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Nighttime Leg Cramps

Posted by peterstl @peterstl, Feb 25 9:02am

I have been diagnosed with microbacterium abscesses. I am on three antibiotics a day. I’ve recently been experiencing leg cramps in the middle of the night which awakens me and I need to get up and walk around. Has anyone else had this problem?

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laughlin1947 | @laughlin1947 | Mar 7 10:34am
In reply to @juliea55 "I am not on the big three but am taking immunotherapy drugs and sometimes get severe..." + (show)
Profile picture for juliea55 @juliea55

I am not on the big three but am taking immunotherapy drugs and sometimes get severe calf and feet cramps. My doctor suggested magnesium but my magnesium levels are checked regularly and are fine. Drinking a glass of water almost always helps and if they are severe running both hot and cold water over my legs will stop them.

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@juliea55 You can easily apply Voltaren (diclofenac) cream to your skin and that will work faster than letting the water run. There is a spray lidocaine product on the market too, but it is not as effective for me.

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rozie83 | @rozie83 | Mar 7 10:49am
In reply to @rozie83 "I get leg cramps (and hand cramps). I use a product called Theraworx which I get..." + (show)
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I get leg cramps (and hand cramps). I use a product called Theraworx which I get on Amazon although I think they must have it in drugstores. It comes in different types of application. I like the foam. When I get a cramp, I rub the foam into the cramp twice. Usually, then the cramp goes away. Takes a few minutes to work totally. The cramp might return later. I use it again. Usually the cramping is at night, but sometimes it might happen if I've been sitting in a position with the knees bent. Good luck. It can be very painful.
I also take magnesium capsules, iron and calcium. I've been told that's the best combination of supplements for cramp reduction. And I eat 1/2 to one whole banana a day. I freeze some of the bananas so I don't have to visit the store more than once a week. Roz

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Hope it helps you. Roz

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rozie83 | @rozie83 | Mar 7 11:03am
In reply to @laughlin1947 "@rozie83 The bananas you eat are probably mostly helpful for potassium intake. You can still afford..." + (show)
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@rozie83 The bananas you eat are probably mostly helpful for potassium intake. You can still afford to take more potassium however. The MDR is pretty high for potassium, it is hard to get enough via foods. When I work in the yard and/or do something with my hands like mow the lawn and hold tightly onto the handlebar, then later I will get excorticating cramps. But I take a couple of potassium gluconate tablets and within a very few minutes, the cramps have disappeared. Take the tablets ahead of time, anticipating the cramps, and it works even better that way. Potassium tablets via Swanson Vitamins are very inexpensive. A medical doctor I met on a dog walk suggested the magnesium chloride as being her first choice for cramping.

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@laughlin1947 Thanks for that information. I take a lot of magnesium daily. I think my leg cramps are dependent on what shoe I've been wearing. Glad you've found what works for you. The cramping can be very painful. I used to get in a tub, but I removed my tub because I was afraid I'd fall getting in or out. I really miss a nice hot bath. Roz

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rozie83 | @rozie83 | Mar 7 11:12am
In reply to @rozie83 "I get leg cramps (and hand cramps). I use a product called Theraworx which I get..." + (show)
Profile picture for rozie83 @rozie83

I get leg cramps (and hand cramps). I use a product called Theraworx which I get on Amazon although I think they must have it in drugstores. It comes in different types of application. I like the foam. When I get a cramp, I rub the foam into the cramp twice. Usually, then the cramp goes away. Takes a few minutes to work totally. The cramp might return later. I use it again. Usually the cramping is at night, but sometimes it might happen if I've been sitting in a position with the knees bent. Good luck. It can be very painful.
I also take magnesium capsules, iron and calcium. I've been told that's the best combination of supplements for cramp reduction. And I eat 1/2 to one whole banana a day. I freeze some of the bananas so I don't have to visit the store more than once a week. Roz

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@rozie83 Hope you get relief. Roz

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blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Mar 7 1:09pm
In reply to @laughlin1947 "@blm1007blm1007 It would be very hard to take too much potassium. The MDR is really high..." + (show)
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@blm1007blm1007 It would be very hard to take too much potassium. The MDR is really high and you can't really reach that via food intake. The body will eliminate any potassium it does need for the day.

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@laughlin1947 Thank you for your reply. One of my last tests involving potassium was on the high side...not dangerous...but high.
Overall we do need to understand all in the big picture.
Yes, agree that we lose potassium and other minerals, vitamins each day and for me the reason I need to be sure I supplement my potassium.
Much of what we use and take into our bodies today involves sodium and for me the potassium helps balance that out.
If I don't have enough of the potassium my muscles are affected....one being leg and foot cramps.
Barbara

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laughlin1947 | @laughlin1947 | Mar 7 2:46pm

I think you will be able to review the comments in this section regarding what people use at home to relieve leg cramps. Lots of choices -- a potassium supplement, Voltaren cream, Theraworx, and a few more. I think if you take a potassium capsule/tablet before bedtime you will have some relief from leg cramps in the middle of the night, and that dosage will not endanger you having too much potassium in your urinary system. I'm not a doctor, so it would be wise for you to ask your doctor what would work best for you. I take two potassium tablets at bedtime to ward off leg cramps. My urine test results are in the safe range. When I fractured my pelvis in 2023 and was suffering badly with nighttime charley-horse hamstring cramps over the first 3 months or so, I applied Voltaren cream and that helped a lot. Those hamstring cramps were monstrously painful.

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