Hi, since there are many people that have posted concerning having muscle spasms, muscle twitches (fasciculations) or muscle cramps, I would like to tell about my recent experience with using “Theraworx” vs Magnesium Oil. I do not have RLS, however I take similar medication for the muscle fasciculations and nocturnal muscle cramps that I do experience. I am currently taking a small dose of pramipexole (0.125mg) and clonazepam (0.125 mg) nightly, while I await an appointment with a neurologist (unfortunately over 5 months away since there are a shortage of neurologists in my area), since the meds have not been as effective anymore, even at an increased dose.
Since I was having such severe muscle fasciculations that I could not get to sleep, I decided to try magnesium oil (magnesium chloride) after oral magnesium supplementation had no effect. I ordered an 8 oz bottle from amazon.com. Night #1 of applying mag oil (a spray that is not oily at all) to my lower legs, ankles, and tops of feet – results – my fasciculations were greatly reduced at bedtime, I only had a few. I could still feel some nocturnal cramps, but not the severe kind I usually get. I was able to get back to sleep after getting up to use the bathroom. I was able to stay in bed till 5 a.m. Night #2: After getting up to use bathroom, the fasciculations were more noticeable than last night. I was able to stay in bed till 4 a.m. Night #3: I was able to initially get to sleep. However, after I got up at 1:00 a.m. the fasciculations were very bad. I got back up and wet down my legs with water which is supposed to re-activate the mag oil. I could not sleep after that. Night #4: The same as the last night. Night #5: I was able to initially get to sleep. However, when I got up at 2:45 a.m., I had to actually re-apply the mag oil as it did not help to just wet down my legs. Night #6: Same as the last night. Night #7: I was able to initially get to sleep. However, after I got up at 2:00 a.m., I had to wet down legs to re-activate the mag oil. Then up again at 3:00 a.m., since legs were aching so badly and started cramping (even above the knee and back of my leg) Night #7: Same as the last night. Gave up on the magnesium oil and started using “Theraworx” foam. Wish the mag oil had worked better for me as it is a much cheaper alternative. And I had planned to make it myself which would have been even cheaper than the store bought.
Night #1 of applying “Theraworx” foam (magnesium sulfate) to my entire legs (thigh, calves, ankles, top and bottoms of feet, but not toes). I applied according to the directions on the bottle: 2 squirts of foam for each thigh, 2 squirts of foam for rest of legs and feet. Massage that in, then re-apply the same amount and massage in again, and let dry. First night I did not get up to use the bathroom. No fasciculations, no cramping in legs/feet. Slept till 4 a.m. Night #2: No fasciculations when going to sleep. Got up to use bathroom at 2 a.m., then went back to sleep till 6:30 when got a cramp in calf muscle. Night # 3: BAD NIGHT why I don't know?? Initially, I got to sleep with no problems. However, after getting up at 1:30 a.m., my legs started twitching and aching really badly. Got up around 2:45 and went out to recliner. The twitching stopped when my calves were propped up on a pillow while in the recliner. Night #4: Did not get out of bed this night. Less twitching this night and no cramping till 5 a.m. Night #5: Able to get to sleep initially. Also got back to sleep after getting up at 1:15 a.m. But then up for good at 3:30 due to severe shin-foot cramps. Night #6: Able to get to sleep initially. But after getting up at 3:30, I had to re-coat my lower legs again with “Theraworx.” It then took a very long time to get back to sleep, and experienced some twitching. Night #7: Did not get out of bed this night. Slept well until legs started aching at 4:30 a.m. Night #8: Did not get out of bed this night. Slept well until legs started aching and slight cramping in feet at 4:30 a.m. Night #9: Slept well even after getting up at 3:30 a.m. Back to sleep till 5 a.m. Night #10: Noticed twitches when trying to get to sleep, also muscle spasm in lower leg. Nights #11-22: I have continued with the “Theraworx” foam.
Conclusion: I feel the “Theraworx” foam has helped me much more than the magnesium oil. I am getting more sleep than I did before. I usually do not notice the fasciculations when I am trying to go to sleep. I do sleep better if I don't have to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. But that doesn't happen very often. I am usually able to get back to sleep after getting up, but by morning I usually end up with some cramping in my legs or feet. However, I am not getting the severe cramping. The only time it has happened recently was Thanksgiving night. I'm attributing that to walking up and down the stairs more times than usual that day and eating a sweet dessert after dinner (always best for me to have sweets at lunch, not dinner). I did by accident order my second bottle of “Theraworx” in a bottle that did not make foam. That comes out as a liquid spray. I do not like it as much. It does not absorb into my legs as well. So I poured the liquid (which is identical to that in the foaming bottle) into the bottle that makes foam. However, the pump mechanism is getting harder to use. At first it squirted out more foam for each pump than it now currently does. I now have to pull the pump up each time before pressing down. It would be very hard for someone with arthritis in their fingers to be able to use this pump for days on end. So I tried ordering some empty bottles with pumps that make soap foam (from amazon) to see if those would work. They did not, so I returned those. I have found “Theraworx” in the foaming bottles on e-bay and have ordered more. They are less expensive on e-bay, so I hope they still work well. Another note: Each morning I always apply lots of body lotion to the areas that received the “Theraworx” the night before, since I read that it could be very drying to the skin. I also use a thin disposable glove to apply the foam each night. There is a slight scent to the “Theraworx”, however I do not mind it, and really can't smell it at all when I am in bed. I am very sensitive to highly scented items. It probably helps that the “Theraworx” is applied down at my legs and not higher on my body up near my head.
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