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Bruise after cramp

Jo_the_boat

Jo_the_boat

Well-Known Member
Messages
809
Location
Littleborough, Lancashire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Bit unusual this one.
I went for a tough walk, 1 1/2 miles up a steep hill, same back down.
My thighs nearly cramped on the way up, but got back OK.
Went out for lunch and has WAY too many carbs - I'm normally very careful.
Later in the PM - huge cramps in both legs, one adductor repeated 3 times, the third time like a knife going in.
Next morning, big bruise on inner thigh.
It's gone now, 6 days later, but the hard exercise plus overload of sugar caused quite a problem. (worried about a clot to begin with)
(I also have a aorta / iliac total blockage which doesn't help - so I was doubly stupid.)

It was good to get a warning about poor control actually.
I've also started taking electrolytes - now I feel like a real athlete! :)
 
Jo_the_boat said:
Bit unusual this one.
I went for a tough walk, 1 1/2 miles up a steep hill, same back down.
My thighs nearly cramped on the way up, but got back OK.
Went out for lunch and has WAY too many carbs - I'm normally very careful.
Later in the PM - huge cramps in both legs, one adductor repeated 3 times, the third time like a knife going in.
Next morning, big bruise on inner thigh.
It's gone now, 6 days later, but the hard exercise plus overload of sugar caused quite a problem. (worried about a clot to begin with)
(I also have a aorta / iliac total blockage which doesn't help - so I was doubly stupid.)

It was good to get a warning about poor control actually.
I've also started taking electrolytes - now I feel like a real athlete! :)
Click to expand...
Have you let anyone have a look at your leg Jo?
 
@Jo_the_boat It might be dehydration. I've seen what must have been excruciating cramps which required about 6 pints of water to alleviate - strapping great men with tears rolling down their cheeks from the pain. There were people telling them they needed salt, but the tears were salty.
 
Jo_the_boat said:
Bit unusual this one.
I went for a tough walk, 1 1/2 miles up a steep hill, same back down.
My thighs nearly cramped on the way up, but got back OK.
Went out for lunch and has WAY too many carbs - I'm normally very careful.
Later in the PM - huge cramps in both legs, one adductor repeated 3 times, the third time like a knife going in.
Next morning, big bruise on inner thigh.
It's gone now, 6 days later, but the hard exercise plus overload of sugar caused quite a problem. (worried about a clot to begin with)
(I also have a aorta / iliac total blockage which doesn't help - so I was doubly stupid.)

It was good to get a warning about poor control actually.
I've also started taking electrolytes - now I feel like a real athlete! :)
Click to expand...
That sounds painful @Jo_the_boat. I second @AndBreathe ’s advise to get it checked out.
Leg cramps can be so very painful. Your thigh muscles are a very powerful set of muscles so when they cramp, you know it. A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a friend of mine about his father. His father, an ex military man and in his 80’s, was bed ridden and likely had osteoporosis. Whilst in bed his legs cramped so badly, both his legs broke. I’m relaying that to you to demonstrate how strong those muscles are and with so many small blood vessels they can get damaged and cause bruising.

I would definitely get your bruising checked out though.

edit tagged wrong person
 
Not everything is diabetes related!!!
I'd definitely get checked out
 
There is no bruising now. I've since cycled and walked a fair amount without problem.
I've cycled across the country last year and had the odd cramp - which was to be expected.
This time it was hard exercise plus a huge influx of sugar / cabs.
Google (or alternative) excess sugar and cramps.
 
Not sure if this is the place to discuss cramps? I'll tag on to a different thread if that's better.

I've always experienced infrequent and wholly unpredictable cramps in my calves. Just lately they've been a lot more frequent, typically attacking while I'm asleep. I set up a vertical 'bed-guard' at the foot of the bed which gives me something to press my foot against, which is the way I always solve a calf-cramp. But in fact, the nocturnal occurrence is always so shocking and painful, I invariably, instantly struggle out of bed and lean against a wall, pressing the afflicted foot into the carpet and stretching that leg behind me. That technique always solves my calf cramps very quickly...although being woken out of dreamless sleep to apply it, is very disturbing for myself and my girlfriend.

