Re: muscle cramps -- was frustrated - not sure what to do

[Guest guest]

Sometimes it isn't enough to eat foods high in the minerals (and other nutrients) our bodies require to function. Malabsorption is common to those with digestive disorders. And our bodies can develop other conditions that trigger muscle cramps.

Usually supplementing extra magnesium and potassium and calcium can help with muscle cramps. How much our bodies need of each of these three minerals varies, so you have to try supplementing small amounts at first until you feel improvement.

For example, I need a lot more magnesium than potassium, and only a small amount of calcium. But I need to supplement all three in order to keep my muscles working relatively normally, and not cramp all the time. I started off slowly adding each one until I started getting side-effects, then I cut back a bit. Now I've worked out the amount of each of these minerals I need to help keep my feet and legs and arms from cramping frequently. My body tolerates the mineral supplementation better when it's mixed in water, so I make my own electrolyte drink, plus I also use ELyte at times.

I eat well; been on SCD for 5 years. My gut ecology has been restored, yet I still have chronic muscle cramps because I have malabsorption problems, along with some neurological deterioration which adds another layer of difficulty. Muscle cramps are just one of the chronic neuromuscular conditions I have to deal with, despite eating healthy. Sometimes our bodies just can't process the nutrients that are available to it.

Kim M.

SCD 5 years

>>>>>>>>>

Thank you. The SCDiet has really improved my blood sugar problems, but I stilll get foot cramps and can't figure out what causes them. I eat 2 eggs everyday (magnesium) plus the yogurt, which I think has helped a lot with the leg cramps. I have osteoporosis as a result of years of malabsorption.Thanks for the info. I will stay with the diet and maybe it will all vanish!

[Guest guest]

re cramps,

dont forget that our bodies need salt.

it help a lot to have salt( in moderate amounts) every day. This also

helps with our ability to absorb water, not just to have it flush down

the loo.

There are salt sprays available through naturopaths, you dont have to

add it to your food if you dont want.

jena

> Sometimes it isn't enough to eat foods high in the minerals (and other

> nutrients) our bodies require to function. Malabsorption is common to those

> with digestive disorders. And our bodies can develop other conditions that

> trigger muscle cramps.

>

> Usually supplementing extra magnesium and potassium and calcium can help

> with muscle cramps. How much our bodies need of each of these three

> minerals varies, so you have to try supplementing small amounts at first

> until you feel improvement.

>

> For example, I need a lot more magnesium than potassium, and only a small

> amount of calcium. But I need to supplement all three in order to keep my

> muscles working relatively normally, and not cramp all the time. I started

> off slowly adding each one until I started getting side-effects, then I cut

> back a bit. Now I've worked out the amount of each of these minerals I need

> to help keep my feet and legs and arms from cramping frequently. My body

> tolerates the mineral supplementation better when it's mixed in water, so I

> make my own electrolyte drink, plus I also use ELyte at times.

>

> I eat well; been on SCD for 5 years. My gut ecology has been restored, yet

> I still have chronic muscle cramps because I have malabsorption problems,

> along with some neurological deterioration which adds another layer of

> difficulty. Muscle cramps are just one of the chronic neuromuscular

> conditions I have to deal with, despite eating healthy. Sometimes our

> bodies just can't process the nutrients that are available to it.

>

> Kim M.

> SCD 5 years

>

>

>>>>>>>>>>

> Thank you. The SCDiet has really improved my blood sugar problems, but I

> stilll get foot cramps and can't figure out what causes them. I eat 2 eggs

> everyday (magnesium) plus the yogurt, which I think has helped a lot with

> the leg cramps. I have osteoporosis as a result of years of malabsorption.

>

> Thanks for the info. I will stay with the diet and maybe it will all vanish!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, malabsorbtion issues seem to be the root of my chronic muscle

cramps as well...even when I drink plenty of water (essential!) and I

add my trace mineral drops (I've found these to be very helpful,) and

I am taking enough of all the other minerals I am supposed to, I can

still have these cramps. For me, this is how my disease is

manifesting right now, so when there's a flare, it's one of the first

symptoms to appear.

That said, the only thing I have found to be truly helpful is

homeopathy -- there have been times when I was in the middle of a

terrible cramp, took my remedy, and not only did the cramp go away,

but no other tension or cramping for the rest of the night or

following days (my cramps tend to worsen throughout the night.)

I can't recommend a remedy because the traditional remedy for muscle

cramps (copper) isn't what I use (and it never worked for me in the

past.) I work closely with a classically trained homeopath who has

prescribed a constitutional remedy based on my body/emotional make-up.

Yes, homeopathy is expensive and can take a long time to see a

difference, and finding someone who truly knows how to use homeopathy

can be evasive (I've had other homeopaths who never were able to

pinpoint the exact remedy I needed,) but it really works...I know

because I've seen it work for me and my family again and again.

I hope you are able to find something to help relieve your cramps --

also, I find applying moist heat to my lower legs at night when I feel

that crampy feeling helps. At the worst times, I even slept sitting

on the couch, keeping my feet down low. It's been so bad before I

have ended up in the emergency room on a morphine drip to control it

as it had become so unbearable and so pervasive with cramps throughout

my entire body...so I know how terrible it can be.

SCD on and off 2.5 yrs

CD 25+ yrs, ileostomy 3 yrs.

no meds, using homeopathy and SCD to heal

Mom to (27 mos), SCD since 2/08, due to multiple food

intolerances, (starting to introduce non-SCD foods slowly)