Diabetes Support Group
Related: About this forumKiller front and inner thigh cramps last night.
Have any of you ever experienced them? If so, what did you do for them? Ive had charley horses in calves, shins, ankles before, but nothing like these.
I know Ive probably overdone the past two days, havent been vigilant in keeping up with water, skipped a normal lunch both days, had more than my usual holiday cheer (4 small glasses of wine and one awesome lambic raspberry beer on Tday). Sooo not smart.
I leapt out of bed last night about every two hours. Literally bent over because I couldnt stand straight due to the muscles being so tight, each time took a lot to rub it out. I think my reflux raised its head because of me jumping out of bed so fast. When Id lay back down to try to go back to sleep, the reflux was worse. Couldnt take any Zantac due to being on metformin. There were times last night that I just kept thinking breathe in, breathe out, drift off to sleep, then the cycle would abruptly start again. I think Ive felt so crappy today due to lack of sleep.
To top that all off, it hurts to lay on my left side because the 20lb turkey got the better of my shoulder when I was getting it in the darned oven.
Feeling exhausted and beaten, and kind of afraid to go to sleep tonight ☹️
Demovictory9
(33,752 posts)woodsprite
(12,199 posts)Those are bad too! I hate when the cramping starts moving up the front of your ankles. I find them almost impossible to walk off.
My son just got home from a day with his GFs family and tossed me a bottle of pills. Both his GF and her mom have diabetes. He asked them what they do and they gave him Hylands Leg Cramp pills to have me try. I put them on my nightstand. I always was told their products were woo until we used their meds for colic and teething issues when my daughter was a baby. They seemed to be the only thing that worked for her. Hopefully they work as well for me.
mahina
(18,938 posts)I prefer rational exclamations that I dont understand we have to see what I do know for a fact that Hylands teething tablets worked. Theyre off the market now but Ill see what else they make.
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)Out of nowhere, they hit. Damned annoying.
tblue37
(66,035 posts)Demovictory9
(33,752 posts)OregonBlue
(7,923 posts)My husband now uses this as a go to and it works. He follows up with a second glass of warm water. The cramps subside very quickly and it also can help with reflux.
AllaN01Bear
(23,039 posts)MLAA
(18,598 posts)He says it helps. Good luck!
woodsprite
(12,199 posts)Ive seen it advertised, but never knew anyone who used it.
House of Roberts
(5,683 posts)but I got some quinine pills from the neighborhood pharmacy. You put a couple under your tongue and let them dissolve, and the cramps stop really quick.
Jane Austin
(9,199 posts)My mother had some and they worked instantly. My doc said some people had a bad reaction to them.
OK, so how come we can still buy tonic water (quinine water) with no warning on it?
Cousin Dupree
(1,866 posts)I currently get occasional cramps in my feet that pull my toes up, and calf cramps. Im going to tell you my home remedy for cramps. You wont believe it. No one does. It works for me within seconds: eat a spoonful of mustard. Any kind of mustard. ( its not pleasant but I do it cause it works). Give it a try. Works like charm for me. Even if you dont believe me, it wont hurt to try. Good luck.
woodsprite
(12,199 posts)And thats why it works. I also was reading last night that some people take pickle juice for leg cramping.
Pisces
(5,826 posts)ekelly
(426 posts)that pull my toes up as well. I keep mustard packets on my nightstand....works every time, and fast!
Cousin Dupree
(1,866 posts)them about this.
tblue37
(66,035 posts)Bayard
(24,145 posts)And in my legs. They ease up if I stretch my calf by pulling my toes up. Works best if you stick your leg out. Has also kept bone spurs at bay for over a year now.
mahina
(18,938 posts)fierywoman
(8,105 posts)area -- pain goes away in about 5 minutes.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(26,727 posts)It's always very painful, but the cure is to hop out of bed (and they only occur when I'm in bed, for some reason) and to stand on the foot of the leg that's cramping. It goes away instantly. Don't know if that helps any of you, but it cures it for me.
tblue37
(66,035 posts)dehydrated (and most Americans are), then you'll become more severely dehydrated after a few hours asleep, leading to cramps. I keep two mugs wit attached straw covers by my bed so when I get a cramp during the night, I drink water and the cramps go away.
