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529159 tn?1224991026

Severe Muscle Cramps from Fibro?

I have had Fibromyalgia and CFS for 20 years.  Has anyone had any problems with SEVERE muscle cramps and is it from the Fibro?  Mine always hit the inside thigh muscle and are as bad as labor pains.  They actually build and release just like a contraction.  They are severe enough to make my cry and all I can do is try to stretch them out and put Biofreeze on them.  I can't take many more of these.  Any ideas what this might be coming from?
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Avatar universal
I've had FM most of my adult life (I'm 74) and started having severe leg cramps several times a night about 5 years ago (also often easily triggered cramps during the day in any limb I moved suddenly). Even though I'm still on magnesium, E, D3, thyroid, etc., the cramps continued. A year ago, one of my doctors casually mentioned that, as strange as it might sound, some of her patients found relief by putting a bar of soap in bed with them when they slept. I felt silly even considering this but figured I had nothing to lose. To my extreme delight, doing this immediately cut down on my night-time leg and foot cramps by about 95% and, with the other 5%, the cramps were either milder or began gradually enough that I had time to deal with them before they intensified. Twice over the last two weeks, when I've been rudely awakened by severe leg cramps, I discovered each time that I had forgotten to put the bar of soap under the covers before I went to bed.
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Avatar universal
I have been having cramps since I was a kid. The doctors said it was vitamin k deficiency.So bad in my legs they would bruise from the inside out leaving me writhing. Well here is am 47 a Breast cancer patient but when I mention cramping and wide spread pain. Especially when I work or stand. I'm basically ignored. Now it's all over. Mainly the cancer affected side of my body. The cramping will come on and make me cry. I try to stretch but it remains locked in my ribs,chest,underarm.It also affects my sleep. I think I've been affected with FM since I was very young but am so frightened to go in drugs to control the agony.
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Avatar universal
I was jerking off at my bed 6 times and at the 6th time i had a leg cramp so bad that it didnt go away that quickly i had to fall sleep cus i couldnt get up the pain lasted about one day but it kept goin away but i still feel it in the second day WHAT SHOULD I DO ? IS THIS NORMAL? PLEASE HELP
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Avatar universal
Try Magnesium tablets or powder. My husband suffers from leg cramps and was recently advised to try magnesium powder. He says it's fabulous and deals with the cramps so quickly..
As for fibromyalgia which I have, I have been taking magnesium forte for a few years. As my fibromyalgia is really severe I'm not sure weather it's helpful or not.
Recently meeting with a pain specialist I was advised to take five of these magnesium forte tablets daily. Hopefully this might improve some aspect of fibromyalgia.
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Avatar universal
I have been dealing with widespread pain, fatigue, exhaustion muscles cramps, depression and anxiety for a few years now and was diagnosed with Fibro by my GP last fall. I heard but ignored her diagnosis. Another year of worsening pain and spasms, difficulty even walking and finally went to a rheumatologist who definitively  diagnosed me with Fibro. So now, on top of all the impossible physical symptoms I have Fibro which is an answer but can only be dealt with by taking meds. Gabapentin and zoloft they say, I haven't started them yet because what I've read says they make you spacey and basically lobotomize you. Great, so if I take them now I'm going to lose whatever little cognitive ability I have left.  I am feeling like my life is getting to be impossible to live. Very sad about it all.
So now these muscles cramps after a day of walking or working are so bad that all I can do is lay still and wait for them to go away. Even taking a hot bath hurts and may make the cramps worse. Anyone taking gabapentin and zoloft? Do they really help?  HELP!
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Avatar universal
I have pain when I sit and down my thighs.  Is this part of fibro?  I have that and myofascial pain.
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Avatar universal
I've also had fibromyalgia for17 years and yes I get really bad muscle spasms and cramps in my calves and in my hands, neck an shoulder, and my feet as well. It's very painful and can bring tears to your eyes.I've tried everything from heat and cold as well, nothing seems to help.I've tried alot of creams as well, the one that some what helped was capsacin but i can no longer use it because I have exteremly sensitive skin. If you don't have sensitive skin, give capsacin a try, it may help you out.A fair warning though, once you put it on you can't wash it back off because it just heats right back up again, you have to wait for it to ware off!! Also be careful and don't get it near your eyes i too learned that the hard way!! Good luck and I hope this will help you!!!
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1378309 tn?1551270038
I found out I was very low on vitamin D. When researching vitamin D I found out most of the people that have fibromyalgia are low because of not enough time in the sun due to fatigue and pain. It has a lot of the same symptoms of fibro. There is a test which is called the 25 OH test for vitamin d. My number was 12.5 which is very low and in deficiency. I am trying to get it built back up. I have found out it will also cause depression, fatigue, and muscle with joint pain. So it is a good idea if you are in a constant flare to check your vitamin d levels.
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Avatar universal
I'm 60 had Fibro 20 years suffer sever cramps too tried lots of things already suggested but one thing helps me during acute attack is a teaspoon of Himalayan pink salt in glass of water. Was given it at friends house when having episode and worked really quickly within 3 mins. A bit expensive but does work
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I, too, have had fibro for years...most of them not having a clue what was going on. Allergies and food have been mentioned. I suggest checking into msg as the cause of amped-up pain, as an excess of glutamate (Not glucose!) stimulates nerve action...something we don't need! Excellent sources are: msgmyth.com and msgtruth.org.

