Advice on vitamins / minerals

[vocalEK]

Sunday night I was awakened by the muscles of my left calf in spasm. I then realized I needed to go to the bathroom, but when I tried to put weight on that leg and pain was intense. Since I have had this before (but never as bad as this one) I keep a spray bottle of Theraworx Relief next to my bed. I sprayed some on, massaged it in, and was finally able to walk to the bathroom. After that I was able to get back to sleep.

I have a friend who is an an RN and asked her about possible causes. She suggested I might have an electrolyte imbalance So I sent a note to my doctor explaining the problem. She wrote back that she had ordered some tests and I could go get them done at my convenience.

Two issues: Number 1, I was surprised to see TSH and FT4 in the results. I had gone for the testing after I ate lunch and, of course, had taken my medications that morning. Had I known she was going to test thyroid, I would have course gone early in the morning (lab opens at 8 a.m.) and been fasting. Issue Number 2 is, as you can see, FT3 was not tested, even though I take liothyronine.

I have asked her for a retest of the thyroid hormones to include FT3.

But back to the issue of my leg cramp:

VIT B121,008 pg/mL (232 - 1,245 pg/mL)

FOLATE19.7 ng/mL (4.6 - 34.8 ng/mL)

Complete Blood Count - All results were in range

CHEM PANEL

GLUCOSE, RANDOM121 mg/dL (70 - 139 mg/dL)

POTASSIUM4.6 mmol/L (3.6 - 5.2 mmol/L)

SODIUM140 mmol/L (136 - 145 mmol/L)

CHLORIDE102 mmol/L (98 - 107 mmol/L)

CO226 mmol/L (22 - 29 mmol/L)

ANION GAP SERPL12 (8 - 16)

CREATININE0.77 mg/dL (0.55 - 1.02 mg/dL)

BUN20 mg/dL (8 - 23 mg/dL)

GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE, NONAFRICAN AMERICAN>60 mL/min (>=60 mL/min)

--

MAGNESIUM2.0 mg/dL (1.6 - 2.6 mg/dL)

25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D45 ng/mL (30 - 100 ng/mL)

CK75 U/L (26 - 192 U/L) [Creatinine]

---

I don't see anything terribly amiss in the above, except for my Vitamin D. I had gotten it up to 63 by taking 10,000 IU per day. After that I dropped back to 5,000 IU for maintenance, but obviously that did NOT maintain, so I am doubling back up.

Were there some things that can affect musculature that were not tested?

[vocalEK]

Found this article: aafp.org/afp/2012/0815/p350...

[nellie237]

Hi vocal,

I'd had evening leg cramps that gradually got worse over many years, especially if I'd been for a long walk. It started with cramping toes, and I'd stick my legs out of the bed and lift my heels with my toes pressing on the floor, and that would ease it. Then it started going up my calves, but the same lifting my heels and pressing my toes down did the job....until yes, it eased my calf, but started going up my shin. So, I'd be sitting on the edge of my bed heels up heels down as the pain shot up the back then the front of my leg, silently screaming. It was quite extreme, and very painful. At this point the only way to ease it was to walk about for a bit.

Then..........I got dx Coelic ...GF diet and prescribed Iron, folate B12 & Vit D, and I have not had one episode since. I'm sorry I don't know what exactly cured the problem, better absorption maybe? but one of these things did. Oh, I also came off PPI's.

[Geetal]

This is a personal comment and not a recommendation, although I hope it may help you. I have rarely found magnesium sprays as useful. I keep a bottle of 200mg magnesium citrate next to my bed: I take 2 as soon as the cramp starts. This is in addition to my regular 400mg in a multi-supplement.

[Gez-1311 in reply to Geetal]

Hi Geetal, Thanks for the tip as I have started suffering cramp in my calves and feet and have been trying to find a solution. Got relief on my feet by putting on warm slouchy socks when it starts but calves still really painful. Does anyone have aching muscles on walking the next day?

