I get horrible cramp in my feet in the early hours of the morning. It's happening most morning. This morning it even went into my calf. I am fed up of having to get out of bed fast to stand on the foot to ease the pain. My toes can be pulled straight upward by it.
What causes cramp? Am I missing a supplement that I need and don't know about?
If I had this issue first I'd try magnesium 200-400mg before bed. I like the powder form but it tastes bad unless taken with some fruit juice. If that didn't work I'd go to my B12 supps.
I don't think it's either of those. My B12 (active) was top of range around 3 weeks ago and I take magnesium daily (see detail in response to SlowDragon).
The poster below might be on to something with the potassium levels and hydration. I used to wake up in the middle of the night or morning with these terrible cramps in my calves. Oh they hurt so bad I'd cringe in pain. If I didn't carefully stretch during an episode I'd have pain for the rest of the day. I don't recall doing anything about it but it could be linked to potassium. I've read there's a link between hypo, electrolytes, and low/high potassium levels.
I've searched out a full blood count from December and my potassium level was bang in the middle of the range. But this has got worse as summer is progressing so I think I need to make sure I'm hydrated enough before bed and it can't harm to try to increase the potassium foods.
Yes more bananas!! I also had this problem..... Not had it for a while. I think it's down to being GF and maybe my gut has healed and absorbing better. I do B1 & b12 jabs plus am on it on my vit Bs. And my thyroid levels are optimum. By the way a blood test in December for potassium, can't be relied on in June.... Potassium levels and magnesium change daily.
It could also be with the heat that you have lost more salt through sweating....
What kind of magnesium are you taking? If it's magnesium oxide then it won't help, try magnesium bisglycinate, I get cramps in my feet as well, as it definitely helps.
I had cramp 6am this morning because I didn’t have lots of potassium rich foods and coconut water yesterday
I've just ordered a tray of coconut water. I love it anyway, so I will be having one before bed for a while to see what happens.
I have avocados, bananas and freshly squeezed OJ through the day.. my potassium blood test looks good, but if I miss one day I get painful cramp
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
When did you last test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low Magnesium most likely cause
Do you take magnesium daily
Last test results on profile in Oct 22 ….showed you were not on high enough replacement
You were increasing dose levothyroxine
What were test results after increasing
I'm way behind on my test results on here now. I switched to NDT in December.
I take B12 drops and oil and my latest test for Active B12 just a few weeks ago was top of range.
I take 2 capsules of magnesium every night before bed. Magnesium Bisglycinate | Zero Bulking or Flow Agents | Chelated & Non-Buffered | 1000mg Dose / 500mg Capsules
I take Vitamin D and K2 at high strength (on prescription). In the winter I take 2 capsules per week and in summer 1 capsule per week. 20,000 IU
Folate, ferritin, iron and everything else is tested twice a year now for my private endo appointments. Next one is coming up shortly in August so what I have is now rather out of date. Folate was low so I have been diligently supplementing it now, plus taking a B Complex. I have forever struggled to get ferritin up and keep it there. But I take iron + vitamin C and try to eat iron rich foods as often as I can. I can't find my last results without taking the office apart and I can't do that now. But it was around 69 I think.
I am under medicated on Armour, but raising very slowly by 1/8th grain at a time now as 1/4 grain was too much increase in one go. I have struggled to raise due to having 2 really nasty colds this year. I'm now on 2 and 1/4 grains. I will need to raise further. Might the cramps be just a hypo symptom?
In my experience cramps have been due to undermedication
I’ve had the same problem for many many years. The pain can be excruciating for up to half an hour. There are times when it is so bad I wouldn’t be able to walk.
I take magnesium daily, and I apply magnesium spray topically before bed.
I haven’t found the answer but I do suspect the magnesium might help.
I'm taking magnesium. It's an awful pain isn't it? To wake up with!
agree likely magnesium but also consider if you’re well enough hydrated.
I don't think it's magnesium, I take it nightly (details in reply to SlowDragon). I could be dehydrated by the early hours I suppose. I shall try drinking more water this evening.
My husband has problems with cramp but after taking 400mg magnesium glycinate at bedtime he has no problem with it
I'm taking magnesium at bedtime. I don't think it's that.
