Need Help. Waking Up With Leg Cramps

[James B.]

Good luck everyone!

Just wanted to mention how in my case, while in the grips of high anxiety and un-identified triggers, it was (and still can be) so easy to ignore the basics in terms of my health. Even staying hydrated.

Have now gone and stocked up on 24oz Aquafina pure water bottles and put 'em in my fridge. I know its a little more expensive, and there is greater waste,
but its helping me stay hydrated.

Am buying very ripe banans in the market, peeling them then freezing them in the fridge to snack on. When my system was way messed up (96) and I had the muscle smasm (lockup, left leg.) I wasn't paying attention to these basic things, nor even eating properly.

Munching an ice cold banana on a summer day is a very nice thing for my health and it seems to really satisfy. Think I will go have one right now... :-)

 

[PTSD and Me]

Why do I feel like *life* with an anxiety disorder *is* an endurance event ?

LOL - Brilliant! It sure is an endurance event. I don't think IronMan athletes could tolerate the physical strain we are under, nevermind the mental. And while they do their thing, nobody even looks at them sideways if they start to sweat...

 

[Nicolette]

Adding to all the medical advice you already have above - I suffered badly from them as a child and would wake up screaming and was told it was a lack of salt???

 

[PTSD and Me]

Exercise

I agree that exercise has a profound effect on both my body and my mind. While not helpful during an anxiety attack, I have found that jogging both loosens my leg and back muscles and eventually the "runner's high" that some experience will have an effect on me, though it is more one of being calm, logical and present, than of being high.

In order to get to the state where exercise will help though, it's critical to have your hydration and nutrition needs met. Funny, I thought I was the only one who really had a lot of luck with bananas. If I am getting muscle cramps (particularly in my legs and feet) eating a banana usually works to reduce the severity in minutes. And it's really lovely not to have to swallow one more pill to fix a problem.

 

[kris]

I have the same advice as most everyone else on this post, is take calcium and a multivitamin supplement. This has helped me tremendously.

 

[James B.]

I find my need for supplements goes way up when - extremely stressed (new job/new location). Or when using diruetics (caffine mainly, nictotine too). Or am consuming empty calories (junk food, alchohol).

If I eat real food, my appetite is naturally satiated, and I *never* over eat. If I eat crap, my body is still craving real nutrition and fuel, signaling my brain with an appetite, and I *will* overeat. Meds that are supposed to stimulate appetite or not, my body doesn't lie to me.

 

[Josh Duncan]

Fot the past few weeks I have been waking up a few times per night with my legs so tightly squeezed together that it's causing leg cramps. It takes awhile to relax and get the cramping to go away. During the day my legs, hips and lower back hurt from it. I realize this is probably related to my trauma, but I really need to figure out a way to get it to stop. Any suggestions?

I suffer SEVERE cramps every morning -- the doctor said it was in the way I sleep and the foods that I eat.
I've tried gatorade for electrolytes, magnesium pills and what not and nothing seems to work. I recently tried this product called Cramp911 and it simply is amazing -- especially is your as active as I am and need them to go away right away. It's sold over the counter, no side effects and I use it nearly every morning!

I hope this helps,

Good luck and feel better

Josh

 

[a3a2]

Jadebear,

I used to wake up screaming, with leg cramps so bad they would actually burst blood vessels giving me horrible bruises. Like everyone else, I recommend potassium (bananas and O.J.), lots of fluids, and stretching (several times a day if possible).

My t. thought it might be due to the fact that typically I would run from a trauma, and was not not running, so I was feeling the pain in my legs. I cannot say that for sure, but they especially came when I was triggered. So my advice is THERAPY, THERAPY and MORE THERAPY! Talk, talk, talk and than talk some more!

Hope it gets better soon. I feel for ya!

 

[Deleted member 14359]

Guys

You have given me the link to stopping my cramps...bananas.

I wake screaming in pain at the cramps in my legs and they hurt for days after...like someone has ran over them in a ten ton truck. I have been going through a faze of eating bananas and oddly enough, I didnt get cramps then. I hadnt put the two together until now.

I think it is all connected to trying sooo hard to keep my legs closed before i was raped. T I'll

Thank you.

Enjoy the bananas all.

 

[freakofnurture]

This might be a stupid idea but...

If it's a fear response because of your rape, maybe it will help if you sleep with something like a blanket or a wide shawl (caution b/c of circulation) wrapped around your thighs to keep them together? It could feel safe enough to reduce the clenching some more.

But I don't know, if you need to be able to get up and run at all times this would likely be a receipe for a panic attack upon awakening...

 

[Deleted member 14359]

Freakofnurture

Good idea, I dont have the need to run that much these days, not in my drams, nightmares anyway so, Im going to give it a go..Im up for any ideas right now - thank you

 

[freakofnurture]

Tell us how it went :) It'd be awesome if it'd help you.