Celebrating Life and You
Life is full of ups and downs. There is no getting around it.
For folks who suffer pain, it often feels like the downs outweigh the ups! It is ok as long as you don't let yourself get caught in the valleys for too long. It will be important to be realistic.
Create reasonable goals. Instead of setting a goal so high you won’t see the results for a long time, consider setting lots of little goals that you can almost be sure of reaching. Go for them each one at a time, and progress your way toward your ultimate goal!!
Don't wait to celebrate your accomplishments. Start right now! Acknowledge the achievements you realize, the goals you reach, the accomplishments that you have struggled through and made way to. It doesn't have to be extravagant!
Be good to yourself! Celebrate with something small. A nice bubble bath when you claim time for just you, or take time to read a special book. Call and talk to a friend you may have lost touch with. Cook a favorite dinner, or select a special restaurant and enjoy an evening for you!! You deserve it!
If we take time to look, we should find at least one thing to celebrate in our lives. I truly expect we all have many things we may have overlooked. Why not make it a point to grab paper and pen and start thinking about the things in your life worth celebrating? Keep that paper and pen handy and write down things as you realize them! Have others help you with your list if necessary. It might be neat to see what they feel are things worth celebrating in your life!!
I would love to hear about your list and how you are going to celebrate You!! Please feel free to share with me on my Migraine and Pain Management Boards or here in the comments! I look forward to hearing and learning from you!!
Related Topics: Fighting Back Against Depression, Mood Buster Matching Game
Technorati Tags: pain, depression, recovery, celebrate life
For folks who suffer pain, it often feels like the downs outweigh the ups! It is ok as long as you don't let yourself get caught in the valleys for too long. It will be important to be realistic.
Create reasonable goals. Instead of setting a goal so high you won’t see the results for a long time, consider setting lots of little goals that you can almost be sure of reaching. Go for them each one at a time, and progress your way toward your ultimate goal!!
Don't wait to celebrate your accomplishments. Start right now! Acknowledge the achievements you realize, the goals you reach, the accomplishments that you have struggled through and made way to. It doesn't have to be extravagant!
Be good to yourself! Celebrate with something small. A nice bubble bath when you claim time for just you, or take time to read a special book. Call and talk to a friend you may have lost touch with. Cook a favorite dinner, or select a special restaurant and enjoy an evening for you!! You deserve it!
If we take time to look, we should find at least one thing to celebrate in our lives. I truly expect we all have many things we may have overlooked. Why not make it a point to grab paper and pen and start thinking about the things in your life worth celebrating? Keep that paper and pen handy and write down things as you realize them! Have others help you with your list if necessary. It might be neat to see what they feel are things worth celebrating in your life!!
I would love to hear about your list and how you are going to celebrate You!! Please feel free to share with me on my Migraine and Pain Management Boards or here in the comments! I look forward to hearing and learning from you!!
Related Topics: Fighting Back Against Depression, Mood Buster Matching Game
Technorati Tags: pain, depression, recovery, celebrate life
80 Comments:
This was extremely helpful, Indie, thank you. Sue
Hello.
I dont know where to begin, but desparetly need advise for muscle cramps.. I guess its too late to ask for tonight.. yea right..
I got a spike of energy yesterday, cant say why, dont even care it, has been so long since i could or desired to move. Well, did i pay for it last night about every 30 minutes I awoke with SEVERE charlie horse type muscle cramps.. the screeming kind. the kind I forgot ever existed.. real long story BUT today is another story.. same thing although I slept until 7:50 AM and away we go.. All day almost an obsession. to the point of exaugstion. Now I am comming down and its almost bedtime GUESS What I Know is going to happen tonight..
Please Any good suggestions I would love..
Thanks Very much, I do hope someone can suggest something that may lessen them a bit..
as for pain killers the only thing that even remotely helps my regular pain is plain old asprin.. Did not help much last night.
I get the same thing.I too dread going to sleep.The next day my leg is sore & I have to literally limp around for 2 or 3 days til it goes away.Can't get to a dr. right now as I am in limbo with health insurance.If I find out anything I will post it. Maure
Anyone have any information on severe charlie horses? It has happened to me twice now and each time I thought I was going to die. You can actually see the indentations during the spasm and watch the leg's calf muscle convulse as if it was having a mini seizure all by itself. It is the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life! you have no control over it and all you can do is scream and cry until it stops. anyone who knows what causes these?!
