Guest guest Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 Becky, This sounds similar to something I have. Similar to " restless leg syndrome " but labeled, some years ago, as " nocturnal myoclonic seizures " . I would actually kick the covers off the bed sometimes. I was taking Percocet at the time, before ER and CR formulations were common (or invented) and found that, the less Percocet I could take, the more troublesome this " nocturnal myoclonus " was. At first, my primary physician prescribed clonidine. This was helpful but, since clonidine is (or was) used to treat withdrawal, it was hard to find a physician would prescribe it. I later moved and developed a relationship with another PCP who prescribed carbidopa-levodopa 25/100, three tablets at bedtime, and PRN (seldom needed). The carbidopa-levodopa is similar to the meds advertised on TV for " RLS " and seem to have a common mechanism of action. The long and short of it is that it works for me. And true mescle relaxants never did. Phil >Becky in Illinois wrote: >I have just begun to have leg muscle cramps that wake me up at >night. Is there anything I can do to prevent these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 Becky, I am in no way a medical professional, but my grandmother always told me to eat more bananas for leg cramps as well and it always worked. After having done some research, I feel that it is a vitamin deficieny and the bananas have the right vitamins in them to relief the leg cramps. Hope that helps, a >Becky in Illinois wrote: >I have just begun to have leg muscle cramps that wake me up at night. Is there anything I can do to prevent these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 Becky wrote: > Becky, I am in no way a medical professional, but my grandmother > always told me to eat more bananas for leg cramps as well and it > always worked. After having done some research, I feel that it is a > vitamin deficiency and the bananas have the right vitamins in them to > relief the leg cramps. > Becky, Calcium and Potassium deficiencies can cause leg cramps but so can dehydration. SO a saying bananas help is right but you can take calcium tablets effectively and see if that will work. Be sure to take the caltrate kind, my doctor told me to take those when I had the Vitamin D, Calcium, B12, and other deficiencies. It wouldn't hurt to get lab work although leg cramps bother me often and heat helps me along with rubbing my legs with ben gay. They used to give quinine for leg cramps and I think you can still get it behind the counter if you ask the pharmacist. Just from my experience , I am not a medical professional (well, I have worked in the medical profession for 30 years) and our whole family suffers from restless leg syndrome so I have had them from a kid. I can always tell when my calcium or vitamins are low because of my leg cramps and take the calcium. Just to make sure, get your lab levels checked as it could be anything. Bennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 I have a friend who has had bad leg cramps all her adult life, who just found some pills from the acupuncturist that work. They are a homeopathic remedy called Cal_Mag and you dissolve them under the tongue. She's tried everything and been tested to the n'th degree. These work. " Sweet Goat Mama " Carolyn Eddy www.goattracksmagazine.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 Many will tell you to eat more bananas, many will tell you to have your labs checked, many will tell you to exercise more, some will tell you it is a potassium deficency, and even more people will tell you everyone suffers so just bear with it and soon you will get used to it. None of that advice helped me at all. I am now into my 6th year of the problem. I have them so bad that I now have permanent indentations in my legs and feet where the cramping is. They are so bad the docs say they are not cramps but spasms. I do take Baclofen for them a fairly large dosage, which does help, but I still have them every night. What to do is to do anything that will help you. Every one is different. Y ou must find what works best for you. For me it is Baclofen, potassium pills as well as bananas, baked potatoes, and leg exercises. For others it might be something else. Dehydration does play a very important role in how severe they are so make sure you drink plenty of water. Gwen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 Hi Becky If the cramps continue, please see your doctor for a check up. Like many people have mentioned, it could be caused by a number of things. Good luck, and leg us know how you are doing. Kaylene Moderator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 Thanks everyone for all the ideas. I will begin trying some of them to see if I can avoid having these leg cramps. My one from 2 days ago is still bothering me and making it hard to walk. But at least now I have an idea where to start so thanks again. Becky in Illinis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 --- " heldings@... " wrote: > > I have just begun to have leg muscle cramps that wake me up at night. Is there anything I can do to prevent these? > It depends on the source of them. Definitely have your bloodwork drawn and checked if you haven't lately - it's something we all should do who take medications regularly. Let your doctor rule out some sort of imbalance or nutritional deficiency. If the spasms are because of nerve damage, the very best thing I have found for them is stretching. Serious, heavy duty, multiple times a day, stretches. Your physical therapist should be able to show you appropriate stretches. I have significant spinal cord and nerve damage. If I miss even one day of stretching, I get horrific hamstring and calf muscle and foot cramps, particularly at night. The good news is that there's a simple solution that doesn't involve any drugs! But again, get your doctor to help you isolate the cause. Cheryl in AZ Moderator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 Cheryl in AZ wrote: > > I have significant spinal cord and nerve damage. If I miss even one > day of stretching, I get horrific hamstring and calf muscle and foot > cramps, particularly at night. The good news is that there's a > simple solution that doesn't involve any drugs! Cheryl, I agree, my calves get so tight and if I do not do my home program with stretches , they just wind right back up. Pain patients have to always have a multi approach program to include nutritiion,medication, physical therapy or exercise program, and the self actualization (some it is faith, some self realization, biofeedback) type of support. Bennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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