To the best of my (now foggy) knowledge cramps can be caused by dehydration or a deficiency in either magnesium or potassium - I start getting cramps within even a day or two of not getting enough of either of those minerals.
For both magnesium and potassium, blood levels aren’t a good indicator of how much is in the tissues where you need them so can’t go off those tests.
In case helpful, some good dietary sources for each:
Potassium- bananas, avocado, potatoes or sweet potatoes with skin, certain beans like kidney beans, salmon, coconut water
Magnesium - Almonds/peanuts/other nuts, pumpkin seeds, beans, oats, dark chocolate
Thanks. I don't think it's magnesium. I take it nightly and use a cream with it in. It might be potassium. I need to try and up that intake. I used to drink coconut water regularly but I have got out of the habit as my favourite suppler stopped selling it by internet order. Thanks for that suggestion. It's one I'm not actively supplementing.
I hope that resolves it!
When I get cramp I use New Era Mag Phos, if I've taken it at first sign it doesn't develop. If I'm a bit late I then massage some magnesium gel into the area for about 5 minutes and that usually does the trick .
Mag Phos is cheapest here (Amazon is more than double the price):
dolphinfitness.co.uk/en/new...
Magnesium gel:
dolphinfitness.co.uk/en/bet...
It's magnesium again though and I already take magnesium every night as I go to bed. Do you think the Biotin has some sort of effect on the cramps?
FP54
I also take a good dose of magnesium, in fact two forms of magnesium (taurate and citrate so my total dose is possibly higher than many people take), one with my evening meal and one before bed, and I still get cramps. My late hubby suffered with awful leg/foot cramps for years and the New Era Mag Phos worked for him and it works for me if I catch it at first sign, if I'm a bit late I massage in the magnesium gel and after a few minutes the cramp has gone.
I really don't know if the biotin helps, I can't remember if it was included when my hubby was alive.
I was getting foot cramps at night that were worse in the cold weather, or mild weather with the window open wider. It improved greatly when I put a spare blanket over my legs. As this was a little uncomfortable I purchased some alpaca bed socks which I use on cold nights, they are fantastic, no more cramps. Unlike normal socks bed socks aren’t tight. As we get older (I’m 70) we lose circulation in the legs.
I would definitely try magnesium first but if that doesn’t work try keeping your feet warm at night to see if it does the trick.
I'm the unusual hypo, I'm never cold, always boiling hot and sweating. This has got worse recently and the weather is unbearably hot for me. I sleep starkers with no cover on and I'm warm all night with the window wide. I don't think it's a cold foot thing. Although I love bed socks for comfort on cold winter nights.
Nice idea though.
It sounds like salt loss to me if ure sweating at night. By the way feeling hot is very different to your body actually being hot as per temperature being raised. It could be your temp is low so your body isn't hot at all...it just feel it.
That's exactly right. The hotter I feel and the more I'm sweating the lower my temp will usually be. It's a good tell for being hypo for me.
Thanks for the tip re salt loss in the night.
It could be lack of water or salt. When I worked off the coast of South America back in the 70s It was so hot that I would sweat and lose salt because of it. The doctor gave me salt tablets to take. He explains all about salt and cramps too.
If you’re sweating so much maybe drastically increase water intake? But be careful not too much (you can have too much) and make sure you replace salt in your body as you’ll be sweating salt. My GP looked at a range of blood tests I’ve had for a few years and said I need to drink more water. I told him I drink 2litres a day and he said drink more then 🤷🏻♀️ I don’t get cramps often now (I did when I was doing yoga). Dehydration can cause cramp.
I think you may be low on salt, with all the sweating and so on. I used to live in south-west Germany, where the summers can be very very hot and I would get awfully sweaty and also suffer from cramps. Now, whenever it's on the hot side, I make sure I get extra salt, half a teaspoon of baking soda in warm water can be very helpful for me. I once read that hypothyroid people lose salt and magnesium easily and having plenty of salt can help them to retain it (Ray Peat PhD). Since I paid attention to this (and no longer live in Germany), I tend to get cramps much less easily, although, with the recent heat, I had mild leg cramps a couple of times at night in the last few days.
Do you tend to favour salty snacks rather than sweet things?
That can be a sign that your body wants extra salt.
Hope this helps, as far as I can tell, no-one else has mentioned salt, but it could be your missing link.