Dear me, how I ramble on...I really woke this thread up to mention that last weekend, I had a couple of very long, very energetic bike rides. Returning from the second, I sat in an armchair and fell asleep. Waking, I got up and was suddenly struck by a terrifying cramp of the hamstring. I had never felt this before, so I knew of no stretch that might alleviate it, such as I use for calf cramps. It persisted for about ten minutes, during which I was shouting in agony and fear at what was happening. I doubt it could have hurt more to be bitten hard by a wild animal.

I was also afraid that I might collapse, having injected insulin in the previous half hour. If I was beside myself in pain, there was the ugly prospect of the collapse being misinterpreted as a consequence of the cramp, and the whole situation going from bad to worse. I solved that by downing rather more full-sugar cola than I ever normally would at such a time, and thereby wrecked my day's hitherto excellent BG control.

You'll probably know the rest...eventually, by the time we had arranged an out-of-hours appointment with a doctor, the cramp had subsided, but I was very afraid it would return, so I couldn't think of driving that day. We took a taxi and the doctor was a great reassurance, though his practical advice was limited. He said he too enjoys a bike ride, and at times finds himself in tears of agony (his words) from cramp. His conclusion was philosophical rather than medical - 'Accept the situation'. I was amused by the ineffective simplicity of that perspective, but am still frustrated by its inapplicability to the awful urgent need for relief when cramp hits. It seems the medical jury is out in respect of a solution.

There are fairly unscientific reports that sniffing vinegar or 'pickle juice' will shock the mind in a way that instantly relieves cramps. It sounds like witchcraft but the whole question of cramps seems beyond physiological reasoning, so I'm in no position to deny that something weird and wonderful may be effective, and if it does, I won't care if I can't explain it.

Does anyone have any tested solutions?
 
I have well controlled T2, but for past 10 years have been getting the most painful cramp spasms in my calf muscles and thigh muscles. The spasms sometimes so big that the muscles get so tight you can fit a clenched fist in the thigh muscle. It is the worst pain I have known, and I have had bone marrow biopsies and root canal tooth treatments without anaesthetics. It makes me drop to the floor in agony.
I thought it could be a post menopause thing, but despite investigations no cause was discerned. I was advised to drink tonic water for the quinine. Was no use. Having a few grains of salt under my tongue as soon as I felt a twitch of a spasm only helped slightly. As did making sure I drank plenty of water.

Two years ago, a random blood test requested by a locum doctor revealed an imbalance of calcium, and parathyroid hormones. A few months ago I had benign tumours removed from thyroid gland and two of the four parathyroids had tumours too, so these were removed. I am on medication to balance the calcium levels, now. Possibly for life. Which is no hardship. The cramps are fewer and less intense now. I am hoping getting the correct balance of calcium will resolve for good. Though, alas, red wine seems to start them off. I will abstain from that.

Main point to make. Don’t just accept the cramps. Seek reasons. Don’t be fobbed off.
Solutions are good if they work, but be aware there are varied reasons for having the cramps, so investigate.
 
Wow...that puts my occasional post-exercise discomfort in perspective.

Thanks for your insight and advice, and I wish you good health.
 
I agree with @Pipp don't accept the cramps. I get cramps, yes extremely painful. I get Restless leg in my legs too and arms, a recent thing. My Dr suspects calcium deficiency amongst other things from malabsorption. It of course be an issue with any number of minerals. Not diagnosing , but cramping sounds like a deficiency . As for me, they are also investigating thyroid issues. They have suspected a thyroid problem for me over the last year or do. As @Pipp states the thyroid can be involved.

He has advised me to take Creatine Monohydrate, as I do strenuous hikes.

Ed spelling
 
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