Muscle Cramps

[Wildrose]

Who would have thought just deciding where to post a topic would be so difficult. Do I put it in general discussion, under rants or under pre-dialysis? Can I rant about too many topics? Just kidding... nice mods, nice mods...

So, I'm pre-dialysis, waiting for insurance or a Dr to get his/her head out of where the sun doesn't shine and do the dang surgery without my having insurance. In the mean time I'm nauseous (and no, I don't feel like doing spell check right now), having severe muscle cramps, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, etc etc. Although whats really got me in a tizzy right now is the muscle cramps. They hurt! I wasn't even sleeping. It sucks.

[MaryD]

Wildrose, I have found that drinking about 250 mls of tonic water in the afternoon/evening STOPS my cramps at night.  I only get cramps in my fingers and thumbs during the day, but they seem to disappear when I remember my tonic water.

I had cramps before I started PD, and still get them after starting.  The tonic water really helps

[Cordelia]

I had the exact same thing just before starting dialysis. Once I started dialysis, the severe muscle cramps and the restless leg went away. You will most likely feel better once you start D.

[big777bill]

 I've been having all the same symptoms. I called my Dr to complain about it and she gave me Ativan. I didn't think it would help much either but to my surprise the nausea and restless leg are much better. I can sleep almost all night long too. I don't know if it will work for you but they helped make it bearable for me. I was thinking about moving to Cali to get some medical pot but that seemed extreme beings I live in NJ.lol

[Rerun]

Tonic water has quinine in it and quinine is a natural muscle relaxer.  I use tonic water (diet).

[Jean]

Rerun has the best tip of all. Once she told me about it, things improved. Unfortunately they once again got worse, so now it is 1/2 glass cranberry juice, 1/2 glass tonic water and 3 muscle relaxers a day. I really just hate charlie horses and muscle cramps.

[Mr Pink]

I suffer from muscle cramps, especially at night. Strangely enough, the cramps mostly occur in my right calf, and occasionally in my foot. Somewhat embarrassingly, I sometimes get a leg cramp at a most awkward moment... when I'm getting, shall we say, very friendly with a member of the opposite sex! Sometimes, when I break into a gallop in the final straight, on occasion I've lept out of bed in screaming pain as a damn cramp kicks in right at the wrong time, usually to the startled amusement of the other party, and considerable embarrassment to yours truly. Subsequently, I get a little nervous when those special occasions arise, so to speak. If I can, I sneak into another room and do some stretching exercises in the hope that these little episodes can be avoided. Tonic water has become my secret weapon in the fight against cramp. I guess I should be grateful that CKD hasn't completely killed off my mojo.

[Grumpy-1]

Mr Pink     

[Rerun]

Sorry, but    

[mamagemini]

 

[Sydnee]

I can't imagine amusement
My hubby gets legs and hand cramps still. And yes it has stopped being "friendly" but never in the middle.

[Jean]

Now THAT is hysterical!!!!     

[AnnieB]

  LMAO Mr. Pink

[Clara]

I am so glad that I am not the only one Mr. Pink.  It sure ruins the moment.

[MightyMike]

Do they have you on lasix?  That cause you to urinate more but also sucks potassium out of your muscles which can cause bad cramps.  I use to have that problem I would get cramps everywhere I think the most painful cramps were in my jaw.

[Mr Pink]

I'm not on anything as such for cramps. I had an absolute doozy of a cramp last night, which was so severe I thought I was going to pass out. No, it wasn't during the throws of passion, either. This one was in my left wrist, and again I stress, nothing untoward was taking place. I see my doctor on Monday, and I'll be sure to bring up the subject because I can't be having that, especially if I'm at work, or otherwise occupied with a bit of after hours recreation for two! In fact it was so bad last night, amongst all the swearing and cursing, it's possible that I invented a new word! I guess it must be getting close now, which doesn't exactly have me jumping over the moon. I'll be taking something to help me sleep tonight. A cramp free night would be like an early Christmas present, right about now.       

[Alex C.]

Before my kidneys got as bad as they are, my secret for avoiding calf cramps was a banana a day. Unfortunately, bananas aren't good for us. I can usually avoid nighttime calf cramps by sleeping with my legs extended.

[cassandra]

Oops it took me a while to remember, but when I was loosing my dad's kidney, I was eventually prescribed Sodium (or Natrium) bicarbonate. That's what stopped my cramps.

NB also lowers your potassium a bit.

good luck Cas

[mamagemini]

I read that pickle juice was a great cramp reliever.

[MommyChick]

I read that pickle juice was a great cramp reliever.

My hubby used to swear by pickle juice! He would use it when he would cramp from workouts. As much as I love pickles... straight pickle juice grosses me out! haha But hey.. whatever works! 

[Mr Pink]

OK, so the winning move turned out to be an increase in sodium bicarbonates. I've been sleeping like a baby since. Happy days. So far, cramp and gout are the worst things about CKD. Thank goodness for meds, is all I can say.   

[Clara]

Yum pickle juice.  I crave it sometimes.

[malaka]

Note what FDA sent out re Qualaquin (quinine) drug and leg cramps.  No doc in his/her right mind ignores as "Dear Doctor" letter.....

I suppose they'll out tonic water next (my home-grown treatment).

http://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch/safetyinformation/safetyalertsforhumanmedicalproducts/ucm218424.htm

Sorry if this is  a repost

[MaryD]

I have found that massaging a leg cramp away will take anything from 3 - 5 minutes (and the whole process is very painful).  However, if I use a fast, firm patting action with both hands, the cramp has usually gone in less than a minute.  It's a firm, but light pat and as fast as I can go, and both hands are out of sync - a bit like drumming.

I would be interested if anyone else tries this and is successful, or is it all in my mind.

[Clara]

I had rib cramps the other night.  I though I had cracked a rib.  It even hurt to breath.  Those suck big time.