Calf cramp

[dhrguru 1,238]

What can be done to alleviate soreness/tightness in your calf?

I consistently get a Charlie horse in my left calf muscle, and the bad ones linger for days. It feels like I'll get another one any minute.

[theother_onefoot 122]

@@dhrguru Usually cramps happen for me when I don't have enough potassium or electrolytes in me. Try eating half of a banana or drinking some Gatorade or Pedialyte -- even a bit of Pickle Juice could help wonders. (:

[Mountaingal 322]

Electrolytes may help or as was said above potassium (banana), some people also benefit from extra magnesium. Hope you find and answer. Charlie Horses are nasty.

[SkinnyDown 409]

I agree, might help to increase potassium. You can do a test....if you drink some pickle juice and the cramp goes away in a minute or less, you're probably depleted in sodium/electrolytes/potassium. I'd have your levels checked.

It also might just be a sore calf from exercise. If it doesn't go away, gets more sore, red/swollen. Get to a Dr.

I'm not a Dr. I just play one on the BP forums. lmao I'm a dork, I know.

Hope you feel better soon!

[umo 86]

Hydrate yourself and have some electrolytes. My doctor told me to make sure I am drinking enough Water and to keep changing sitting position every hour or so. Good luck and hope you feel better

[dhrguru 1,238]

Thanks all, I'll try some Gatorade. I wasn't a fan of bananas before surgery, and pickle juice... Blah. Gatorade will have to be my healing poison!!

[Daisee68 2,493]

Ok, my dr does not believe me when I say this, but I get bad Charlie horses when my thyroid is off. Did you happen to be hypothyroid before surgery? If so, you might need a med adjustment. My Synthroid is not absorbing correctly so my TSH went from .48 pre-op (a little too low) to 4.27 (too high for me) at 2 1/2 months post-op.

Other than that, I second the pickle juice. REALLY helps.

[dhrguru 1,238]

Ok, my dr does not believe me when I say this, but I get bad Charlie horses when my thyroid is off. Did you happen to be hypothyroid before surgery? If so, you might need a med adjustment. My Synthroid is not absorbing correctly so my TSH went from .48 pre-op (a little too low) to 4.27 (too high for me) at 2 1/2 months post-op.

Other than that, I second the pickle juice. REALLY helps.

I had a total thyroidectomy so yes, I'm hypothyroid. And I do need to see my endocrinologist. My thyroid panel was fine in June, but I know how quickly that can change.

[Daisee68 2,493]

I had my thyroid ablated with radiation in 2012 due to Graves Disease so I am also completely dependent upon Synthroid - like you I am now consider post-surgical (or post-RAI) hypothyroid. My endo did tell me prior to surgery that I would likely have an absorption issue. I have never seemed to be able to keep mine stable - even though I only take brand name, take it on an empty stomach, wait over an hour to eat, etc. Mine fluctuates a lot so I keep an eye on the symptoms. My endo will only check it every 8 to 10 weeks as he says it takes that long to really catch up.

Would certainly be worth a call for a lab test for you! Good luck!

[Pinkgirl1234 761]

I take Natures Vitality "CALM"...all natural... And get in a banana in a smoothie

[Chrystee 838]

A potassium/magnesium combo Vitamin helps me.

and stretching.

[amazon 579]

Ok, my dr does not believe me when I say this, but I get bad Charlie horses when my thyroid is off. Did you happen to be hypothyroid before surgery? If so, you might need a med adjustment. My Synthroid is not absorbing correctly so my TSH went from .48 pre-op (a little too low) to 4.27 (too high for me) at 2 1/2 months post-op.

Other than that, I second the pickle juice. REALLY helps.

@Daisee68. Thank you !!! I've been dealing with terrible lower calf cramps for the past several months. They are evil. I've tried the typical remedies with no relief. I did find out however, that my thyroid meds we're way off! (One year blood work)

I'm in the middle of it being adjusted down. I really hope it helps. It hasn't been quite as bad the last week or two, and I'm 4 weeks in to the adjustment with testing, in to my second dose change yesterday. (150mcg, to 125mcg, and now on 100mcg).

I was diagnosed with Graves in 2001 and had radiation. Have been on thyroid med since. Oddly, while losing the weight my dose had to be slightly increased. Now that I'm maintaining, I think all those crazy stores are used up and now they are figuring out my true dose. I didn't know that these awful cramps were a sign. I thought it was all of the exercising.

Also Up all night...and I was wondering why my hair had started to fall out again too. Duh!! Light bulb!! ????

[Daisee68 2,493]

@@amazon - Well I guess I cannot swear to that being the cause but I do know it seems to be related to me. Maybe it's a Graves disease thing? Dr did actually have to increase my med for now. Hopeful it will decrease once the weight is off. I generally feel better around 3 to 4 weeks in so it would make sense that you are feeling some improvement. Again, I am not a medical professional but it sure seems to make a difference for me.

[amazon 579]

@@Daisee68 fingers crossed!! ????

[Indieflickers 298]

@@dhrguru you could try Nuun for electrolytes. It's a little fuzzy so I have tend to put it in my water bottle at the end of a workout, leave the lid open for a few hours, and then stick it in the fridge for the next day's workout. Gatorade is ok in a pinch but it's got so much sugar.