I am a registered nurse who works in a hospital for 12 hr shifts on the night shift. I work nights because it is quieter and not as hectic and not as demanding on my legs. I have been plagued with severe cramps from my toes all the way up to my middle middle thigh. My physican has done blood tests checking my potassium level, my calcium level and the whole Vitamin B series blood work and the results have all come back normal. He also suggested that I wear different shoes and I have been wearing 3 new and different styles of shoes but the cramps continue. I have had several times when I have been awaken with the cramps up to 3 times in a 6 hour sleep period during my work week. When I wake up with the cramps, I have gotten some frozen vegatables like peas & carrots to hold on the cramping area. I have also scalded the area with a hot damp hand towel that has been heated in the microwave to where it is it almost too hot to handle. Another thing that I have done is to step in the shower and then have the water run ice cold and then scald it. I have even resorted to drinking dill pickle juice for the cramps after remembering how one of the dialysis patients I used to take care of used it for her legs after dialysis. It helps some but not always. Quinine sulfate used to be on the market but it was taken off due to causing cardiac problems. I have also tried quinine water but it doesn't work. I am so tired of the cramps. I can't quit or retire because I am the only one working in my hosuehold. My husband and I moved to be closer to my job (60 miles moved) almost 2 yrs ago and he has not been able to locate a job. Please help. I am at
my wits end. Thank you.
I want to thank each and every one for responding to my problem with the leg cramps. I went and purchased a bottle of magnesium tablets and have been taking them faithfully for the last 2 weeks and I am very proud to say that I have only had leg cramps just once. I have also started wearing regular shoes that lace up instead the the clogs and the crocks that I have been wearing. I am currently wearing a pair of sauconeys and my legs do not hurt at all while I am at work.
I have also started drinking more water. I go back to my physician in 2 weeks for a follow up for my diabetes and I am sure he will be glad with all the changes. Once again ladies, thank you so very much.
I've heard tonic water or yellow mustard helps w/cramps. They say w/the tumeric(spice)in mustard or Indian food. Worth a try. Good luck and keep us posted.
Years ago a mailman told me to tie cotton strings around m ankles it worked it also worked for my then pregnant daughter I have resorted to grabbing a cotton kerchief when no cotton string was near. hope this helps.
Hi D.,
Being a nurse, depending on your age, lol, you may remember when doctors looked at LIVE blood work. They would prick your finger and immediately look at it under the microscope. Most only send it out to labs now. By that time it's dead, so it's like doing an autopsy...Live blood work can tell you a lot of additional things. There is one MD in Atlanta I know that still does it and one Naturapath that is in the Atlanta area a few days a month that also does it if you're interested, let me now. This might give you better information.
Have you considered that your new meds might be causing the cramps? May I assume your diabetes is Type II? I know in the medical community they preach diet and exercise but they don't usually suggest avoiding meds. Type II diabetes can be controled with diet, exercise and even chiropractic. My Dad is 90 and we've controled his for the last 40 years with no meds. My husband was recently diagnosed with Type 2 as well. We got his numbers down from the low 500s (yes I said 500, it scared me to death!) to consistently under 120 within 14 days with no meds...His A1C was 11.7 so this wasn't just a fluck.
I asked about the meds because I was on prednisone as a youngster and my legs and feet cramped all the time... enough to make me cry... often. When I got off the meds and started on a good diet and multivitamin, I stopped having the leg cramps.
God bless you and let me know if you need names...
M.
You may want to consider getting your arteries checked for a possible blood clot. I know someone who had similar symtoms and it turned out to be a blood clot in his leg. Or if you are experiencing numbness along with the cramps, you may also want to have an MRI done of your spine (a CAT scan isn't always clear enough to pick up on pinched nerves).
It sounds like you've been through the wringer!! You've tried a lot but have you ever tried Chiropractic or massage therapy??? What are you waiting for? Chiropractic combined with massage therapy would absoluty help you! More than you would ever imagine! You have nothing to loose, give it a try. Best of luck to you!
Nutrition Response Testing may help you.
I would suggest that you go to Dr. Nelson Bulmash in Alpharetta. Tell him that L. sent you. His website address is www.health-matters.net
Best wishes.
