatonin lotion relieve leg pains of various types.
Art
This maybe?
Potassium deficiency (hypokalaemia) is when a person has abnormally low levels of potassium in their body. Some people with potassium deficiency don't experience any symptoms, but others will notice muscle weakness, muscle cramps and an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
probably one banana every day will do 😁
Pasquino
I have been getting a lot of injuries in my legs from jogging/running lately. I've been a jogger for 30 years. This year, I was formally diagnosed with PD & pre-diabetes. I do not take C/L much (maybe once a week), but I do take Metformin for my diabetes. I was also eating 2 to 3 bananas a day and the endocrinologist said to stop eating bananas as they are high in sugar. So I did. I just realized yesterday my multivitamins have no potassium in them. I think all the leg issues are lack of potassium. Any recommended potassium table and mg? Thx
OK, RA, not cramps, but still pain.... I wonder if a cortisol supplement would help? 🤔Need to lower at night not increase.... 👍
"Cortisol and melatonin are also out of sync in RA. Normally, cortisol peaks between 6 and 8 a.m., but it’s highest between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. in RA patients — too early to counter the big nighttime peaks of inflammatory proteins.... And while some studies have reported that melatonin is anti-inflammatory, other research suggests it increases inflammation in RA, possibly because levels start to climb earlier and stay high longer than normal. Melatonin is also known to affect the expression of clock genes inside the joints." arthritis.org/health-wellne...
"The symptoms of high cortisol at night include insomnia, waking up throughout the night, increased urination, weight gain," I am trying to put on weight... So need to decrease cortisol.
"How to prevent cortisol spikes at night?... Prevent cortisol spikes at night by keeping stress low, getting enough sleep, staying in sync with your circadian rhythm (or body clock), avoiding late-night intense exercise, and eating a healthy diet."
risescience.com/blog/cortis....
"What supplements can help reduce cortisol? Ashwagandha, Magnesium, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin C , L-theanine, Rhodiola rosea, Ginseng" Going to try changing my Ashwagandha to before bed goodrx.com/well-being/suppl...
I am able to manage with 500 -750 mg of Magnesium Glycinate - purchase from Microingredients.com
I take 500 mg of taurine each night. Here's an article about taurine if you are not familiar. health.clevelandclinic.org/... I know this helps because I ran out a few months back. After about three days of not having it I began having nighttime leg cramps and rigidity when standing up after sitting for a while. Symptoms that had been gone for a long time. In the past I have also used lavender essential oil mixed in a carrier oil and rubbed it on the muscles. I find this does bring relief from the cramping but I think the taurine is a better option.
The above article does cover potential drug interactions, so it is a good idea to read or check with your doctor before trying it.
I found that cramps in my legs were caused by low sodium. I used to run a lot. I mean A LOT; Marathons and 100-mile races. LR is RInger's Lactate, the IV electrolyte solution used in hospitals world-wide. LR is sodium and magnesium. IV isotonic sodium is 0.9mg per liter. I used that myself by injecting it into a vein. It worked as well as LR.
typically your low in magnesium
Hi Cutie2001/All, Where are your leg cramps? I ask because my husband, who has RBD, on rare occasions gets painful cramping in his inner thigh. Part of my wondered if this was caused by insufficient water intake (his electrolytes are in the normal range). Are leg cramps, such as those in the inner thigh, a symptom of PD? I had been under the impression that the location of the cramping didn't line up with PD. I also thought that cramping was caused by medication. I welcome your explanations. Thank you.
Hi ! The cramps are right above my ankles and lower part of the back of my legs. Yes, I do need to drink more . Thanks for your input
Cramps can be PD, I guess we might call that signaling, but they can also be simple aging where you don't have enough exercise to keep your muscle mass and tone up, so different muscles extensor and flexor signals can be triggered and one of them override the other and cause spasm in that way, like two springs opposing each other in tension and the tension become out of balance, and they can spasm just from that, similarly any disease that involves muscle wasting...and spasms can also result from being dehydrated. All of which has nothing to do with neuropathy, which can be its own separate problem source. And a person can anytime have more than one thing going on with them, like circulation problems or phlebotomy or side effects from medication.
MarionP, thank you.
Severe leg cramps at night. I took an extra 25mg of C/L 25/100 and that did it. My cramps were due to low dopamine levels.
Sorry but what's CL?
C/L (Carbidopa / Levodopa)
I took 2 products, after 3 weeks no more pain
Bluebonnet Nutrition Rutin 500 mg amazon.com/dp/B000I4C58S?ps...
Jarrow Formulas Taurine 1000 mg amazon.com/dp/B0001VKIK0?ps...
I take magnesium. Also was told by someone that wearing socks at night helped her. Sounded weird but I tried and it’s helping
I agree with Zardoz and others about things to help with cramps. I also find that bananas help me.
Quinine tonic water has for me, (I use diet tonic water as a drink generally and when I am I don't have nearest money spasms, but that also might be from just simply hydrating more) along with drinking a lot of water (coffee tea what have you) generally....
Now I would like to be sure what I have or others have are the same as what you have or perhaps different. My kinds of pains tend to be those quick spasms that are odd places, inside my instep (which takes me putting my full body weight on them for a bit to get it to quit), the outside of my calves, occasionally my midriff. They are mainly muscle spasms.
Making note that pain in legs may be more than one source or cause or type of symptoms so I am taking pains (sorry about that) to specify here what mine are and what works for me, so you can determine if yours are dissimilar or similar, so it makes sense for you.
We have a doctor or two on the list and I think maybe a little input or question from them might help with whether there really are different kinds of pain or source.
Ashwaganda eliminated my dystonia cramping I used to get mid-night/mornings.It also helps me stay asleep all night;which was a big plus as I used to wake up in the middle of the night and have awful full body tremors which I'm certain are c/l withdrawal tremors not my normal PD tremors. But that's for a different thread-post.
magnesium threonate works well for cramps
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BANANAS !!!! for my FOOT CRAMPS!
