Constant excruciating leg cramps

Hello @lfisher66. You played woman's pro football for 20 years!?! That's incredibly awesome. Scared of you! Indeed you were active and a go getter from the sound of it. I used to be too, in a different way, but I get it. I'm 52 and my overachieving, go getter A -Life days are gone. Unfortunately, I lived my horrid B-Life for about 6 years...ya know, kind of like you're living now, unstable, chronic symptoms, deconditioning, sensitivities, a merry go round of meds and side effects, depression, anxiety, stress, and doctors having no plan of action.

Long story short, for the past 1.5 years I've been discovering my C-Life which has taken a lot of hard work, refocusing, regrouping, recommitting and shifting gears to a much more stable, moderate and flexible path forward. Yes, I still live in chronic pain, but I'm more equipped to manage it and find that life can be more than the B-Life. There is hope, you've just got to find it.

After reading your posts, I learned that you are stuck in a terrible cycle of doctors going in circles and not being able to give you better answers other than,"it's your fibro", or "will the pain away". I know how much that hurts the soul when you're suffering and practically begging for more answers or help. Regarding the purpose of your new thread...have you tried muscle relaxers for your awful cramps? How about gentle daily stretching? As much as it hurts, keeping your body moving is the best thing you can do. Do you mind me asking how you're dealing with your emotional trauma and depression?

So much of your situation speaks to me and I think it would really be worth your while to check out this video by Mayo Clinic's Dr. Sletten. He presents on Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS) which explains how the central nervous system can wind up causing an upregulation, resulting in popcorning chronic pain and symptoms.

Here's the video:

Lastly, I want you to know that I believe in you and think you certainly possess perseverance and discipline as proven by your past A-Life. That tells me you've got what it takes to get yourself through this not so pleasant, challenging B-Life, and work your way towards a more productive, stable C-Life. You just need help and a plan. Please let me know your thoughts on what Dr. Sletten has to say about central sensitization. Do you think any of it applies to you? Do you have questions for me abut my journey with CSS?

Haha! Lord no! Twenty years AGO! Haha

Hello @lfisher66. You played woman's pro football for 20 years!?! That's incredibly awesome. Scared of you! Indeed you were active and a go getter from the sound of it. I used to be too, in a different way, but I get it. I'm 52 and my overachieving, go getter A -Life days are gone. Unfortunately, I lived my horrid B-Life for about 6 years...ya know, kind of like you're living now, unstable, chronic symptoms, deconditioning, sensitivities, a merry go round of meds and side effects, depression, anxiety, stress, and doctors having no plan of action.

Long story short, for the past 1.5 years I've been discovering my C-Life which has taken a lot of hard work, refocusing, regrouping, recommitting and shifting gears to a much more stable, moderate and flexible path forward. Yes, I still live in chronic pain, but I'm more equipped to manage it and find that life can be more than the B-Life. There is hope, you've just got to find it.

After reading your posts, I learned that you are stuck in a terrible cycle of doctors going in circles and not being able to give you better answers other than,"it's your fibro", or "will the pain away". I know how much that hurts the soul when you're suffering and practically begging for more answers or help. Regarding the purpose of your new thread...have you tried muscle relaxers for your awful cramps? How about gentle daily stretching? As much as it hurts, keeping your body moving is the best thing you can do. Do you mind me asking how you're dealing with your emotional trauma and depression?

So much of your situation speaks to me and I think it would really be worth your while to check out this video by Mayo Clinic's Dr. Sletten. He presents on Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS) which explains how the central nervous system can wind up causing an upregulation, resulting in popcorning chronic pain and symptoms.

Here's the video:

Lastly, I want you to know that I believe in you and think you certainly possess perseverance and discipline as proven by your past A-Life. That tells me you've got what it takes to get yourself through this not so pleasant, challenging B-Life, and work your way towards a more productive, stable C-Life. You just need help and a plan. Please let me know your thoughts on what Dr. Sletten has to say about central sensitization. Do you think any of it applies to you? Do you have questions for me abut my journey with CSS?

lfisher66's symptoms sound exactly mine, but I don't have fibro. I was told to stretch more and try magnesium. Not working.

Can you tell me more about it?