Well, I don't know what causes this, but sometimes I've had some luck with a couple a different things. One is these tablets called Sustain, they're for electrolytes and they're made by a company called Zee Medical.They come 2 in a packet, 250 in a box, do a search an you'll see em, about 11 bucks a box. The other thing I know about is Tonic water, it has Quinine in it an that's been know to quiet them rascals down. I've read that chelated calcium an magnesium helps,supposedly if the cramps on the left side"calcium" an the right side is "magnesium". Don't hold me to that, it's somethin I read. I had blood drawn to see what ailed me an everything was normal, all within their proper ranges, doc suggested that I continue drinking the tonic water or they could write a script for the quinine pill. I opted to keep the drink, although I want to warn you, it's most definately an aquired taste...lol best mixed with your favorite booze,sides that'll help them ol muscle cramps at bay anyway...lol cheerio
I want to make note that you need to be careful on "Quinine". I had severe charlie horses in my legs last year after a few days of painting an don a ladder. The doctor wrote me a perscription for Quinine Sulfate pills, after taking them 2 nights I got deathly ill. I had an allergic reaction to them and ended up in the hospital with kidney failure for 33 days and I had a very close call of dying. I even had dialisis and plasma treatments it was so bad. But I want to thank you for telling me that tonic water had quinine in it - I did not know that so thank you!
Just be careful...
I know take magnesia tablets that help very little and I still suffer with charlie horses.
Take care,
Kim
That is amazing, because I asked a nurse friend of mine about my charlie horses quite some years ago, and she told me to take calcium, and it seems to work.
I get mine in the middle of the night, and the first time it happened to me when I was married, I started to scream and my husband thought I was dying...oops
Try the calcium. I went on a new diet recently, and in trying to eat less fat, I stopped drinking milk. Three days later I was getting charlie horses in my foot, calf, and side TERRIBLY! So I made it an effort to eat calciium rich food the next day, and I've had no problems since.
mhoycHello, I used to get intense charlie horses. My whole calf mucsle would be rock hard and I would scream bloddy murder. I fear charlie horses like a 4 year old fears monsters under the bed! I went to the doctor and he reccomended wearing support stockings or tube socks, elevating my legs at night before bed, and drinking lots of water. It has helped but I quit doing the first two and I had a severe one last night and awoke screaming and my fiancee jumped out of bed swinging! So I am going to start them again as soon as I can touch my leg without it hurting. I reccomend these three because there is no medicine involved. The socks help immensley especially if you are on your feet all day.
This post has been removed by the author.
I GREW UP HAVE LEG & NECK MUSCLE CRAMPS, BUT NOW I'M GETTING THEM IN MY THIGHTS, ANKLES, UPPER BACK, STOMACH, JUST ABOUT WHERE EVER THERE'S A MUSCLE .I KEEP A HAND VIBRATOR NEXT TO MY BED SO WHEN THEY START I CAN GRAB IT AND APPLY IT JUST ABOVE OR BELOW THE KNOTTED MUSCLE UNLESS THE PAIN BRINGS ME STRAIGHT OUT OF BED TO THE FLOOR TO WALK IT OFF. I ALSO PUT A "NECK VIBRATING" PILLOW (TURNED ON)UNDER MY KNEES WHEN I GO TO BED AND THAT HELPS. I DO TAKE THE GENERIC PERSCRIPTION MED. FOR PARAPHON FORTE' THAT'S A MUSCLE RELAXER. IT WORKS FAST, WITHIN 10 MINS. MY PHYSICAL CARE GIVER THAT I GO TO WHEN IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY WANTED TO GIVE ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT I TOLD HIM THAT THESE HAVE WORKED FOR ME FOR YEARS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I'M HAVING SUCH A FLAIR-UP ALL OVER MY BODY.I'VE ALSO JUST STARTED HAVING SEVERE PAIN IN MY HIP JOINTS WHEN I FIRST GET UP AND WALK AROUND IN THE A.M. IT'S SO BAD THAT I PUT SOME TYPE OF OTC PAIN MED.ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE SO IF I WAKE UP 1/2 OR 1 HR.BEFORE GETTING OUT OF BED, I CAN TAKE IT AND HAVE SOME RELIEF. THE STRANGE THING IS THAT AFTER INITIALLY GETTING UP FOR MAYBE 15 TO 30 MINS. THE PAIN IS ALMOST UNBARABLE, BUT IF I SIT DOWN, IT IMMEDIATELY GOES AWAY. BEING 65, SHORT & OVERWEIGHT DOESN'T HELP ANY & I HATE TO EXERCISE, EXCEPT MAYBE SWIM'G BUT I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A PRIVATE POOL & I'M NOT ABOUT TO GO PUBLIC WITH MY WEEBLE-WABBLE BODY. I CAN'T GO TO THE DR. FOR A COMPLETE EXAM UNTIL SEPT., (NO INSURANCE) WHEN I'LL GET ON MEDICARE.
