Leg Cramp are more frequent

[peterbrixey750]

Hi I been getting leg cramps more frequently like 8 times last 2 months... To some it is called chalrley horse, to me just annoying and painful...The lastr one was when i woke up this morning, but this one was not as sewvere....Still quite painfull none the least.... I dont know  what to do...I drink milk for vitamin d , eat babanas for porasion, but notjing works.... I dont got money or insurance to see a doctor.. I am not liking this one bit...the frequency is getting worsr, before this it was like once every couple of years.. I dony drink or smoke or drugs....

Can anyh one give me any tips to combat this problem???

thank you

[peterbrixey750]

Thank you now i have to get my sister in law ro buy some gatorade in the cotainer from Cost co,,,cheaper like 5 bucks a large container,,, I got the money to give ger, I will try it thank you very much for the advice

[Tuckamore]

You might want to try drinking some of the electrolyte replacement drinks that are on the market. There are many of them. This will tell you if your problem is related to hydration and/or electrolytes. It's an inexpensive beginning point.

Recently I experienced the same "cramps."  It was my son who said he had the same and a bottle of an electrolyte replacement stopped his Charley Horses. I felt pretty stupid when his "remedy" helped, especially after a trip to my PCP that offered no great suggestions other then to increase my water intake.  

I live in a cooler climate and avoid the sun.... so my problem was not associated with heat or sunlight. Hope this helps.

~Tuck

[peterbrixey750]

Funny I live in Arizona too, I dont get outside so I dont think its from the sun, but I am drinking lots of water..I need vitamins, but I dont know which ones to get, D or what.... I dont got much money so it will be like next pay before I even get my vitamins...

Yes the cramps are painfull and I am afraid to go to bed now..... I just want to wake up pain free..... Everyones dream I know...8 times in 2 months is too much, I can even count on 1 hand how many cramps in my entire life before this recent bout of attacks..... I am still hurting from the last one..

Unfortunatley I got no insurance and no money for a doc right now and my works ins is supplimental and is only availible in November...

So I think I have to look in google as you say and basically troubleshoot the problem... Will take a while or maybe get it first shot I dont know...lets see.......

Well I must be off I got stuff I need to do...

[namnam46]

Hi peter,


First, I want to welcome you to the PM (Pain Management) Forum and let you know that we are glad you found this Forum. We are all CP (Chronic Pain) Patients that help each other with our own expertise and experiences that we have developed through our own CP Issues.

I'm glad to see a fellow Arizonian on the Forum!!  I'm in Anthem. :)  I'm so sorry to hear that you are having problems with frequent leg cramps.  I've suffered from them from time to time, also, and they are extremely painful as you know from first hand experience!! :(

The main thing that I do is be sure that I'm drinking plenty of water.  Doctors recommend that you drink at least 6 to 8 glasses a day to ward off leg cramps..  Here in AZ with our summertime temperatures reaching upwards of 110 degrees this time of year it's pretty easy to be able to do that. LOL

Doctors also recommend that you massage your leg muscles before retiring at night as well as stretching daily both before and after you exercise. The other thing that they recommend to get rid of your leg cramps is to maintain a well-balanced diet. It should consist of foods that are high in calcium milk and cheese, also high in potassium such as  bananas and dates (your already eating bananas which is good) and vitamin E such as spinach and sweet potatoes.  

Hopefully, this will give you an idea of where to start.  If you will google "leg cramps" on your computer, there are many articles that can help you in your search for a solution to your problem.  

If they continue to give you problems, it would be a good idea to go to your Doctor and get a check-up to see if your blood work is "off".  You might need some supplements to help you get it back into check.

I wish your the very best and hope that you will let us know how you are doing.

Good Luck to you.  I'll be looking for your updates............Sherry :)

[Tuckamore]

Hi Peter,

Welcome to our Pain Management Community. I am glad that you found us and took the time to post... but sorry to hear about your leg cramps.

Charley Horses, Muscle Spasms, Leg Cramps, whatever you chose to term them can be very painful. I know as I am afflicted with them also.

Mine are directly related to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. I know this because I have had lab work done to confirm it. Dehydration can also contribute to these nasty painful spasms too. So make sure you are getting adequate hydration, especially in the summer when the sun and heat can rob us of needed electrolytes.

This is from a trusted site, Begin Quote: "It is not known exactly why muscle cramps develop. Insufficient stretching before exercise, exercising in the heat, and muscle fatigue may all play a role in their causation. Imbalances in the levels of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and phosphate) in the blood can also lead to muscle cramps. ...Anyone can develop a muscle cramp but infants, the elderly, the overweight, and athletes are at greatest risk for muscle cramps." End Quote

I hope this helps. As you can see there is no one thing that can cause these cramps. However the certainty is that they are painful. I wish you well and hope that you can find a resolution. I'll look forward to your updates.

Peace,
~Tuck