I find placing an extra blanket over my feet and legs can lessen severity of cramps. I also use a long-handled electric vibrator applied to spasms nightly when awaken with pain. I see an herbalist on a regular basis, taking herbs as prescribed, as I don't tolerate pharmaceuticals at all well.
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Avatar universal
I get spasms all the time from my fibromyalgia , you might want to discuss it with your doctor, mine gives me lidacain treatments which really help control the spasms, they get dibilatating without the treatments
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9782946 tn?1496047239
Hello to all of you experiencing this terrible pain in inside leg muscles and calf muscles. I read and re read all of the stuff I can... I pinch my pip and bridges of nose I take maganesium and pottassium and Vit E.
I use also a tens unit [ which I rely on| I also stretch all muscles that I can each morning noon and night...
Drinking sodas is the worst thing you can do... No Sodas, or caffeine.

I pray a lot too............. God helps..

Brian
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
People need to be careful with Quinine.  For example if you are prone to psoriasis, Quinine can cause outbreaks, even if you have never had one before.  Take it in a low dosage for a while to see how you handle it.  Speaking from personal experience.
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8283952 tn?1397467006
Do you have allergies ? I live with fibromyalgia for almost 40 years now and had just figured it out when I saw a doctor around 10 years ago. I am now 48 years old and still lives with it despite medications such as lyrica which I stopped because I've been taking a lot of meds already such as Cymbalta and rivotril for the spasms. These 2 really helped with the pain and the spasms and improves sleep . I also take allergy meds as I also have an allergy doctor. I do my own research as well . I strongly believe my fibromyalgia is caused by my allergies especially food and environmental allergens. The allergy causes swelling of my internal epidermal tissues and there is lack of oxygen to the brain. Fibromyalgia then occurs as a result of stressed muscles and lack of oxygen. My allergy and FB is worsened by migraine too and this is the worst of it. There is too much pressure at the back of my neck and spasms over my shoulders, arms, legs... my whole body hurts a lot and I figured out this is a reason why I am so easily stressed and needs a lot of sleep and rest everyday of my life. It is not laziness, folks. It is living with a lifelong  illness that has no cure but can only be managed. If you have this, you are still lucky if you still work and force yourself to be productive. It is a cross I bear and some people who don't have it wonder about why I complain about these things . My suggestion: Avoid allergens and food allergy triggers to avoid the frequency of fibromyalgia , spasms and migraines because there is no cure for allergy and hence, no cure for fibromyalgia . What we do to alleviate our pains are the meds, magnesium,  massage, and other remedies that we find would work when the attacks come. I for one, is still trying to find out more effective pain and spasm remedies to manage this illness. Trust in God because spirituality helps keep us sane despite this illness that has a potential to destroy our psychological and physical well being .
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1137259 tn?1260702350
Has Lyrica helped with Fibro? I get foot cramps too, i have just started on Lyrica but on 25x 2 per day.... Fibro burning sensation. Is my main prob. Thanks
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Avatar universal
Wow I have fm for over ten years now or should I say was diagnosed. My legs cramp and go into awful shapes also. What surprised me is that I too had a childhood with leg pains so severe as you did I thought I was the only one and now I'm wondering if we did indeed have fm all our life and gist worse when we age. I'm from ny and going to try disability brcause I can't do to much anymore
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798555 tn?1292787551
A table top machine about the size of an old rotary table phone. Small electrical current is sent through 2 inch diameter adhesive patches plugged into the main machine, the current is adjustable. Chiros all have these, it calms muscle spasms when applied to the specific area.
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Avatar universal
I hate to be stupid but what is a tens machine?
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Avatar universal
Many people won't believe this but if you are having muscle cramps try Tonic water. It has Quinine in it. This is a old fashion remedy . It works don't laugh. I am 60 years old and have Fibromyalgia . I am on lyrica. It seems to help with the pain but I still have muscle cramps. I also take magnesium . Tonic water will take care of your cramps.
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Avatar universal
I've had problems with muscle cramps---the left side of my neck and the muscle leading down to my shoulder blade has given a lot of problems in the past.   My hands have a tendency to cramp on me sometimes when i am holding a book to read-----I have had carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists, and it helped alot, but I still get pain in my wrists and cramping sometimes.