I PRAY THERE WILL BE AN EXPLANATION AND HELP FOR THIS VERY SOON OR BETTER YET I GET MIRACULASLY HEALED. RAB
This is the first time I've ever posted anything on WebMD and I came to the site to see if I could find any information on charlie horses because I experienced something early this morning that I had never experienced before. I was actually having two muscle cramps at the same time, one in my right calf and one in my left foot, so you can imagine my difficulty. I actually ended up screaming, crying, and eventually laying on the floor until they subsided because I couldn't walk or bend over too much so I just did what I could to lie on the floor. I've had charlie horses before but definitely nothing like this. I hope it's not anything serious??
Hi anonymous above,
I've also had that happen and it's miserable. The only thing that helped me was actually walking on it until I could get the foot stretched out of the cramp. Here's some information on Muscle cramps that might help.
Feel better soon!
I get charlie horses quite often, and for the past 2 nights they have been pretty persistent in the back of my right calf. The only thing that works for me is to try to stretch the muscle in the back of my leg by by pointing my toes up towards my face. It also helps to have someone rub the muscle with the cramp to try to work it out. My husband did this for me the other night and it worked wonders.
I get them a few times a year it seems, sometimes multiple times in a short span of a few weeks and then not again for a year or more. I've found that pointing your toes out (like a ballerina) makes it much worse whereas straightening your leg out and flexing your shin muscles (get your foot at an angle like you are standing) while pulling on your toes helps. The straight your leg the better, it tends to end the pain from the convulsions and it is over with much faster. Stretch for a few seconds after it ends too before going back to sleep.
This has been extremely helpful to me. I get my charlie horses in the early morning hours (usually 4:00 am). I too have difficulty working them out,and they usually occur in my foot and my calf muscle. My husband tells me to try to relax the leg and he rubs it out for me. I elevate my legs, take calcium, magnesium, and drink lots of water. I was told today, that the charlie horses could have something to do with the electrolytes in my body, but I was also told, charlie horses happen when we have placed our body in an awkward position and have somehow cut off the circulation to the calf muscle...I would like to know if anyone else has heard this before?
Hi...last night I had another episode of muscle cramps in the feet, and calves, all at the same time. But what was differant was that it started on my left leg, traveled up from my feet to the calf and then to the inner thigh. I was screaming, moaning and crying and yelling that I could not take it any more when it imnediately switch to my right thigh and went down to my calf, ankle foot and toes. My only companion is my dog. He was so frightened that when I was laying on the floor crying and screaming, he came to lay next to me. I was afraid to touch him for fear I would strike out just because of the pain. When I couldn't stop crying, he went and hid in the other room. I felt to badly for him. I will try Tonic water for the quinine - someone said they tried a vibrator, but did not indicate if it helped. I feel better just knowing that I am not the only one out there going through this.
I have had charlie horses before in the past, but the one I had last night was the worst one I've ever had. Normally I can just rub it out or stick it out until it subsides, but last night it just kept going. Finally, after it stopped, I noticed my hand was really asleep, maybe the cramp is related to circulation??
Would you agree that there is difference between a cramp and a spasm? I have had charlie horses and foot cramps since adolescence. I am a 54 yr. old female. However,now I get full blown spasms that lead to contorted ankles, feet and toes. lately they begin in my toes - which contort viciously. Excruciating ! I exercise regulary, drink lots of water, take calcium with D and eat well. I would welcome any speculation as to cause.
Does anyone ever get bad toe cramps? My toes cramp up and go in different directions, which would be humorous except it hurts like crazy! It seems like it usually happens when my feet are cold, so maybe it does have something to do with circulation.
Hello,
My mother also suffers from terrible charlie horses. She seen her Dr. today after months of suffering and she was prescribed calcium w/vitamin D and magnesium, it's all in 1 pill. You hear so many different things to try and she has tried them all so hopefully this will work for her.
Geez you all are so helpful. Reading through your comments I have a lot of things to try. I had one last night so bad my leg is still sore. :( I am ready to try something to get rid of this horrid pain that seems to only attack when I am sleeping. XD
I'm trying everything suggested, I'll just about try anything. I get the most excruciating charlie horses in my thighs in the middle of the night. I use to get them in my calfs but those I could handle by stranding about 2 feet from a wall and leaning toward the wall, it would stretch it all out if you can handle the pain meanwhile. These thigh cramps cannot be stretched out, help someone! They of course always happen at 2am and I'm up the rest of the night. Jm
I also get bad charlie horses in my toes. Sometimes I get them in my calves, but most always in my toes. They go all different ways and look so strange, but hurt so so bad. I've heard it is due to not enough calcium, but I do have calcium in my diet.
i get charley horse in the front of the foot just where the foot meets my leg. talk about pain! wakes me right up and i cant walk or rub it out. time makes it go away, sometimes after 5 or 10 minutes.
