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Cramp!1

Posted , 9 users are following.

linda17563
linda17563

I`m sure this has been mentioned bfore, but I can`t find the answers....

I have been getting more and more foot/leg cramps at night mostly.  Last night both feet and legs, I struggled to move it was agony...is this PMR or Pred....and what can I do or buy for some relief?....Thank You

0 likes, 17 replies

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  • linda17563
    linda17563

    Posted

    Ps....don`t know where the 1 come from in my posting!!
  • audrey80537
    audrey80537 linda17563

    Posted

    Drink a glass of tonic water before u go to bed

    It's a simple remedy

  • Elijo
    Elijo linda17563

    Posted

    My suggestion: drink more water.  Also my son, who experiences severe leg cramps (no PMR) said pickle juice helps.  I tried it once, it did help.  I was getting hand and foot cramps a while back and my MD lowered my amlodapine (norvasc) from 5 to 2.5mg.  (Buy some pickles and pour out the juice into a jar and keep it in the fridge). Tonic water has some quinine in it, it might help some.  Thkere's also a Hylan product over the counter; it can be purchased at a health food store. I hope this helps you!  Good luck!!.  
  • EileenH
    EileenH linda17563

    Posted

    Magnesium supplements are the first thing to try. Plus, try increasing your intake of beans, dark leafy greens, potatoes, squash,yogurt, fish, avocados, mushrooms, and bananas for potassium (and also magnesium in fact).

    Pred increases the amount of magnesium, potassium and calcium you lose in your urine so it is easy to get depleted and muscles don't like it and cramp. The first thing the doctors try here for muscle cramps is magnesium. You are already on calcium and vit D supplements (I hope, essential for bone protection when on pred) so you won't need more of that. If magnesium supplements don't help do run it by your GP.

    • linda17563
      linda17563 EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks for that, I have a banana with my cereal in mornings...lots of greens...mushrooms, youghurt, fish...so will get some magnesium...

      yes, I do take Adcal twice daily....

      In reply to Elijo, my husband pickles his onions....but I really couldn`t drink that!  Will also buy Tonic water...

      Thanks everyone....

    • Elijo
      Elijo linda17563

      Posted

      The pickle juice I was referring to is the cucumbers pickled, you buiy them in the super market.  Folks eat the pickles at picnics or along with their burgers, etc.  You don't need to drink a lot of it.
    • EileenH
      EileenH Elijo

      Posted

      Ah yes - but I think Linda is in the UK so whether the pickles you are talking about are the same there is another matter!
    • Elijo
      Elijo EileenH

      Posted

      I didn't know there was realliy a difference?
    • EileenH
      EileenH Elijo

      Posted

      Many UK pickles are done in fairly strong vinegar - you wouldn't WANT to drink a lot of it! 
    • linda17563
      linda17563 EileenH

      Posted

      Exactly, I think they are too strong for my husband to eat/drink, but he can`t admit it!....It`s his birthday today, I dared him to eat the last 5 onions in the jar...but they`re still there!....rolleyes
  • ptolemy
    ptolemy linda17563

    Posted

    I get cramps from the pred, my doctor gave me quinine sulphate which is brilliant, my mother used to take it as well. It alleviates the pain pretty quickly and is a godsend as far as I am concerned. As has been mentioned drinking tonic water helps as it has quinine in it. I hate tonic water! Some people are worried about taking quinine sulphate, so read up on it first. You cannot get it without prescription. 
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga linda17563

    Posted

    I was interested in the quinine, but after I looked up the possible side effects, I decided my foot cramps weren't bad enough....
  • LayneTX
    LayneTX linda17563

    Posted

    I think I read bananas can be inflammatory.

    I was new to pill taking, thus vitamins. I took magnesium as recommended but it made my bowls awfully soft, so I backed off.  Then when I wake up in morning my feet, sometimes ankles cramped. Doctor said take magnesium. So I did again, but still did...someone told me on another forum the body has to adjust to the magnesium, hang in there and cramps should go away.  I did, but now take magnesium every other day.  And yes, lots of water.

    so yes, after several weeks, cramps gone, and after probiotics poops all good. wink  FYI.

    • linda17563
      linda17563 LayneTX

      Posted

      Thanks for the warning..will up my water intake as well! 
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