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Anyone here get foot and leg cramps at night...

Deputy Dan said:
All you guys with your "get up and mix some tonic and Suny D" or "drink pickle Juice" ain't got my cramps! I don't get them often, but when I do (cue the Dos Equis guy) my body goes into freeze mode; I can't move and try to just straighten out the leg slowly when I know that if I could just jump out of bed and put pressure on the ball of my foot it would probably go away. But my mind just seems to say, "don't be stupid - moving might make it worse!" After what seems like hours but is probably 30 seconds, it subsides and I wipe away the tears and hope I didn't let out the scream I heard in my mind. Wife probably couldn't hear it anyway (I have to shake her in the morning when her alarm goes off!). Fortunately I only get one per night, but if I get it I'll still have a knot in my leg in the morning.

I get ALL the labs regularly (trying to sort out some thyroid and A1C issues) so most everything is within the acceptable ranges. Eat a banana at least five mornings a week, do pretty well at getting a minimum of half gallon of water each day in addition to coffee or other libations. Best I can tell it's electrolytes - too much water and not enough potassium and sodium to replace what I might lose to sweat during the day. I had water poisoning once (yep - too much water, cells swell up and body started to go into shock!) so I TRY to remember to drink a lot of Gatorade or my home-brew electrolyte solution. But my leg will likely let me know if I didn't do a good enough job of remembering.

Seems what goes around, comes around - I had what my mom called "growing pain" cramps in my legs when I was about 10 or 12. Here I am nearly 60 years later and they're back.
Click to expand...

If you want to know what REAL cramps are, go to dialysis and have to them draw to much fluid or draw it too fast. That's 5-10 minutes of the most intense cramps anyone will ever have. Realizing also that your arm is connected to IV tubes so you can't get up and walk them off.

All the tech do is lower your legs and watch you while you're in pain. Lots of fun.
 
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Rthur said:
Oh fuck, just wait.
Do you have restless leg syndrome?
I used to move my feet/rub them together all night.


R
Click to expand...
I have that and I'll be 55 this year. I need to do more stretches for sciatic muscles and will sometimes take Restful Legs PM that helps...sometimes. Wiggly foot is my symptom. What have you done to help that?
 
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True, tonic has quinine but at a very small amount. If you find real tonic with quinine it likely has about 40mg of quinine in a 16oz bottle - the usual dose for leg cramps was around 300mg at bedtime.

Having aid that, my mother used to have horrible leg cramps at night and tried all kinds of things. She started trying tonic water and it definitely helped. What also helped was:

1618709778716.jpeg


That's a study of one person, so your mileage may vary.
 
SilentStalkr said:
Any of y’all have foot and leg cramps at night? I don’t know what’s going on. Docs say all is fine but it’s getting old. Wake up almost every hour at night now with my damn feet curled like damn eagle claws or something. Anyone got any ideas?
Click to expand...
I get them, usually when banging the wife. Dehydration.
 
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Pickle juice...yeah used fo do that way back in the young days. Can’t handle it anymore. Mustard on the tongue works wonders to. Yes just straight up mustard.
 
johnnycat said:
Yep - cheap and seems to be effective so it's unavailable! That's why I said "If you could get some" and not "go get some" 😁
Click to expand...

My late mother, could tell you all about taking quinine. Cheap and effective for lots of stuff. Ruled "dangerous" by the Feds.
I'm a hobby herbalist.
Yarrow is "dangerous" due to its Thujone constituents, but it'll break hell out of a fever. Growing in yards and woods all over the country.
Foxglove is dangerous as hell, poisonous even....but it contains the constituents for one of the most effective heart medications ever used.
 
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DOA said:
I have that and I'll be 55 this year. I need to do more stretches for sciatic muscles and will sometimes take Restful Legs PM that helps...sometimes. Wiggly foot is my symptom. What have you done to help that?
Click to expand...
Doesn't seem to be as pronounced as it was before.
I think it still happens but not as vigorous as before and the cramps are all but gone.
My outside shins muscles smoke like a bitch when doing my pack workout for the first
Mile or so.
Dunno if it's related though.

R
 
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SilentStalkr said:
Any of y’all have foot and leg cramps at night? I don’t know what’s going on. Docs say all is fine but it’s getting old. Wake up almost every hour at night now with my damn feet curled like damn eagle claws or something. Anyone got any ideas?
Click to expand...

There's a lot of responses, and I haven't read them all...I'm too lazy, but, yes, I get foot and leg cramps at night sometimes. It's usually after I don't drink enough liquids. I'm bad about that. When I start getting them, I'll drink some Gatorade before I go to bed, and that usually takes care of it. But that's just me. I'm not a doctor, I don't play one on TV, and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn last night.
 
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As stated by NorthMan, try Magnesium for the cramps. This is a good source https://clivedecarle.com/product/mag-caps/

Someone also mentioned neurological issues. This may be unrelated to you, but if you take PPI, Protein Pump Inhibitors, they can block your bodies ability to absorb B12 from your food. After three years you body's supply of B12 will be depleted and you will require supplementation to return to an adequate supply. B12 in the form of Methylcobalamin is better than the cyanocobalamin B12. I have heard that hydroxocobalamin may be even better than the methyl version.
 
