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Thigh muscle cramp

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Guest
Guest

I have often had calf muscle cramp, but this is easily dealt with by walking about. However, last night I had a thigh muscle cramp which was far more acute than anything I had had before. The pain was excruciating and lasted ten minutes. My face went grey and I almost fainted. I couldn't walk and massaging seemed to have little effect.

11 likes, 310 replies

310 Replies

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  • donna68907
    donna68907 Guest

    Posted

    Thanks. I will look into Creatine.  So glad you  found somethng that works for you.
  • seon36852
    seon36852 Guest

    Posted

    I have had this type of cramp several times and agree the pain is excruciating, much more so than other cramps. I agree with you it is impossible to walk and massaging is useless.

    What relieves it every time for me is to lie flat on my back and to raise the affected leg in the air -  if possible supporting it with a towel. Hope this helps.

     

  • dtmc
    dtmc Guest

    Posted

    I have been getting severe inner thigh cramps for years. I played sports and worked in the south florida sun for years but didn't start getting them till my late 20s. I have passed out from them, but have learned to breathe properly and haven't passed out since. I get them at night, almost always in the right leg. My job isn't nearly as labor intensive now and I still get them. I drink about a gallon of water/gatorade a day, doesn't help. I tried magnesium pills, potassium pills, Centrum complete, eating 2-3 bananas a day, putting salt on every thing...with no prevail, I still get them.I learned to notice tingling and tightness, sure signs a cramp is coming at night, and drink pickle juice. It takes a cramp away immediately and helps it to not cramp if I catch it early enough. Can't put a finger on why I get them tho. These things are paralyzing !!! Stretching and moving only makes them worse. I try not to move, lay or stand straight, and breathe...all you can do. I would just love to know what causes them. After over 10 years now and I don't believe it's dehydration or a vitamin deficiency...?
    • dwayne1
      dwayne1 dtmc

      Posted

      I have suffered with leg, ankle, and foot cramps for about five years. I was told by a doctor that it was due to diabetic nerve damage and when I asked him how I could, after 15 years of perfect control of my sugar, all of a sudden get "..diabetic nerve damage..."?  He had no answer...so many doctors refuse to just say "I don't know"  Another doctor DID admit he had no idea but suggested I try quinine (tonic) water......it DID help a lot but didn't control the problem.  As you said, the pain can be excruciating and all you can really do is stand up and wait for the cramp to go away on it's own....often as fast as it came.  I have heart trouble that is well controlled but have to take blood pressure medicine.....a friend called me a few days ago and told me that the blood pressure med he was on (Coreg, the same as me) had severe night leg cramps as one of the less common side effects; I looked at my record and saw that my cramps started within weeks of being put on Coreg five years ago......his doctor changed his med to a different Beta Blocker and his cramps disappeared....not eventually but the next night!  I plan to speak to my doctor about it when I see her next month....I'll post the results.
    • donna68907
      donna68907 dtmc

      Posted

      I use to get them 3 - 4 times a week.  I would get them again in the same leg with just a little time in between.  That is a killer.  A Dr. told me they haven't been able to do anything for them.  BUT he also asked me if I was taken any cholesterol meds (he was not my reg, physician).  I said yes and they had tried me on all the cholesterol meds and I got them with every one.   He stated that it was   was the statins in these meds that has a lot to do with these cramps.  So I asked my reg. phys about it and asked him to take me off of this medicine.  He did and I went from 3-4 times a week to now, only having one  every 2-3 months,  At times I would get them in each leg at the same time and I would pass out. And - yes to me - they are worse than labor pains.  I know, I have had three children.  I sometimes can tell when one is coming on.  BUT the majority occur when I am laying down and try to get up or  get up from a sitting position,  Although when they do occur, most of them happen to the right leg.  I have also noticed that if I am sitting on a hard chair for any length of time I sometimes get them while I am sitting.  I feel so sorry for all of us who suffer from this but at the sametime it is good to know that I an not the only one.  Good luck to all who suffer from this condition. I really wish that physicians would read the letters on this web site.
    • dtmc
      dtmc dwayne1