After being hospitalized for 3 days with leg cramps, I think I have hit upon a solution. This has worked for me to a high degree for the last year. I take 2 4mg tablets of Zanaflex (RX needed) and 4 Calcet tablets (OTC) daily.
Hope this might help someone.
I get those excruciating cramps in my calf muscles and feet in the middle of the night. One of the biggest causes is dehydration, so drinking water is key. My doctor actually suggested that I might have a potassium deficiency, and sure enough when I started eating bananas a couple times a week (my LEAST fvorite fruit), they almost disappeared.
I've had leg cramps (calf)
for some now. Recently was
diagnosed with lung cancer. Had partial lung removal and now on Chemo. Leg cramps are a still an evening of joy......so I asked my Oncology group forgive an opinion today and the PA said try Quinine Water. I'm on my first 6 oz bottle as I write. Will keep you posted with the ongoing results.......
Gerry
Thank you to all of you who wrote on this subject. I spent all of last night waking up every 15 minutes or so with severe calf and foot cramps - I have never had that happen before. Now I'm scared to go to sleep tonight! I had heard about a calcium/magnesium connection so started on that today. I'm also just hitting menopause...is there any connection there, do you think?
For the past week I have had the worst charlie horses! Almost everyday, through out different times of the day I would experience them. They never lasted more than 5 minutes, until 2 days ago, when my thigh got the worst cramp ever! I am still in extreme pain, limping up and down the stairs and wanting to do nothing but stay in bed. I dont know if I should see a doctor about it or not?
For all of you suffering folks out there with nighttime leg cramps -- we feel for you. My husband and I have both suffered from nocturnal cramping, tried "everything" and nothing worked for long. Besides that, most of the treatments need to be used every day/night or after the leg cramps start to be effective. So you suffer first, then finally get some relief (maybe).
Want to share what we found that had prevented cramps for both of us for over a year now! It's a product called CrampArrest that we found online. Just a simple all-natural pouch that is placed in the bed for continuous prevention of those horrid leg cramps. The product is inexpensive, and one pouch lasts for five or six months for each of us! Don't know how it works, but we really don't care as long as it does. You really need to try this- its unbelievable!
i ws in the er with severe back cramps or spasas a cat scan show maybe gall bladder problem after 3 morphine shots and a muscle elaxer shot.. still hut and have them now. help!! PS IVE BEEN ON QUINNE SULFATE SINCE 1985 FOR BACK CRAMPS
SUCH SEVERE CRAMPS WaS IN E R FOR A CAT SCAN.. 3 MORPHINE AND A MUSCLE RELAXER SHOT AND STILL HAVE THE PAIN TODAY... BEEN ON QUINNIE TABS SINCE 1985 HELP
I have enjoyed reading your comments and am going to try calcium--I need to take it anyway as I am 50+. I haven't seen described what I have periodically--not a true charlie horse as it is not in my calf and I can't walk it off. The muscle spasm is in the front of my legs, feet and toes and nothing seems to releave it except time. I am on Zocor, but have been for years before these started. Plus, they don't happen often, but when they do-----. Anyway, thanks for all of the helpful suggestions.
I have always had charlie horses, during the day but mostly at night. 2 things. I agree about potassium and eating bananas. I do Masters swimming & I was getting CHs in the pool (not good). My swimmates told me to eat a banana b/4 swimming and it worked. Also, when I get them at night, I hop to my bathroom where there is a cold tile floor. I stand on the floor and Voila! the pain is gone.
Hello, My pharmacist told me to take Tylenol at the onset of the leg pain , AND believe me it works. It takes about 5min. and you will notice the difference. I get them so bad Iturn chalk white, and and I'm soaking wet.
Goodluck
I don't have cramps or charlie horse pain in my legs. I have an achy feeling running down my left leg which I was thinking was PAD disease, but I have been drinking tonic water mixed with a little fruit juice and it has helped alot.
Re: Foot & toe cramps - My foot sometimes curves in an arch and the toes, when they cramp, go every which way. My mom, bless her heart, told me I needed potassium. Either make bananas a part of your diet or, like I do when the cramps start plaguing me, take potassium tabs for a couple of days. Stops them cold.
Thank you everyone so much!!! I am 29 and this has been happening to me off and on since my mid-teens. Pain so bad I would cry until the cramp stopped, then it happened in both legs at once and I couldn't stop screaming it was awful! It feels as though someone is plucking a muscle in the back of my legs (like a violin string) and the pain travels up and down my leg in the same way vibrations travel up and down a violin string. After these cramps I tend to limp for a few days and after the worst ones, it takes several hours before my leg will let me put any weight on it.