The things I know of that might cause cramp are, in no particular order :
Low levels of one or more of the following :
Iron
Magnesium
Potassium
Sodium
Vitamin D
Calcium
With one or two exceptions the main causes seem to be related to electrolytes, so you could read this to see if it has anything helpful to say for you :
Too much Vitamin D can cause cramps. It can cause hypercalcaemia.
Low potassium is a big one as someone else mentioned.
Cramps mean something is out of balance, so you will have to experiment to find out which one it is.
If you are low in potassium or calcium or magnesium that will happen. You have anyone who could run some tests and check those levels?
If magnesium & potassium are ruled out, you may want to look for a correlation between your sugar consumption the day before and the nighttime cramps.
Hi, Sodium is the main mineral to balance cells input and out, even nerve. If you drink more water, or tea and coffee which makes you more urinated, you lose more sodium. If you do not have high blood pressure, take salt in your water, it will balance your sodium and you won't get cramp. Sodium is the first important one, snd then magnesium. We don't lose magnesium the same as sodium . Mine controlled by salt, every day I take salt in my water.
a doctor advised me to take L-Theanine to support magnesium, it’s so hard for your body to sue and breakdown and this can make a really big difference in how your body can use magnesium… also gentle lengthening of the legs can help!
could try a diuralyte a couple hours before bed, that’ll give you an idea if it’s electrolytes
Do you get restless legs as well or is it just cramping?
When reading this, I realised I no longer get cramp. I'm racking my brains for what's different. The only thing I can think is that I switched to NDT, then T3 mono. I don't know when the cramps stopped, so can't say which had the effect but this made me wonder whether your fT3 levels were high enough. By the way, doesn't potassium have to be measured from a blood test not using a tourniquet?
Yeah I think it’s more of a medication / dose thing because your post just reminded me that my cramps disappeared for a good while too but now they seemed to have returned to torture me along with this awful heatwave… I suspect it was only when my levels were lower that they stopped but annoyingly they have increased and so have some awful symptoms that I forgot were ever that bad. Especially having to jump out of bed because the pain is so bad and my feet and toes are all twisted up and won’t go back to normal. So I suspect cramps are a medication issue rather than a specific vitamin level thing but like everything else vitamins seems to be affected by the medication anyway so I suspect it’s better to focus on taking the right amount of medication.
If your hypothyroidism is due to Hashimotos, (ie autoimmune), it could be food sensitivity causing it, as a result of what’s (delightfully) called ‘leaky gut’. (There are some who believe LG is the root of all autoimmunity, but as far from everyone with AI has food sensitivity, that seems questionable at least to me). I have a very limited diet now because of this (there’s quite a lot online about the autoimmune protocol - AIP - diet, initial phase ‘base’ foods, reintro phases/foods etc). It’s restrictive, especially the initial phase, and what people are able to successfully reintroduce is very individual, but it definitely results in improvement of symptoms for many. Anyway, long story short, aside from gluten the main offenders by far for most are nightshades, which include (most commonly) potatoes, tomatoes and bell peppers. (Dairy seems to be the next most common issue after nightshades). Potatoes were my absolute favourite food and every so often I fall off the wagon and have a jacket potato - every single time that night I will have terrible cramps in my feet and calves, (additionally, they also make me pee more). It doesn’t seem to be a very common thing but I have found others who get the same reaction, it happens every time and only on the rare days I eat potato, so it’s definitely the cause for me. Every time I curse the idiocy of giving in to temptation, but a few months later…(my own worst enemy…). It’s quite possibly not the cause for you (I hope not, if you love potato as much as I do/did), but as from what you’ve said (re supplements and test results) the more common causes don’t seem to be likely, thought I’d mention it just in case. 🙂
I am on T3 mono, and have on occasions had these horrible night cramps, feet and calves. Isn't tonic water said to be good for cramps, because of the quinine? I haven't had the cramps recently, and was just wondering why? Possibly because I now take Magnesium with B2 for eyes.
Yes, doctors have used quinine for people with problems with cramp and muscle spasm. My mother was prescribed it. She didn't find it terribly helpful in her case.
