one big cramp

[tillysmom]

I have cramping in my legs, usually one leg at a time so severe that the pain the pain subsides I can see the muscle move,,I have spinal stenosis, but these cramps are progressing at an alarming rate.  There is also, severe pain in both hips when moving laterally.  What can a take or do to relieve these cramps.

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. You need to rule out electrolyte disturbances like hypocalcemia, hyponatremia, hypo and hyper kalemia, hypomagnesemia and hypoglycemia. metabolic conditions like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism related myopathy, drugs like salbutamol, alcohol consumption, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, parenteral nutrition, hyperventilation etc. Your neurologist needs to differentiate from restless legs, intermittent claudicating and ischemic rest pain, muscle injury, lumbar nerve root entrapment, fibromyalgia and gullian barre syndrome. Management would include correction of electrolytes, change of culprit drugs, passive stretching exercises of the cramping muscle and drugs like quinine which can cause severe thrombocytopenia. Alternatives are verapamil, gabapentin etc. take care.

[caregiver222]

Whoa Nelly...

What you need is a vascular evaluation by an M.D. which should include dopplar imaging of the legs.

A common cause is calcium deficiency, which may be rectified (if that is, indeed the problem) by drinking two glasses of milk a day.

Traditionally (for 150 years) quinine sulfate was sold over-the-counter to relieve such cramps, but the FDA recently withdrew approval for this use. Some health food stores still have some on hand.

[jman1999]

I would like to know; I just starting having bad leg and foot cramps a couple of days ago.  I have not been diagnosed with anything; do have a bulging disk L5-S1 area.  Someone said I need Potassium and more water.