Muscle cramps.

[mungbeanz]

At 5am this morning I woke up to a horrific pain in my calf. Maybe I'm a wimp, but this was horrible. It lasted about 5 minutes and my leg still hurts now.

I assume this was cramp...Is this kind of thing random, or can I expect to get this again? Anyone else care to agree that the pain is truly bad?

Finally is there a way that you can make the pan go away. I was scared to move in case I ripped something!

[boxtops]

Mungbeanz, are you on a statin for raised cholesterol?

[mumsie_wumsie]

I have been getting bad cramps in my calf every night for the last week.They are incredibly painful and make you want to scream. The only way I can relieve them is by flexing my foot upwards, this somehow helps, but if you move your leg too soon after, the leg cramps again.I have known this to happen going on for 15 minutes, after which the leg hurts for ages after. I don't know what the solution is,but if you find out, please let us all know. I do sympathise though.

[boxtops]

Tonic water can help, it contains quinine.....
My question about statins is because of my own experience.

[angiealf]

Hi mung, Yes the pain is Bl@@dy awful. Your could get it again - its the knotting up a muscles in the calf. To relieve it needs massage and movement. When it happens get out of bed and raise yourself up and down on your tiptoes. It will be painful but you have to get the muscles moving. My OH is in the St John Ambulance - he gets me to do this when I get cramp.

[mumsie_wumsie]

Just seen your reply boxtops. I take Simvastatin( 1 a day) for cholesterol, and have just read the leaflet that comes with them. It says can cause cramps and lots of other problems. Visit to my docs I reckon, as it sounds quite serious. Would never have thought about this to cause cramp. Thanks...

[Booldawg]

It is very painful, I've had it for years. It can be attributed to a lack of potassium/salt. I've noticed its very likely to happen after a night of alcohol.

I also take simvastatin but not noticed it get any worse. Regular daily excerise helps.

[boxtops]

mumsie - my own experience was that I took simvastatin for 2 years with no problems, then started to develop several muscle pains in my arms. Back to doc, reduced dose on artorvastain - no difference. Came off them in February and very slowly the pain subsided - very little now but I am having physio to improve the muscle strength (I didn't use them because it hurt!). My cholesterol has gone back up, so I am trying to get that down with diet......
It's worth mentioning that there are new NICE guidelines for management of coronary heart disease and statin prescribing, and if someone's overall risk is below a certain percentage level, statins are not now recommended as an automatic prescription. Mine's estimated at 14% (age, weight, family history etc) and in view of my reaction, the GP has taken me off the statin and is monitoring me regularly as an alternative - next review in November.

[boxtops]

that should be ^^severe muscle pains in my arms

[mungbeanz]

Hi Boxtops, no I don't take any medication.

I also have not touched a drop of alcohol for 6 days. (I've had a bit of a boozing problem, so am going cold turkey) maybe this could be a cause?

[boxtops]

I wouldn't know about that aspect, mungbeanz (but well done to you, anyway!)

[anneasquith]

mungbeanz..................... good luck with your detox/

[mumsie_wumsie]

Thanks boxtops for all the info. I will certainly mention these cramps when I next see my doc. I don't think my cholesterol is very high(in fact I think it is down to almost normal). I am also diabetic and am due to have my six monthly blood tests soon, so will be able to see for sure what my levels are. mungbeanz, good luck with your 'cold turkey', that can't be easy either.

[Wak]

I read some time ago that some cramp can be caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the blood and a drink of water before going to bed can help to resolve this.
I'm not sure how true this is but I find that the drink of water does help my occasional cramp. I agree that it can be ruddy painful when it wakes you from a deep sleep.

[patsyann]

The tonic water tip is a good one.As boxtops has said it contains quinine and that always does the trick for me.I sometimes forget for a few days and back come the cramps,Get the lemon or lime flavoured tonic water it doesnt taste quite so grim .
Pat.

[crisgal]

i got these during all my pregnancies. Extremely painful! A modwife told me to keep an egg cup of salt by my bed. Whenever I got the cramp, i would lick my finger, dip it in the salt and put it on my pillow.
It really did work!

[crisgal]

obviously, i meant a MIDwife - mot sure what a modwife is!

[Sqad]

Pain of cramp is bl00dy awful.

No known cause or reliable treatment, but just make sure that you drink plenty and that your blood test for thyroid hormones do not show an underactive thyroid.

[pastafreak]

I posted several weeks ago about having leg cramps several times per week. Since then, I've been making an effort to drink more, and I've not had a cramp since (*touch wood* )

[scotman]

I gave up statins because of cramps, usually in my calf muscles in the morning. No cramps now and I feel a lot better.