It also turns out that it has some very unwelcome and dangerous side effects, so it definitely wouldn't be my choice of treatment for cramps :
I am on T3 mono, and have on occasions had these horrible night cramps, feet and calves. Isn't tonic water said to be good for cramps, because of the quinine? I haven't had the cramps recently, and was just wondering why? Possibly because I now take Magnesium with B2 for eyes.
foot problems have been a huge issue for me in my hypo journey and I used to get excruciatingly painful foot cramps at night. Wearing bed socks to keep my feet warm (even in summer) helped but the game changer was when I started on T3 alongside levothyroxine. Now it’s one of the first indicators for me that my levels are out of whack when I get night cramp in my feet.
I always wear bed socks. When cramps were bad I'd sleep with a pillow under my feet. Drinking more water also helped!
If you are drinking alcohol in the evening before, cut it down or stop it altogether.
I am the same as Daisy Woopsa, I had severe leg cramps - the whole of my calf would be rock hard and those muscles were bruised/sore for 3 days after, the cramps were so extreme - until given T3. I have not had any cramps since religiously taking T3 in combo with my T4.
My husband suffers from really badly every night. In his feet, calf even thigh sometimes for months even over a year. He now takes brand 'trace minerals' 'No Muscle Cramps' in liquid form. Blue bottle. Contains: magnesium, chloride, sodium , potassium, sulphate. Ionic minerals in purified water and non GMO citric aid. It tastes bad, well very salty taste he says so not good in tea or coffee and he is best taking in porridge . But he is persevering as after a week or so of taking was getting no more cramps
MAGNESIUM is the answer, if you have any joint issues as well might I suggest Swanson's Green Lipped Mussel which contains magnesium, About 10.00 for 60 capsules on Amazon!
I had the same issue. I started eating a banana every day and increased my water intake. It really works as I now notice I only get the cramp if I dont drink enough water. I get weeks of relief to the point I am ensuring to drink plenty of water. The cramps are so painful I want to keep them away. Kathy
A folk remedy is to put cork in the bed. When I put an old sock with corks in the bed, my partner stopped suffering any more cramp. Then he forgot the success of it and threw them out. He still doesn't get cramp any more than I do, which is really not often.
I’ve also heard that a bar of soap in the bed helps🤔!
Well if it works, t would serve two purposes: anti cramp and making the sheets smell nice.
I’d agree with magnesium first. I had horrendous cramps in feet, toes, calve and thigh but taking magnesium eventually stopped all of this. I take it for three months and then take a month or so break as I’ve heard it’s not good to take all the time but I have been taking it for about three years.
There are three types of magnesium supplement so it may be a case of trial and error as to which does not upset your stomach.
I’ve had this for years: the one thing that has worked for me to stop it is wearing socks in bed.
Discovered this by accident but resolved the issue me 🙂
I found that taking a magnesium capsule in the evening has helped (I get mine from The Autoimmune Institute). Plus I make sure my lower legs don’t get cold. Not so easy when it’s so hot, but I’d consider wearing lightweight cotton socks if you don’t have many covers this time of year.
I take magnesium anyway. No way am I wearing socks of any kind unless there's snow on the ground. My feet are always toasty.
can I ask what powder brand of magnesium you take, I’m thinking of switching to powder as I can’t tolerate fillers in capsules. Thanks
I use a capsule.
You could try Pink Himalayan Rock Salt as this should contain all the minerals that we need. I have a bit chipped off a large chunk which I lick (that sounds a bit gross now I see it written!). I understand from some medical sources that if you drink lots of water you do need to replenish your body's minerals which can get flushed away.
Now I can't see anything but my Nan's cows licking their pink salt licks in the yard as they waited to be milked. 😆
Hi I've had that issue now & then. Doing research on it a few years back I found an article in a Canadian running magazine - lower back problems. Though I don't feel discomfort in my lower back, when I have a manual manipulation done, I'm good for quite some time. Here in the states we have doctors called osteopaths & many of them are trained in manual manipulation - works on fascia, muscles, realignment. Chiropractors focus on the spine, osteos focus on the entire body. Don't know, if you have similar in UK I do take magnesium biglycinate, have good potassium levels, & supplement w/B12 - the manipulation takes care of the cramping Good luck
We do have osteopaths. But getting to see one usually means paying privately. It isn't an angle I would of thought of.
Nor would I have made the connection, if it wasn't for the article I mentioned. Maybe a chiropractor, if covered by insurance in your country?