My calf and shin muscles are Always in spasm, even when not “cramping”. The neurologist stuck a wire in my muscle and told me there’s nothing wrong with them. Then he told me, multiple cringey times, “you have fabulous muscles.” I said, “Look, that’s the Problem. I don’t work out, I’m not flexing. They are like that All The Time.” He just told me again they’re fabulous.

I will watch it. My doctor did refer me to the Pain Clinic. (I’m with Kaiser.)

They said, we’d like you to start CBT. Yes, I said, I’m familiar with that. Let’s give it a shot.

Well, it’s in group sessions only, oh, and virtual, and available on the two days from 10-12:30, or these two days from 3:30-6.

I say, I work from 12:30-6:30.

She says, can you work at 12:30?

1) No. 2) Nor can I magically appear somewhere immediately after finishing a virtual group.

I asked if the “Pain Clinic” also offers any Physical treatments—physical therapy, trigger point therapy, chiropractic? She says I will have to make an appointment with the clinical psychologist. They’ll let me know when that’s available. Haha.

I have tried muscle relaxers in the past. Magnesium, potassium, I do stretch— I pretty much have to. I’m currently going off the Gaba because it doesn’t help at a low dose and the Neuro doesn’t “discuss” with me (via e-message), he just tells me to take more. Not, “try taking 300mg more at night,” just “try taking more.” Grr..

Additionally, I was recently diagnosed with ADHD (formally. I’ve known for decades! Haha) That doc prescribed Wellbutrin. After about a month I messaged that I felt good on Wellbutrin, but not any different than any time feeling good Without Wellbutrin, and it Definitely did not help with ADHD symptoms.

Turns out directly after seeing me once (virtually of course,) my doctor left Kaiser. That was probably three months ago and they’re still waiting for a replacement doctor. I called and asked “Was that the Only psychiatrist in Kaiser? Can’t I just get a different doctor?” Meanwhile, they prescribed my adderall, of which I take the smallest dose once a day. It doesn’t help either, and, in fact, I suspect it makes my pain worse. After I get off the Gabapentin, I’m going to get off the adderall. (I don’t want to quit everything at once and this is literally only going to be a two week process since I take so little of each.) When I tell the docs they say, “Okay.”

Anyway, I’m rambling on now, but am interested in anyone else having these terrible, constant cramps.

Thanks all! 🙂

PS-I’m not “down and out”. The facts may suck, but it’s just what it is. 🙂

Hello @lfisher66. You played woman's pro football for 20 years!?! That's incredibly awesome. Scared of you! Indeed you were active and a go getter from the sound of it. I used to be too, in a different way, but I get it. I'm 52 and my overachieving, go getter A -Life days are gone. Unfortunately, I lived my horrid B-Life for about 6 years...ya know, kind of like you're living now, unstable, chronic symptoms, deconditioning, sensitivities, a merry go round of meds and side effects, depression, anxiety, stress, and doctors having no plan of action.

Long story short, for the past 1.5 years I've been discovering my C-Life which has taken a lot of hard work, refocusing, regrouping, recommitting and shifting gears to a much more stable, moderate and flexible path forward. Yes, I still live in chronic pain, but I'm more equipped to manage it and find that life can be more than the B-Life. There is hope, you've just got to find it.

After reading your posts, I learned that you are stuck in a terrible cycle of doctors going in circles and not being able to give you better answers other than,"it's your fibro", or "will the pain away". I know how much that hurts the soul when you're suffering and practically begging for more answers or help. Regarding the purpose of your new thread...have you tried muscle relaxers for your awful cramps? How about gentle daily stretching? As much as it hurts, keeping your body moving is the best thing you can do. Do you mind me asking how you're dealing with your emotional trauma and depression?

So much of your situation speaks to me and I think it would really be worth your while to check out this video by Mayo Clinic's Dr. Sletten. He presents on Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS) which explains how the central nervous system can wind up causing an upregulation, resulting in popcorning chronic pain and symptoms.

Here's the video:

Lastly, I want you to know that I believe in you and think you certainly possess perseverance and discipline as proven by your past A-Life. That tells me you've got what it takes to get yourself through this not so pleasant, challenging B-Life, and work your way towards a more productive, stable C-Life. You just need help and a plan. Please let me know your thoughts on what Dr. Sletten has to say about central sensitization. Do you think any of it applies to you? Do you have questions for me abut my journey with CSS?