Magnesium supplements for PMR??

[emma9475]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has tried a magnesium supplement like Mag365 for PMR symptoms? Thanks.

[powerwalk]

I've taken that or another one Mag Calm. Took it to help general muscle pain but it had no effect on PMR unfortunately!

[SheffieldJane]

I take it. Nothing dramatic. It’s good if you get cramp though. We live in hope.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Many of us use magnesium supplements for muscle cramps as pred makes us lose more of various things through the kidneys, such as calcium and magnesium amongst others. No-one has ever said it improves their PMR symptoms.

[TooSore in reply to PMRpro]

Do we lose potassium as well?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to TooSore]

Yes

livestrong.com/article/5305...

[TooSore in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I wonder if I need to have some of my levels checked. I do take magnesium, Calcium, Vitamins D, B, K2, and CoQ10. Not sure how much potassium I'm getting. I'll have to poke at the rheumatologist and cardiologist. My guess is they're not going to be too concerned as I've been under 3 mg for 2 + years.

[emma9475 in reply to PMRpro]

As it's a salt, I'm weary of it causing retention or making the swelling in my feet worse! Any thoughts?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to emma9475]

When they go on about salt and fluid retention they mean sodium, Magnesium actually helps with fluid retention:

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

healthline.com/nutrition/6-...

[Purplecrow in reply to PMRpro]

Good read, 🙏🏽

[piglette]

I take magnesium for cramp not for PMR.

[HeronNS]

Because we are taking extra calcium for bone protection it's even more important to get extra magnesium as well in order to maintain the balance needed. So whether or not it helps PMR directly it is certainly needed although we can get quite a lot in our diet, magnesium being to green plants what iron is to animals.

[Blearyeyed]

Magnesium is helpful to coping with PMR because it reduces some of the side effects you have like muscle cramps , nerve pain , restless legs and brain fog.

Having a diet rich in all vitamins and minerals , either through food alone , or with additional supplements , the body can help itself maintain balance , function properly , and recover quicker from Flares , or, injuries and infections that can cause a Flare to happen. It also makes it easier to cope with the adjustment the body has to go through during tapering.

Self care is an essential part of your physical control and pain management for GCA/PMR.

[Janstr]

My new GP told me that magnesium is anti-inflammatory & suggested that I use a liquid form & spray it on my back & stomach. Good old Google confirms that magnesium is anti-inflammatory so I am hoping it does help PMR

[Anneh3]

Have had magnesium recommended to me by my osteopath as have disc problems. Just to say have now tried three different types. The first caused bad diarrhoea. The best for me has been magnesium glycinate as it has helped me have better sleep at night and less problem with leg pain. Have mild/moderate copd.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Anneh3]

Any form of magnesium will cause diarrhoea if you take too much as it is commonly used as a laxative. Reducing the dose helps.

[Noosat]

I take about 400mg, 2 pills, of magnesium in the evening. I believe it has proven to help relieve leg cramps at night

[Green_girl]

I used magnesium flakes in a bath. Gave a bit of temporary relief from pain, which was good to have. Also take it in a Female Multiple supplement and agree that it is good for cramp relief too.

[NanJean]

I take Magnesium Aspartate as part of my vitamins for bone support. It's supposed to be better absorbed. I never had diarrhea from it. Although, plenty of people do have loose stool from magnesium oxide. Think milk of magnesia.

I don't take calcium, as a vegetarian (not vegan), I eat lots of calcium in food. I just got off Prednisone at the end of June. I have lost 8% bone despite Evista (raloxifene) from the bone scan I had in July.

Every time I decreased Prednisone, even at very low doses, I eventually had leg cramps that were very severe in the middle of the night. Although it forced me to get up and walk, once I correlated it to the decrease in Prednisone, I knew it would pass.