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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your help with a health problem

34 replies

MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 21:22

Shamelessly posting for traffic.

Does anyone know what this might be? Doctors all seem baffled.

Severe muscle cramps in my torso that come in spasms. Almost anything (or even sometimes nothing) can set them off. They last for anything from ten minutes to an hour at worst and can occur in any part of my torso from my pelvis to my chest - front or back. Often there are several cramps going at once. It can be extremely painful and I am effectively immobilized while it's going on. Nothing stops them - not stretching or rubbing etc. I just have to wait it out.

I'm often very tense and achy in my muscles even when this isn't happening and I live in pretty much constant fear of it kicking off.

I've had these cramps intermittently since my twenties (am now fifty) but they were rare and didn't affect my life much. Nor was I sore/tense inbetween as I am now. Now it's all the time and it's ruining my life.

These are definitely muscular spasms/cramps not intestinal. I get those too and know the difference.

I realise asking on here is a long shot but I've Googled and asked doctors and still no answers.

Anyone ever had this and found out what it is? I'm getting desperate.

Will answer any health/lifestyle questions if anyone has any ideas.

Thank you

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 11/10/2022 21:28

Do you have anxiety ?

lannistunut · 11/10/2022 21:28

Have you ever done any diaries to see what the patterns were?

If you have had serious things ruled out I would always start with diet, stress or hormones - what are those things like for you?

Original poster
MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 21:29

KangarooKenny · 11/10/2022 21:28

Do you have anxiety ?

Not really. I am anxious about going out now due to my symptoms. But in general no.

OP posts:
heldinadream · 11/10/2022 21:33

Muscular cramps are often to do with mineral balance. I used to get persistent leg cramps and I'm almost completely free of them now by regular supplementation with magnesium and potassium, and I know other people who've sorted out various muscle issues with the same.
Worth thinking about OP.

Original poster
MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 21:34

lannistunut · 11/10/2022 21:28

Have you ever done any diaries to see what the patterns were?

If you have had serious things ruled out I would always start with diet, stress or hormones - what are those things like for you?

Well I'm perimenopausal. My diet isn't the best and I've put on a fair bit of weight in the last few years. A lot if it in my stomach.

Definitely a bit stressed too.

No diaries but I can say it's pretty random. Seems worse just before my period though.

OP posts:
Signeduptosimplyreplytothis · 11/10/2022 21:36

Speak to your doctor. It could be anything from dehydration to mineral imbalance to MS. My rule of thumb is if it's worrying you enough to ask about it it's worth worrying a doctor about

Original poster
MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 21:37

heldinadream · 11/10/2022 21:33

Muscular cramps are often to do with mineral balance. I used to get persistent leg cramps and I'm almost completely free of them now by regular supplementation with magnesium and potassium, and I know other people who've sorted out various muscle issues with the same.
Worth thinking about OP.

Thank you. Oddly I tried iron supplements which did seem to help for a while. Not completely but definitely an improvement. It got very expensive though and the cheaper supplements I tried didn't work at all. Maybe I need to get these things tested.

OP posts:
Hymnulop · 11/10/2022 21:39

Yeah I was thinking MS or ME etc something related.

lannistunut · 11/10/2022 21:40

MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 21:34

Well I'm perimenopausal. My diet isn't the best and I've put on a fair bit of weight in the last few years. A lot if it in my stomach.

Definitely a bit stressed too.

No diaries but I can say it's pretty random. Seems worse just before my period though.

Show quote history

Personally then I would:

Start a diary and record accurately
Eat better
Tackle the stress

If you record what you eat, what you do and how you feel you may have some patterns which help.

Original poster
MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 21:40

Hymnulop · 11/10/2022 21:39

Yeah I was thinking MS or ME etc something related.

Wow! I hadn't even considered that. And neither have my doctors apparently. I shall suggest they look into it.

OP posts:
Original poster
MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 21:46

lannistunut · 11/10/2022 21:40

Personally then I would:

Start a diary and record accurately
Eat better
Tackle the stress

If you record what you eat, what you do and how you feel you may have some patterns which help.

Show quote history

I'll give that a try. I guess it might not be as random as it feels.

