General Chat

Does anyone else suffer cramp in the legs?
I have tried various things and went to GP for
help, she could not give me anything due to
my cocktail of meds. She did however prescribe
Cuprum a homoeopathic tablet. Still no relief can
anyone suggest anything else that may work for me?

Emma :-)

Potassium is supposed to help, Emma - tablets or bananas. I hope you get some relief soon. It's can be very uncomfortable. <3

Hello Sue not spoken to you in ages, hope you and
yours are well :-) <3

Thanks for that have tried eating bananas everyday
and put myself off them, didn't know about the tablets.

Me and mine are well as I hope you and yours are :-)

You can get potassium tablets but I guess you should check that it's alright to take them if you're on other medication. We can get an over the counter medication here called Crampeze but again I'm not sure if that can be taken with other medication.

Potassium can affect your other medication (particular blood pressure meds), so best ask your doc. You'd have to eat a crate of bananas to get the right potassium level.

I take "Ultra Musceleze". I get it at the health food store, but most pharmacists should stock it. It's a powder, you mix it with water or juice. It's supposed to taste like oranges..... but it doesn't! It does contain potassium, but my doc says it's an acceptable level, won't affect my meds.

I get it too when laying in bed ,sometimes its in two places on the same leg at the same time .One time was in agony cos both legs had it in each thigh and I was rocking in agony

My chiropractor said that sometimes it can be caused by a change in medication but mine hadn't changed for a long time.

Was told by the nurse at the doctors that it can too be caused by dehydration ..she said I wasn't drinking enough during the day after giving her my daily liquid consumption number.

It's VERY painful that's all I know :-|

My family are all well thanks Sue.

Hi Scozz thanks for that, will check that out.
Will have a chat with pharmacist.

Emma :-)

Agree Shirley very painful, my thinking and I could be wrong is that
I never had cramp in my legs till I had both knee replacements done.
Someone had said to my OH that Cider vinegar was good!!!!

Emma :-)

I am kept awake most nights with cramping in my legs & feet... my GP blames it on my arthritis :-|

I found that it was worse on days that I had drunk lots of coffee with visitors or whilst visiting, so have cut down

Marmite, dried apricots, dark green veg, Pistachios, dark chocolate are all high in potassium

Hope you soon find something that helps
<3

Thanks for that Carol.
Can't remember the last time I had a coffee.

I could quite happily eat everything on your list
apart from the Marmite :-D

Emma :-)

Thanks for that Carol.
Can't remember the last time I had a coffee.

I could quite happily eat everything on your list
apart from the Marmite :-D

Emma :-)

Emma <3 My OH gets leg cramp especially in the middle of the night. He shoots out of bed yelling and scares the life out of me. Bananas have Potassium so he has at least one a day. Plenty of drinks but avoid too much coffee.

Paula, like your OH I also yell out in the wee small hours
and my OH jumps out of bed to help me, try not too yell
out as OH has a heart problem poor man am amazed he's
not white haired like me. :-)

I used to get terrible cramps in my legs, especially during the night, I saw my doctor and he prescribed me Quinine Bisulphate tablets.

I take one 300mg tablet each night and have done so for last couple of years,snd although I also take several medications for high blood pressure I have not had any side affects :-)

But check with your doctor - he/she will know what is best suited to you.

Thanks OFITG, she would not give me anything
except the Cuprum.

Emma :-)

I am lucky as I do not usually suffer from cramp. The following article is quite interesting, and the quote from it might help.

http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/l/article/legcramps,unknowncause/

Preventing leg cramps

If you often get leg cramps, regularly stretching the muscles in your lower legs may help prevent the cramps or reduce their frequency.

You might find it useful to stretch your calves before you go to bed each night.

The following night-time advice may also help:

If you lie on your back, make sure that your toes point upwards – placing a pillow on its side at the end of your bed, with the soles of your feet propped up against it may help keep your feet in the right position.
If you lie on your front, hang your feet over the end of the bed – this will keep your feet in a relaxed position and help stop the muscles in your calves from contracting and tensing.
Keep your sheets and blankets loose.

They say I might as well face the truth,
That I am just too long in the tooth,
I've started to deteriorate,
And now I'm past my own sell-by date.

Oh I am no spring chicken it's true,
I have to pop my teeth in to chew,
And my knees are starting to know,
I've just got too many miles on the clock.

So I'm a wrinkly, crinkly, set in my ways
It's true that my body has seen better days,
But give me half a chance and I can still misbehave

Thanks for that Andysmum, I keep my bedding loose, am quite
a restless sleeper and keep waking up when I turn in bed, this is
when I get tangled up and the cramps start.

Emma :-)

I've read that sleeping with a wine cork - cork, not plastic - in the bed will prevent cramp. It didn't recommend drinking all the wine first though.

Annie

Why do I see myself in that OFITG :-D :-D