The doctor sent me for an EMT? test where they stuck needles in my legs to test my nerve reactions. After that all I got was "take a multi-vitamin and drink a sports drink." It didn't seem to work for me, but after reading all of your posts, I have some new ideas. Again THANK YOU!
Leg cramps are a sign of Pulmonary Artery Disease! So read up on some other signs.
My mother is a nurse and after seeing that I kinda freaked about her severe leg cramps. But she assured me that they just weren't the same. Anyway. She gets them on her inner thighs and they wrap around her leg sometimes. Then she gets the occasional foot cramp when she just happens to move the wrong way. Or even get up too fast. We usually have hot water bottles and microwavable heating pads on hand for such emergencies. The heat helps A LOT. And electric heating pads would never be ready in enough time. The hot water bottle is ready and there while the other is in the microwave. She has them less frequently when she takes potassium. She has been taking calcium and hasn't noticed a difference in cramps. She sometimes takes Lasix ( a diuretic) after long days at work.. and those are usually the worst with cramps. So she doubles up on the potassium.
When she gets them in both legs I have to help her into the bathroom and get her into a warm bath. Thats the only thing that will calm down her legs. Its really rough.
You might want to have your potassium checked. Too low and it causes muscle cramps and the same thing happens when it goes too high. Definately something that needs to be just right. Good luck
I am sure you all have explored many areas of cause for your leg cramps. But have you asked your doctor about your Thyroid. It is very often a problem, especially with women, but men have problems with it too. Other symptoms are tiredness, depression (not true clinical, but down feeling.), it can be treated easily. Ask the doctor, maybe ask two or three. For some reason, some doctors are reluctant to take your advice on what is wrong with you. Use the web. Search out your answers. Don't let your doctor be your only source of info. He is only human, and can only read and stay current on so much. Take your health in your own hands. Who else has the most to gain from learning?!
i just had a horrible one. my very first ever in my life, and i cried and screamed and... ugh. like... about 3 hours ago. i hope this wont be a reoccurring thing, because i just cant handle this.
im 14 and... ugh. i really hope there are better ways to bite this in the butt
I have experienced all of the same leg cramping and also some wretched leg tingles. It's called "Restless Leg Syndrome". Check it out.
Hi,
I have experienced severe leg cramps (charlie horses)for a number of years. My MD has had me on a regimen of Quinine Sulfate (325 mg. capsules)for the past 3 years, along with another RX called Klor-Con (potassium booster). You can also get potassium, calcium and magnesium vitamins over the counter. Everyone is different, however. As an RN, myself, I would first suggest seeing your Primary MD, requesting a complete blood "work up" to see if their are any particular deficiencies. Unfortunately, Quinine tablets via RX are no longer available. Yes, Tonic Water is one suggestion, but I couldn't acquire the taste - HORRIBLE!! My advice would be get your blood work results and if your body lacks potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc., you might try the Quinine Bark tablets that are found in health food stores or via internet. It's working for me like a charm, so far. Best of luck to you all!!
S Brock
Roxy says...
I'm so glad I read these comments! I've been suffering with toe cramps ever since I was a child. Never knew what to do. Nobody ever knew what the heck I was talking about. Then again, I was young at the time it started. I get them mostly when I walk a lot and in the cold and sometimes when I'm sleeping. It is really painful. Once, I remember I got one when I was working and I almost collapsed. It was so sudden and painful that all I could do was sit down and cry. My co-worker thought I had broken my ankle or something, and when I told her it was just a cramp, she smiled and walked away. I thought, gee thanx. But now, I will try Potassium tablets and hopefully they work because I don't want to have to deal with this for the rest of my life. Wish me luck!!
3:37 pm
As a long time suffer of night leg cramps I full the tub with very warm (hot ) water and just get my feet wet the cramps seems to go away very quickly.
Have been reading about the charley horses to see if there is anything to do to help with them as I had 2 really bad ones last night. One thing that does help me is to rub Myoflex on the spot--I am lucy enough to have my husband rub my legs while I do all the crying. It usually takes only a couple seconds for it to start working. Also a couple years ago a Dr. prescribed SOMA for me to take at night and it was great. Trying to get someone to prescribe it again. I would suggest buying the Myoflex to help though.
I have the answer and can't believe someone hasn't told you by now. When you feel this awful cramp in your calves, lay flat on your back and draw your toes and ball of foot back toward you (not pointing down like a ballet dancer.) You will stretch them back as far as you can even if you have to grab your toes pushing them up towards you. The pain and knot in your calf will cease. DO NOT stretch your toes and ankle downward and back because the pain will worsen!!