FancyPants54,
I think as others have mentioned cramps are quite a typical hypothyroid symptom, so hopefully will reduce as you increase your NDT.
I have struggled a lot with cramps in the legs, mainly calves in the past but more recently outer thighs. I have tried a lot of things, but will only mention what hasn't really been mentioned.
I have always suspected electrolytes and dehydration via that route are an issue. I used to try those Dioralyte packs you can buy easily in the supermarket, which is an easy way to try them out and see if you feel any better. They are powder to be mixed with water and own brand cheaper ones exist. I found that sometimes just drinking one of these made me feel perked up. I never found a long term supplement version, as for these I suspected they weren't the healthiest format. One other little clue is that Cream of Tartar can be bought a easily and cheaply and contains pottasium, so it is an easy way to add some to your diet by adding a quarter teaspoon to a jug or big bottle of water. Tastes a bit bitter, but I became used to it quickly. Similarly I make sure to put plenty of salt on my food, especially if I'm drinking a lot.
Massage has helped a bit for me, you mention you use the run in magnesium cream. I rub this in with a rudimentary massage every night. At times I've used a hand held massager machine thing to make it easier. I've had good results on some recurring cramps just by doing this, but it would take weeks or months of regular magnesium massage to make a difference, and sometimes if I stop or change location I am rubbing in the old cramps start to return. Personally I find massaging my feet with oil a bit unpleasant, but there are loads of machines that can massage feet, like one's with rolling balls you run your feet over, massage plates and things like that which are worth try. I think just a tennis ball or smaller bouncy ball rolled under the foot is quite a nice massage.
Then a couple of things I don't think others have mentioned:
Heated pad. I know you said you hate to add any extra heat and this is the worst time of year to start it, but some cramps respond to hear (I think this is one clue to the origins of a cramp as some don't respond. But I haven't gone down that rabbit hole myself). I use a pad that plugs in, and can basically function as a permanent hot water bottle. A cheaper option is those wheat bags you can heat in the microwave.
I've actually been using my heat pad on some of the hottest days, and it hasn't been too horrific. I only touch it to my cramp and keep the rest of my body well away. It tingles when I first put it on, and makes it feel worse, but then starts to reduce my cramp, so for me dealing w the heat is worth it. I also suspect that a daily heat pack has a cumulative benefit and slowly reduces the occurance. I try to be quite aggressive and heat, massage or stretch as soon as any cramp occurs, to try to keep episodes down, as I suspect having cramp begets more cramp.
And finally, the single biggest impact on my recent cramp is to stretch out, particularly while the cramp isn't happening, so daily or multiple times per day of 5-10 minutes stretching out all around the area. I've been doing daily exercises targetting my latest cramp since November. My flexibility in my legs has noticeably increased, and that terrible cramp that was bothering me most of the day and waking me at night. now only pops up briefly at its big times (when I'm settling into bed at night is the worst for this one).
One thing with this is that it took me a long time to figure out which exact stretch it is that this cramp requires. I have finally narrowed it down to one particular stretch that makes the big difference, which is to place to foot up on a chair or other raised surface, so it is coming out of the hip at around a 90% angle. Stretches the whole back of the body, legs and back included. I also do 4 or 5 other stretches that are linked just to try and get a general stretch in. Previously I'd done more strength related exercises, but they didn't seem to make much difference.
I think you might have a hard time finding the exact stretch that would help your feet, tho I do think tightness in your legs and back could also contribute, so you might like to do a set similar to mine. I do think that feet are very neglected in our society, and as a result they are often weak and inflexible because we don't use the full range of motion. As this has got quite long I'll list my routine in a new post.
My daily /more than daily stretch routine. I hold each of the stretches while I breath in and out 10 times, then repeat the exercise on the other leg. Most of these are exercises recommended for runners and others to do after their exercises, so I feel like in the past when I was more fit these bits were frequently getting stretched. Whereas now I'm much more sedentary a lot of ordinary muscles aren't getting much use.
1) Stand facing a wall, put one foot a couple of inches behind the other, lean hands on the wall, and push the heel of the back foot towards the floor. Increase the stretch by increasing the distance back of your stretching leg. Out of my stretches this is the one that most obviously stretches the foot. But I think some or all of the others might also help, because all these muscles are linked.
