Anyone Else Get Painful Cramps In Legs?

[Gebe]

I’m 74 and in the past 6 months or so, I’ve had very, very painful toe, shin, ankle and leg cramps. Some are mild and some are so painful, I yell out in pain!

I am taking magnesium and potassium supplements, taking quinine and even eat a banana every day. Nothing seems to work.

I’m tired of waking up in the middle of the night and jumping up in pain with all these cramps. Do any of you that have suffered like I am have any recommendations that I might try to alleviate these damn things?

I know, when you get older you just have to put up with getting older but damn, this has me stumped and I’m sick and tired of these damn cramps.Thanks.

 

[arjay]

Are you taking statins?

 

[AzShooter]

I've been using a cream call Blue Emu and it really helps keep the pain level down in my legs. I suffer from neuropathy and some nights I just can't get to sleep before I put the cream on.

Another one iscalled Capsaichin Cream. I get this from the VA. It's an intense pepper cream and really heats up my legs but the pain goes away faster than it does with Blue Emu.

You can get Emu on Amazon.

 

[Goldstar225]

I started having severe night time leg cramps after I started using statins, often waking up 5-6 times a night and having to walk the cramps out. I too started using magnesium and potassium supplements with limited success.

My Dr. had me start taking CoQ10 supplement. After being on it for about three weeks I had a dramatic reduction in cramps, often going several nights in a row cramp free. On occasion I'll have 1-3 events a night. I take the 200 Mg dose daily.

 

[BARgunner]

I used to get severe cramps in my legs (calf's, shins, thighs, etc.). So bad that I had sore muscles for a couple of days. I suffered with cramps for at least twenty years and I've tried all the stuff you've mentioned without any success. About six years ago I read an article about a leg cramp study at some major university and their conclusion was that vinegar helps relieve and prevent leg cramps. I started taking apple cider vinegar right before bedtime and within a couple of weeks, I was cramp free at night. I take 2 tablespoons mixed with V8 or tomato juice.
Most colleges and NFL teams keep a vinegar product on hand to relieve cramping marketed as pickle juice. Just Google pickle juice for cramps. I know several people who take vinegar for cramps with good success but you have to give it a little time to start working. I also know a few people that take a tablespoon when they get a cramp and they tell me the cramp will subside within a minute of taking it.
I know what you're going through and hope you'll give vinegar a try. Good luck!

 

[paplinker]

Well I have been suffering from the same thing for most of my adult life.

I am a tree trimmer and I sweat profusely at certain times of the year which really sets me off late at night.

Tried all the things you listed to no avail.

Finally I worked with a reflexologist who worked exclusively with weight lifters. He said take 500mg of NATURAL vitiman E every day and in a month you should start seeing results.

Well he was very right!! I took it for years,naturalE is harder to find but absorbs in the body more than synthetic E

Personally I hate taking pills so ten or so years later I quit taking pills and well it came back same as before. I still deal with it but have come up with other ways to MOSTLY keep it at bay.

Pickles are a great way to take in some salt and does really help. Its not the best for blood pressure though,a couple hours before bed I eat a few wedges if its been a rough day.

Also if I add a bottle of gatorade to my work water jug it helps too. Might even drive a bottle after dinner.

Natural Vitamin E works the best and my doctor cleared that taking that much is not harmful at all to my health

 

[Kinman]

I've been told its a curse for being tall. I've had them for years. My mom told me to put a bar of Irish Spring at the foot of the bed...Right....I even get them while sitting watching the tube. If they are severe the best immediate relief is quinine, used to be you could get the tablets over the counter. Now you need to drink tonic water, its amazing how fast it works. Another way is to increase your Calcium/Magnesium, I drink a mix every night before bedtime, its called CALM. You need to watch your dosage because too much will give you the trots, just the right amount for me is around a helping tablespoon in a large glass of water with the rest of my evening meds. Stay away from stuff that robs your magnesium, I was told to stay away from black licorice (there is no other kind). I rarely get them anymore, since I started using CALM nightly. I'm 71 and just beginning to really feel my age, the muscle depletion is amazing.

 

[Igiveup]

I'm also from the State of Jefferson. I thought the cause was something in the air. Actually, like Goldstar 225, the cramps disappeard, mostly, after taking CoQ10. It offsets something the statins cause. Also drink plenty of water during the day, especially if you are doing a lot of extra leg exertion.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Had same pain as you. Tried a bunch of different things like have been mentioned.
Finally went to orthopedic surgeon, who prescribed physical therapy, which made it worse. Got an MRI which showed a new bone called Accessory Navicular had grown in my foot, and it was grinding through tendons.
Surgery removed the bone and grafted the destroyed tendon to another tendon. Pain is gone, but more than a year later, I'm still getting physical therapy for walking problems, and now need to use a cane.


Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[65Whelen]

Pickle juice, a glass of it. I know it sounds weird but my brother in law swears by it. He'd get severe cramps and drinking pickle juice, one of the few things that helped. No joke, I know it can be a real problem.

 

[Nightowl]

I used to have some leg cramps in in calves and thighs and sometimes in my feet, usually left leg, but not always. After the heart attack and stent installed, I have had only two mild cramps in 4 years. As stated, lots of other causes, but just throwing this out to consider the possibilities. Good luck, I know how annoying they can be! And painful!

 

[Golddollar]

I would get sporadic cramps in the right thigh. My brother tracked down a TEMS machine for me and I keep it by my recliner and take it with me on trips. It has been a blessing for relieving the cramps.

 

[schwantz]

You also might want to ask your physician to check your iron levels as occasionally this can be the culprit.

 

[PeterJ]

Try Hylands Leg Cramp pills,,, they have them at Walmart.

 

[kozmic]

I get various leg cramps quite often. They can be wickedly painful. Some I can rub or stretch out. If not, I take 2 XS Tylenol and hobble to a hot shower. Within a few minutes the cramp is gone and doesn't return. That process tends to work for me better than any balm or muscle relaxer pills I've tried.

 

[OLDSTER]

Magnesium supplements and tonic water has greatly helped me.

 

[Telecaster]

I get mild cramps in the calf muscle occasionally at night. I’ve heard of using pickle juice or quinine (tonic water) but haven’t tried it yet.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I always thought that it was dehydration, or some missing electrolyte, but what I think doesn't matter, because I don't know or understand much of anything medical. What I do know is that when I got diagnosed with diabetes and started following a proper diabetic diet and taking a minimal amount of Metformin, the cramps went away. The only time I have cramps now is when I overindulge in carbohydrates. They may be exacerbated by dehydration, but I'm not sure about that.

Simple observation in my case - improperly handled diabetes. Check it out, if you haven't already done so.

 

[Ignatz]

I've been having calf cramps for so many years that I learned to sleep with my feet at a 90 degree standing position. Calf cramps are wild if they fly in at night.
About a year and a half ago, after a 5 mile walk, a lump formed at the back of my knee that was so bad I couldn't walk. After X-Ray's and an ultra sound, they said I had a Baker Cyst and would need to see an Orthopedic surgeon.
After an MRI with him, he said a torn Meniscus was causing the Baker Cyst, so I went through the surgery July 2021, a year ago.
I had much better movement with my knee for walking, but the knee, calf and ankle were still swollen. And the Baker Cyst was as big as ever.
After months of Motrin, Cortizone shots and Advil, nothing made the swelling go away.
This January 2022, I did a difficult hike thru culverts under railroad tracks that agrivated the Baker Cyst so bad that my walking/hiking completly stopped.
A trip back to the Orthopedic surgeon and he said that there was no more he could do. I left the office speechless.
I decided to seek another opinion and set up an appointment with the Hershey Medical Center. It took 4 months just to see this doctor. He agreed that my knee, calf and ankle were swollen due to the large Baker Cyst, so another MRI was ordered.
The guy looking at the MRI results said the Meniscus looked fine, but the swelling in the knee looked similar to someone who has Lyme Disease.
When the doctors office called back and said I needed blood work, I argued, but gave in to getting blood work.
After my initial results tested (positive or abnormal) for Lyme Disease, they do this Western Blot test. That lit up like a Christmas tree that I had Lyme Disease.
I had to take antibiotics for 30 days, but could see the swelling start to go down in 3 days. They found the root of the problem and at 67 years old, I'm back to walking 4-8 miles daily.

Now for the leg cramps. I have no issues with leg cramps and sleeping after my antibiotics treatment for Lyme Disease. I don't even think about cramps now.
Every morning I use to sneeze and blow my nose excessively for years and years.
Now I don't blow my nose in the morning needing 10 tissues. Maybe one time like a normal person.
My shoulders use to ache, now they don't.
I could have had Lyme Disease for 5-10 years and never knew it.
I still have the Baker Cyst but its calmed down and not visible. Both legs look similar, so the swelling is calmed down too.
My Baker Cyst could still cause problems and they will address it if that flares up again. Also if my knee, calf and ankle swell up again, I might have to go through another round of antibiotics for the Lyme Disease.

 

[dockmurgw]

I will get them after a day of intense physical work. Excruciating. I keep a prescription of Cyclobenzaprine on hand and take one before the cramps set in... works like a charm for me, never get a cramp if I take it.