I am 45 years old and i believe i have experienced the same affects, so much pain that tears begin to flow down my face. The part of the body that most come under attack are my calves and recently the top part of my foot, were the toes begin to change in form and look distorted. I have been suffering from this for the past 2 years and my worst fear is that if this was to take place in other parts of my body like my heart or brain, it would be the first and the last because i would not be able to recover. "Can this really happen" " Is there a name for this dis-ease? '
I didn't realize that this was such a common ailment. I'm 54 years old and have been experiencing night time leg cramps more frequently the past few years. Last night, my left leg was the culprit. Awakened me at 4am. But tonight, just lying on the bed, reading, my right calf and foot cramped. I'd never had it happen during the day. My left leg is still threatening to cramp, and now I'm dealing with the other?!
The only thing that helps is to stand on and start walking. Pulling on my toes to stretch the calf muscle didn't work. I also found that I can't even move my foot during these episodes.
Thanks to all for the recommendations. Even before logging on, I had a peanut butter & banana sandwich for dinner!
This works-honest! take a bar of hand soap, place it under your' bottom sheet. When you have a cramp-place your' foot'leg on or near the soap cramp gone in seconds.
My father used to get these "charlie-horses" in his calves when I was young and from time to time I would also but never thought much ofit. Dad always said to eat a banana and they would go away. BUT years ago, I started getting these in my feet and when you look at your toes and find them all staright as a board, like rigamortis, it is scary, not to mention the worse pain in the world. My boyfriend of 5 years still looks at me like I have 2 heads as I sqwirm in agonating pain. Usually this happens late in the day while I'm relaxing on the couch and I'm yound still. Don't get it--27 and recently bounced back to the healthy side from Osteopenia. Maybe the Calcium advice helps a little and will work together well with the Potassium in the bananas. Good luck to you all!!
i had been getting cramps every nite and day in my feet neck stomach ribs feet ankles hands etc. had tried the tonic and various other things bananas etc. without a whole lot of luck then i went to a sleep clinic where the dr. said it could be a nervous condition from my diabetis or a circulatory condition because i have had bypass on ;my legs but they checked out okay so he said try vitamin b 100 complex and i take 1 at night time the first nite they improved by 50% and the second day by 98%
Have you had your thryoid checked. It stopped my cramping in my legs and wrists. What have you to loose?
Have you had your thryoid checked. It did the trick for me. It is often overlooked by doctors-why I don't know because it is pretty common in women particularly. What have you to loose?
Anyone know what it means when you have the charlie horse pains in your abdomen? I am worry about it, and can't find any information on here about it.
It helps reading what others have tried to alieve the severe pain of cramps. Being a breast cancer survivor, I've had a mastectomy, several reconstruction surgeries, a parathyroid removed (due to high calcium levels), and am also diabetic. I thought it was interesting that others commented about several of those same conditions. Someone told me to drink pickle juice and it would help the cramps. I get severe ones in the same side that I had the mastectomy and reconstruction surgery on so I wonder if it has anything to do with the damaged nurve endings. But I also get the cramps in almost every part of my body, hands, legs, toes, neck, but mostly in my side and rib. I would love to find an answer for what could be used to help. Seems wierd I had to have the parathyroid removed for having too much calcium in my blood system and now there might be a possibility of needing more calcium to keep from having cramps.
Congratulations on being a survivor. It is very interesting that you had your parathyroid removed. I assume that they put your on replacement medication. Have you had your levels checked? I would assume so, but don't take anything for granted. Ask! And you know as well as anyone that self help and attitude are so important to your health. Keep searching this site and anywere on the web you can. There is always new information out there and no doctor can be expected to keep up with every bit of it.
Hello!! I need some advice..my mother is 50 years old she has a lot of medical issues to begin with,but our family is stomped we do not know and the doctors seem not to even know why her potassium level bottoms out on her..She becomes very tired and fatigue.She looses complete energy.When this happens she tries to eat bananas anything high in potassium she was told to eat,and takes a potassium pill..What could be the cause of this?
hduncan:
Here is some information about potassium levels that might help. To ask questions of our health professionals, please visit our message boards.
Thank you.
I've had a problem for years with cramps not in the usual calf location, but in my thighs and along the side of my lower leg. Lately I've started having problems in the top of my foot, and a cramp that makes my toes point (related to achiles tendon maybe?) and another really mysterious one - it starts slow and it is kind of inside my knee joint. I know the feeling now and know when it's coming. It builds and builds and is very painful, but I can't locate any muscle to massage. I just have to cry for about 10 minutes until it passes. Anyone have any idea at all what this could be?
