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Leg (calves) cramps / weakness

Mike d

Expert
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Location
Australia
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Other
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idiots who will not learn
Another dumb question guys .

Last night I had some calf pain in the right leg (I stretched after the pain woke me up and all was fine) but I have noticed from a couple of days ago that when I walk down (three flights of) stairs at work I feel a little wobbly, but not to the point of losing control if I use the correct part of my foot and take it a little more slowly than normal.

Allied to that, I sit in some uncomfortable chairs where my tailbone hurts a bit and the groin area goes numb. When I realise that feeling, I get up and the numbness disappears almost immediately. Walking up stairs or on level ground is no problem. I've read some online threads that indicate this can be attributed to Type 2 but since I've only been recently diagnosed, I find it hard to fathom how this could occur so quickly.

Any opinions out there? I'm trying to get on top of this thing and every step forward seems to be associated with one step back which is really annoying. My doc insists all my readings are good and I have this under control but it's depressing to think the complications have advanced this far in so short a time so I'm asking for advice / opinions in what this might be, how to combat it and the progression of the ailment if indeed it's Type 2 related. Given I've lost a lot of weight, eat religiously to a strict sugar / fat free diet and I'm doing everything else right, it's got me stumped.

Thanks Mike
 
Low salt,is known to cause some problems with getting cramp. Why not up your salt intake for a while and see if matters improve .
 
Alanp35 said:
Low salt,is known to cause some problems with getting cramp. Why not up your salt intake for a while and see if matters improve .
Click to expand...

Thanks Alanp. I've read that too and I'd be lucky to have more than the slightest pinch of salt per day, not per meal It doesn't seem sufficient to me but what do I know

After I eat (and I REALLY need to get a plan in place that provides me with a nutritional balance, not simply follow something so rigidly that's given me my good results thus far) I get FAR more control in terms of climbing / descending stairs.

What I forgot to mention was that I get (at least what I think) is associated sciatic pain (only on the odd day) down under the arch of my left foot and it feels for all the world like it's back related. I even use a cushion in the car to soften any tailbone pain, and if I stay away from work chairs and rest in a sofa or in bed at home, I'm all good.

I also have cut back on my recreational walking substantially (outside of work where I walk up and down stairs 30 times a day) as I've lost more than enough weight, but I'm also cognisant of the fact that exercise is critical.

I'll be damned if I'll let this beat me and I'll repeat, I LOVE you guys and the support you offer.

You'll never know how great it feels to unload and get some good and very comforting advice.

Cheers Mike
 
Your symptoms could be attributed to many things. The calf cramp for example could be too little salt as Alan said. It is also a symptom of low magnesium, and many other things. Tail bone and sciatic pain is normally associated with back problems, nothing to do with diabetes. Only your GP can sort these things out for you. If you are concerned, it would be best to pay him a visit.
 
The sciatica sounds a possibility. The loss of weight, change of shape and sitting uncomfortably. I have a back problem so I go into periods of sciatica which sound a lot like your symptoms.

In addition, if you are on any medication then check the paperwork for side effects. I also had big problems in that area.

There was a fellow at work who passed out a couple of times which was unusual for such a big strapping bloke. It turned out his wife was on a mission to make sure he never had any salt at all and she was quite successful at it. It turns out that we all need salt to live and the old scare was about excessive salt which my sister puts on her lunch every day. She puts half a salt cellar on her lunch and has stents in her arteries.

I think the recommendation was something like less than 6g per day.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1138.aspx?CategoryID=51
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Thanks again

Great advice Bluetit
 

and thank YOU squire

Gee I love this place !!!!

Mike
 
 
Thanks Lonely wolf ... MORE good advice

Take care mate

Mike
 
Hi Mike, do you take any statins as one of the side effects can be cramps. I get it in my calf at night, and as you say, a good stretch will help ease it but next day the muscle is a bit sore.

The pain in the tail bone could be coxydinia (think I've spelt it right) and can be really painful. It was suggested that I get a wedge cushion with a cut out in the back which helps ease it a bit, but after a year I'm going back to docs for another referal to muscular/skeletal unit as they said a steroid injection might help.
 
I have leg cramps,I have to walk about sometimes at night and feel better.
Drink lots of water during the day ,I know it helps,there is realy no known cause,Im always worse if I have been on a plane.
 
Everyone has already said it all.

- statins can cause leg pain, weakness and need to be carefully monitored, because sometimes the damage can be long term.

- cramps can be caused by too low salt , can be treated with magnesium, potassium or (gasp!) more salt.
 
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