topic Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps! in Wellness

Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

ECBG — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 23:58:39 GMT

I'm not the age I used to be but still eat a lot of non starchy vegetables. I guess the only thing I stopped were those vitamin pkgs.

Is anyone having leg cramps? Many Thanks!

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

nada54 — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:18:11 GMT

Do you take magnesium? That is supposed to be good for leg cramps.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

on the bay — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:19:39 GMT

@ECBG,

Aw, not a nice feeling.

I don't have those but sometimes my calves ache and what really helps is massage your calves. Also since in your job you may be standing on your feet a lot and also taking care of that handsome Shadow hunk of love, have you tried compression stockings? They really helped me when flying and being on feet for a long time. Hope these maybe help and you feel better. Some have found magnesium helps but others have not.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

Kachina624 — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:20:17 GMT

@ECBG Could be be eating so many vegetables, you're neglecting potassium-rich foods? I get leg cramps if I neglect to eat a bananna or orange daily. Its especially bad if you take a diuretic.

What are the signs of potassium deficiency?

The following signs of potassium deficiency are clues that you're just not getting enough:

Acne
Weakness, tiredness, or cramping in arm or leg muscles
Numbness and/or tingling
Constipation
Excess water consumption
Depression
Nausea or vomiting
Edema
Fatigue (my favorite 8 fatigue tests)
Insomnia

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

ECBG — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:22:28 GMT

@nada54 wrote:
Do you take magnesium? That is supposed to be good for leg cramps.

@nada54

I eat a lot of salads and cooked vegies. I quit the vitamin pkgs (and all easy pay) when Q was going to close the forums.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

on the bay — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:23:34 GMT

@Kachina624,

I'm going to remember to get some oranges and a banana or 2. Probably good for most people! Thanks for the suggestion!

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

ECBG — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:24:20 GMT

@Kachina624

Thank you. I don't know if the vitamin pkg helped or if the age has created this issue!

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

rockygems123 — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:24:59 GMT

@ECBG wrote:
@nada54 wrote:
Do you take magnesium? That is supposed to be good for leg cramps.
@nada54

I eat a lot of salads and cooked vegies. I quit the vitamin pkgs (and all easy pay) when Q was going to close the forums.

@ECBG

Maybe try a well rated brand of magnesium from your local grocery store or Amazon? My doc suggested supplements even if we are big veg eaters which we are also.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

nada54 — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:25:21 GMT

You can get magnesium tablets at any store for cheap. Also from foods like Almonds and pumpkin seeds and Kachina is right on about Banana's.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

ECBG — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:28:03 GMT

@rockygems123 wrote:
@ECBG wrote:
@nada54 wrote:
Do you take magnesium? That is supposed to be good for leg cramps.
@nada54

I eat a lot of salads and cooked vegies. I quit the vitamin pkgs (and all easy pay) when Q was going to close the forums.
@ECBG

Maybe try a well rated brand of magnesium from your local grocery store or Amazon? My doc suggested supplements even if we are big veg eaters which we are also.

@rockygems123

Thank you. I'm between just a multi vitamin or just potassium. I know an overload of vitamins leave the body.

I'll get another multi vitamin that is age related.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

lellow — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:30:41 GMT

Hi. My sister drinks tonic water and that has really helped her. Also as another poster has suggested try increasing your potassium intake, bananas and strawberries. Feel better!

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

rockygems123 — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:31:33 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@ECBG Could be be eating so many vegetables, you're neglecting potassium-rich foods? I get leg cramps if I neglect to eat a bananna or orange daily. Its especially bad if you take a diuretic.

What are the signs of potassium deficiency?
The following signs of potassium deficiency are clues that you're just not getting enough:
Acne
Weakness, tiredness, or cramping in arm or leg muscles
Numbness and/or tingling
Constipation
Excess water consumption
Depression
Nausea or vomiting
Edema
Fatigue (my favorite 8 fatigue tests)
Insomnia

@Kachina624 @ECBG

So true. I take a daily diuretic and pee out enough potassium to warrant taking a supplement daily. Tablet in water, salty, grainy yuckky but necessary I guess to avoid those issues you noted above.

