Muscle cramps

[Tssiemer1 549]

Im pre op. I'm eating all my Protein and cut out all most all of my junk food and carbs and stuff. I've lost 13 lbs so far since August.

I'm having some serious muscle cramps in my legs after walking for the past week or so. Nothing intense. No marathons or anything.

I was thinking it was related to my spinal injury but this pain is else where. I made a doctors appointment to rule that out.

Anyone experience this? Thoughts on what to do?

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Electrolytes. Try drinking or eating any one of the following each day: coconut Water, gatorade, a banana. The added potassium should take care of the muscle cramping. I used to get horrible charlie horses in the middle of night and coconut Water did the trick.

[PMJ 55]

Thanks Ladies,

That's a great big "Good to know" cause those bugger's can really cripple you.

Will add in the coconut Water. Any suggestions on brands because have tried before and thought …not so good. But lots out there.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

It's a matter of taste really. I like coconut Water. Brands in the market I like are the Vito (I get the plain), and the Zico. If you don't like the taste try blending it with a small bit of apple or grape juice. Emphasis on small, like 1 -2 ounces.

[Tssiemer1 549]

Nothing seems to be helping so far. Now I have muscle cramps almost everywhere. Maybe I'm getting sick.

[judanna77 45]

Whenever I start a low-carb diet, I get horrible leg cramps for a few weeks. If you google low-carb and leg cramps, you'll see that it is pretty common. Some reasons for the cramps are low potassium, low magnesium, or just plain dehydration (since you shed a lot of Water at the start of a low-carb diet.) I find that I can't eliminate the cramps, but they are lessened when I make sure that I am well-hydrated and I take a potassium supplement.

[4MRB4PHOTO 3,900]

Are you keeping yourself well hydrated?

I started to get occasionally a severe muscle cramp in my legs in the evening, I started to take recently some magnesium and potassium supplements and making sure I drink enough fluids; it seems to help.

[reree6898 1,164]

I was that way preop and started a magnesium supplement that did wonders.

[Tssiemer1 549]

I think I'm well hydrated. I drink about 60-64 ounces of Fluid (Water, flavored water, unsweet tea, etc).

I'll check magnesium out.

[queencity 62]

Nothing seems to be helping so far. Now I have muscle cramps almost everywhere. Maybe I'm getting sick.

I had the same problem 3 years ago, i had to go to the hospital and was given IV. Doctor said bc i was very dehydrated and people who also run marathons are hospitalized for it. I forgot what it was called but i clearly remember they mentioned my levels should be around 120 but i have over 2,000. I was in so much pain i could not even move and i had cramps in every part of my body. Try to contact surgeon also.

[songsmith 334]

I get cramps all over my body since I started high blood pressure meds four years ago. They're horrible: quads, hamstrings, calves, abdomen, tongue (I kid you not). Your likely culprit is an electrolyte imbalance (especially since you're exercising/dieting pre-op and no doubt loosing a lot of fluid). Calcium is the easiest to rectify (chew on one or two calcium-added Tums). No-Salt is a potassium salt (and safer than a supplement since potassium is fat-soluble and stored in your body) and should help with potassium intake. Neither of these helped me (again, the meds). I finally realized that magnesium and manganese are also electrolytes. Now I take a magnesium tablet once a week, which seems to help.

My primary physician also suggested "No cramps" or something like that. They're OTC quinine tablets. I take one if a really bad cramp starts up. They work, but I always wonder if they really work or if it's the placebo effect. I find that drinking something like sugar-free Gatorade helps just as well. Hot compresses help to loosen up your muscles.