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Constant excruciating leg cramps

Chronic Pain | Last Active: Jul 1, 2023 | Replies (68)

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@delia74

Although I am indeed sorry for what you've gone through, I have to say that I find solace in knowing that someone else did and does experience what I've undergone, and which doctors just didn't comprehend, simply dismissed as an unspoken but audible to me "Oh, well!" hung in the air. Toes, tops of feet AND soles, ankles and ALL the way up the legs, into thighs and gripping the buttocks --- ALL those areas in excruciating grips of pain, lasting for what seems like hours (when really grueling minutes)...My only save was that at least it WOULD come to an end, while people who are prisoners are tortured for hours and even days on end. So I consider myself fortunate because there IS an "end," and sometimes I can have nights/days without any of that torture that my own body inflicts. I do the same as you: exercises and movement routines learned in PT and from sites, for joints/muscles that do indeed help BUT ONLY TO A DEGREE. I do them while watching TV, taking a few minutes when in kitchen. And I've learned to "listen" to my body, b/c it does let me know when there is an impending cramp. Simple and GENTLE yoga movements are also very conducive to just plain FEELNG GOOD. Yes, it means that we have to engage in self-care, because as women we are so used to taking care of everyone else in our lives that we love. I wish at times that I had a "wife" who could take care of me, just as my husband has me to take care of him....🤔

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Replies to "Although I am indeed sorry for what you've gone through, I have to say that I..."

Yes! You caught my attention. Training your mind to become stronger than your feelings. You are focusing on the positive, knowing the difficult moments,or days, will end and you will get a break again. This is one added tool to help get through the challenges of muscle spasms and cramps, in addition to drinking tonic water, taking medication, etc...

It's not that symptoms will ever truly go away, but without positivity and gratitude for the better moments, it's easy to stay in the same dismal mindset which fuels the fire and creates more pain. Ugh...the cycle.

A phrase that's helpful when dealing with and understanding chronic pain is,
"hurt does not equal harm".

When acute problems are ruled out and chronic resides, yes, we hurt, but it does not mean we are harmed. It's a way of settling down fight or flight and catastrophizing.

I love the following diagram - it's a positive reminder of what we can control even when we feel helpless. In what ways do you help yourself feel more control?