Leg cramps

[foxglove]

I have peripheral neuropathy which I understand can't be cured (Itake pregagalin which helps (a bit!) but what causes me more grief is leg cramps which happen mainly in the night, gp says just massage before bedtime - doesn't help. Any ideas? Thanks

[Madlegs1]

Low salt may be an issue? You could try a half teaspoon of table salt in a glass of water.Another option would be to take some magnesium--- citrate or glycinate -- about 100 mg at first -- you can go up if no bad side effects ( diarrhea) at night.

Hope all goes well.

[foxglove in reply to Madlegs1]

Will try the salt - thanks

[Bevvy]

Quinine can help with this. If you can drink it tonic water every day may help. Otherwise gp can prescribe quinine tablets.Also being dehydrated can cause cramps. Especially at night.

[mirrylou in reply to Bevvy]

That's really good advice Bevvy. I drink tonic water every evening which has definitely helped me and companies like FeverTree now do many different flavours so it doesn't have to be plain tonic.The other thing that I have found really useful is massaging my legs with a menthol cream, something like Temple Spa's Aaahhhh cream or Aveno Menthol body cream, then wearing compression socks for an hour before bed.

And... as everyone else has said plenty of fluids throughout the day.

[Bevvy in reply to mirrylou]

When first discussed many years ago with my gp she said of course I could put gin with it!!Sadly I hate most tonic waters because dislike quinine. But tablets worked out fine and I have not had as many issues with cramp for past couple of years thankfully because pain is horrendous.

[mirrylou in reply to Bevvy]

I'd love to put a Gin with it lol, but unfortunately I'm on a high dose of Pregabalin (which works really well for me) and it doesn't mix well with alcohol. Tablets sound like a good alternative if you don't like tonic water. It is an aquired taste.

[Bevvy in reply to mirrylou]

I did point out to gp (we had a good relationship so could joke with her) that because I would need to drink tonic water every night we could be swopping one problem for another 🍸😊

[philcollis]

I like you, have suffered with leg cramps for many years - pregabalin does not work for me. I have found that Quinine works best for me along with using the shower hose on the affected area hot/cold.

[foxglove in reply to philcollis]

Thanks, will try your suggestions!

[Jen009]

Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

[foxglove in reply to Jen009]

Thanks does it mean I will wee out "better"?

[KidneyCoach]

Try eating a pickle or drinking a bit of pickle juice. Quinine water. Some people swear by the old method of putting a bar of soap in a sock and putting it under sheet at base of bed. Magnesium, or magnesium spray. All are possibilities. Blessings

[foxglove in reply to KidneyCoach]

Thanks for feply and suggestions!...specially the blessings bit (I'm in need of that) Pickle remedy no thanks, I have tried the magnesium in different forms no use, I think I'll go back to the soap. Have tried it before but didn't put it in a sock so that's tonights answer Blessings to you too!

[Pte82 in reply to foxglove]

Try the magnesium again with 100 mg thiamine

[foxglove in reply to Pte82]

Thanks for reply....prepared tp try anything! At present rubing in warm olive oil morn& night

[Pte82 in reply to foxglove]

foxglove, the magnesium enzymes are needed to activate the thiamine. Thiamine also removes lactic acid. Take advantage of magnesium theronate along with fat soluble thiamine TTFD, benfotiamine or sulbutiamine as they also pass through the blood/brain barrier and offer high absorption. Each is worth a study.

stewartnutrition.co.uk/nutr...

medicinenet.com/muscle_cram...

whittington.nhs.uk/document...

[foxglove in reply to Pte82]

Thanks for lots of info. I don't think I'm in any way deficient in thiamine but one never really knows I have phone appt Fri. with gp so if \i get a chance I'll ask if I can be tested (unlikely) but will try!

[Pte82 in reply to foxglove]

Thiamine is a subject to anti thiamine factors that may be affecting your levels. Here is a link from the stuttering blog containing groups of them:

stuttersense.blogspot.com/2...

[foxglove in reply to Pte82]

Interesting! - thanks

[timbowPSP]

I get leg cramps at night also, sometimes local around foot and ankle, but worst are the ones up into the groin, leaving me calling for help and desperate for massage at 2am. I am male 79, and my carer is in the next bedroom! Essential is to rub Magnesium Infusion into the site soon as you can, or Mag oil if you cant get the infusion. I have it by my bed, 'in case'. Also take 1 or 2 Mgnesium Threonate caps. (From Cytoplan?). Check it out and good wishes. Timbow xx

[foxglove in reply to timbowPSP]

Thanks for reply you sound in a lot of pain, and at least I manage to cope for myself. ATM, I have the soap under sheet and rubbing in warm olive oil night & morning which seems to help. Magnesium In any form just didn't work (for me). Good luck to you

[foxglove in reply to timbowPSP]

P.S. have just had a look at magnesium theronate and seems an interestin for of magnesium will think about it!...Thanks for suggestion

[timbowPSP]

Other Mag salts are also good, but Mag Threonate penetrates the blood-brain barrier, so seems to work faster. But I find for instant cramp results it's the Mag spray-on is so good! Think my Dad used to use Quinine, but that's a cheap medicine to produce, so little profit for drug companies, and now they put out 'dangerous' warnings for it and sell costly stuff instead! Good luck! Timbow

[foxglove in reply to timbowPSP]

Thanks