Although I am well aware of the cramp-dehydration connection, one of my medicines dehydrates me, plus I tend to get nauseated if I drink too much liquid at a time, so I always am borderline dehydrated if I am not drinking a bit of water at every opportunity.
Jane Austin
(9,199 posts)If you have some Tums, you can chew them up and it should help. You may need to chew several.
I get these cramps when I am dehydrated, partly owing to the diuretic I have to take. It takes the calcium and potassium right out of me.
Cramps ensue. Excruciating cramps
Stay hydrated, and if you are taking a diuretic, be sure to replenish your calcium and potassium.
Do the same if you are getting more exercise than usual.
Good luck.
tblue37
(66,035 posts)everyone sees it. I'm glad to see someone he else is sharing that ifo. I Also recommend bananas for potassium in one of my posts.
Jane Austin
(9,199 posts)don't contain enough potassium, so I have to take prescription potassium.
That and calcium and lots of fluids really does defeat those excruciating leg cramps.
patricia92243
(12,827 posts)TexasProgresive
(12,285 posts)Not drinking water as usual and drinking alcoholic beverages together is a sure way to become dehydrated. I am type 2 diabetic, a cyclist and have had those quadriceps cramps while riding. I don't think the diabetes makes me more prone to cramping, but it is easy to become dehydrated and/or low on one or more electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and magnesium.
One thought, the stress of a preparing a big meal and eating wrong may have caused your blood glucose level to spike. Your kidneys would dump excess glucose in the urine. This would increase the dehydration and depletion of electrolytes.
There are a lot of ways to help with cramps. Someone mentioned pickle juice. On supported rally rides the rest stops often have cups of the stuff available along with pickles. I find a tablespoon of plain yellow mustard can give immediate relief. I carry several packets like you can get from fast food and convenience store delis on my rides. It does not prevent them but will stop them.
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)I had severe charley horse cramps in my legs. Get them when Im sleeping a lot. Nowadays, I simply straighten my legs with my toes pointed to my head, and they go away.
Dehydration is usually the cause. Ive had fewer cramp attacks since I started drinking mostly water. I keep a pitcher of filtered water in my fridge and use it to fill one of those insulated cooler sports bottles that I lug with me everywhere. I hardly ever drink sodas (the sodium in them can add up fast), and consume very little caffeine or alcohol. The alcohol you drank undoubtedly played a role in causing your cramps because alcohol dehydrates.
Now for the reflux...
Alcohol again plays a role there, but whats done is done. Since no one will be taking Zantac for the foreseeable future (FDA issued a recall in September), see if you can take Pepcid AC. Its also an H-2 blocker, but is metformin-friendly. Zantac worked faster, but not so much faster that its worth risking lactic acidosis.
tblue37
(66,035 posts)dehydrated without realizing it. Drink a full glass of water or two when you get a cramp. See if the cramp goes away after a few minutes. I usually get relief within a minute or two.
Also, eat bananas sometimes. Potassium deficiency can cause cramps.
NCjack
(10,297 posts)I start with 1 tsp. If no benefit within a minute, I swallow 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard. Usually that is enough. But, once I had to go to 1 tsp + 3 Tablespoons of YM to stop the cramps.
See: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/how-does-a-teaspoon-of-mustard-cure-muscle-cramps]
Polly Hennessey
(7,451 posts)Agree about keeping hydrated. What also works for me is rubbing the area with Mineral Ice. Goes away quickly. I think it must be the warmth from the gel. You are not alone. 😥😀
CanonRay
(14,858 posts)Bananas, avocados, spinach, acorn squash are all great.
cilla4progress
(25,901 posts)It's mostly magnesium - an electrolyte, like a sports drink. Tums can also help, as they are mostly calcium and magnesium.
