Severe leg cramps: How do you relax severe leg cramps?

I love my mayo docs!! Totally different way of treating patients.

Okay some good news to share, tonic water & mustard works great!! Also I worked with my physical therapist and he showed me that there is an antagonist and antiantagonist muscle group for your body and when you're having a muscle cramp you need to massage deeply the opposite muscle group for which your having muscle cramps of course the first thing I did was massage the antagonist cramp. Now with my leg cramps last night I did the tonic water, mustard, and rubbed the antiantagonist muscle group IT WORKED!! 🙂 So for me definitely mustard, tonic water, and massage!! Woo hoo Thank you all for all your help!!!

Hi @dawn_giacabazi. That's awesome news. So glad to hear it worked 🙂 It's amazing the little tricks people have! Hope you have a great (cramp free) holiday weekend!

Awesome! Thank you for updating us on your success. This is what makes a network like this worthwhile!!

The reason I suggested askin your doctor about cyclobenzaprine was that (as I've experienced) mine was not do to dehydration, which I was told could be a factor involved.
Additionally, with my cancer having mestasized to liver and other area's, muscle wasting is apparent. With that dietary factors and fluid intake can play a role in muscular involvement. In other words if you deplete fluid from your system as fast as you take it in; it doesn't have the ability to do its job.

irvkay312

Greatly appreciate the info. I asked my doctor the other day and waiting for him to let me know. I am hopeful it will prevent me from having them. Will let you know as soon as I get the chance to give it a try. 🙂

The reasoning in having the doctor prescribe is likely to view your CBC and any liklihood that the cause is not any type of dehydration in your system. On google type severe cramps at night vs causes---see what answers arise.

irvkay312

@irvkay312 I thank you for all your help. I agree with you. Your knowledge is gold!!

I have a tumor in my adrenal gland which depletes my sodium and potassium. I would have bet a million dollars that was why I have so many horrible cramps. I went to the ER after I passed out, very weak, could hardle hold my head up, positive they would give me fluids increase my potassium & I'd be good again. However all levels normal. They can not figure out why. I see a specialist next week.

@dawn_giacabazi, perhaps my experience can be helpful to you. For treatment of my hypertension, I was referred to a nephrologist who works with unimaginable attention to detail and basic causes. She puzzled, as you have, about normal lab results yet episodes of potassium deficiency causing cramps and occasional fainting during heavy exercise. She enlisted the help of an endocrinologist to examine relevant hormones. Together, they figured out a lot of things.

A growth on my kidney was suspected of being a pheochromocytoma that manufactures excess adrenal hormones, but that couldn't be confirmed, partly because the growth wasn't located in my adrenal gland. Also, my problem was not excess adrenalin components, but appeared to be hyperaldosteronism, although the endocrinologist couldn't confirm that. The ultimate diagnosis was Liddle Syndrome, a genetic mutation of the kidney that fails to reclaim potassium being sloughed off with sodium during cleaning of my blood. A potassium-sparing diuretic (Amiloride) has alleviated my problems but has not resolved them completely. I found some basic information on pheochromocytoma at this address: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pheochromocytoma/basics/causes/con-20030435. This suggests what I obtained from the ranks of specialists -- a nephrologist working with an endocrinologist looking for a root cause (brainlesslessly called "secondary cause").

I hope you find something of relevance in my experience. I know from following you that you are relentless in searching for answers -- not only for yourself, but for all of us gathered here on the Mayo Connect to share information and experiences. Best wishes for success with your specialist next week.
Martin

@predictable A man after my own heart!! My diagnosis is secondary hyperaldosteronism. My levels of both Aldosterone & Renin are very high. My nephrologist started me on Aldactone in Sept and I finally hit therapeutic levels last month. Apparently I am a very slow metabolizer of aldactone. (Genetic testing).. Normally Aldactone drives up potassium but for some reason they are trying to figure out it does not in me. I currently take hydralazine, labetalol, nifedipine, chlorthalidone, & spironolactone to keep my blood pressures down. I was admited to St. Mary's Rochester Mayo's in Sept with blood pressures 300/208. Much better today but still break through's of 200/140's .