I had leg cramps very bad. My doctor put me on Mag-Ox 400 mg twice a day. It really did help. You need to have a blood test to check your magnesium. I had a very low count. I hope this will help. Mkey
D. -- there are many like you including other medical professionals with the same problems. It sounds to me like you could have a chronic non-polio enterovirus infection. The coxsackie b viruses especially b4 can cause all of your symptoms/diseases and we have been having quite the outbreak here in Atlanta over the past several years. I have this myself and am forming the enterovirus foundation to educate the public and medical community. For many these viruses are becoming persistant and due to the low levels do not show up in blood or PCR once past the acute phase - slow mutation. I can direct you to some specific testing if you like through ARUP lab. Coxsackie target organs are the heart and endocrine system. Research is showing it is the trigger for juvenile diabetes as well. Our launch will take place in a few weeks but feel free to email me and I will be happy to talk symptoms with you. I am concerned as it effects children too. To help with the muscle issues I take 5000 IUs of vitamin D a day. This seemed to get rid of the twitching/cramps I would sometimes have. I have a list of items you should consider taking to boost you immune system. Have the Doctors checked you for myocarditis? I doubt it ... I finally requested the echo and it revealed I had resolving viral myocaritis....thus nmy chest pain. fyi -The D takes a few weeks to work. The kids are all having reoccuring mouth ulcers and leg pain off and on. I would love to help you. L. (website will go live in 2 weeks) ____@____.com
Your feet cramping cause of your diabets.What can of Dr did you see,Maybe you should see a foot dr.Did the dr check to see if you have arthitis in your feet.Are you wearing shoes with a wide toe box.New balance shoes have wide toe box.You could also go on new balance website a ask what kind of shoe do they recommend since you have cramping in your toes.But first I would find out what is wong
My mom takes something for leg cramps she buys at Walmart. I think its just called Leg Cramps. I think she finds it in the vitamin aisle. She also just found out she has veil problems. Something about the blood pumps down but not back up well. Not sure if that has anything to do with her leg cramps but it might be worth checking out.
I do have a couple of suggestions....
There is an herbal antispasmodic formula that you could try and see if it helps.
http://www.herbsfirst.com/descriptionsformulas/antispasmo...
There is also another formula called Relax-eze that could help your body relax so you can get the necessary sleep that you need.
There is also an essential oil synergy that could help you as well... Try the 'Citrivescents' synergy from this site www.compassconcepts.com. I would email Kally Efros (the owner) or call her and tell her your problem and she could help give you suggestions of herbs and/or essential oils. (There is another synergy called Sport Pro that helps relax the tense muscles..I'd just ask her. She'll help you.)
From a book that I love, here are some suggestions: Muscle cramping is often caused by an imbalance in the body's levels of electrolytes - minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and /or a deficiency of vitamin E. Another common cause is, well of course overexertion in physical activity...and that could be your work such as standing for longs periods of time or even sitting or lying down in one position. Anemia, the use of tabacco, inactivity, fibromyalgia, hormone imbalances, allergies, arthritis, dehydration, hypothyroidism, or even varicose veins or the early stages of Lou Gehrig's disease. I would just check and cross the list off. Poor circulation of course too and then the use of diuretic drugs for high blood pressure, etc., can cause imbalances which can cause the leg cramping.
For what it's worth, 'Normal' isn't always 'normal' for all people. Some people just need more. I have my 9yo son on calcium because of leg pain and you know, he is the only one of my kids that drink cow's milk. (Dr. C also has a calcium formula.) Granted you can get calcium from better sources than milk (which I'm not an advocate of), but that's a battle and a story all to itself.
Vitamin E does improve circulation. I would up the calcium and magnesium. Take about 1500 mg daily of the calcium and 750mg and up of magnesium and then start with 400 IU daily of Vitamin E and increase slowly to 1000 IU daily.
Water, water, water, can flush out the toxins that can store in the muscles. Eat lots of green leafy veggies. Also, another thought...eating eggs and meat are really bad for arthritis. My mother has osteoarthritis and she uses serrapeptase (find it at the health food store..we love 'Good Nutrition') for pain.
You sound like you are in pain and very tired of these cramps. I hope some of these suggestions help you. Good luck!
My daughter used to be plagued with cramping in the middle of the night- problem was not enough calcium. I used to have the cramps when I was pregnant- problem was not enough potassium. As Miranda pointed out, she had the problems because she didn't have enough magnesium.
Where am I going with this? It may be that you have an imbalance or depletion of minerals. That could be an easy fix or a difficult fix. For me, with my potassium deficiency, it was as simple as cutting back on salt(potassium balances sodium- I was eating too much sodium to balance with the potassium). I'm no expert, so this could NOT be the reason, so don't take my work for it or anything.