2) Sit on the edge of a dining chair or step, lift your foot and rest your ankle on the opposite knee. You should feel the stretch across the your outer thigh, make sure to sit up with a straight/natural back.
To increase the stretch lean forward slightly. You can also do this one lying down on your back, or even standing if you are strong. I have heard this mentioned as the one stretch that has the most health benefits so worth doing.
3) Stand up straight and lift your leg straight up in front of you to place your foot on a chair or step. You should feel the stretch all down the back of the leg particularly thigh, I found at first I could feel it in my back later on. Increase the stretch by using a higher step, and/or leaning forward w a straight back, bending straight out of the waist, decrease by choosing a lower step.
4) Stand with your hand supported by a wall or chair. Stretch the leg opposite that supporting hand. Bend the leg at the knee as far as you can, catch the foot or ankle with the same-side hand. This can be done lying down on your front. The stretch is along the front of the thigh.
After that I will usually do a quick stretch for my arms and back.
Some additional things I have stumbled on that can be good for the foot.
1) When lying down in bed I like to stretch my calves/feet using this 3 step stretch, lying on the back or side, can do with both feet together or take turns:
a) Point the toes strongly, which will curve the foot slightly into an arch, and can feel a stretch all the way up the front of the calf.
b) Keeping the arched shape of the body of the foot, stretch just the toes in the opposite direction (pointing upwards of you're lying on the back). Hold for a moment and then return to the pointed position
c) Bend the whole foot at the heel upwards towards the knees, you can feel the stretch going across the bottom of the foot and up the calf.
d) Repeat several times if wished.
I've done this for years off and on, often when I'm relaxing in bed in the evenings, and I still find it can feel quite uncomfortable. It can also bring on a short term cramp in the foot. But I think that is just a demonstration of how weak our foot often are. But definitely start out slowly and gently.
2) Overall stretching out the toes, spreading them as far as possible out to the side, creating space between each toe, with the big toe and little toe as far apart as possible. Big toe can also be stretched up and down, with the other toes stretching in the opposite direction (I've found this can also bring on cramps).
3) Exercise the toes and keep them active by trying to do tasks such as gripping items. One good exercise is to pick up a bouncy ball or marble from the floor. I bought a bag of small bouncy balls from the supermarket and would spread them out on the floor in front of me, with a bowl or tin in the centre, and pick up each ball with the toes and place it in the bowl, then repeat with the other foot.
4) Another exercise I was recommended as more of a strengthening one was to walk across the floor entirely on the heels, with the toes and rest of the foot lifted off the floor. I find this a very hard exercise and best done on a soft, carpeted floor.
If I want to exercise a body part I tend to search online with the term 'physiotherapy exercises', particularly if I can find the name of the muscle or the name of a disorder I might have or be linked to. I feel like this is often at least as effective as actually seeing a physiotherapist.
I have to be aware of how I stretch in the morning. If I stretch with my toes pointed I will get cramps every time. I have to be sure to keep the toes facing the ceiling as I stretch my legs, to keep it from happening. Sometimes during the night, if lying on my back, the sheets and blankets pull my toes down and a cramp sends me flying out of bed!! I hate that too, good luck.
That's very like mine. Stretched toes are a bad idea in bed.
Potassium for me (and my husband). If we hike or work in the yard it will flare up in both of us around the same time that evening. It doesn’t seem to be lack of hydration because we drink loads of water and/or lemon water. (I sometimes wonder if too much water dilutes your minerals and electrolytes?) I also think a pinch of salt added to the lemon water helps.
We hiked out of the Grand Canyon and the advice from the guides was Gatorade and any salty snack. The Gatorade was actually required - they provided the powdered form to put in our water bottles
Now we usually remember to dose up on potassium before or immediately after any strenuous leg workouts like hiking — then we have no problem. If we forget, one or both of us is jumping out of bed that evening to grab the potassium.
Mine have been SO painful at times … it varies where it hurts too. Sometimes it may start on the entire length of the inside of one leg and when that settles down it will move to the other one.
We don’t often forget to dose up anymore. 😉
If I have ANY gluten or high FODMAP foods, I get serious pains in 1 foot as well as 1 shoulder. The pain will last for several days. It's odd because my foot will only hurt when I am in bed. My shoulder will hurt non stop. As long as I am 1000% strict on gluten free and low FODMAP, I don't have those pains.
