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Constant excruciating leg cramps
I was “diagnosed” with Fibro in 2009. I had a false pos for Lupus and so this is what they decided I have.
My symptoms increased and decreased in severity for years. About 11 years ago I started getting leg cramps in my sleep. Sure, everyone gets them, but mine would be calf and shin simultaneously. I couldn’t stretch one or the other, because the opposite would spasm more and cause terrible pain. I’d have it for a couple weeks and then it’d disappear.
I went through times were I was very active, in the gym all the time, hiking, etc. but then I’d get, say, tendinitis somewhere and have to lay off.
In august 2021 I fell. I’d been exercising and walking—up to 4 miles a day— for a couple months. I didn’t fall because of pain or disability, I just tripped in a normal way. But I landed in my face requiring stitches in three places, and got whiplash.
Since then, I’ve been downhill. But the cramps! I started getting them in both legs at night. Both shins, both calves, the feet. It decreases in intensity, but hasn’t gone away. Then it increases again. It used to stop when I was up and around, but now both legs are pretty much in spasm all day. It spread to my hamstrings (never as bad), and now I have it in my forearms.
The rheumatologist found “nothing wrong”. The neurologist found “nothing wrong”. He put me on gabapentin, but anything more than 300mg once a day turns me into an a$$h*le. And doesn’t help.
The doctors literally wipe their hands and say, “that’s just your Fibro.”
Is it? I’ve never read about that with Fibro. 🙁
56 yo. Used to bodybuild. Played women’s pro football 20 years ago. Used to cycle, swim, etc.
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I've done that, also. Seems to help me, too.
Changing the "minds of the nerves" is my go-to. Works often, but not always.
Funny you are marye2 as in real life I am a Mary E. Too.
I read that tip in Reader's Digest of all places!
I mistakenly wrote in my previous post, “I sit on floor with LEG UNDER CALVES” lol. am still trying to imagine that myself! What I meant to say was, “ I just sit on floor with the FOAM ROLLER under my calves and roll slowly back and forth. It will hurt immensely where there are knots but just stay on that knot till it loosens up. Similar to acupressure. Hope this make a bit more sense.
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2 ReactionsYou need electrolytes in your system go to store and look for the sports drinks that say electrolytes in the drinks I promise you that if will drink a couple of those your leg cramps will stop
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1 ReactionI don’t know why I did not come here sooner to talk to individuals like myself dealing with chronic pain.I am a 58 yr old female. I have been through several back surgeries, which did not turn out well, but that is another story. . About 3 years ago I started getting excruciating, debilitating leg cramps in my thighs at night. They would come on about once a month.. Now, I get them at least 3 times a week. Night before last, the pain was so bad, it almost threw me into an anxiety attack. My daughter lives with me. I called her for help. I noted the time they finally stopped at 2:04am. I then look at at my phone to see what time I called my daughter. This was as 1:45 am. This is a very long time to be in excruciating pain. It has never lasted this long before. I am now at a loss. The doctors don’t seem to be too concerned. I need help, please. If there is anyone experiencing anything like this, I would love to hear how you handle it.
This may have nothing to do with your issues, but have you ever been tested for peripheral artery disease? Please just consider it. My husband had symptoms similar to what you describe for months, then years. For him, there was no help until we were referred to a vascular team.
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1 ReactionHi @mpmurphy
If your thigh cramps are as unbearably painful as the calf cramps that have me jumping out of bed in the middle of the night, I can't even imagine enduring for 20 minutes. After 20 seconds, my leg will hurt for the next 24 hours like I overworked at the gym. I can't even speak those cramps are so painful. However, I can get them out by standing or jumping on my foot to push my toes back toward my shin. I get occasional cramps in the back of the thigh if I bend my leg too far back. Very painful, but again, I just have to stand up on my straightened out leg to get rid of it.
I do get some less painful cramps in my shins and ankles that still get my full attention and keep me from sleeping, but no way to work out those cramps by just changing positions. That's a problem. For those, I can use something similar to the Thumper sports massager ( I have a 35 year old Walmart version). I crank it all the way up and it stops the cramp in 30-60 seconds. I'm not sure how fast it would work on intense thigh cramps or calf cramps. Read reviews on all the models out there as a lot of people are using this and similar models for painful cramps during the night. It might be worth a try. I noticed one cheaper brand someone commented that it wasn't powerful enough for tough cramps. Search cramps in the product reviews or Q&A on Amazon and you'll find a lot of people using these for night cramps and their thoughts.
I've recently thought I should try using it on my leg muscles for a few minutes before bed and maybe that would relax my leg muscles and prevent night cramps in the first place.
You'll hear lots of tips for prevention on here, but everyone gets leg cramps for different reasons. You may need to test out all the suggestions until you find one that works for you. I get cramps mostly because of a rare neuropathy I have. Aside from that, I've noticed that too much salt or dehydration will also trigger them for me.
Best of luck to you! I feel your pain!!!
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1 ReactionThank you so very much!
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1 ReactionThank you