leg cramps

[renalrose]

hello

i have a question about cramping.

does anyone have any tricks and tips to help release some of the pain? my calves are literally rock hard and i can’t sleep or even get up from bed from the cramps.

i’ve tried stretching, walking, changing the type of shoes i wear, getting my nurse to massage them, getting my nurse to slow the pump speeds down and even not take any fluids off.

any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[RhenDutchess123]

Do you know what your Magnesium Levels are ?....I suffered from massive leg cramps ...the kind tgat wake you from sound sleep and jump up...if i could...my ankles and toes curled...and my Neph told me to take Magnesium Malatte an hour or so before bed...(I do PD at night on a Cycler)...it really helped....Magnesium is a vital mineral for muscle health that isnt In many foods...Dialysis can deplete it....I would check your levels and talk to your Neph if you are low

[renalrose in reply to RhenDutchess123]

i just got my monthly blood work done and all my levels are perfect. i’m on incremental dialysis because i still have high kidney function

i tried taking one of my moms magnesium pills before bed and they did not help at all! so annoying

[OperationKidney]

It's the potassium build up that's causing it if I remember correctly, so the ultimate cure is getting rid of the excess potassium. Those leg cramps are so painful, I'm so sorry you're dealing with them!

[renalrose in reply to OperationKidney]

my potassium is perfect i get it checked every run as i’m on incremental dialysis (twice a week)

[OperationKidney in reply to renalrose]

Ah, well I'm glad your levels are okay there then. I'm not sure what else could be causing it but man do I remember how awful they are.

[checkman]

mustard or dill pickle juice gets rid of cramps, mustard works faster for me

[renalrose in reply to checkman]

i’ll get mustard. pickles are too high in sodium

[Beachgirl32]

I can feel for you I had some really bad one last night. I get them from time to time where they put tears in my eyes. I notice if I’m really tired I get them more last night I was in the Er all night for my husband problems so no sleep . I did take Hyland leg cramp pill I use the type you put under tounge action I do have to stress and walk some too if I can. Another thing I was told to drink tonic water.Of course check with your doctor .

[renalrose in reply to Beachgirl32]

thanks i’m going to buy some asap

[swimmings]

Get your nurse to put an ice pack on the cramp. That works for me

[RhenDutchess123 in reply to swimmings]

I love ice....it works great for itching too..I make ice bags and keep them ready...Mix 3 cups water with 1 cup 90% Rubbing Alcohol..in a ziploc bag....keep in freezer...the alcohol keeps it from freezing hard and just stays mushy so it easily molds around itchy area...especially feet. And helps with cramping too

[renalrose in reply to RhenDutchess123]

thank you so much

[renalrose in reply to swimmings]

thanks

[drmind]

I get them when my potassium is high or when I behind in my daily water intake. Good luck with yours. They're so painful and sleep disturbing.

[renalrose in reply to drmind]

my potassium is perfect i just got my monthly blood work done and i have my potassium and calcium checked every time as i’m on incremental

[TomMilds]

It's look like a incorrect dry weight. Dialysis take over much more water than your body can provide. You can bring on dialysis a bottle of water and drink it during procedure.

[renalrose in reply to TomMilds]

yeah i always bring water with me and they give us a small cup of ice. my dry weight has been wrong since i started dialysis but the dr won’t increase it as i am constantly loosing weight even if i eat extra and drink more then my two litres a day

[TomMilds]

I've started dialysis with dry weight about 49 kg. And long time I did can't increase my weight. To avoid "overdrying" our doctors use correction value "on clothes". Now , after six years of dialysis I have dry weight 66 kr and correction value 1,5 kg.

[LeesKees_NJ]

To help with cramps in my feet and lower legs, my nephrologistsI prescribed Ropinrole. It helps immensely! It is s medication for restless legs syndrome but cuts out muscle cramping as well.

[22011]

I had screaming painful leg cramps for 20 years and accidentally found my cure . I needed to start wearing compression socks for another reason and a wonderful side effect was that my leg cramps completely stopped!! If I stop wearing the socks the cramps start to come back so I'm sure this is the reason. I've been telling all my health care providers about this because no one seems to have a good cure for leg cramps. I did get relief from taking magnesium before bed but not as reliably as the compression socks. I wear them in the daytime only but I don't think it hurts to wear them nighttime too if needed. Hope this idea can bring you some relief. BTW just because your magnesium and potassium levels are normal doesn't mean you won't get relief from taking extra.