1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Cramps

Thigh muscle cramp

Posted , 125 users are following.

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

Prev Next
  • karen13913
    karen13913 Guest

    Posted

    I've been having these severe thigh muscle cramps for about 15 years now. I've had years of not having one, and other years (like this one) where I seem to be getting them every few months.. I had one at 2am this morning that I about passed out from. I got up and tried to walk it out, but I honestly am not sure which is better, just staying prone or trying to walk it out. They are horrible. I'm 60 and also have hot flashes, and last night, had a terribly flash while trying to walk the cramp out. I went out on our screened in porch to try and cool off, but nothing was helping until it just finally stopped. It lasted about 15 minutes. 

    I usually have them in my right leg, but have had them in my left, too.. A couple of months ago I had been down on the floor trimming our Doxies hair. I had finished his hair and moved to my recliner, where I sat for a few hours watching TV.. When I got up, both thighs cramped up..I felt it started in one leg, tried to massage it out when suddenly the other leg started too.  My husband had already gone to bed and I could not move.. The pain was the worst I've ever felt.. Everytime one leg would let up, if I moved even a little, the cramp started again.. That episode lasted for about 15 minutes. 

    After that I found this forum, and read that this is happening to many others.. I"m really not sure what causes them. I drink a lot of water all day long, so I tend to not think it's dehydration. I also read that people think it's a lack of salt.. I like salt on my food, so I can't really see a link there (I always use sea salt).. I use magnesium lotion on my thighs daily, and also use it as deorderant (it works!).. So I don't think it's that.. I do think it may just be associated with activity. Yesterday I was working on our new screened in porch, putting slip covers on our furniture and hanging curtains, so a lot of up and down action, and also climbing up and down a step ladder. I'm a very active person so doing things like this is not unusual for me.. Most of the time I'm fine, but every once in awhile, I get these absolutely horrible cramps.. I sure wish I knew the answer to preventing them permenately (I don't take prescription drugs so I really want to find an all natural remedy). 

  • Rosey93
    Rosey93 Guest

    Posted

    I know how you feel it is very frightening.It usually lasts ten minutes and yoiu cannot move. It locks me in a bent position as it goes up into my stomach as well. Touch wood the diet tonic water is working at the minute.
    • sharon33411
      sharon33411 Rosey93

      Posted

      Sorry you have that pain.. My thigh cramps are not at night.. anytime during the day or night though.. Hot weather or cold weather.. hydrated or not very much.. no rhyme or reason to them.. a friend recently told me about her aunt whose husband had bad leg cramps.. he would use a cord rope and tie like a tournaquet at the top of the cramp to shut off the blood flow for a short time. she said that really helped..  I use a wet dish towel wrun out and microwaved REALLY HOT, put it in a plastic zip lock bag and get all the air out of it, and put it on your cramp.. for me that really works well.  Haven't tried the cord rope yet..  Will let you know if it helps.  
  • Guest
    Guest Guest

    Posted

    Yes.  I too have experienced this.  See your physician and see if it's vascular rather than muscles or nerves.  They can do a venous ultra sound to check for clots.  To those who advise just getting up right way...I agree that one should try to do so, but sometimes, one is so paralyzed with pain one simply cannot move without increasing the pain.  Sometimes what may help, is to try to help your body go completely limp, and do some very slow, deliberate deep breathing to calm the panic and to try to relax the muscles around the pain area.  Still have a doctor check it!
  • Rosey93
    Rosey93 Guest

    Posted

    Hi Cynth59, thank you for the info, I will try and relax but as you say you are paralized with the pain. Touch wood and with out tempting fate I have not had an attack since I started drinking the tonic water and ocasionally taking the quinine tablets the doctor gave me. If it continues I will go back and ask to be checked for vascular problems.
    • Guest
      Guest Rosey93

      Posted

      Thanks, Rosey93.  I sure hope you can get some relief long term.  Working on that one myself. 
  • terri_lee
    terri_lee Guest

    Posted

    I am a healthy 58 year old woman in the USA...I have been suffering from these MUSCLE ATTACKS FOR 16 YEARS.   I have been collecting DATA from several forums about this matter.  If you are having these INNER THIGH cramps you know the horrific pain that comes from them...no one can understand unless they have it.   after tests ...mri...ct...ultrasounds were ALL negative...here is what I have discovered...

    when the attack happens or you feel it coming on ...PRESS YOUR FINGERS INTO THE AFFECTED MUSCLE (S) AS HARD AS YOU CAN...AND HOLD UNTIL THE CRAMP HAS STOPPED.  I have had this start in inner thoighs..travel to feet...into stomach, chest, into face and down arms...and i just wanted to die...it lasted about 20 mins.  since I have done the following, they are RARE...maybe once a year and with the pressing into the muscle it will lesson the pain and cramp.

    1)   This is a nutritional issue caused from worn out soil & over farming

    2) I have tried MANY suppliments and have found this "mix" to put a stop to the cramps...period.   If you get a bit of sun everyday you may not need the vitamen D...but its cheap...and it will help you absorb the following

    3)  CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH...MAGNISIUM TAURATE...2 caps in the am 2 before bed  ( it relaxes the muscles)   Use this brand...I have tried several others..they don't work the same...don't know why...If your local health food store dosn't carry it you can find it on the internet...and NO I don't own the company, just trying to help

    4) Vit D...you can start with it and taper it off to see if you need it.  If you take a mulivitamen it probably has D in it.   A good multi is ALIVE...

