Night cramps

Hello @v8auto, Welcome to Connect. I haven't had leg cramps in quite awhile but I also have the usual balance problems that go along with my idiopathic small fiber PN. I don't have pain with my neuropathy either which I am very thankful that I don't. I shared my neuropathy journey in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/. What I think helps keep the leg cramps away for me is drinking a lot of water and staying hydrated. At night I use magnesium lotion on my feet and legs and then wear loose diabetic socks on the feet which may also help the leg cramps.

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy has a list of supplements known to help for neuropathy in the list of complementary and alternative therapies here - https://www.foundationforpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Complementary-and-Alternative-Treatments.pdf.

It's great that you don't need any medications. Do you use any moisturizer or lotions on your legs?

Thankyou.
I tend not to drink anything after dinner, so I'll start with an additional glass of water.
Magnesium lotion, do you think that's more effective than the glycinate?
At present I don't moisturise my legs. I'll need to raid the wife's stash.
The things we have to do to get a night's sleep....

Not sure the Magnesium lotion is more effective than the supplement but I also take Magnesium along with R-ALA and other neuropathy supplements in hopes that it will slow or stop any progression of the neuropathy. That and since the nerves are close to the skin it makes sense that keeping the skin moist is good for the nerves.

I use Healthy Feet and Legs by Terry Naturally I bought on amazon after doing a lot of research. Showed it to my neurologist and he said it’d be good. It has all the B vitamins but also ingredients others don’t. It’s cheaper if you buy in bulk. Try it for one bottle and if you like it buy in bulk.
After one week I noticed a huge difference and by 2 weeks I hardly noticed anymore symptoms at night. I still have them sometimes, but not worsening. I do take other sources of B vitamins and R-ALA as well a a multivitamin and other supplement. But some of these I started after the Terry so i can say it definitely worked for me.

Thankyou
Terry is available over here in the UK but very expensive (not via Amazon) so I'll look for an equivalent.

On a learning curve.

@v8auto
You may also want to try alpha Lipoic acid and Acetyl l carnitine supplements which have helped my small fiber neuropathy and restless legs at night.

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20377168
2. https://restlesslegssyndrome.sleep-disorders.net/clinical/nerve-pain
3. https://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/teach-me/is-it-restless-leg-syndrome-or-neuropathy
4. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-is-neuropathy-worse-at-night
5. https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/articles/why-your-neuropathy-is-worse-at-night
6. https://neuropathylab.com/neuropathy-sleep-pain-relief/
7. https://neurolaunch.com/sleep-neuropathy/
8. https://lluh.org/services/neuropathic-therapy-center/blog/how-stop-cycle-nerve-pain-and-sleeplessness

Mmm, thankyou.
Oddly enough, I did have restless leg in January, it jolly well interferes with one's kip.
Then it went away, then the cramps.
I'll look at those links.
I think I'll start with one med, see how that goes, if I take a smorgasbord I won't know which is helping the most.

This might sound overly simplistic and maybe even stupid-but try drinking more water, When I have night cramps (night cramps is the key) I drink about 8 ounces of water and they go away. IF, on a rare occasion they persist or become chronic I have used either calcium lactate (2 grams) or magnesium glycinate (500 mg). Both work well individually or in combination for me.

Half a pint is more than I usually drink before bed, but I have to get up in the night anyway so I may as well make it worthwhile!
Last night, no cramps. Nearly but not quite.
The only thing I did different was to walk about 5 miles during the day, visiting a lot of private gardens that were open for viewing in a local village, and eat a slice of coffee n'walnut cake.
Perhaps I'll add cake to the meds list.

I am 72, PN started in 2007. I too have been getting leg cramps in my calves. My Doctor recommended 50 MG of Vitamin B6. I take 25 MG twice a day, morning g and night. The cramps are a lot less. Hope this helps.