I have been having Tedonitis in my feet and shins for a couple of days now. Is this new issue part of that?
I woke up around 3:45am this morning screaming in pain from deep thigh cramps going from just inside my knee up to nearly the groin area. It started close to my left knee and worked its way up then strted in the middle of my right inner thigh and moved up. Both going at the same time for nearly 10 minutes. The muscles are sore but not having acute pain now, more like when you go to the gym and do too many situps.
I don't really know what to do for home remedies in this instance. Heat? Ice? Massage? Stretching? I need ideas, this was so bad my husband nearly called for an ambulance. I was shaking and couldn't move or breathe deep. I was finally able to get up and start moving around after about 15 minutes more but I was still shaking and hurting. I am allergic to bananas so eating them for Potassium is out.
My dad and brother had/have this same issue. I think my dad always used heat, my mom would put towels in hot water and wrap his legs. That is rather messy and creates laundry. Anyone know how to make rice heating bags? The ones I bought from Wal-Mart have long been gone because I wore them out. I have gallons of rice but have heard beans work too.
Thank in advance for your answers and help.
Well, to be truthful, we have had a very busy couple of weeks and I have not been eating healthy food nor drinking much water. We had an initial home visit by DHS for the purpose of getting 2 of my grand children out of Faster Care. We had a lot to do to the house and have been working extra hard and then spending time with the grand children we have living with us already. So, I think I need to drink more water and then eat better.
Thank you for your answers and instructions for the rice bags.
I am a grandmother too! I was getting cramps in my thighs, calves and feet. It doesn't happen every night so I only treat it when it happens. I bought some Crystal Light Hydration mix (yes de-hydration can cause cramping) at Wal Mart and when I get cramps, I mix a glass of it and cramps are gone within a few minutes of drinking it. It has been amazing for me!
That area is the L3 L4 nerve pathway and the pain could be from a bulging disc. Also if potassium is low, kiwi had more than bananas. All fruits and vegetables contain potassium and if your diet is high in them you will be getting enough. Five to seven servings per day are recommended. Calcium and Magnesium are also important for muscle health and spasms. The best types are the citrates, malates, aspartates, or hydroxyappetite. They should be taken in a two to one ratio, calcium being greater. Also vitamin E is importantfor circulation, and should be taken in 400-800iu doses daily. B. S, Rn CCM
Gina, my dad started getting these terrible cramps like you describe while sleeping, even while sitting too long. His doctor suggested those things, like eating lots of bananas, but when he gets his cramps, he immediately drinks tonic water which seems to loosen the cramp quickly. We even keep a bottle here for when he visits us. It take hurt to give it a try!!! Good luck!
When I am pregnant, I experience what you are describing.
What works for me is a hot cup of Magnesium drink.
"Natural Calm" is the brand (I really like raspberry/lemon flavor).
Call your local health food store and ask if they carry it.
If not, you may be able to find and order it online.
One hot cup each night before bed did the trick for me.
Let us know what works for you.
p.s. Instructions for Rice Heating Bags:
1. Get a couple of tube socks and fill them with rice.
2. Tie a knot in the top of the sock so that rice will not spill out.
3. Put in microwave for 30 - 60 seconds.
Good morning, Gina
I'm 59 and also rearing 4 grandsugars and have experienced those leg cramps on many occasions. I haven't pin-pointed the cause but heat does help some. Have you ever tried a rice sock? Fill a un-holey sock (no holes : ) with regular white rice (see why no holes? : ) and tie a knot at the top.
Pop it in the microwave for one and a half or two minutes and VOILA! An instant heat pad that puts out a comfortable moist heat - and pleasant aroma, too - for 20-30 minutes. To re-heat? Pop it back in the microwave. You can reuse the same sock forever I guess. I've had them for years before. Really helps athritus, too.
You being a sew-er lady, too, you could make long 'bags' the length and width of your chins, fill with rice then sew up. You can make them to go around your neck too. Great stress reliever. Do you ever sew for people?
Blessings
Grami
oranges and tomatoes habe alot of potassium in them.....try oprange juice maybe? sometimes lack of salt can cause cramps as well...try some chicken broth...cramps usually come from a shift in fluids in the body or and electrolyte imbalance such as potassium or salt.
It might be a vitamin deficiency causing the cramps, or sciatic nerve pain. you can take a multivitamin (if you don't) and eat things high in potassium (I am allergic to bananas too, I thought I might be the only person allergic to them) and see if it helps. Also can get your levels checked at the Dr.
For a rice bag, if you sew, you can get a travel pillow case, cut in 1/2 (for a small size, or if you want a really big one don't cut it), turn inside out and sew where you cut, fill 1/2-2/3 with rice (you want it to still be flexible, not stiff), and sew the end closed, use fray check or a zig zag stitch on the rough end(s) of the fabric. Make sure you buy a cotton pillowcase, polyester and other synthetics might melt in the microwave.
Dear Gina:
This is caused by an electrolyte imbalance. The muscles receive signals from the brain to regulate electrical impulses within the nerves that are attached to the muscles. If your electrolytes are imbalanced the signal will get scrambled and the muscles will not respond correctly.
This is an easy problem to correct:
There is a product called Hemo-Flo that can correct the imbalance in a few days but will take a month or so to fully restore. If you cannot find the product it still maybe available at: http://ndinutraceuticals.com/product218.html
Good Luck
S. L.
Hi Gina,
I have the same problem and what works best for me is massage and BenGay or Icy Hot. I guess wrapping my legs with a heating pad would work also...just never thought about it. I never tried ice.
As far as the rice bags go I have made them for my autistic son as stress relievers to place them on his shoulders and around his neck. I made them out of tube socks...filled one with rice...loosely packed so it would lay comfortably...and then sewed the top up. I also added vanilla or lavender to the rice as a calming agent because we used them so close to his face...plus it helps cover up the odor of the hot rice. A tube sock would probably be too small but you could use a cloth sack or pillow case.
Good luck. I hope you find some comfort.
W. Q
Ive made rice socks for this very thing. I use the large athletic white socks and fill them about half full with rice. Just make sure you can still push the rice around in the sock to mold it to the area you want to place it on. Then tie off the end with the sock itself or a string. Microwave the sock for a couple of minutes(keep checking to not overheat it). It creates a kind of moist heat that works well for muscle issues. Also, you might have a magnesium deficiency. My daughter gets cramps like this and Ive found that two magnesium tablets a day have helped her very much. Good luck !
If your pain is bad if enough that your husband wanted to call an ambulance, you need to see a physician. It could be a much deeper problem than what your father experienced.