The stress is mainly financial. Not masses I can do about it really. I do try not to let it get to me.

OP posts:
catell01 · 11/10/2022 21:48

What tests have your doctors done so far?
They can easily test your iron levels and provide a prescription if there is a deficiency, if the cost is too much for you.
Please try not take too much notice of posts that are going catastroohise and claim you have something like MS. If this has been going on for 30+ years, I think you'd know by now if it was something like this.
If its getting worse and is affecting your everyday life, then get back to your GP and try get an answer but in the meantime, the advice to keep diaries will be very helpful in the long run

lannistunut · 11/10/2022 21:50

MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 21:46

I'll give that a try. I guess it might not be as random as it feels.

The stress is mainly financial. Not masses I can do about it really. I do try not to let it get to me.

Show quote history

If stress plays a part, you can engage in active stress mitigation. No harm in keeping a diary, it might be informative or not, but no loss to be had.

Sallyh87 · 11/10/2022 21:52

I get bad cramps when I am dehydrated. I agree with pp who say keep a food diary but would add water to that. You might see a pattern with lack of water and salty food etc.

Original poster
MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 21:54

catell01 · 11/10/2022 21:48

What tests have your doctors done so far?
They can easily test your iron levels and provide a prescription if there is a deficiency, if the cost is too much for you.
Please try not take too much notice of posts that are going catastroohise and claim you have something like MS. If this has been going on for 30+ years, I think you'd know by now if it was something like this.
If its getting worse and is affecting your everyday life, then get back to your GP and try get an answer but in the meantime, the advice to keep diaries will be very helpful in the long run

I've been tested for myasthenia gravis. Liver and kidney problems and (mysteriously) crohn's disease. I think that doctor misunderstood what type of cramps I meant.

No tests for mineral deficiency though so I'm definitely going to push for that

My circulation seems to be ok too.

OP posts:
livealatte · 11/10/2022 21:57

Friend had this it was functional neurological disorder in her case

Original poster
MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 22:00

livealatte · 11/10/2022 21:57

Friend had this it was functional neurological disorder in her case

Really? I was told many years ago that I might have some sort of nerve problem as I used to get numbness in my legs and was oversensitve to touch. But it never went anywhere.

OP posts:
Original poster
MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 22:02

Sallyh87 · 11/10/2022 21:52

I get bad cramps when I am dehydrated. I agree with pp who say keep a food diary but would add water to that. You might see a pattern with lack of water and salty food etc.

I'm pretty sure I'm not dehydrated. I drink loads. But I might be low on salts. I'd need to look into that.

Thank you

OP posts:
LuckyCat4 · 11/10/2022 22:02

Google MS hug and see if it sounds familiar

Signeduptosimplyreplytothis · 11/10/2022 22:03

MS is a diagnosis of exclusion - so everything else needs to be ruled out first. Google the "MS hug" and see if it fits.

MS is a lifelong condition and you can easily have it for 30+ years and be relatively stable.

Original poster
MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 22:03

lannistunut · 11/10/2022 21:50

If stress plays a part, you can engage in active stress mitigation. No harm in keeping a diary, it might be informative or not, but no loss to be had.

Show quote history

Agree. Thank you

OP posts:
Signeduptosimplyreplytothis · 11/10/2022 22:03

LuckyCat4 · 11/10/2022 22:02

Google MS hug and see if it sounds familiar

Similar thought process!

Original poster
MissMinervaTomgallon · 11/10/2022 22:09

Signeduptosimplyreplytothis · 11/10/2022 22:03

MS is a diagnosis of exclusion - so everything else needs to be ruled out first. Google the "MS hug" and see if it fits.

MS is a lifelong condition and you can easily have it for 30+ years and be relatively stable.

Had a look at this. It's similar but not exactly what I experience. Close enough to warrant further investigation though I reckon. Thanks

OP posts:
LuckyCat4 · 11/10/2022 22:12

Signeduptosimplyreplytothis · 11/10/2022 22:03

Similar thought process!

Show quote history

😊

lannistunut · 11/10/2022 22:13

I hope you get some answers OP, it sounds distressing whatever the cause Flowers