DH Awful Leg Cramps

[Icequeen01]

My DH has the most awful leg cramps which can hit him at any time of the day. Last time we were out at a quiz night when he got the most awful leg cramps resulting in him falling to the floor, going completely white, clammy and embarrassingly we had to ask for a bowl as he thought he was going to be sick. Afterwards his legs feel bruised and very tender. It can often hit in the night and I am woken by him literally screaming out in pain. Honestly it’s awful.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might help? He currently takes magnesium tablets daily and drinks loads. We are at our wits end.

Someone with better advice will hopefully be along soon, as this sounds awful and honestly more serious than just ‘cramp’. Only thing I can say, if it is just cramp, is hydration and potassium (bananas etc) have helped me in the past. Hope you get to the bottom of it x

See GP?

My elderly DF was told Tonic water or quinine tablets.

Also, I’m watching the tennis at the moment and one player has just gone off court to drink ‘pickle juice’ to alleviate cramps. Weird coincidence x

That does sound very extreme. My husband suffers from night cramps and tonic water (quinine) seems to help

Is it his calf muscle op?

See doctor asap is my advice

see a gp, my dad had awful cramps and turned out his kidneys weren’t working as well as they should have been. Tonic water did help

Your DH needs to go to his GP as there are a range of things that could be causing them. It could be related to kidneys, poor circulation, diabetes, liver problems or none of those things but he needs to see a doctor.

I suffered from the most awful cramps/muscle spasms in my legs (thighs and calves), jaw and ribs. As part of investigations into something else my GP found I had very low vitamin D and folic acid levels. I had some high dose supplements prescribed and am now on regular standard supplements. The cramps have almost disappeared especially the horrific thigh cramps I used to get late at night. So make sure the GP checks vitamin levels.

It’s his calf and thigh muscles.

That’s really helpful, thank you. I have been telling him for ages to go and see a GP as this is so extreme and I think he’s finally going to make an appointment. Circulation is also something he has wondered about.
I'm showing him this post and he seems to be listening to all of you more than he does to me!

Bananas!

I used to get terrible cramp in my calves to the point were I'd be screaming with the pain of it in the night it always came down to dehydration with me and it would be even worse if I drank alcohol so if he does drink this will be making it worse. He definitely needs to see the gp but in the mean time if his calves cramp up if he either points his toes upwards or stands up straight it should stop it this always works for me. I feel his pain because there is nothing as painful in my opinion as leg cramp! Even childbirth was less painful! And as he says it even hurts afterwards I'd be limping the following day!

That sounds just like DH. When I said he drinks loads I meant water. He literally drinks litres of the stuff since he had a kidney stone!

If he's drinking low he could be dropping his sodium levels. Something salty could help. DH finds that a packet of ready salted crisps helps if he has cramp.

In general, a doctor's visit might be wise though.

I find magnesium spray helps. And very gentle stretches.

I have very painful cramps, always at night. I find drinking tonic water helps prevent. Alcohol definitely increases risk.

I keep higher strength ibuprofen gel and Deep Heat or similar on my bedside table. Using both together cuts an attack short for me. The vigorous rubbing in probably helps.

Please do not dismiss it being a deep vein thrombosis.
Informed by my own experience of what I thought were ‘just’ cramps.
It turned into a pulmonary embolism but thankfully now under control with medication.

He needs to see his GP and get some bloods done. If that doesn't help pickle juice really does work.

I used to get these and the agony was off the scale. Every night and during the day, it was horrible and unbearable.

My GP gave me quinine tablets which helped for a while, then they kind of stopped working.

So back I went, and she then prescribed baclofen 30mg, which I take at night.

I haven't had a single episode of cramp since I started the baclofen. It's been like magic.

Do encourage your husband to go to the doctor.

See GP Not saying it is this in his case but there is a condition called Intermittent claudification where the leg arteries are slightly clogged with cholesterol temporarily restricting blood flow
If he has raised BP or is on Statins for Cholesterol this makes it more likely
I deal with muscle spasm daily as I have CP
Raise leg and bend knee stretch calf and Achilles and push an Ice cold orange into the muscle, rest and repeat.
If he drinks alcohol the best remedy is a double shot of spirits
Take ibuprofen/ paracetamol and keep the leg moving.
leaning into a wall and pushing up helps too

Yes, I take a small dose of Baclofen at night
Prescribed for spasticity( I hate that word)

My mum suffered with truly debilitating cramps for years. She was recommended (by sports medicine Dr) to try drinking dioralite through the day. She drinks 1-2 sachets per day and it has virtually stopped all her cramps after 30+yrs of suffering

Thanks so much for all your comments and suggestions. DH saw his GP this afternoon (we are one of the lucky ones that has a fab medical centre in our village). GP is doing blood tests and checking his electrolytes and also doing some tests which measure the width of the veins in his legs (I’m guessing this is to do with his circulation) and something else I can’t remember!

I have been suggesting for ages he see a GP but after reading all your posts he finally agreed a GP visit was needed. I really hope we get some answers as DH is always so anxious about it happening when we are out.

He also wanted me to make clear that when I put that DH drinks loads I didn’t mean alcohol 😂

Thanks again everyone.

The measuring of the veins/ arteries is probably looking for furring which slows blood flow as I said upthread. I
I hope he's more comfortable soon

Potassium - eg bananas - should help.

Also tonic water, as per a pp.