I take 400 mgs of magnesium every day (blood test were done by my doctor). Magnesium should be taken at a different time of day than calcium, because they compete for absorption.

I think low calcium can also add to muscle cramps.  I take calcium with Vit D and animal fat---doc says especially dairy fat.  He says there is evidence that vit D is absorbed better when accompanied by calcium and animal fat--and that a deficiency of these 3 nutrients is strongly associated with ability to lose weight.

I go to a doctor who used to be a thoracic surgeon, so he is a regular MD---but at some point in time he started studying the endocrine system and how to properly balance it, and now he takes a holistic approach to medicine.

I also use epsom salts a lot in a hot bath when my legs get hurting---I've been able to put off taking pain meds for a couple of hours by doing this.  I think my husband should sell a couple of his guns and buy be a hot tub!!!!

I take soma, too, I know someone mentioned it, I looked it up to see how it works.  It does not actually work on the muscles, it works on the central nervous system and alters the way that your mind perceives pain.
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Avatar universal
I also have fibromyalgia and have the same muscle spasms that you speak of....lots of screaming and praying.  It freaks my family out!  I found that getting into a warm bath with epsom salt sometimes brings immediate relief.  The one I had yestarday took a little longer than usuall to get relief but it usually works.
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Avatar universal
You have discribed my pain to a T. It is if I wrote the comment. I also use Biofreeze.  Diet Tonic Water helps, it taste nasty, but blend it with a soda . It has helped, it contains Quinine. And drink lots of water, my worse pain lately is like in my shoulder blade area, If on computer to long or writing it feels like my skin is tearing. I take Advil and rest, but it controls what you can and want to do. I do not even kneel down in church anymore for fear of a spasm.It does get one down.
Helpful - 0
4061286 tn?1349435674
I get the cramps in my back, chest, arms, and legs I've found that in my legs if you move your foot back and forth slowly a few times it helps to relieve the cramp. It has something to do with flexing and releasing the tendons and muscles that sends a message to your brain to release the cramp. I don't remember where I learned it but it works for me. I also find that any pain gets worse when you tense up. Relax and breath slow and deep. My mother told me she can tell when I'm hurting because I get very still and start breathing loudly.    
I believe this is something everyone with fibromyalgia and other diseases that affect the muscles and joints like have to deal with. Every doctor I've seen tells me that I need to exercise to reduce my pain. Every time I tell them it hurts too much I just get the sigh and shoulder shrug. It's so infuriating to try to ask for help from someone that doesn't understand what your really going through. Just going grocery shopping is like climbing a mountain. I always have to prepare myself the day before I have to go to the store and then spend the next few days afterwards trying to recuperate. I have fibro, arthritis, gout, high blood pressure, diabetes, gall stones, migraines, I'm over weight and live in a very stressful situation. I feel like a 90 year old in a 31 year old body. And all they can say is loose weight, and reduce stress. Gee thanks doc I didn't think of that! I try to do little thing like stretching and flexing my muscles to help prevent cramping and pain. But like a bad rash it always comes back.
The best we can do is relax and roll with the pain. I'm just glad there are websites like this where we can rant and commiserate with other people that know how we feel. It's a great comfort to know I'm not alone.          
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Avatar universal
I get cramps all over my body, and have had Fibro for many years. I've just started doinng arobics ina warm exercising pool. Thats when the cramps first started.
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