[TSH110 in reply to Gez-1311]

Thankfully I’m spared that further torture

[SilverAvocado]

I've recently had problems with cramping. Mine is in both my outer thighs. For years they both felt a bit numb feeling. One of those strange things but I just had to accept it. But in the past couple of months it's turned into cramping that can be very painful.

I've been trying a few different things recommended on the forum. First thing I did was start rubbing my nightly magnesium gel into the thighs instead of calves I've been doing for years (I used to get very tight calves at night). I do think the massaging helps, and I massage them every time I get the chance. I've bought a few gadgets to help, but not sure any are much good.

Potassium tablets do seem to help, and the worst of it has been prevented by taking a single tablet of Solgar potassium (3 tablets is the full dose) with each meal. My cramping lasts all day, but if it was more sporadic I'd do as seems to be recommended and only take them when the cramping starts.

Dioralyte rehydration sachets also seem to help, these contain a similar amount of potassium to the tablets, and a few other bits and pieces.

On the forum I was recommended Mag Phos mineral tissue salt (New Era brand). Taking these at the dose on the packet (4 tablets three times a day) definitely helped with my cramp, but I suspected it was also doing a mischief to my heart. So I cut down to 1 three times per day and then just one in the morning.

Something I've only just started, as I drink a lot of water I've been putting a pinch of pink salt into my water jug and bottles. I'm not yet sure whether it's made a difference, but I saw it recommended somewhere.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to SilverAvocado]

On the forum I was recommended Mag Phos mineral tissue salt (New Era brand). Taking these at the dose on the packet (4 tablets three times a day) definitely helped with my cramp, but I suspected it was also doing a mischief to my heart. So I cut down to 1 three times per day and then just one in the morning.

I have recently suggested this on the form (can't remember who I was responding to) as it's something that works for me. However, it's on an "as needed" basis not something I suggested to take every day, just when you feel the cramp come on.

[Digger0]

I used to get terrible leg cramps, but my GP changed my inhaler and it worked! It's worht checking the side effects leaflets in with your meds.

[Hidden]

I used to wake multiple times a night with painful cramps and started taking electrolytes (elete liquid ones) and adding salt into my diet. This worked within a few days and have kept it up with no cramps at all in about 3 years. My sodium levels were much lower than yours at the time, and are now a little below your current figures.

Interesting that other comments cite totally different things that worked for them, so hopefully there’s a few ideas to experiment with! Good luck…

[TSH110]

I get hideous cramp on and off in toes, feet, calves and sometimes hamstrings and thighs it usually comes on at night. I have had it in both legs at once - I thought I was going die as I could not get up and try and stamp it out I did a lot of screaming and crying. It can come on if I take vitamin D but it can come on without taking Vitamin D. Salt intake has no effect whatsoever, so I don’t really know what causes it. I can only assume it’s a calcium/magnesium imbalance or similar. I find quinine knocks it on the head in minutes. I have taken quinine for 25 years and it has worked every single time. Mind you a 28 pack will last me 4 years so I don’t guzzle them down every night or anything. It’s been used for cramp for a very long time but the latest fashion is to claim it is ineffective. In my case it is very effective indeed. Luckily my GP is fine about prescribing it. Perhaps it affects calcium/magnesium ratios. Odd it should have been traditionally thought to work for cramp for decades, but no one can explain why so it’s now deemed ineffective. It works for me and because I can’t find the cause of my cramp, my only option is to treat the symptoms or grin and bear it.

[helen_m]

I get dreadful cramps if I forget to take my magnesium. Badly in feet and lower legs. I regularly take 500mg of magnesium glycinate, as part of my vitamin D protocol. Magnesium is wonderful!

[Geetal]

Try an electric blanket. Either turn it on for say half an hour if you have a timer or if you dont have a timer leave it on the lowest setting all night.

[helvella in reply to Geetal]

Only if it is of a type/make that is validated for all-night usage.