    +get the magnisium, press into the muscle...I know this will help...there are NO common factors other than we are humans...that this is happniing to...it has to be a nutritional problem...and that makes sence

    Let me know if this helps...WHEN THE ATTACK HAPPENS YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE EXTRA MAGS...IT WORKS VERY QUICKLY...DRINK A BIG GLASS OF WATER.   i KEEP THE BOTTEL AND WATER BY MY BED, SINCE MOST OF THE TIME IT IS AT NIGHT....MAY CAUSE LOOSE STOOLS...BUT THAT IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY ...

  • Guest
    Guest Guest

    Posted

    In response to the email sent to me, Terri Lee.  Thank you.  Of course, as a nurse, I feel the need to caution you regarding recommending any kind of supplement to complete strangers, with whose medical histories you are unfamiliar, without a medical license. 

    While I agree that this nation has polluted its soil, there are also organic farms that do quite well and any deficiencies cannot be "guess work."  One must see a physician and possibly a nutritionist for a complete evaluation:  blood work, etc. before making such recommendations.  The didneys and the liver has to filter everything you put in your body and you have to be careful because even natural things, if one is medication, can have nasty affects without a doctor overseeing what the person is taking.  Of course, a Pharmacist may also be able to help understand if something might interact or inhibit the action of a supplement or medication.  Just a friendly warning to be careful how you share your interesting findings.

    Thanks again!  smile

    • terri_lee
      terri_lee Guest

      Posted

       I) I am a RN...have seen 15 different Drs. and NONE of them have any answers...LABS>>>CT>>>MRI...NO CLUE

       This is a acute problem for people all over the world.  No one in the Medical field has ANY answers.   I see several recomendations for PICKEL Juice...omgosh SODIUM!  Tonic water...Quine has been pulled from the markets all over the world..yet I don't see you saying anything about them...

      THIS WORKS...3 people I know have gotten on this mag.suppliment. which by the way is the primary ingredient in MILK OF MAGNISIA.  The vit D   givenby the sun helps your body toabsorb ALL minerals and vitamens.   

      Few people can afford to buy organic...I DO ...but organic dosn't mean better nutitional benifits.  It only means there are not chemicals used in the growing.   It CAN still be over farmed.  

      You probably don't suffer from this "condition" or you would understand that WE are deserate to find a solution.  I am not recommending they overload their bodies with extreme amounts of SODIUM  or a substance that has been removed from the markets.  This is "the SUN"  and a mineral.

      ALSO AGAIN  PUSHING ON THE AFFECTED MUSCLE WHEN THE ATTACK OCCURS WILL KEEP IT FROM BECOMING UNBEARABLE.  you just have to keep pushing...and for me inlist help of my husband if it attacks both legs at the same time.   I guess that is bad advice too?

      If this happend to you just once you would have a different opinion.   But again if the MEDICAL FIELD isn't making money on this so  they have NO time or care to find an answer.   I do.   I am a sufferer.  

  • drahul91
    drahul91 Guest

    Posted

    I was reading up on some other forums about cyclists and triathletes. On those threads, people stated they received them after an intense ride. Similarly, the people on the forums said pickle juice helps to suppress the cramps. They also said the cramps could be due to having weak inner thigh muscles from not working them out. Could this be a reason why you're getting your cramps? Mines have occurred after playing volleyball outdoors in hot temperatures for a long duration of time. Has anyone noticed the cramping occurring after certain activities? 

    Also from reading people's experiences on here and another forum, I saw some trends with people who have the inner thigh cramps have some sort of hip problems, arthritis of some sort, or a hip replacement. 

  • maria7457
    maria7457 Guest

    Posted

    I too have had this thigh cramp and think I'm going to have a heart attack when it comes. I've experienced cramp when playing sport and it is nothing like this, this is excruciating . I got to the point of monitoring it very closely over about two years. I looked for any patterns that stimulated it.

    it may be due to weak muscles as I lost muscle mass through illness. But it certainly has a link to dehydration. It has come on after exercise but I was probably dehydrated in any case. 

    My pattern that seems to keep it at bay, if I am disciplined, is drink a litre of water over the first two to two and a half hours of morning, another litre over the nxt 3 hrs and then between one and two litres over the rest of the day.

    if I miss the first two litres I cannot 'catch up' and cramp threatens.

    i also hold static stretches for each muscle group in each leg....twenty seconds per stretch, twice a day.

    in addition to this, my doctor said try back arches and I do this and think it is helping a bit.

    the big thing I do know is have a hot water bottle ready if you think it's coming and put it on the area. It can keep it away but for sure, when it hits, use a hot water bottle to release the spasm. It works. I have one in every base I live or work in.

    finally, for peace of mind, I have a small glass of schweppes tonic water each night.

    doing this, I have gone from regular tacks each month to one in the last six months.

    it still terrifies me but, some degree of control...........fingers crossed. 

    Good luck.

  • maria7457
    maria7457 Guest

    Posted

    Drink water over the day, between three and four litres with the first two litres being drunk before one pm. I looked for patterns after suffering for many months and now, it only comes if I am too late with the water or too little drunk. Stretching twice daily and back arches also help.

    to stop the pain......a hot water bottle works! It can also delay or stop the intensity if you know it's coming.

  • linda57064
    linda57064 Guest

    Posted

    I had a bout about 6 months ago in both thighs some one once told me lack of salt 2 nights ago I had the same cramp in my left thigh feel like it's bruised now so it fades over the next few days also drinking Tonic water is said to help prevent cramps well I've drunk quite a bit of tonic water fingers crossed
    • drahul91
      drahul91 linda57064

      Posted

      Curious, did you notice if anything you were doing was different that day such as more excercise with less water, heavy lifting, etc.
    • linda57064
      linda57064 drahul91

      Posted

      not really even though I like to keep active  but I was a bit stressed which I have heard of stress cramp,it's so frightening though I had cramp in all different plces even neck cramp but the thigh is terrible and I'm not a youngster now so it may all count
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.