      Posted

      I'm 160 lbs, no medical conditions, not on any meds, am very active, no diabetes, eat healthy...and I still get them regularly. What's weird is all the sports and physical labor I've done, I didn't start getting them till later. And when I get them now, it's not on strenuous days where I over exerted myself. Got one last night out of nowhere...been an easy week, eating normal...about my 3-4 one this month now...?
    • lindaj12018
      lindaj12018 dtmc

      Posted

      I'm like you.  I have no medical conditions either.  Usually get them at night when Im laying on the couch or in bed.  After trying everything in the book, I have had the best success with going to a chiropractor.  Actually, I first went to her for lower back spasms but the adjustments relieved the cramps.  Its been a couple of months and I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I have only had one severe cramp during this time.  I was getting them severely almost every night.  I do take Magnesium taurate and B12 chewables too.  I'll continue to post my progress.

       

    • Rosey93
      Rosey93 lindaj12018

      Posted

      I am trying to book an appointment with doc but life keeps getting in the way, until it terryfies me again!!.. I am getting twinges now just hoping it won't go. I am very over weight so now got to lose it hoping it will help. One thing I have noticed is if I have climbed a lot of stairs during the day it seems to affect it. That is the only thing I can recall happening on most attack days.
    • wenerod
      wenerod Rosey93

      Posted

      I am also very overweight and I get these awful thigh pains periodically.  I take a magnisium supliment nightly.  What seems to help the most when it does happen is a full teaspoon of regular yellow mustard followed by a full glass of water.  I don't know why it works but it does. 

  • Rosey93
    Rosey93 Guest

    Posted

    Thank goodness for that, people who know how excruciating thigh cramps are. I started with them just before Christmas 2014 and have had 5 attacks now, usually on leaving the settee in the evening. Soooo scary it starts just above the knee on the inner thigh goes down below my knee and up into my stomach. It locks me bent over and makes me cry and scream, and I am always alone when it happens. It happened in both legs once I wanted to call an ambulance but couldn't move or get to the phone or door, then it hurts for days after. The pain terrifies me I have never had anything like it. I am trying to see if tonic water works so drinking at least 2 pints of diet tonic water  a day. I need to see my doctor but from the sound of things they don't seem to have any answers?. It lasts for about 10 mins and then I can sit down, but daren't move after incase it goes again, as it has on one occasion gone straight back into another spasm.
  • sharon33411
    sharon33411 Guest

    Posted

    Try wet hand towel (wrung out, but still wet) microwave it till VERY HOT, put in plastic zip bag, and get all air out of it, put it on the cramp.. should give relief almost instantly.. stay still for about 10 minutes to make sure it has stopped cramping. hope this helps..
    • Rosey93
      Rosey93 sharon33411

      Posted

      Thanks If I can get to one I will but can't move once it comes on!!!.
  • sharon33411
    sharon33411 Guest

    Posted

    I realize the pain is excruciating, but if you can get someone else to heat the towel it would be helpful.. But do your best to get to the microwave.. have everything else ready, just in case.. it won't take so long then.. Hope it works for you.
  • ramona86918
    ramona86918 Guest

    Posted

    One thing I have found helpful has been to wear leggings to bed at night and to make sure my legs keeps covered and warm with blankets. I have had to crank up the a/c so I don't burn up. Lol. I have noticed my legs/feet are usually cold when the cramping

    starts.

    • Rosey93
      Rosey93 ramona86918

      Posted

      Thank you I will try and remember that , I have not had another attack  yet since I have started drinking a litre of diet tonic water a day. I have had twinges but no attacks. But they seem to be happening every couple of months, going to start keeping a diary and list what I do during the day prior to the attacks.
    • karen13913
      karen13913 ramona86918

      Posted

      The leggings idea sounds like a good idea to me.. I've bought some footless tights to wear under my pants (during the day) to see if that might help.. Seems like it'd work like an ace bandage, adding pressure.. It's been such a hot summer, I just haven't been able to try it (I'm a hot flash sufferer redface), but now that it's cooling off, I'm gonna test this theory out! biggrin

       

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