Northman623 said:
I had this for twenty years til I started taking a lot of magnesium. I take a zinc calcium and magnesium combo pill that controls it 100%.
Click to expand...
This. Everybody in my family has the same issue. I forget the name of the condition, but it is not a big deal. Totally controlled wit magnesium taken at dinner time.
 
Deputy Dan said:
All you guys with your "get up and mix some tonic and Suny D" or "drink pickle Juice" ain't got my cramps! I don't get them often, but when I do (cue the Dos Equis guy) my body goes into freeze mode; I can't move and try to just straighten out the leg slowly when I know that if I could just jump out of bed and put pressure on the ball of my foot it would probably go away. But my mind just seems to say, "don't be stupid - moving might make it worse!" After what seems like hours but is probably 30 seconds, it subsides and I wipe away the tears and hope I didn't let out the scream I heard in my mind. Wife probably couldn't hear it anyway (I have to shake her in the morning when her alarm goes off!). Fortunately I only get one per night, but if I get it I'll still have a knot in my leg in the morning.

I get ALL the labs regularly (trying to sort out some thyroid and A1C issues) so most everything is within the acceptable ranges. Eat a banana at least five mornings a week, do pretty well at getting a minimum of half gallon of water each day in addition to coffee or other libations. Best I can tell it's electrolytes - too much water and not enough potassium and sodium to replace what I might lose to sweat during the day. I had water poisoning once (yep - too much water, cells swell up and body started to go into shock!) so I TRY to remember to drink a lot of Gatorade or my home-brew electrolyte solution. But my leg will likely let me know if I didn't do a good enough job of remembering.

Seems what goes around, comes around - I had what my mom called "growing pain" cramps in my legs when I was about 10 or 12. Here I am nearly 60 years later and they're back.
Click to expand...
Sounds, sir, like you are doing all the right things. I get those "OH, F Me!" cramps, maybe, once a month. I usually will get them, when I'm putting on my leg/foot brace (leg position, or, just straightening it out), or, when I'm blasting off a bench (one leg under me for an extended period). Yeah, they suck. Sounds like you might have to see a "Specialist", instead of your regular doc.
Mine don't happen that often, but, if they did, I would seek better help. Good luck! Mac
 
drglock said:
Do you take meds for cholesterol ?
Lipitor made me have really bad leg cramps at night.
Click to expand...
No sir.
Nomad0001 said:
Are you taking Statin drugs?
Click to expand...
Negative.
statie07 said:
As stated by NorthMan, try Magnesium for the cramps. This is a good source https://clivedecarle.com/product/mag-caps/

Someone also mentioned neurological issues. This may be unrelated to you, but if you take PPI, Protein Pump Inhibitors, they can block your bodies ability to absorb B12 from your food. After three years you body's supply of B12 will be depleted and you will require supplementation to return to an adequate supply. B12 in the form of Methylcobalamin is better than the cyanocobalamin B12. I have heard that hydroxocobalamin may be even better than the methyl version.
Click to expand...
I do take Pantaprazole for Gerds. Interesting. I’m also supposed to take crap for ulcerative colitis but am not good at it. Calling the doc Monday to see about getting some specific tests done, if they haven’t been already. Just had bloodwork done a couple months ago. You’d think if they seen something they would have said something. Kind of sad you have to be your own doc these days. Talking to you guys has brought up some things I’ve never thought of.
 
Last edited:
johnnycat said:
True, tonic has quinine but at a very small amount. If you find real tonic with quinine it likely has about 40mg of quinine in a 16oz bottle - the usual dose for leg cramps was around 300mg at bedtime.

Having aid that, my mother used to have horrible leg cramps at night and tried all kinds of things. She started trying tonic water and it definitely helped. What also helped was:

View attachment 7606682

That's a study of one person, so your mileage may vary.
Click to expand...
I take Hylands Restful Legs PM so that's kind of a study of 2 people. I'll have to compare ingredients.
 
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I get severe leg cramps at night. Have for years. I take magnesium and believe it helps, but to get the cramps under control I drink pickle juice when it wakes me up at night.
 
About a week ago I went to sit my fatass back in my gaming chair and while sitting down, my right knee cracked in a way it's never done before and has been sore ever since. It's not ungodly pain or anything like that, it's just that it's there and it's annoying. Good excuse to buy a new percussion massager at least and been using it every night and LOVE IT! On my bad knee that is....... :cool:
 
Don't drink booze for 72hrs, and as minimal salt as possible for 72hrs, get a blood test specifically for iron. Bet it's high as a kite. If that's it, ask for a genetic test for hemochromatosis.
 
For me, it's usually hydration or an electrolyte issue. I try not to eat much processed food so I don't get much sodium in my diet other than what I add cooking. sometimes I add a little pink Himalayan salt to my water, just enough so it's barely noticeable. Potassium and Magnesium are the other two that will help me. Potassium and magnesium pills are relatively cheap. I read once that chelated magnesium was the better type because it is more readily absorbed. Go easy on the magnesium as it will tend to give you loose stools.

