Full-body muscle cramps... help!

[BuffaloBran]

Lately I've been having all-over, random muscle cramps.  Examples are: the calves of my legs, abdominal muscles, neck muscles, even my fingers!  What's causing all this and how can I make it stop?

[caregiver222]

The primary cause of such cramps, or "charley horses" is calcium deficiency.

This can be exacerbated by low vitamin D3 levels, which are necessary for the muscles to use the calcium.

Try drinking a few glasses of milk and taking a D3 supplement. That will work in ninety-five percent of the cases.

Quinine sulfate pills will relieve the cramps. This medication was available for years without a prescription until the FDA removed it from the shelves about three years ago because of alleged fatalities involving overuse by people with cardiac problems.

[Coccolina]

To add with the replies you already received, vitamin deficiency can also lead to muscle cramps. Deficiency include :

Thiamine (B1) found in tuna, sunflower seeds, black beans , green peas and many others,

Pantothenic acid (B5) (found in different foods such as soybean, sweet potato, poultry, yogurt

Pyridoxine (B6) (found in many foods however the body is not always able to absorb it in certain situations for example certain drugs lead to poor absorption of this (B6).

Poor circulation can also result in muscle cramps since due to low circulation, not enough oxygen is distributed to muscles.

There are certain excersices that can help like: stretching and walking around

[SarahD8709]

Hello BuffaloBran:

This can often be caused by a lack of Potassium in the body. If you can't find a supplement, foods that are helpful are Banana's, Green Leafy Veggies, and Citrus Fruits.

You can try doing a Google search for foods with Potassium that might be in your cupboards already.

Potassium is also a critical electrolyte in regards to cardiac health.. If you've had any palpatations, difficulty breathing or a feeling of being unable to catch your breath, or chest discomfort, etc.. It would be a good idea to request some blood work from your PCP.

Hope this helps!
Sarah

[chrismcmuffin]

I'd recommend increasing your magnesium and potassium intake. You can find both in pill form in your local drug store. These should both help.