Does anyone know how to tell if cramps are caused by too little salt or too little magnesium? I've been getting a few cramps lately, at night and in the daytime. I don't add salt to much, in fact rarely ever, and take a supplement every day.
I'm reluctant to add salt incase it triggers my legs.
You may be shy of salt, if you are getting the OZ heatwave.
You could try half a teaspoon of salt in a pint of water, drink it and see what happens. But if you are already eating a lot of processed foods, or on a high salt diet-- crisps etc, then you may be getting enough.
Cheers.
No processed food. All fresh and no junk. FODMAP approved fruit, veg, chicken, yoghurt etc. No added salt in anything. Maybe you're right now that I say all that! 
Will take some salt. Thanks Madlegs1.
😅😎
It is also possible that one can get cramps from low potassium. It isn't common but you could try supplementing potassium or increasing potassium rich foods in your diet and see if it helps
effects of low potassium include may cause the following symptoms:
muscle weakness,
muscle aches,
muscle cramps, and
heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats).
medicinenet.com/low_potassi...
Thank you. I will take note of that and increase potassium foods.
I have had toe cramps that pass to my thighs, they are excruciating. When I do things in the yard and sweat I eat a small package of corn chips, and that stops them in the toes before they migrate to the thighs. Recently though I have not been sweating out the salt, and found that a low 250 mg magnesium pill before bed time is working. It is electrolites for sure. It can be potassium, salt or magnesium. It all depends on what is lower.
Thanks, I realised last night that I haven't been eating as many bananas as usual. I am usually a one a day girl at least. That may have an affect. Trouble is, on the FODMAP diet, ripe bananas aren't good and that's how I like them. These green bananas aren't appealing. I might have to adjust my thinking- and tasting.
Hi restlessstoz
I dont put extra salt in my food I just use the salt that is already in the ingredients- I really dont know -maybe try that -not using as much salt I mean, to see if there's any improvement
The think is, I don't use extra salt either. Occasionally I'll add it to a boiled egg, but mostly I don't use it at all. which is why Madlegs thinks it may be low salt. It's such a balancing act. Too much salt = RL, too little salt = cramps.
You could try using what is called lite salt. It’s half sodium and half potassium. Before I went crazy on either of these ask your doctor to check your levels including magnesium. It is dangerous to mess around with some of these things because they affect your heart. My advice as a RN is to get your levels checked. Can’t go wrong that way. Just my 2 cents 🤓.
Sus
Great advice thank you. I'm seeing my GP in the morning so will get that done. I'll look into lite salt as well.
I've had my share of cramps - including the large muscles in the legs - absolutely terrifying! Best thing I've found is "The Adrenal Cocktail" 1/4 tsp of sea salt, 1/4 tsp cream of tartar (for potassium) mixed with juice. You can also try electrolytes from various companies. I use these from Hammer Nutrition - the fizz and capsules - read some of the reviews. hammernutrition.com/product...
Thanks for that link. I'll look it up now.
Great that your getting lots of ideas. I suggest you be careful about taking any extra salt, i.e. Sodium chloride, it can raise your blood pressure because it changes the balance of water loss/reabsorbtion between the blood and cells.
In any event, your kidneys should regulate your electrolytes, so if they're imbalanced you're either possibly dehydrated or your kidneys aren't working properly. Perhaps as others suggested get your electrolytes checked.
Another possibility is poor blood supply to muscleses or venous drainage from them. Might also be a good idea to check for Diabetes.
You're probably like my dad, and me, you just get cramps with no real explanation, although it's partly to do with activity, mainly repetitive or muscle stressing activity.
I used to suffer a particular sort of cramp called "proctalgia fugax", (sudden pain in the anus!) Horrible, unsettling pain which woke me up in the night. I read that inhaled Salbutamol used for relieving asthma would relieve it, but I doubt if my GP would prescribe it.
I do have diabetes which is really well controlled and I'm on no medication for it. I used to be on insulin and two tablets but when I lost over 40 kg, I didn't need it any more. I've never been bothered with cramps quite like this before so I do suspect that as I'm not having the number of bananas that I usually ate (I like them really ripe and they're not on the FODMAP diet like that, only green and I can't stand them.) I'm missing the potassium from them. I have looked up other foods high in potassium and will increase them in my diet.
If I add some salt it will be a bare sprinkle as I don't want it to trigger my legs and I don't like salty foods as I've not used salt for many years. I am also very well hydrated as I am very sure to drink plenty of water- I drink about 2 litres a day of water, plus other drinks.. You know, if it was just about what I ate and how I lived, I would be the healthiest person alive. I've changed my whole life to try to ease my RL and it's been a really positive thing. I just wish I didn't have the legs could enjoy some of the really yummy things that are off the list now!!! 
The venous drainage might be a factor though. As I have spent so long on my feet at night in the preceding weeks, my legs have not had time to 'de-fluid`. I also have a Bakers cyst on the back of my leg which has burst so the fluid from my knee joint now runs down into my calf! Not very comfortable at all when it gets really big. After starting on the neupro patch and I spent a whole night in bed, then a few hours the following day, due to gastro-intestinal tract inflammation (Iron pills on an empty stomach), my legs were absolutely beautiful! slender and firm, not big and tight. Maybe that has had something to do with it too.
Our bodies are complex creatures aren't they!!!
Thank you for your ideas. It's great to have the support to try to work out what's happening.
Very complex, but amazingly self regulating.
A couple of further thoughts.
Dehydration isn't just about a lack of water, it's about the balance between water, salt and glucose. If you're dehydrated just drinking water will not correct it. Your kidneys will just pass it out again. A rehydration drink contains salts and glucose.
Nonetheless, you're probably not dehydrated.
Like I wrote, it's all regulated by the kidneys, so if you're very worried about it, get a renal function blood test.
It may have to be that you have to accept that cramps are just part of the rich tapestry of life.
Not easy when it grabs you!
Thanks Manerva. I have kidney function tests every 3 months and all is well there. Thank goodness!
I see the difference between dehydration and dehydration. Thanks for the explanation. I think I'm so fearful of salt inducing a RL attack that I steer a wide berth, as I do for sugar, caffeine, alcohol etc etc. I will look at things and see if I can adjust anything.
I don't know, this living with RL is a full time job.
I dont eat extra salt I just use what is already in the ingredients -I dont know about the cramps though. I hope you feel a little better & that you find an answer that might help . Good luck
Thank you. I don't add salt but lately, since the cramps, I've added the barest scattering to one meal a day. I haven't had any cramps since!!! I do remember someone saying in the dark distant past, that RL can be affected by too little salt as well as too much??? Don't know if it's true.
Ok. glad yove not had as many cramps
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