I used to get TERRIBLE leg cramps from dehydrathion and electrolyte loss after I'd been active and sweating.
Calm works instantly. I've gotten small sample packets at the health food store to try it out first.
Bonus side effects: loosens up the gut so helps with "elimination," and helps sleep too!
If you have a sleep partner or someone around to help while the charley horse is happening, pulling on your big toe provides instant relief!
Since I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes I have been quite committed in my hydration. Seems to help.
Good luck!
Prosper
(761 posts)My wife heard something about NFL players drinking pickle juice. Filled an empty water bottle with pickle juice. Next cramp attack and I drank three big gulps of pickle juice. After a few minutes I could feel the muscles untangling. 5 minutes and cramps were totally gone.
Our food market has Pickle juice available in small bottles.
Pickle Juice® Sport:
Stop Muscle Cramps
bottled pickle juice from www.picklepower.com
Suffering From Muscle Cramps? Pick Pickle Juice! Stop Muscle Cramps with Pickle Juice® Sport
woodsprite
(12,199 posts)There is no way I'd try to go down the steps to the fridge with the leg cramps. Of course, maybe I could try eating a pickle before I go up to bed.
Prosper
(761 posts)full with me where ever I am. Our neighborhood bar had big jars of pickles, boiled eggs, hot sausage and pigs feet sitting out all the time. Check this link out.
https://www.picklepower.com/
Historic NY
(37,850 posts)wine and beer doesn't count., a banana might also be useful. I've had them so now I keep a bottle of water close to the bed. I wouldn't jump up too fast that's how I tore the ligament in my ankle.
woodsprite
(12,199 posts)I do keep a bottle of water on my nightstand, but being bent over from the pain, I couldn't drink any until I could stand up.
woodsprite
(12,199 posts)Last night I actually slept well - Between having a 1/2 turkey sandwich w/ yellow mustard and a glass of milk before bed. Made sure I got both doses of my vitamins and meds in a timely fashion, took an extra magnesium pill and pushed the water, AND took another 1/4 of a percocet for my shoulder. Something worked well and I finally feel normal again -- just in time to go back to work today!
We're heading to a nephew's wedding this weekend. A couple of water bottles will travel with me, along with those leg cramp pills. Since we're staying in a suite, I'll pack some snacks that will work for bedtime (cheese, mustard, a jar of baby dills, a few single servings of FairLife milk, etc.).
Feeling so much better and put back together now.
Thank you all again!
Response to woodsprite (Original post)
CatLady78 This message was self-deleted by its author.
woodsprite
(12,199 posts)At least, as long as I moderate my carb intake - 30-40 gr carbs per meal and 15-25 per snack. It works ok for me and my numbers. Whatever 'brand' the pharmacy was using a year or so ago seemed to work better than what they switched to. The struggle for me is getting the exercise component in to control my numbers.
AllaN01Bear
(23,039 posts)very painful. haven had them in a while . i was recomended vitamen e for my cramps by my dr.
AllaN01Bear
(23,039 posts)dr . recomended vitaman e for them there is quianie water , but i understand that has been pulled
meow2u3
(24,918 posts)I drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day (including decaf tea) and eliminated table sugar in my diet. Those changes helped me control my blood sugar and my cramps in addition to the Metformin (1000mg 2x/day) and Januvia 100 mg.
It's been 2 years since I had any severe cramps. I drink more water when I get mild cramps. I hope what I did can help you since dehydration causes cramps.
Grumpy Old Guy
(3,551 posts)This happens to me all the time.
I have two items that I keep to my bed which work every time. The first is Diet Tonic Water. The quinine is what does it. Obviously, I buy the diet version because I'm diabetic. The other sure fire remedy is a relatively new product called Theraworks. It's a magnesium spray that you apply directly to the affected area. It never fails
I know that this is a very old thread, but I hope it helps someone.
Ross
aka Grumpy Old Guy (new member)
PS Thanks to everyone on DU for keeping me sane all these years. Please check out my profile for a longer word of thanks.