does anyone have excruciating night cramps? I’m trying to work out if it is because I’m doing too much exercise during the day. I’m tapering very very slowly down to 2 1/2 mgs pred that seems to be working I do take a little more magnesium every day.
Thanks for any ideas
Hello, where are the cramps and what, if anything, relieves the cramps at night or do they just go away? What exercise are you doing in the day?
Nearly always in my right calf and wakes me up! I take a few mag phos and it eventually settles. Can you have too much calcium? I’m still taking the same adcal daily dose I took 3 years ago at the beginning of PMR. I just wonder if that was the cause.
Yes you can have too much. Many of us get our calcium from diet ans it is very easy and buy or have prescribed the vitamin D separately. I couldn’t take Adcal because it upset my gut. We also take vitamin K2 (not K1) which helps the calcium make it to the bones instead of the arteries.
Do you find that it is helped by dangling your legs out of the bed or does it just go in its own? Do you sleep mainly in one position or do you move about, as far as you know? Is there any difference in appearance between the legs? This can be shape, size, colour and hair growth. Does it hurt when you exercise?
Thankyou for your reply. My legs look the same and I move about in different positions at night. I’ll try to sip an electrolyte drink before I go to bed and see if that helps. The pain eventually goes by itself but it can last 5-10 minutes.
Alcohol definitely affects the likelihood of night cramps in my legs and has got worse with age. 😢 I can get away with a little beer or wine at lunchtime, but even a small measure of spirit in the evening can be troublesome. No-alcohol beer is thankfully improving a lot, but is little consolation as I contemplate my wine stock….
Oh no! Life can be so unkind 😒
Many thanks for that. I have had wine in the evening and not had cramps but every one is different. I had an a home made electrolyte drink last night before going to bed and I had no cramps so fingers crossed I shave found something that works!
Hi. Potassium works for me. eg. Bananas.Also Voltarol directly onto muscle affected.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for your reply I had a made up electrolyte drink before going to bed last night and I had no cramps. I also rubbed magnesium oil spray on my calves and no cramps!!
Glad you've found something that sorts out the problem 👍
I find ensuring that I take in more water throughout the day has helped me. Also drink diet tonic water but make sure it doesn’t have aspartame in it. Avoid all aspartame. You’d be surprised what you find it in.
Many thanks for reply, yes I have read that lack of hydration can cause cramps. Also I will try some tonic water. Fingers crossed
Not since I have been on pred, but I do get cramp in my calves and feet when I swim sometimes. I had put that down to the cold water.
I get up, if I can, and walk out on the tiles in my conservatory and stretch my leg back, like a lunge. I also use magnesium lotion,gel or spray.
\if I get cramp in my legs I know that my potassium is low and eat a banana. Works every time. Hope you get sorted
Many thanks will try that too!
Cramps at night are torture! Especially when you live alone like me. I hope they resolve soon. As another said, electrolytes in a drink will give you better balance of the minerals. Electrolyte powders are available in small packets, very convenient. Through the years i have brought up cramping wits my docs, and their eyes glaze over to the thousand mile stare ……..
I have had. Taking magnesium tablets has helped tremendously. It's also important to stay hydrated.
many thanks for your reply. I do take magnesium but maybe not enough! I take your point about being hydrated though.
Had the same problem for quite a while. Magnesium citrate fixes it but other forms of Magnesium don't work as well. It does take a couple of days of taking it before they stop.
That’s interesting I don’t think I take citrate. Can you tell me when do you take it and what dose? Many thanks
I take 200mg in the morning along with most of my supplements.
Many thanks.
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