Muscle Spasm of Inner Thighs

[Leila006]

Last night I performed in a liturgical dance recital (from 7 pm - 8:30 pm.  When I came home, I immediately soaked in a hot tub of water with epsom salt to relieve muscle pain (around 11 pm).  Around 12:30 in the morning, I awoke to (what I think was) a muscle spasm in my right inner thigh near the knee which quickly moved toward the groin area.  As I layed across the bed, I became immobilized by the excruciating pain.  I then began to sweat profusely, feel nauseated, heart racing and felt lightheaded as though I was losing consciousness.  Apparently, I did because when I opened my eyes, I found myself on the floor. The pain began to subside somewhat and just when I thought I was recovering, the entire episode began in my left inner thigh with the identical pattern.  After the final episode, the pain became somewhat manageable.  Any attempt to change the position in the way I was positioned in the bed caused an extremely painful reminder of what I had just experienced.  The entire episode lasted about 30 minutes.  By the time I was able to get to the telephone, most of the symptoms except for the pain had begun to diminish.  I considered calling EMS but with the sym[toms dissipating, I didn't think they would find anything wrong. Does this sound like a typical muscle spasm to you all?  Does this sound like it's related to fibromyalgia and/or rheumatoid? His anyone experienced anything like this?  Does any have any suggestions as to what my next steps should be?  
Thank you.  
Leila

[Goddess33]

I have tried the savella, but after 3 days using only one dose of 15 mgs I became very disoriented and lethargic so I quit taking it.  I have these cramps too, to the point where I can't even stand up without wanting to scream.  Hot compresses help, and I have to make sure I stay hydrated.  I have fibro as well.  Hate these cramps, they hurt beyond description!

[dw135]

Hi Leila, I have experienced these very strange muscle cramps/filbrilations in both my left and right inner thigh.  When it first happened I was sitting on a low sofa, as I braced my leg to get up this horrible ripple up pain started up mu leg.  I grabbed my leg and started moaning.  Thankfully my husband was there.  He told me to to start jogging in place.  Finally, the rippling subsided.  Since then I have at different times experienced this pain.  Usually late at night when I turn over in bed and stretch my leg or legs.  When that happens, I jump as fast as I can out of bed and begin the jog dance. It really is horrible and scary.  I have never passed out. I jump up as fast as I can and get moving.  Although this continues to occur, I make sure that I drink lots of water and eat bananas daily, cut back on coffee and other types of fluids, as long as I do those, I don't experience there bizarre muscle spasms in my inner thigh.  I am glad you posted because I had never heard of this type of pain in the inner thigh.  maggie

[Leila006]

I went to my Pain Management doctor today.  After listening to my entire story and looking at all of my blood work, he concluded that I have a "connective tissue disorder".  Which one, he's not able to pinpoint. (My Urea Nitrogen is high/Creatine is low/ AST & ALT are high/ C3 & C4 are very high/ CRP is high/ Rheumatoid Factor & ANA are in normal range).  He said that some of these abnormal blood tests could have factored into me  the pain I experienced and my fainting episode on Sunday.  He's especially concerned about the abnormal liver enzymes (could be a result of the Methotrexate) and wants that to be investigated further.  I know I have a cyst on my liver that has doubled in size since it was first discovered several years ago.  

Dr. says he may never have a name for what is wrong with me; could be Fibro, RA, Lupus, etc....... What he does know is that it's time to treat the symptoms because I'm getting worse without treatment.  He's gave me a starter pack of "Savella".  He said to take it at night only for the next five days with food to reduce the possibilities of side effects and if it doesn't bother me I can add the am dose.

Has anyone tried this medication before or know someone who has tried it?  What were your/their experiences? Dr. felt that placqueneil had too many side effects.

Well, here it goes; say a prayer for me. I will keep in touch.
Leila

[dustybrown]

You know I didn't even think about the dehydration aspect. Drinking a lot of fluids is very important when you are exercising.

Another thing I just thought of...I used to get muscle cramps really bad from dehydration, plus I also have trouble with low potassium levels. I have to take a potassium supplement every day to keep my levels even close to being at the bottom end of normal. If I miss my potassium pill, I sometimes get muscle cramps and even heart palpitations. One time I was rushed to the hospital because I suffered a bout of atrial fibrillation and all they found was that my potassium was low and I was a bit dehydrated. My father is the same way with his heart. Very strange.

Anyhow, I thought I'd mention it since kmil1999 was smart in identifying it.

[Leila006]

Thank you all for your responses.  Unfortunately, my doctor is out of town.  His wife returned my calls (she's a doctor too) but she really is not familiar withy my history.  She asked me if I had any more painful episodes or had I fainted again?  I told her no.  She asked how did I feel now?  I told her, I did not feel as bad as I did yesterday but still weak and in some pain.  Her medical advice was to drink plenty of water because I was most likely dehydrated and make an appt with my doctor when he has an opening.  I wasn't exactly pleased with that response but I have no energy to fight "city hall" right now.  I have an appt with my pain managaement doctor tomorrow so I will run it by him and see what he says.  P.S. I'm not a vegetarian - Love chicken and steak too much!! Lol!

Thank you again

[droopy56]

Are you by any chance a vegetarian? A friend of mine went through just about the same thing you did after he stopped eating meat. He spent an afternoon in his garden under a hot sun, the climbed into a hot shower. The next thing he remembers is waking up on his bathroom floor several minutes later. His doctor explained it, but I don't remember exactly what it was (that's my fibro memory loss at work), so I won't go into it. Anyway, it was a direct result of exertion, the heat and being a vegetarian. No matter what, I strongly urge you to tell your doctor of this incident. Losing consciousness is nothing to shrug off.

[kmil1999]

Is it possible that you may have been dehydrated do to the performance?  Dehydration could cause you to have muscle spasms.

My doctor has recommended the Epsom salt bath for muscle pain too.  But just trying to think through it, could it also draw more fluid out do to the salt concentration of the bath?  

I know my hot tub saves me a lot.  Maybe the exertion of the recital plus the bath caused a severe dehydration leading to the muscle spasms.  

I agree with Dusty.  You should run it by your GP to be safe.

Hope you are feeling better and don’t experience that again!
K

[dustybrown]

Hello,
Losing consciousness must have been very scary for you! I strongly suggest contacting your doctor about this situation you have encountered- at least to get his/her feedback on it since you decided against going to the ER. Fibromyalgia can cause so many different pain symptoms. It's hard to pinpoint a reason why you would have lost a half hour of consciousness though.

For me I have a difficult time with hot baths or hot tubs in general and I can't tolerate them for long. I have low blood pressure, I get dizzy, and have come very close to passing out spending time in hot tubs, so perhaps that is the cause behind your episode?

If I go to health clubs, or if my husband and I go on vacations and the hotels have hot tubs where the temperature are above 102 degrees Fahrenheit, I usually have to have him help me out and we can't spent more than a few minutes in there. Perhaps maybe your bath was too hot and you just spent too much time in it?  

Just an aside, I know it's really hard to differentiate between the two diseases you have- RA and FMS. Think of it in terms of this: RA causes a lot of inflammation of your joints and tendons, which causes pain; and FMS causes pain and soreness in your muscles and tendons. In some people FMS also causes fatigue (CFS) and insomnia. There are also a whole array of other symptoms you could have with FMS and RA, but these are the basics. Your symptoms are intermingled so far together that it is very difficult to say your issues are from one disorder or the other specifically.

Your best course of action is to identify your top most debilitating symptoms with your doctor. Then find the right mix of exercise (which it sounds like you are doing from your dancing) and medications. Are you seeing a Rheumatologist who is well versed in RA and FMS?