Good luck, I hope you find relief.
I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. Have you tried soaking in a tub of warm water and Epson salt after your shift? Also, make sure you are stretching frequently during your shift and not crossing your legs while you're sitting down. As for shoes, I LOVE Merrells. I can be on my feet for 13 hours and my feet don't hurt. I can't say this about three other types of shoes I tried (Saucony, Asics, and New Balance....not that they're not good -- I love the design, just not right for my feet). I also eat a banana at least once per shift and drink PLENTY of water.
I hope something works for you soon. Good luck!!
I was thinking of responding along the same line as "Mimi" did...
That it could possibly be the meds you are currently taking for the arthritis/and or diabetes or the combo of them both. It is important to listen to your own body (as you are) and take control/research the meds that are prescribed to you. Each person reacts differently to medication, therefore, what a doctor might think to prescribe to one patient, may not work well for another!
That, and making sure that you are getting plenty of exercise in for yourself during the week along with a healthy diet!
Your body is talking to you...listen and take action...and find a doctor who will listen as well.
D., I scanned through other responses and just wanted to say that I had the same problems you described for years. I was in so much pain i woke up at night near tears and struggled throught the many days wth heavy legs, painful feet and tender calves. One doctor told me to elevate my legs straight up the wall for 10 minutes before rising in the mornign and put my support hose on in this position before standing up. Strangely, that helped during the day. However, I heard a "too-good-to-be-true" infomercial on the radio one day. I can't even remember the name of the product but ordered it. It is a powdered calcium-magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin C supplement. I mixed in in a small juice glass two to three times a day along with the pther supplemnets I had always taken. A couple weeks later, I realized that my feet weren't hurting and that I had not woken up with leg cramps or pain. Another two weeks and I wore a pair of pumps to church. It had been years since I had worn anything but athletic shoes with orthodics and two pair of socks over support hose!!!
My blood work never indicated a mineral deficinecy yet this simple and inexpensive supplement did miracles for me for less than 12.00 per month.
I think the product was Cal-Absorb 1-800-336-4622. This is one of those auto order deals but I found that anytime I called to suspend, there was no problem EVER and you just call again when you start running low. Other companies make a similar product. . . Cal-Mag Fizz . . . these come in flavors and I like the raspberry mixed with raspberry or cran cherry juice. Most women need these minerals even without leg and foot problems. Hope this helps.
Hi D.,
Have you been tested for a Magnesium deficiency? You also might have a lot of inflammation in your body based on some of your other health issues. There are many natural ways to get inflammation down and the pain might go away as well. Let me know about the Mg first.
Thanks,
J. Fusia RD,LD
(Registered Dietitian)
I have not experienced this exactly, but similar. Do you have a good complementary doctor (mix of conventional and natural medicine). There is a Dr. Garbacz in Dunwoody, GA that I think is pretty good, my doc in CA - Dr Rachel West (www.drrachelwest.com) is awesome and I bet she could find an avenue to make more progress.
Best of luck, J
Hi there D.: I had the same problem that you have and tried everything but nothing worked until I tried Magnesium - it worked for me like a charm - no more leg cramps. I would wake up in the middle of the night and the pain in my legs was unbearable and yes, sometimes it would go down into my feet. The pain was so severe and it sounds like you are experiencing the same thing. I had already been taking a multiple vitamin and a calcium supplement but that didn't help - it was truly the magnesium that worked the miracle. I hope this works for you, D. - good luck and God bless. M. (My email address is ____@____.com - if you want to ask any questions. M.
You may wish to contact the local department of labor office and ask about the rehabilitation services (vocational rehabilitation) and apply for services letting them know that you have a disability and your limitations are placing your employment in jeopardy...It's a valuable resource for you to use. Be aggressive, and do not let them deny you an opportunity to apply for services even if you are working. Visit www.dol.state.ga.us and click on rehabilitation services to locate an office serving your zip code.
Have you had an MRI on your lower spine? My mom had the exact same symptoms and wound up with ruptured disk and scar tissue that was compressing a nerve. Her pain was mostly in her left leg but would occassionally radiate to her right leg. Her leg would also occassionally "give out" for no reason. She still gets the "charlie - horse" cramps but not as often due to physical therapy and medications.
