Cramp

[Smiffyliz]

Rls not so bad but had the most excruciating cramp last night. Tried various creams, quinine tablets, hot water bottles. Walked around, did stretches and every time I got into bed it got going again in every area of feet legs groins. Never been so bad so not much sleep

[Graham3196]

My wife used to have really painful cramps every night.

We have done a lot of experimenting and found that a very strong dose of staminade made from powder and hot water usually stopped the cramps in a couple of minutes. Staminade Powder in a 300ml glass.

Add 100ml of boiling water stir vigourously

Add a half dozen ice cubes

Top up with water

Drink slowly

Easier than that. She now takes two magnesium tablets per day one in the morning and one at night and has had no cramps for 6 months

The tablets are made in Australia by Ethical Nutrients called Mega Magnesium

containing

Magnesium amino acid chelate (magnesium diglycinate) 500g

Magnesium amino acid chelate 750 g (I don't claim to understand the difference between these two ingredients but you can see its a lot of magnesium.

Other elements

Zinc sulphate19mg

pyridoxine hydrochlorine 16mg

Chromic chloride 1mg

Selenomethionine 33micro grams

Her endocrynologist says that Magnesium Orotate is a better form of magnesium because it enters the blood stream quicker. I can't find any tablets that have orotate and the diglycinate works for her so its good enough.

I hope you can find an equivalent tablet that works as well as these.

Cheers

Graham

[Smiffyliz in reply to Graham3196]

Thanks I do have magnesium but forgotten to take recently

Never heard of Staminide

[Goldy700 in reply to Graham3196]

Hi Graham - Some people I know who get cramps are actually potassium deficient and can be greatly helped by taking potassium citrate which can also help RLS.

[nightdancer in reply to Goldy700]

After you get tested of course, by your doctor. NEVER start any supplement without talking to your doctor. "All natural does not mean all safe". Too much potassium can be BAD, and not enough can be BAD. So best to get it checked. Magnesium is the one to use for cramps. Cramps are not part of RLS. RLS is neurological and cramps are muscular.

[Smiffyliz in reply to nightdancer]

Yes I bought some and then didn’t take as read too much potassium not good

[Goldy700 in reply to nightdancer]

You are correct that it is rare to have a potassium deficiency if you like a lot of fruit and veg. Avocados, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, squash, spinach, all contain heaps so most people would not become deficient. It is possible though to lose potassium through excessive water drinking, sweating, kidney disorders, being on diuretics and cramps is one symptom of potassium deficiency. I am intrigued by that study posted on this forum:

medcraveonline.com/PPIJ/PPI... in which 68 patients gained complete relief from their RLS. One of the effects of potassium citrate is that is alkalises and I have been taking sodium bicarb 1/2 teaspoon for the last week and have noticed a reduction in symptoms. Sodium bicarb of course is very alkalising. Could eating an alkalising diet help. It is all grist for the mill and I am working my way through this.

[Smiffyliz in reply to Goldy700]

I find this interesting too as I suffer from Barrett’s oesophagus caused by excess acid. However talking to my pharmacist it is very difficult with diet because of the chemical reaction of alkali mixed with stomach acid. I have forgotten equation but keep me up to date

In the meantime I got some relief from both cramp and rls with tiger balm

[Parminter in reply to Goldy700]

Goldy and All,

The daily need for potassium is 3,500 to 4,700mg per day. That is almost impossible to obtain from the Western diet, even if you eat with great care.

It is entirely possible that 'normal' for RLS, or whomever, is in the upper range.

That is thirteen bananas - and that is assuming that we can digest and absorb properly. Some of us are fairly ancient, and absorption naturally decreases with age.

We evolved eating a huge amount of plant material, from healthy soils, and drinking really good spring water, so I surmise that potassium deficiency could be as widespread as magnesium deficiency.

Following the potassium citrate article which you cite above, I have started taking A Vogel's Alkalizing Powder, which contains potassium citrate, magnesium citrate, plus calcium and whatnot. I am inclined to trust a famous Swiss naturopath.

I doubt there is any harm in it, and there could be a great deal of good.

[Parminter in reply to Parminter]

I'm answering myself.

This is from Wikipedia, for anyone who has real concerns -

"Orally, potassium chloride is toxic in excess; the LD50 is around 2.5 g/kg (meaning that a lethal dose for 50% of people weighing 75 kg (165 lb) is about 190 g (6.7 ounces "

For me, that would be about 128 grams, which is about 350 or more bananas. (I do love bananas, but that is ridiculous).

Possibly more, as potassium chloride is not elemental potassium.

The thing about an alkalising formula is that it balances electrolytes with care.

Those of us who consistently take magnesium supplements without balancing with other minerals may not be doing ourselves a favour.

If the body wants anything, it wants balance.

Take-home message - it is really hard to off yourself with bananas.

[Goldy700 in reply to Parminter]

Good information Parminter - I see that the dose given in the study was just 1080 mg and that is not much so very much doubt it would hurt anyone. I am keen to try it. Let us know how you go with your journey. It is all about being a detective isn't it.

[Parminter in reply to Goldy700]

Hi Goldy

Yes, we have to be the detectives ourselves, as it is clear that even sleep specialists may not be.

And if we take magnesium and potassium in citrate form, it is hard to see how we can do any other than good. In particular as the Western diet is acid-forming, and so are drugs.

Marchons!