@ECBG

This looks like a good article on postassium chloride.

https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/d04241a1

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

Kachina624 — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:31:49 GMT

My doctor says potassium in pill form is very unstable and the outcome is uncertain. She recommended I not take it and eat the oranges and bananas instead.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

rockygems123 — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:33:55 GMT

@ECBG wrote:
@rockygems123 wrote:
@ECBG wrote:
@nada54 wrote:
Do you take magnesium? That is supposed to be good for leg cramps.
@nada54

I eat a lot of salads and cooked vegies. I quit the vitamin pkgs (and all easy pay) when Q was going to close the forums.
@ECBG

Maybe try a well rated brand of magnesium from your local grocery store or Amazon? My doc suggested supplements even if we are big veg eaters which we are also.
@rockygems123

Thank you. I'm between just a multi vitamin or just potassium. I know an overload of vitamins leave the body.
I'll get another multi vitamin that is age related.

@ECBG

My mother was an RN and called vitamins expensive urine ha. Just depends on the manner in which you take them, i.e. with food, not with a diuretic like colas, coffee etc.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

rockygems123 — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:36:57 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
My doctor says potassium in pill form is very unstable and the outcome is uncertain. She recommended I not take it and eat the oranges and bananas instead.

@Kachina624

I'm stuck with pill form as allergic to bananas. So far so good, last lab showed normal levels and they were low before.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

moonandthestars — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:37:22 GMT

@ECBG Since you are having leg cramps now I would focus on taking potassium, magnesium and essential minerals/trace minerals. Later, when you get this episode under control you can probably go back to your normal multivitamin (it has minerals?) and then make sure you're eating bananas, etc. too.

Also, if you're getting them at night when you're in bed, do remember there is an old remedy where you sleep with a bar of soap! I never did understand why it would work, but people have sworn by it. Maybe take a look on google.

Feel better .....

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

moonandthestars — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:39:50 GMT

@ECBG oh, also wanted to comment on the overload of vitamins just leaving your system - that doesn't mean that all of it leaves your system - just what your body can't use. It's a good thing that it happens because that means there is no issue of having too much in your body. some vitamins store - examples I think would be vitamin d and maybe vitamin a.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

on the bay — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:54:34 GMT

@ECBG, Yes, I wouldn't take potassium in a supplement either-too much can cause severe problems.

Vitamins A,D,E, and K are fat soluble and are absorbed in our body so excess remains there and does not

leave the body like water soluble (B and C) vitamins do.

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

ECBG — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:50:07 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
My doctor says potassium in pill form is very unstable and the outcome is uncertain. She recommended I not take it and eat the oranges and bananas instead.

@Kachina624

Durn! Like I need more calories!!!

Re: Durn! Having Leg Cramps!

Foxxee — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:55:38 GMT

Yes, I do get them once in a while, usually after lying in bed a few hours.

I've been checked out...no medical conditions causing it. Doctor told me to take a potassium tablet whenever I have the cramps or eat more foods high in potassium...bananas, potatoes, and others, and cut back on drinking too much fluid. I'm guilty of the latter. Too much fluid can cause an electrolyte imbalance, potassium one of the electrolytes.

Some diuretics can also cause low potassium.

A few here recommend magnesium.

I take a multivitamin every day, but they usually contain a small percent of both.

Taking a potassium tablet always works for me.

Potassium is necessary for the normal functioning of all cells. It regulates the heartbeat, ensures proper function of the muscles and nerves, and is vital for synthesizing protein and metabolizing carbohydrates.

Magnesium does support muscle and nerve function and energy production.

Low magnesium levels usually don't cause symptoms. However, chronically low levels can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.