I see a lot of comments on calf and toe cramps, but don't find much on the kind of cramps I am experiencing. They awaken me in the middle of the night. The start at the top of my thigh on the inside and continue to my knee and sometimes pass the kneee, but are excruciatingly painful. When I get them, there is not much to do. Can't sit, walk, or even move. Can't stand up straight. Have to lay over the bed to ease the pain, but complete relief just comes after some time, usually 10 or more minutes. Can anyone help?
Well... it seems there are a LOT of people suffering from some sort of muscle spasms or charlie horses, but there doesn't seem to be a reason for it or at least I haven't found it or a cure. I'm 57 don't stand on my feet for long and have been plagued myself with these SEVERE spasms in my left calf in the very early mornings while trying to sleep, so I can get up and go to work. After a few of these GOD-AWEFUL spasms (thinking I'd rather have quadruple+ children instead), my right foot started going nuts.. I guess it's a spasm also but the toes go where ever they please and the foot starts curling up and I think I'd again, rather have twins at the same time when this happens. There have been some mornings when both occur. They say get out of bed and walk it... HA! Well... I sleep in a waterbed... I'm NOT able to get out of bed nore move. I'd rather scream bloody murder with the pain than increase it by moving. I've tried rubbing it.. pulling my toes toward me... none of it helps. I've eaten bananas... drank so much water that I probably could float my waterbed and NOTHING HELPED. I quit eating the bananas for about a month or so since they didn't seem to help... then tried taking a muscle relaxer before I went to sleep. I thought it was helping... then a few weeks later.. all hell broke loose. Both the left calf and the right foot was out of control. I couldn't do anything but scream and cry it hurt so bad. I had a Dr. appt that week... and the second he opened the door... I let him have it. "I can NOT continue to live like this." He also had the test results from bloodwork that was taken prior to the bananas etc. He told me he would write a script to take care of my leg spasms. I thought WONDERFUL!! (not knowing what it was or what it was normally used for until I filled it.. and checked it out online. Ok... seizure meds. I'm thinking.. Oh geeeez... Anyway... it was 1mg of Klonopin. OMGGGGG... 1 month later... NO MORE spasms. I made a mental note to kiss the Dr next time I saw him... UNTIL THIS AM 02/20/08 after taking my 6th or 8th pill last night... of the 1st refill... all hell broke loose.. all the other spasms were just little kisses compared to this one. To me.. it was the mother of all. It's now in the late afternoon... and I'm still having to baby my left calf. I took a robaxin after I got to work.. (got tired of limping) and it helped some. I also wanted to mention about the bloodwork results. This was a while before eating one banana a day for like 4 - 5 days... he said my potasium result was 8.5... way above what it was suppose to be. Next month, more tests. Along with all of this, I get severe pains in my lower legs(this one makes me want to run down the street screaming AND pulling all my hair out when it happens as it comes and goes - mostly while laying down and sleeping and sometimes during the day).. feels like it's deep within the bone.. most of the time it's on the left side. (I did have a bad wreck in 99 and the left side still bothers me sometimes). I'm wondering if all of this has something to do with the wreck. Has anyone who has the spasms been in a wreck and hurt your neck? He's going to have a bone scan done early March and after I tell him about THIS episode of spasm... I have no idea what else he will do. I'll continue to take the klonopin and see what happens. I did miss a night here and there... thinking maybe I wouldn't have to take one every night and I hate taking pills. I wish a Doctor would comment on all of our calf and foot spasms and why it is happening. I might buy some quinine tonic water this afternoon and try that. All of this really makes me NOT want to go to sleep at night. Signed... Tired of Spasms in Florida.
I have suffered with leg cramps of the shins, feet, ankles and toes. For the past month, I have had repeated episodes almost every night i.e. 1 a.m., 1:30 a.m., 3 a.m. 4:14 a.m., 5 a.m., 6 a.m. They are so bad I have great difficulty walking; the only way I can get the toes uncurled and the arch of my foot to relax is to get in a tub filled with the hottest water I can stand. After about 10 minutes of crying, they eventually go away.
I've seen my general practioner several times and all labs check out okay. He has no answers other than to give me a muscle relaxant which doesn't help at all.
It's time to go to bed and I'm scared because I know I will wake up several times in severe pain. Does anyone have a suggestion besides drinking more water and eating bananas?
Thanks you so much for your help.
Hello, I am a fifteen year old male, and I get severe foot and leg cramps at night, and at random times during the day. I am diabetic, and I heard that can be a problem, since it has to do so much with your feet.
