When I'm falling asleep, I get terrible leg cramps where both the extending and the contracting leg muscles freeze for about 45 min. until my muscles "remember" where they belong. And then and only then I can put my foot on the floor. I'm scheduled for a kidney transplant and hoping that the cramps will go away....
Has anyone else experienced this? And did the cramps go away after your transplant?
I do sometimes get cramps but nothing like that. Do you stretch before or right after you get in bed. Have you tried a spoon of yellow mustard right before bed? One think I've done is put a bar of soap, not ivory, under the bottom sheet of your bed. That helps with cramps someimtes. (I know, weird)
My friend swears by pickle juice for his foot cramps LOL. There are a lot of wives tales, but some work for scientific reasons, so I wouldn't knock them.
I've heard pickle juice too.
Yes, the high sodium content is great at balancing and releasing the muscles.
I get leg cramps off and on in the middle of the night and its usually related to being a little dehydrated and also an electrolyte issue. I also noted that sometimes "overhydration" can cause it, too. Consider this:
"Mineral Depletion: An imbalance of electrolytes, such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium can lead to muscle cramps. Over-hydration or the use of diuretics can deplete the electrolytes in your system and lead to an imbalance"
However, i don't get them as severe as yours sound, but they do wake me up. As soon as I get better hydrated and check all my electrolytes, they go away until the next time.
As funny as the soap thing under the bottom of the sheet sounds, so many people offer that as a suggestion as well as do it themselves. Its worth a try. About the yellow mustard, that sounds as if it might work although the research on it is lacking. Consider this:
"Some have theorized that the electrolytes in mustard, specifically sodium and potassium, can prevent leg cramps after exercise. However, a study in nine healthy adults found that consuming mustard after a 2-hour bout of exercise did not fully replenish electrolyte losses due to sweating and dehydration ( 4 )"
Good luck and let us know if anything works. Hope you get some relief.
Are you taking a diuretic? My Dr. said that can cause it. I get the same thing for 30 - 60 min sometimes. Have your Dr. do a blood test, metabolic panel. You could be low in one or more electrolytes. I turned out to be very low in potassium and also sodium. Now I have to take a prescription. You could try drinking Gatorade or electrolyte drink if you're low but still within normal limits and don't yet need supplementation. It can still cause cramping.
Other meds can also contribute to muscle spasms and cramps.
Best of luck, I know it's awful.
The herbal formula SHAO YAO GAN CAO TANG Works great for this. I have been a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine for 22 years. Works every time. Also indirectly helps build the blood if you have anemia.
Sounds good. My sister is an acupuncturist, so I'm sure she would approve. Does it interfere with immune suppressing meds?
Please tell me what is in the herbal formula. My son is generally anemic.
Here is more info on the formula.
whitepineinstitute.org/more...
Peony, Licorice and Cistanche?
Modern research considers Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang as a formula that treats the muscles (the straie muscles and the smooth muscles of the internal organs) when they are in spasm. This combination of herbs controls the excitement of the central and nerve endings. It can treat muscles spasms that give rise to pain.
Unfortunately NKF says no if you want to keep healthunlocked.com/nkf-ckd/...
Before I had my transplant I would get terrible leg cramps, and always at night. I was taking lasix for edema. I would wind up dehydrated with low potassium and magnesium. They were the culprits for my leg cramps.Now that I have had a transplant, I am not bothered by the leg cramps.
Thank you! So glad to hear this.
YES! Now that I've had my transplant the leg cramps have disappeared!!! Yay.
Hello,I am 3 B and 74 yo - not scheduled for transplant, but I do get severe leg cramps once in a while. I am not sure what they are related to except for lack of calcium. I don't want to take calcium regularly. As soon as I experience a cramp I take calcium supplement and wont have a cramp again until my calcium gets depleted.
Interesting. I have too much calcium in my blood so I'm not taking any calcium supplements.
Ait those grand?!,
gfr declined from 61 to 45 within a years time
Muscle cramps
stenosis in leg stage 4 ckd
Devastated doesn't even cover it..
Help - agonising night cramps
