As promised this is how I live with Nocturnal Leg Cramps with the emphasis on prevention but, if the worst happens, how I combat them.
I came off statins 16 months ago because I had the suspicion that they may have been partially or wholly to blame for the cramps. At least I am certain that they were responsible for joint pains and back and shoulder pains at night. I CANNOT
AND WILL NOT ASSERT that statins were the cause because I simply do not know.
Least said now regarding Quinine Sulphate.
Some posters here suggested Magnesium in most forms and I finally settled on Magnesium Citrate. At first 1 x 200mg before bed but, I felt that I had to increase the dose which I did to another 1 x 200mg after breakfast.
Google carries many articles on the prevention of leg cramps and my attention was drawn to an American product namely
"Stops Leg & Foot Cramps in about one minute" - the article carried so many affirmative opinions with just one or two saying "Not helpful to me," etc., that I felt compelled to send for a supply. It is manufactured by Caleb Treeze Organic Farm,
624 Ruberta Avenue, Glendale, CA Phone 818-247-9600. It is supplied in 8 fl oz liquid form contained in a plastic bottle.
Their website =
www.StopsLegCramps.com. It has a terrible taste which I can only describe as a mix of pickle and vinegar juices. On the upside I found that just one small swig, when experiencing the onset of what I knew would be a very bad cramp involving the whole leg, relaxed the problem OUT OF SIGHT in less than two minutes.
I am no longer frightened to go to bed at night!!!!!
For smaller twinges I perform the normal stretching of the toes towards the body which generally suffices but if I feel a little further help is required I wet my finger and dip it into a small phial of salt and place upon my tongue. I also keep the phial with the US product on my bedside table. The small plastic phials supplied for test strips, e.g., One Touch Ultra, etc., are 100% ideal for keeping the salt dry.
To prevent cramp one should develop a Yoga approach to identify, whilst sleeping, the position of one's legs which should be straight and relaxed. It IS possible to be self-aware when asleep and one should practice straightening the legs gently one by one. Never move them suddenly or that will almost certainly cause them to cramp almost immediately.
I know I live in a tropical country but I cannot subscribe to the opinion that my cramps are caused by dehydration and the loss of salt because I suffered the worst possible cramps when living in the UK. However, bearing in mind that salt has been blamed for many heart conditions, I would recommend a slight intake during the day to perhaps maintain whatever balance may be required by the body. It may be absurd but I never used to eat crisps for obvious reasons - no good for one, etc., - but now I do eat half a small packet daily and wonder if the salt in them may be helping me.
Finally, I cannot find a correlation between my blood sugars and Nocturnal Leg Cramps.
I sincerely hope that some or all of the above may be of help.