Also, for the plantar fasciitis, get yourself a lacrosse ball or something similarly hard, but a little grippy and put it on the floor. Put your foot on the ball and roll it all around the bottom of your foot from the heel to the toes with as much pressure as you can stand. Trust me, it won't be much at first and it is pretty uncomfortable, but it is great for stretching out that muscle and over a few days, you should see a dramatic reduction in the pain. This has help me a lot and I've told a few friends and they have had similar results. My son played D1 and minor league baseball and worked with a world class strength and conditioning coach who was a huge proponent of the lacrosse ball and a foam roller as opposed to static stretching. All about muscle pliability. He gave me this tip for plantar fasciitis.
 
[QUOTE="SilentStalkr,

I do take Pantaprazole for Gerds. Interesting. I’m also supposed to take crap for ulcerative colitis but am not good at it. Calling the doc Monday to see about getting some specific tests done, if they haven’t been already. Just had bloodwork done a couple months ago. You’d think if they seen something they would have said something. Kind of sad you have to be your own doc these days. Talking to you guys has brought up some things I’ve never thought of.
[/QUOTE]

I have found that the regular blood test run by your doc for a yearly visit doesn’t include a vitamin panel. You have to request that in addition to the regular stuff they test for. I would put money on it that your B12 levels are low. When you get the results back ask if you could get b12 shots for a while to get the levels up quickly. (Most people are magnesium deficient as well)

I had a friend that went though this and it took a long time for numerous doctors and specialists to figure out it was the Gerd meds that were depleting his b12 levels.
 
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Also, if you just got the Johnson and Johnson Covid 19 vaccine, it is causing severe cramps and blood clots in many peoples legs.
 
As a doctor, I would suggest you ignore the internet doctors and go to one with a real degree. If your current one says "nothing to worry bout" get a new one, as obviously you are worried about it. (I am not a medical doctor, but I know mine has kept that fat ass rollin for years, so they kinda know their stuff).
 
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LaCrosse ball or tennis ball and roll your foot on it. Not fun but it helps.

Take a pillow and fold it in half then tie it like that so it stays. Slide under your blankets to the foot of your bed and pull your cover corners out from between mattress and box spring. With tight corners and no pillow it makes your feet point and induces cramps in your feet and calves. I told the wife to start doing this and she wouldn’t listen until a PT told her the same thing. Now we don’t have foot issues and she doesn’t have calf cramps.

These are the 2 easiest and cheapest things to try before throwing Dr.s at your problem.
 
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drglock said:
Do you take meds for cholesterol ?
Lipitor made me have really bad leg cramps at night.
Click to expand...
Bingo ! Lipitor, Crestor and the rest of the "statin" group of cholesterol lowering meds cause muscle cramps and then deteriorating muscles. Don't believe Pfizer's target number for the perfect level of cholesterol in the human body. A body needs more cholesterol than Pfizer's numbers.
 
SilentStalkr said:
m also supposed to take crap for ulcerative colitis but am not good at it.
Click to expand...

Fwiw, I've had UC for almost 25 years and the only time I've ever had really bad leg cramps at night while sleeping is while taking prednisone for a flare up. Every damn time. Taper off and they go away.
 
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jbell74 said:
Fwiw, I've had UC for almost 25 years and the only time I've ever had really bad leg cramps at night while sleeping is while taking prednisone for a flare up. Every damn time. Taper off and they go away.
Click to expand...
Interesting! Glad I’m not the only one with UC round here. What do you normally take for your UC? I’ve never had an issue of them with steroids. I’m not convinced my UC is under control but the thing is the crap they put you on to control it causes it’s on set of problems that they don’t tell you about.
 
SilentStalkr said:
Interesting! Glad I’m not the only one with UC round here. What do you normally take for your UC? I’ve never had an issue of them with steroids. I’m not convinced my UC is under control but the thing is the crap they put you on to control it causes it’s on set of problems that they don’t tell you about.
Click to expand...
Took azathioprine and imuran for years after being diagnosed.. started the imuran after going to the Mayo Clinic and it's what really seemed to do the trick... found myself without health insurance for a short time about 12 years ago and discovered the azo was about $850/month at the time and the imuran was like $75/month. Found out the Imuran alone was enough... as long as I took it religiously.
 
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jbell74 said:
Took azathioprine and imuran for years after being diagnosed.. started the imuran after going to the Mayo Clinic and it's what really seemed to do the trick... found myself without health insurance for a short time about 12 years ago and discovered the azo was about $850/month at the time and the imuran was like $75/month. Found out the Imuran alone was enough... as long as I took it religiously.
Click to expand...
Interesting. My doc has had me on colazol for years! And if you read about it you’d know why I’m concerned about longterm effects. Seems like as long as it’s in remission then I should be on something like Imuran myself. But I think my doc is trying to save from having to take immuno suppressants until I absolutely have to. Probably why he is keeping me on colazol but none of these meds are kind to the body. Ugh
 
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