Thigh muscle cramp

Had two or three in the span of two days. I'm assuming that the spasm/cramp did some damage to inner tissue as my inner right thigh is still super sore and, in certain postions, notably with leg bent at the knee and bending outwards, the spasm feels like it might hit again... dreadful thought. So... don't point my bended knee to the outside of my body and don't bend my torso toward my leg, particularly while the cramp is going on. I did find relief by bending my body backwards and extending my right leg, straight, backward. You can feel that stretch in your abdomen, your lower back, and in your right inner and front thigh. Feels marvelous. If you could reach down and feel your right leg, you find that the inner thigh ligament, or whatever that thing is called, is flexed a bit. Anyway, that stretching helped a little. Now, after reading this sight, I'll devote some time to try to figure out what's going on... since I just turned 70 a few days ago. I am active and go to the gym three times a week and go to dances. It seems the onset of the cramps/spasms came from 1) getting up from a sofa-chair and 2) stretching while in bed. The soap bar does not work at all. The heat creams help with the residual pain. I'll post more as I learn more. It looks like I've got a lot of company on this problem.

hi plum:: i know those feelings well. I had those cramps for years until i found a cure that worked for me. I take a calcium magnesium tablet ( over the counter) every week or so and no longer get cramps. If i forget to take one and get a cramp I immediately chew up a tablet and that relieves the cramp very quickly. Trust me, this works and the pills are very inexpensive. I am 81 and until about 10 years ago I got those cramps every time I did any strenuous work. I read about calcium reacting with cramping  muscles in an old medical book and after trying it have no longer got cramp problems

Good luck

tom

 

Hello All!  Just adding an update to my situation with hamstring cramps in hopes that it may help others.  I posted a few times previously and some of you gave me great advice and support (thank you!).  After trying nearly ever vitamin and mineral combo and seeing no real results, i gave up and went to see a doctor who also happens to be an Osteopathist. (Osteopathy is a type of complementary and alternative medicine. It is an alternative medical approach emphasizing the physical manipulation of the muscle tissue and bones.).  After a brief consult, he had me stand infront of him and said, rather matter of factly, "It's your hip." Apparently, my hip somehow tilted, causing an imbalance in my stature and gait (something that i've had for so long, i didn't really realize it...just thought it was my natural 'swagger'...lol). So, that's part of the issue.  The other is that it caused or it just accompanies the fact that i have Piriformis Syndrome.  A muscle that runs from your hiney to your thigh...UNDER that muscle is your sciatic nerve (or in some people, the nerve runs thru the muscle) that runs down each leg.  My whole hip, lower back and thigh muscles are "very angry" (inflamed & tight) causing pressure on that nerve.  FINALLY!!!  THIS MAKES SENSE!!! All the hamstring stretches i've been shown have never given me any real relief...i thought i was doing them all wrong!  So, the osteopath sent me to see a chiropractor to get my hip more aligned and to relieve some of the pressure off that nerve.  Then, i go back to the Osteopathic part where he's going to work on calming down the muscles, nerves and such.  I've had 2 sessions with the chiropractor and have seen results already...i still have problems sitting (which is what bothers my leg and makes it feel like it wants to cramp or leads to a cramp) but my gait is much better.  I'm on ridiculous amounts of Vit D (50K units a week for a month as well as 10K units daily...which i had to cut back on because i was experiencing Vitamin D toxicity symptoms (mostly constant dry mouth and frequent (!) urination). The doc also told me to take Magnesium Glycinate and Lithium Orotate to calm my nerves (both physically and mentally because i have pretty bad anxiety tied in with the leg cramping).  I LOVE that he didn't try and prescribe me prescriptions or pain meds! Everything i bought, i bought OTC at a health food/vitamin shop.  Sooo, there's that.  I'm not cured of it but i'm definitely on the right track to getting better.  The BIGGEST RELIEF was not only finding doctors who LISTENED TO ME but gave me a prognosis that lead to a diagnosis!  Don't let your doctors' shrug their shoulders and give up on you by giving you pain meds and a handshake!!!  Try alternative methods!!!  11 years...my 30's, wasted being a recluse because i was so afraid of these cramps happening out in public or being stranded and having anxiety attacks because of them.  Ugh. Anyway, i truly hope this helps someone! Love, peace and blessings - Sam  

Pickle juice

Please try pickle juice, seriously. It works in 20 sec.

Suz NC

Thanks Samantha! I've always wondered about "real" issues and answers. It appears we are all created to function optimally in certain ways and, through the course of time, foods and accidents and stuff like that, things, like alignment and "owies" and "pows" and such, make our bodies go kafluey; not to mention the junk foods (aka, almost any foods) do their toll. Then, there's our lifestyle... T.V. etc., and they wreak havoc too. Enuf soapbox. Thank you for sharing and hope your cramps disappear forever!

Has it gotten better?

I feel all of you pain guys, i get thigh cramps about once or twice a week. The pain radiates from the groin tendon to the knee and sometimes the entire leg itself. What i have found to work very well is, keep a frozen ice pack in the freezer, if you can catch the cramp quick slap it on there it really helps with the pain, my cramps in my thigh used to last about 30 mins, now 15 to 20. Hope this helps

I too have violent cramps in my legs and thighs, I stand on my feet in my work most of the time. I know this sounds silly, but, it will work. When the cramps occur, drink pickle juice. I drink the bread and butter kind as it tastes better, but, dill is supposed to be better.. Yellow mustard is also good, except I cannot handle that one. Usually just a large swig will do and in about a minute or two, you will notice them easing. Everyone knows not to eat pickles at my house, Mom has been drinking out of the bottles.

I've seen pickle juice recommended by others on this site.  Do you mean take a swig of the juice from a jar of pickle? Like mixed pickles, pickled gherkins etc? I wonder why it works - maybe it's the vinegar? Any ideas? Well I might take to having a jar of pickles beside my bed at night. I have been taking calcium and magnesium tablets plus Vitamins D, B12 and B6. Have not been troubled by cramp since so I'm keeping my fingers crossed - for myself and fellow sufferers.