I had this when my B12 was low. After injections it stopped. I see that your B12 is ok however. It was very horrible at the time so you have my every sympathy. I hope it resolves for you. Maybe hydration?
hello. Cramp can be caused by not enough fluids throughout the day
Hello! I haven't looked thru all the replies so forgive me if I'm repeating what others are saying but I have problems taking b12 supplements as they lower potassium, and low potassium can cause cramps. Some people experience pain by taking b12. I think I saw you say your b12 is top of the range. You could try just adding in extra potassium or both reduce b12 intake/supplements and increase potassium.
Also I used to get cramps the same as you before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Having thyroid meds at the correct level can really help reduce cramps as well.
I didn't know that about B12! I have struggled to get B12 levels high enough, so want to keep them relatively high for a while because I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet and need to rule low B12 out. But that might well mean I need more potassium. And yes, I'm currently under medicated so that's not helping.
I have an underactive thyroid and suffered with cramp in my feet and calves. The solution was Co-Enzyme Q10. I no longer get cramp!
I used to take that but stopped as I didn't know what it was doing for me and the supplements bill was getting too high. Perhaps I should try that again.
Use Magnesium Citrate 3 capsules every night.
Cramps are often caused by magnesium deficiency and many of us are deficient these days as there is less naturally in our food as our soils have degraded. Cramps can also get worse in menopause or if eating a lower carb diet. I get terrible cramps if I don't take good quality magnesium supplements up to 400mg a day. Magnesium glycinate are the best to take for cramps.... I have a handout on the different types of magnesium if you are interested?You should also not be dehydrated, eating enough salt and getting exercise during the day to ward off cramping.
I already take magnesium bisglycinate at bedtime. I try not to be dehydrated and my HRT has given me good relief from menopause symptoms. I'm definitely not low carb and I get salt. I don't actually exercise as such because I'm under medicated hypo still and get fatigued very quickly (I've just planted up two tubs in the garden and I'm sweating buckets, feel shattered and my temperature had dropped to 35.7c. But it's taking a long time to build up my NDT.
Hi FancyPants54,
Magnesium and Potassium will be your friend if you have muscle cramps. Mine are terrible without these 2 supplements. I take these at night before bed. Can’t give you the dose as we are all different and various brands contain different mgs, but you can start low and ramp up as you feel you need.
Only side affect with magnesium can be a bit of loose bowels. You may want to start with magnesium on a low base without potassium to see how it affects you. Potassium you may need to be more careful with. Take in small doses and then leave off for a while. But you should be fine with magnesium.
Good luck!😀
I already take magnesium before bed. I'm looking into the potassium idea.
Here is my tried and tested many times way of stopping the cramps taking hold when they start. I have done this for cramps in feet, calves and thighs (the most excruciating pain of all!)
Cramps are muscles going into spasm. Pressing the foot against the wall with leg straight counteracts it and the spasm subsides.
If your bed is about a leg's distance from a wall sit on the bed and with leg straight PRESS your foot HARD against the wall. You will feel the muscle cramps gradually subsiding as the spasms undo. If you can't sit on the bed then you'll need a chair ready, or try sitting on the floor.
Wait for long enough - a few seconds may be all required. If it starts again when you stand up then immediately sit and press against the wall again.
I always go to the loo afterwards, when it's safe to walk.
Do try it, it has been a life saver for me. Not only does it stop the cramps taking hold but it saves the disability and pain the day after.
My bed is not near a wall, in fact there is no suitable wall for that sort of thing (cottage, bedroom in the eves. But standing up on it does the same job, which is why I get out of bed fast and stand/walk about on it until the toes subside. So painful though. Not so bad in summer when it's warm in the middle of the night. Different story midwinter as we don't heat our bedroom, we like it cold.
Are you on statins? I had terrible cramp until I changed brand.
No. Never going near those.
My sodium levels always show up on the low side when I have my bloods taken, I always know when my sodium has gone particularly low because I start having leg cramps at night without fail, it happens every time
Hi, I suffered with this constantly at night turned out my potassium was very low and needed to be corrected. Was even worse if I went out for an evening meal,more sodium I guess.Also b 12 vitamin can cause this too.
Worth getting your kidney function blood test (u/e)
cramp
night sweat/showers in bed
advice on hot feet in bed
