Leg and Foot cramps.

I agree. Docs don't know real cause. And a "fix" for one person probably won't help another. People who claim something will help everyone are mistaken. Cramps are annoying and painful for sure, but for me totally unpredictable and erratic.

Jump to this post

Hello:
I've been taking Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) 600mg once a day for quite a few years, at first it seemed to work for me, but now I'm not so sure...how long have you been taking BID, and did/have you had any side effects?
thanks

Jump to this post

I too had this problem, last forty years or so.
I got relieved by the following.
A. Daily, Oil massage on foot soul'.
B. Walking and stretching toes.
C. Immediate relief, by raising opposite side hand over the head
D. Keep myself hydrated.
E. B 12 - 1500 mg daily.

Jump to this post

I have the cramping problem occasionally too, and agree with you, that there doesn’t seem to be a way to stop it. I walk to relieve my calf discomfort, after a cramping episode to! Hang in there!

Jump to this post

Isn’t it amazing that you can have numbness in both feet and legs, and yet get such pain and spasms in them on a daily basis.
Usually my pain is tolerable during the day with ibuprofen 400 mg, but come dinner time, I can’t even walk on my feet, and have to resort to salonpas pain patches, and Tramadol 50 mg to help me deal.
I’m at an impasse now with solutions for this pain, as I’ve tried everything I can.
Would like to have just one day where I’m pain free!

Jump to this post

Yes, the tingling and numbness, in my hands, feet and legs never goes away! I complained to the Docs about it for a number of years, but nothing much seemed to help, like a change of medicine! I don’t complain about that anymore. There are vitamins and medicines that can help with cramping, if the root cause is determined. I’ve gotten some relief that way, along with stretching and some exercise! I take pain medicine rarely, because I, also, have fatty liver disease, and that medicine can accumulate in the liver! I have to be very careful, because a few years back, I had a very serious bout of Acute Pancreatitis, with liver involvement, where sepsis was about to set in, and I was in intensive care, for nearly two weeks, fighting for my life! It’s difficult to have multiple medical problems, that require special diets and medicines, so I can relate to your pain issues, and I hope that you will find better pain relief for the frequent cramping!

Jump to this post

Isn’t it amazing that you can have numbness in both feet and legs, and yet get such pain and spasms in them on a daily basis.
Usually my pain is tolerable during the day with ibuprofen 400 mg, but come dinner time, I can’t even walk on my feet, and have to resort to salonpas pain patches, and Tramadol 50 mg to help me deal.
I’m at an impasse now with solutions for this pain, as I’ve tried everything I can.
Would like to have just one day where I’m pain free!

Jump to this post

Yes, the tingling and numbness, in my hands, feet and legs never goes away! I complained to the Docs about it for a number of years, but nothing much seemed to help, like a change of medicine! I don’t complain about that anymore. There are vitamins and medicines that can help with cramping, if the root cause is determined. I’ve gotten some relief that way, along with stretching and some exercise! I take pain medicine rarely, because I, also, have fatty liver disease, and that medicine can accumulate in the liver! I have to be very careful, because a few years back, I had a very serious bout of Acute Pancreatitis, with liver involvement, where sepsis was about to set in, and I was in intensive care, for nearly two weeks, fighting for my life! It’s difficult to have multiple medical problems, that require special diets and medicines, so I can relate to your pain issues, and I hope that you will find better pain relief for the frequent cramping!

Jump to this post

I understand liver concerns and medicine intake. I am careful to not take too much medicine that ‘metabolizes’ in the liver tying to avoid it.

Having problems & conditions that require I take it or destabilize is an issue I face any time a doctor introduces a medication.

Sepsis is frightening. My fil had sepsis. He did not make it, God rest his soul.

I find I have not complained enough to the people to doctors who can help. I don’t like going to doctors or hospital but go they want me to and when necessary, when my guy urges me too.

I think I’ve learned the lesson (hopefully not too late) that they can’t help what they are not aware of. In my head, I know what I go through, I explain better on paper then verbally, always have. So, I’m counting on my “list” of problems I need help with. I have appointments coming up that I’m going to make sure all are on the same page with regards to testing, meds, outcomes what not.

Yes, multiple problems are not easy to juggle. What I typically do is to think like ‘greater pain - lesser pain’. I pay attention to which is bothering me most. I’m learning about “chief complaint”. Then hand him my list of sub complaints LOL. This so I don’t say to myself, it’s my own fault I am feeling this badly after more time has passed.

The last couple of days, the one leg has been problematic. When I bend the knee bringing the calf up, it is causing the quads and calf to “stiffen” and hurt, a slow tight hurt that gets worse if I keep it bent with weight on it, So that is new. The entire leg. So another thing to add to the list. It has not happened to the other leg doing same thing. Getting legs lifted to raise them enough to reduce swelling (mostly in feet and ankles) is a challenge because of this.

I’m sorry for going on. In general people who don’t experience daily pain issues and obstacles have difficulty appreciating its affect on the whole.

I appreciate all the help I have received here. It has been invaluable.

Feel better as best as you can! One day at a time.

💜

Jump to this post

Thank you for your thoughtful, and understanding reply! It’s great to feel there is some support, from fellow sufferers of painful ailments, that, sometimes, medical clinicians seem to be apathetic, and not too sympathetic of our suffering! I fractured my lower back, back in 1976, from a horse riding accident! Going to the ER, the hospital had to put me in the hallway, on a gurney-no room in the ER! They did little to help me. I had a broken nose, and swollen eye. Ever since, vision in that eye is not as good as the other eye, and I have a droopy eyelid (ptosis)! I had to wear a back brace for a while, because of crushing vertebrae injury, at L-3! So, over the years I’ve had a lot of back and eye trouble! I’ve gotten very little understanding, from medical professionals, to help me improve my eyesight, or better deal with back pain! So, nowadays, after the COVID epidemic, I have noticed, that empathy and understanding are even more of a problem, where I live, which is heavily populated, over 150,000 residents, and we have only one hospital! So, with many retirees here, sometimes we feel shortchanged a bit, when dealing with medical professionals. This is where, the support of patients with similar ailments, having a forum, like this, to discuss their ailments with, is very helpful! I’m glad Mayo Clinic has provided us this opportunity! Thanks again for your supportive words! I hope you and I will, someday, get better relief, for the pins and needles, and numbness, that we have to deal with! Meanwhile, we can communicate this way, which is helpful! Wishing you the best! Take care! 🤠Doug

Jump to this post