Severe Muscle Cramping

[dkader]

Thank you for taking my question - I was in the middle of writing this before and everything disappeared, but my question was not on the forum, so I'll try again - I hope I did nothing wrong.  For years I have suffered with muscle cramps of the feet, toes, sometimes the arch, the front of my leg or the back of the knee (feels like the whole leg goes into a cramp and then the other leg does also).  I've tried quinine (I'm alergic to it but it did help) and muscle relaxers (didn't help much) and no doctors seemed to be really concerned about it.  I have researched it extensively on this forum and the internet.  I don't appear to have other neurologic symptoms but I need help - this is very depressing when it happens, which is nightly or every few days.  The cramps appear after I get home from work, while relaxing or most commonly in the middle of the night.  The only relief I can find (cannot walk or stretch them out) is getting in the hottest water I can stand.  I'm afraid someday I'll burn myself.  I have recently been trying vitamins and magnesium which has offered some relief.  I tried Calcet (triple calcium for leg cramps) and they hit with a vengance again - both legs).  Either before or after the cramps I also experience little twitches all over my legs - I can feel them and see them, but they are not in one spot.  Do you think I'm deficient in certain vitamins and are there blood tests for this?  Could this just be a vitamin deficiency or something more serious that needs checking?  One thing I found is some people that are deficient in magnesium, calcium and potassium.  Please give me some suggestions or how I can convince a doctor that this is a serious problem with me.  Thank you so much.

[dropsofjupiter]

A related discussion, Diabetes and cramps? was started.

[Laurenstar]

A related discussion, Muscle cramps in feet and hands was started.

[sue]

Some medicines for lowering cholesterol will cause severe cramping.  Check with your doctor.

[Sandy]

Does anyone know any info. on Thoracic spinal stenosis T9-L1.
I am interested in what your symptons are and what type of
treatment you use.  I have pain on left side from T6 to L-1
and also radiates over my lower ribs in the front and also pain
in the soft tissue on the side or a better description might
be the "love handle" area.

[tlee]

Have wanted to reply sooner but have not been able to get the book I mentioned from the libary to share info on sensory symptoms seen in some ALS patients but you may be familiar with the authors Dr. Hiroshi Mitsumoto and Dr. Forbes H. Norris, Jr. who wrote the ALS book. It really is an excellent resource and anyone dealing with ALS patients and families should keep a copy for them. Am interested in what you are writing. Will it become available somewhere??? Hope you are still responding to this column. Thanks

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear TLee:

We just finished a chapter on ALS to be published in the Neurology Clinics.

CCF Neuro MD