I get it usually in my toes first, then it bends my foot clear towards my shins and I can barely push them back down. Ive fractured my foot before, and I'd have to say this hurts greater than or equal to. After that, my leg muscles contract inwards, and I can feel my tendons bulging out of my upper calf and back end of my thighs. I get plenty of calcium, and water, but maybe not enough potassium. That might help. In the superbowl they had players getting cramps, and they actually rushed out a box of bannanas for them to eat. Fish are high in potassium as well, I hear.
Anonymous,
Here is some information about severe leg cramps that might help.
This will sound crazy but the only thing that helps my cramps is to eat mustard, which I hate. I get the extremely bad cramps, where I want to scream. It doesn't work every time but it has saved me on some of the really bad ones where I couldn't even walk. The cramp would just start to relax after I eat several spoonfuls of mustard.
I get Charley horses in my throat, in an area where the only way to subside them is to look directly upward with all can muster. It happens almost everyday, I've already crashed my car once because of an attack while driving, its been about 5 years and never been able to find a cause or solution. anybody have any ideas?
I have suffered from severe leg cramps before but nothing like the last two nights. My entire leg from thigh to toes and once that seemed to relax, it began in the other leg. Needless to say there was no getting up and walking around to relieve it. I basically laid there crying and did yoga breathing to try and take my mind off of it. It helped as the pain eventually decreased but I am limping this morning. I did start a new eating regimen over the weekend where I'm not using any salt and no dairy products. I am going to restart my calcium tonight to see if it relieves it. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.
I had a double major surgery in 2006 on my back, after the surgery I had no more pain and I am able to do things that I couldn't do before. Last month I started to get gramps in both legs and feet, toe,calf, and also right hand,I had a EMG of my back after complaining of toes,calf cramps and found that I have damaged nerve root endings to the spine. Something new to my case but so are the cramps....I have a follow up with my doctor this week an I will try to post my results.
I wonder if all of our cramping is not caused from something like this.
One word: ICE. It is a miracle!
My cramping runs from the ankle up the bone in the front of my legs, unlike most posters that have them in the calves. When I wake up with this severe pain I cuss, scream and limp my way to the freezer for a blue ice pack (I have one that has the two indentions in it and it fits very well over the leg). I apply it directly to the leg without a towel or anything between the pack and the skin. The relief is IMMEDIATE!
Please try this - it certainly works for me!
I have heard about the soap in the foot of the bed, but it has to be a pure soap like Ivory, but I think it is more for Restless leg. My son inlaw told me the other day to eat mustard, said they used it in soccer when the players would cramp up.
I,ve gotten some help with rubbing sports cream or "pain vanish" into the cramp as soon as you notice it starting and just try and walk. I've had these in my thigh from knee to groin and heel thru butt. I'm going to try the magnisum though and eat a few bananas. anything not to have another night of cramps.
i woke up last night with a charlie horse in both calfs at the same time. I believe it has something to do with circulation. I drive an 18 wheeler and i've noticed that when i'm home i get cramps, when I sleep in my truck i don't get them. Any ideas ?
Drink a Gatorade before you go to bed. In addition to providing hydration, it has electrolytes and potassium in it.
I learned about turmeric (in prepared mustard) from The People's Pharmacy (radio program), so I tried a small sppon of mustard the last couple of times...it seems to work within 5-10 minutes, and I fall asleep. One woman keeps the little packets of mustard by her bed. No idea why it might work.
Calcuim in diet or supplements can help, also potassium and keepint well hydrated.
I found that taking 400mg. of Magnesium citrate has completely solved my Charlie Horse problems. When I ran out of the magnesium and went 4 days without, the Charlie Horse cramps returned but after getting back on a regular dose of daily magnesium , I haven't had a problem.
I, too, suffer from horrible calf and toe cramps. Tonic water seems to help, but not consistently. I was taking potassium supplements but my Dr asked me to stop because of diuretic side effects -- so, please be careful when self-medicating. (She did tell me to continue with banana consumption.)
My toe cramps seem to come on only when I'm on stage with my performance group, which is maddening. Shoe style doesn't seem to matter, as we wear everything from sneakers to dance heels. I'm working with my Dr. to rule out various scenarios that cause my cramps.
I would encourage folks to keep trying with their doctors for relief, and to be assertive about it. A family member experienced debilitating cramps in one leg for several years and wouldn't give up. Finally, they determined that he had a spinal cyst that was causing the cramps. Surgery offered instant relief.
My mother and I both suffer from charlie horses in our calf muscles. I have suffered from them my entire life, imagine that pain at the age of 5. Well I've found that if you can make it to the bath room, put your foot on the edge of a porcelain bathtub ( a tile floor will sometimes work, but the tub is better). It will stop the spasm immediately and pull out the cramp.
Post a Comment