Dr Hive — Leg cramps

[Spryte]

In yet another twist here (aaaagh!), I am dealing with a new-to-me issue: leg cramps. They started Wed, I called the doc on Thurs and we went through my new (and old) meds — leg cramps are not side effect of any of them. 

Nurse told me to hydrate well, and eat Vit K/potassium rich foods. Which I did, but whoa, the cramps were intense last night. I did some stretching and I am nowhere near my normal flexibility, it’s bad. Took an epsom salt bath, took some magnesium supplements, and drank Gatorade. Woke up in agony around 1:30 am. It is somewhat better this morning.

My thoughts on the causes:

- supplements, I’m on two new ones, but again, no reports of leg cramps as a side effect

- I’m on a new med, but same deal. And it’s a drug that’s been in use since 1910 so there would be reports!

- I just started estradiol cream, which was my first suspect, but again, can’t find info re: leg cramps

- maybe the low acid diet I’m on is the issue? I’m drinking alkaline water to decrease pain (acid causes intense pain). I have no other weird symptoms, though.

- dehydration? Maybe I’m not drinking enough with all the supplements and meds, all have impacts on the bladder, so more likely to be dehydrated, maybe?

- grief? I’ve not experienced this before, but maybe?

What am I missing? 

For now, I’ve stopped all new supplements and new meds, will keep hydrating. Doc’s office is closed today, but I will see her for a procedure on Monday.

Any tips or ideas?

 

 

Edited February 10, 2023 by Spryte

[Kassia]

No ideas but I wanted to say I'm sorry.  I know you've been through a lot and I also know what it's like to be a "medical mystery" (my doctor said that about me once).  Medicine is definitely not an exact science.  I hope you figure this new thing out soon and that it's easy to fix.  

[KSera]

How’s your iron? I usually think of magnesium as the go to for leg cramps, but have heard it as a symptom of anemia as well. I also just found this on medications, and estrogens are mentioned:

 Medications that are strongly associated with leg cramps include intravenous iron sucrose, conjugated estrogens, raloxifene, naproxen, and teriparatide. 

[Arcadia]

No idea since leg cramps are common for me if I don’t move. However I have had side effects that are not common with medications and vaccinations, and I would like find a report or two of someone experiencing the same side effect. My quick resort for leg cramps is soda but that’s not a healthy remedy. 

[kbutton]

A big dietary change could make a difference in how much mag and potassium you are taking in. 

I perpetually run low on both, and it does not help to eat more potassium. I have to supplement with it even though I the amounts I take are in the range of a banana or two of potassium. It's very weird. I take it at night.

 

[kbutton]

4 minutes ago, KSera said:

How’s your iron? I usually think of magnesium as the go to for leg cramps, but have heard it as a symptom of anemia as well. I also just found this on medications, and estrogens are mentioned:

 Medications that are strongly associated with leg cramps include intravenous iron sucrose, conjugated estrogens, raloxifene, naproxen, and teriparatide. 

That makes me wonder if naturally occurring estrogen does the same. I have sky high estrogen (and other whacked out hormones), and in the time that's been my norm, I've had major trouble with leg cramps. They are a bit better now that I am on a supplement to help metabolize the estrogen (DIM--I don't know that it lowers it, just changes how your body deals with it), but some other stuff got better at the same time too.

[MEmama]

For short term, immediate relief in the moment my DH has found CBD cream helpful.
We use this: https://upstateelevator.com/product/1500mg-soothing-cbd-muscle-cream-2oz/

Of course, I hope you can suss out the root cause, but it might be worth trying something similar in the meantime. They seem so awful, I hope you get it figured out soon. 😞 

[Spryte]

34 minutes ago, Kassia said:

No ideas but I wanted to say I'm sorry.  I know you've been through a lot and I also know what it's like to be a "medical mystery" (my doctor said that about me once).  Medicine is definitely not an exact science.  I hope you figure this new thing out soon and that it's easy to fix.  

Thanks! I know you’ve been through a lot, too. It stinks to be a mystery.

My last specialist gave up on me, and said he didn’t know what to do, there are zebras out there, but so uncommon that he doubts I’m a zebra and it’s not worth running the tests. My GP ran the tests instead and sent me to a new specialist. My new specialist laughed at the zebra comments and said, “your spirit animal is a zebra!” 🤣

21 minutes ago, KSera said:

How’s your iron? I usually think of magnesium as the go to for leg cramps, but have heard it as a symptom of anemia as well. I also just found this on medications, and estrogens are mentioned:

 Medications that are strongly associated with leg cramps include intravenous iron sucrose, conjugated estrogens, raloxifene, naproxen, and teriparatide. 

