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Leg Spasms When Awakening & Diabetes
Do you ever wake in the morning with a sudden spasm (almost like a fish out of water as my body slightly rises upwards) and then leg cramps come on quickly? My neuro thinks I have partial stiff-person-syndrome due to the spasms, yet they are so predictable I'm wondering if the spasms are related to my sugar levels during the night. I don't have diabetes but have been told by a cardiologist to be careful about too much sugar. I've seen orthopedics for my back issues and had some vascular tests. No one seems to know what is going on. The spasms are very painful and fortunately brief - it's always when I am waking up and especially if I put my arms overhead but even if not. Thanks very much.
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You might think this is perposperous, but...I sleep with a duvet over me and on the odd occassion that I get a cramp in my calf I wrap my leg in piles of covers and it goes away immediately.
I agree that warmth helps the leg/feet spasms… heated blanket or even electric pad.
I have the same problem-as soon as I move my legs during the nite I get terrible muscle spasms . Mostly in my lower legs but have had them in my ankles and upper thighs. I’ve seen neurologist (am fused from T10 to L1) (I have Type 2 diabetes) oncologist (have MGUS).Rheumatologist (to rule out vascular probs) no help from any of these. I’ve taken Gabapentin. Baclofen. OTC recomendations (Hylands for Leg. Cramps pills ( have helped the most and wrap my legs in a heating pad. These cramps were nightly 2-3 times a night. My Primary recently put me on Cardizem and I am having some relief. I also have been using Theraworx Nerve Relief Foam that I think is helping. This has been going on for 2-3 yrs. Still looking for a reason and a treatment that works. It’s hard to plan anything. I appreciate this site and no longer feel alone.
Hello everyone. Quick background: I’ve had spinal fusion L5S1 in October 2014 and another spinal fusion L3L4 September 2024. Since my first surgery-I’ve had been dealing with severe spasms: bilateral legs, pain from buttocks down to my feet, my foot would turn inward and I cannot seem to sleep past 4 hours unless I skim my flexril and take my sleeping pill. The downfall-sleeping pill does not always work. And I’m afraid to take my flexril with my trazodone. So I would take 2 flexril (10mg each) to help calm the nerves and sleep. The pills are supposed to make you drowsy, however, my spasms get so bad that I’m still awake. I also have type 2 diabetes. I have seen orthopedic doctor, physiatrist doctor, rheumatologist, endocrinologist and soon a neurologist! I’m at my wits end! I’m not a big fan of gabapentin-who wants to be loopy all day? You definitely cannot drive like that. I’ve been dealing with chronic pain for over 10 years. I’ve done physical therapy, aquatic therapy and nope they didn’t help. I love how doctors are quick to say-oh your back surgery then failed. Which makes me extremely frustrated! Here’s my take on this. It’s damn if you do or damn you do not. The insurance companies make you go through so many hoops -which in the beginning is correct. I’m not a big fan of surgery. In fact, I was 45 with my very 1st surgery. I have no children. I would like to hear if someone out there is in the same boat. I feel like this is it- living with chronic pain and placing walking canes in the car, bedroom, living room, spare room and I even made a walking stick from my black walnut tree branch that I trimmed. Just call me spaz! Lol