Im fairly desperate, 3 weeks ago i had a pain in back of knee like piercing stab which took my breath away. I was walking slowly at the time but the ensuing cramp in my calf muscle was excruciating and I hobbled home in agony. When resting it goes but my calf feels really bruised. This circle of walking/cramp etc carried on every day and i actually saw my GP who said it wasn’t dvt or claudication or a bakers cryst, she didnt know what caused it so she sent me to a&e. 5 hours and 1 blood test later they said exactly the same as my GP so wasted 5 hours. I told them i was on Pregabalin but they didn’t seem concerned about cramp as a possible side affect (althoughit says on leaflet). Is there anyone who can give me some advice please. Pregabalin works a treat for my rls for now but if it is cramp culprit i don’t know what to do. Help !
Pregabalin does it cause cramp - Restless Legs Syn...
Pregabalin does it cause cramp
Maybe your shoes if you’ve changed recently
No same old flat shoes. Thank you anyway.
Hi, I'm afraid I can find no information that says pregabalin causes cramps.
I found one source that says muscle pain is a "less common" side effect and also that joint or muscle pain is a "rare" side effect.
However, this is not the same as cramps. which are due to muscle spasm.
This suggest that the cramps are due to some other reason, not pregabalin. This could be one of several things, e.g. an electrolyte imbalance..
What was the one test that was carried out?
You might ask your pharmacist for a remedy for cramps.
The blood test was D dimer.
OK, I presume that was negative. I can see whay that might have been done, but on it's own isn't appropriate or sufficient I'd say.
It would have been good to have to have a blood test for electrolytes, especially potassium and magnesium.
Do you have any signs of poor circulation to your legs? Did the doctor test your pulses at the back of your knee, ankles and feet?
Do your feet feel unusually warm or cold?
Do you have any spinal problems, back pain?
Did the Dr test your leg reflexes, knee ankle and sole of foot?
Normally, cramps can be caused by exercise, especially if you have a period of little exercise. You could do some stretches before walking. Stretches and massage after.
My GP and hospital doctor carried out exactly same examination manipulating and pressing leg behind knee and calf, but i have no pain at all unless walking, took my blood pressure but i didnt see the result i should’ve asked but they said it was ok (I take Ramipril daily for h/p). Feet are ok. I did tell them both i took magnesium and iron and the hospital Dr said not to take iron and drink tonic water as it had quinine in it. Unsurprisingly enough hospital doctor had never heard of rls.
quinine used to be used for cramps. There's not enough in a bottle to make any difference though.
How much can you drink and how fast?
I have been taking pregabalin for approx 7 years and never had any issues with cramping.
A supplement that i took in pregnancy (when i couldn't take medication) was something called Healthy Essentials (brand), Mg Organic Form Magnesium and Bark. My mum used to take it for muscle cramps and she gave some to me and for some reason, of all the magnesium preparations I have tried, this one had the most calming effect on my limb movements. I'm not sure of it's general availability (I'm in Australia) but you may be able to find it online.
Im going to look for it. Thank you.
Hi, I took pregabalin for a year and had no issues with cramping.. However the reason I took pregabalin was a back/spine injury which caused some “nerve excitation” or neuropathy and I found that did cause a greater tendency to cramp. Initially, before I was fully aware of it I would yawn and stretch in the mornings (not controlled stretches like for yoga or Pilates) and then suddenly find that my muscles had gone way too far and in one case ended up with very painful hamstrings for a week. I still get cramps in my toes and lower legs if I get into certain positions and I’m sure it got a lot worse after the nerve problems. Nerve problems are also often associated with RLS.
After many months of daily nighttime cramps - especially severe prior to severe RLS - best thing I can take is the "Adrenal Cocktail" basically 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp Cream of Tartar (for potassium), mixed in juice. It provides almost instant relief. I mostly just mix it in water. Other electrolyte supplements work also (Nuum fizzy tablets, Hammer Nutrition Endurolytes). Basically I think it is good old fashioned dehydration. Drink more water - no not just sips - a pint glass full 3 or 4 times a day and before bed. Maybe you'll get up to pee more but it's better than dealing with a cramp!
Drinking more water makes sense ill do that. Thank you very much.
I have been taking Pregabilin for almost two years for PLMD. I have had horrible nocturnal leg cramps but they weren't caused by Pregabilin. I have been taking highly absorbable magnesium (watch out--some forms cause diarrhea and some are not as well absorbed). Leg cramps were cured (large numbers of people are magnesium deficient) although it took a while to build up the magnesium--it's not going to be solved the first pills you take. I still have to take the magnesium or my cramps will return.
Thank you. I have got magnesium tablets but they do give me diarreah which brand do you use.
Magnesium Threonate but you can Google this query.
The three main causes of cramps are -
electrolyte imbalance. poor circulation and neuropathy.
Hence, have you had a blood test for electrolytes, especially potassium and magnesium?
Did doctors test your pulse. knees ankles and feet for poor circulation. Were pulse OK?
Did they test your reflexes, knees ankles and soles of feet for neuropathy. Were teflexes OK.
If you don't know you're just guessing. Random suggestions about remedies, no matter how well intended will be pure luck.
For your RLS.
As you probably know tonic water is of no value for RLS.
Don't stop taking iron, that's the exact opposite of what should be done.for RLS.
Have had your serum iron, transferrin saturation and ferritin checked? If not you don' t really know if you need iron or not and you won't know.if it's working.
I think im going to have to get a private doctor who might be more co operative. The nhs GP i saw who sent me to a&e is so busy cant do the review of my results until July !
Never caused me to have cramp, maybe you are just unlucky sorry I couldn't help
Hi, I get a severe cramp in my left calf after only walking for 5 or 6 minutes. I can cycle for hours with no pain. Had full MRI, ultrasound, found nothing. Had 7 or 8 sessions with a physio, not helping. Next test is for compartmental syndrome. This is driving me mad...
Still the same, got compartmental tests at end of September
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