Interesting — I don’t know about my iron. And hmmmm… would an estrogen cream contribute to leg cramps, I wonder? I don’t take pills, but have a low dose cream.

18 minutes ago, kbutton said:

A big dietary change could make a difference in how much mag and potassium you are taking in. 

I perpetually run low on both, and it does not help to eat more potassium. I have to supplement with it even though I the amounts I take are in the range of a banana or two of potassium. It's very weird. I take it at night.

 

I will ask the doc about a potassium supplement, thanks!

7 minutes ago, MEmama said:

For short term, immediate relief in the moment my DH has found CBD cream helpful.
We use this: https://upstateelevator.com/product/1500mg-soothing-cbd-muscle-cream-2oz/

Of course, I hope you can suss out the root cause, but it might be worth trying something similar in the meantime. They seem so awful, I hope you get it figured out soon. 😞 

Off to order some now, thank you for the link! I never know what brand to choose with CBD stuff, so I haven’t tried it yet. 

 

22 minutes ago, Arcadia said:

No idea since leg cramps are common for me if I don’t move. However I have had side effects that are not common with medications and vaccinations, and I would like find a report or two of someone experiencing the same side effect. My quick resort for leg cramps is soda but that’s not a healthy remedy. 

It’s so frustrating to be the lone person with weird side effects, isn’t it? I react strangely to all sorts of things. We’re both zebras! 

[Ann.without.an.e]

I haven't read everything here but have you had your vitamin levels checked and are you anemic? When my B, D, and iron were low my legs and feet were cramping a lot. 

[gardenmom5]

we've always done calcium and magnesium for leg cramps.

[Arcadia]

14 minutes ago, Spryte said:

It’s so frustrating to be the lone person with weird side effects, isn’t it? I react strangely to all sorts of things. We’re both zebras! 

How is your blood circulation overall? Even when my haemoglobin levels are good, I could still get pale looking nails and cold fingers. 

[Spryte]

25 minutes ago, Arcadia said:

How is your blood circulation overall? Even when my haemoglobin levels are good, I could still get pale looking nails and cold fingers. 

I think it’s ok?

I’m really wondering about the estradiol cream now. I just switched to that last Thurs night. But I’m not sure if it’s conjugated.

[kbutton]

Zebras are not as rare as doctors think. They really need to come up with some better nomenclature to reflect this, and they need to realize that people are sick and tired of being sick and tired and will consult Dr. Google. The more patients do that, the more they will realize that zebras are not that uncommon. Or, if it makes them feel better about healthcare--"If you build it, they will come." Once information/diagnosis/treatment/advocacy gets a foothold, people find it. As they should.

Horses --> Zebras --> Unicorns --> Pegasus

That's my proposal. 

Signed, fellow Zebra, mom of a Unicorn or Pegasus, lol! (Depends on how many of the weird things end up causing long-term issues vs. being a one-off event.)

I hope you get what you need, and I am glad you have a new person to help you try to figure it out! 

[Arcadia]

1 hour ago, Spryte said:

 

I’m really wondering about the estradiol cream now. I just switched to that last Thurs night. But I’m not sure if it’s conjugated.

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a605041.html

“Before using topical estradiol,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements, you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol); clarithromycin (Biaxin); erythromycin (E.E.S, Erythrocin); lovastatin (Altocor, Mevacor); medications for thyroid disease; phenobarbital; rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate); and ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma; seizures; migraine headaches; endometriosis (a condition in which the type of tissue that lines the uterus [womb] grows in other areas of the body); uterine fibroids (growths in the uterus that are not cancer); yellowing of the skin or eyes, especially during pregnancy or while you were using an estrogen product; very high or very low levels of calcium in your blood; porphyria (condition in which abnormal substances build up in the blood and cause problems with the skin or nervous system) or gallbladder, thyroid, liver, pancreas, or kidney disease.
• plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Remember to allow some time between applying topical estradiol and applying sunscreen. Estradiol gel may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
• you should know that topical estradiol may harm other people who touch the medication that is on your skin or in the container. It is most harmful to men and children. Do not let anyone else touch the skin where you applied topical estradiol for one hour after you apply the medication. If someone does touch topical estradiol, that person should wash his or her skin with soap and water as soon as possible.”