Will the foot cramps EVER stop?
LauraCoth
Posts: 303 Member
I've been at this for weeks now.
I'm supplementing magnesium heavily, I salt my food liberally, and I drink at least two to three glasses of water containing a teaspoon of salt daily. I've even tried adding potassium supplements.
But none of this is stopping the night-time foot cramps. I haven't had a decent night for weeks as a result. I took one of my precious sleeping pills last night and was woken up from a blissful sleep at 4:00 a.m. with a terrible foot cramp, even though the last thing I did before bed was drink a glass of very salty water.
Is this ever going to end? Because if it doesn"t, I'm going to have to back off on the low-carb, and I really don't want to.
I'm supplementing magnesium heavily, I salt my food liberally, and I drink at least two to three glasses of water containing a teaspoon of salt daily. I've even tried adding potassium supplements.
But none of this is stopping the night-time foot cramps. I haven't had a decent night for weeks as a result. I took one of my precious sleeping pills last night and was woken up from a blissful sleep at 4:00 a.m. with a terrible foot cramp, even though the last thing I did before bed was drink a glass of very salty water.
Is this ever going to end? Because if it doesn"t, I'm going to have to back off on the low-carb, and I really don't want to.
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Hubby gets edema bad and was told to go on a no sodium diet by his drs. On one of the information sheets, there was a note regarding cramps - to check your calcium intake. He hasn't had any cramps as yet.
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Did you happen to have wine? I almost always get them on nights I have a drink of wine (I've just started low-carb, so this is prior). And I only drink about a 4 oz. glass. But it is the only link I've made between them as an adult. I also got them as a child, so wasn't drinking wine much then, only a few sips of "Baby Duck" once in a while
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You could also try keeping a little pickle juice by your bed. The new science about cramps say it is a nerve issue. Things like ginger and some mysterious component of pickle juice is supposed to work. I think perhaps turmeric as well. You could even try taking a ginger or tumeric supplement before bed if you are getting them nightly. I love ginger tea. Once you have the cramp, the pickle juice is supposed to work within a few minutes.
Hope you can find a solution!4 -
If it is a nerve issue, try adding Braggs Nutritional Yeast to anything you add cheese to... There's the old thing about a bar of soap under the sheet that might help... I think I remember Dr. Berg having a thing about nerve issues and said B1 is his suggestion - and that's in the BNY mentioned above...
D3/K2 is critical in nerve stuff, too... It helps absorb calcium and direct it where it needs to go. Potassium and magnesium are required to get into the cells and boron helps keep it there. There's one other part of that I am forgetting.... Maybe the vitamin A to balance the D3 12 hours out?? Mag is twice a day... I KNOW I'm forgetting something. (Ah, Omega 3's!!) So megadoses of D3 without K2, Omega 3's, magnesium and A (offset by 12 hours) will cause calcium overload. With these supplements and absorption from food, most folks don't need a calcium supplement (and I think I've been told you should take it at night, stand alone, for safest absorption)...
I can't remember if we've discussed this, @LauraCoth (sorry, everyone blurs together in my head after a bit), but if you have low stomach acid AT ALL, you might not be absorbing what nutrients you do take in. Magnesium and sodium apparently require a bit of acid to absorb...as does calcium. So too much calcium is a good bit of the problem with cramps, too... Stress depletes potassium...as does sugar.
So it might be worth adding ACV to that night-time salty water - with lemon juice - for potassium, and maybe lite salt for magnesium to get it all in balance?
https://www.drberg.com/blog/body-conditions/muscle-cramps-spasms-and-charley-horses
Side Note: If you are having any swelling at all, that's indicative of the thyroid meds being off.2 -
RunRachelleRun wrote: »Did you happen to have wine? I almost always get them on nights I have a drink of wine (I've just started low-carb, so this is prior). And I only drink about a 4 oz. glass. But it is the only link I've made between them as an adult. I also got them as a child, so wasn't drinking wine much then, only a few sips of "Baby Duck" once in a while.
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LMAO. Canadian gateway alcohol.
OP, have you tried epsom salt soaks? Maybe if you soak your feet before bed for ten minutes, it would get better absorbed from the skin? Sometimes depending on the magnesium supplement, it may not be absorbed by our bodies properly.
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table salt (NaCl) is only one of the salts your body needs, try bioplasma, all 12 basic cell salts in one formula...I find that it way improves my cramping particularly after hard workouts...4
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what form of mag are you taking, and when you say heavily, what does that mean, how much?2
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Basically, all the ones I know related to indigestion, stool, nutrient deficiencies...
Pretty certain symptoms.
So, basically, if you don't have a gallbladder or if you have a compromised liver, you are almost guaranteed to have low stomach acid. If you ever burp, fart, get bloated, get reflux, heartburn, or any form of indigestion, chances are you have low stomach acid. If your stool is yellow/white, if it floats, if you have a "fatty clear film floating," if you have any remnants of large particles of recognizable food (other than corn, that's everyone) in your stool, those are all clear signs of low stomach acid/poor digestion. If raw foods like lettuce cause immediate (within a hour or so, I think) indigestion/digestive misery or sprints to the bathroom, you likely have low stomach acid. If fats give your heartburn or nausea....problems digesting any food macro - protein, fats, and/or carbs...have or suspect leaky gut/candida/sibo/etc.
Mostly Symptoms
If you get constipated, diarrhea, or alternate between the two, it *CAN* be a sign, but isn't always. If you have hypothyroidism and have difficulties getting level on your meds, you might have low stomach acid. If you seem to have problems absorbing calcium, D3, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, or pretty much any other deficiency that isn't caused by and underlying health condition or medication inference, you might have low stomach acid. Osteoporosis...hair loss, so many others!!!
Oh, wow - this article has a whole lot of signs and symptoms I always had that I never knew about ... eatnakednow.com/13-signs-you-have-hypochlorhydria/
I had not noticed directly, but I'd observed it, that my sweat doesn't stink really anymore...it's just sweat - how strange! I wonder if anyone of the folks with heavy ketone breath that prevents ketosis for misery reasons might need to just increase their stomach acid!!
I didn't know this either - acne, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune anything can sometimes be tied back to low stomach acid... https://sott.net/article/265343-The-truth-about-stomach-acid-Why-low-stomach-acid-is-jeopardizing-your-health
Question Based Quiz
Practical Quiz
Hope this helps. (@baconslave - tons of interesting new info in this one...It's crazy, but the more questions other people ask, the more I find myself learning, too!!!)3 -
Same question.... I don't get cramps but do get terrible heartburn since starting and was told maybe this was the cause? How do we know?
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@Cyndi146 - just posted some links and tests and info above.2
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thank you @KnitOrMiss 0
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thanks knit, just did the test on there and this is the result it gave, i'll try it and see what happens
Your total score is 10
A score 10-20 - - try the beet juice test. Drink 1/2 cup of beet juice, if your urine turns red, you may want to get some HCl tablets. CEDS can screen for HCl deficiency. CEDS screens for thousands of items and give you immediate feedback.3 -
KnitOrMiss wrote: »
Pretty certain symptoms.
If you ever burp, fart ... or any form of indigestion, chances are you have low stomach acid.
PS That's a mouthful of info - Thx!
I'll endeavor to digest it without, you know.....1 -
@auntstephie321 I think my results CURRENTLY were like 6, and if I filled in all my previous symptoms it was around 18... I'm still not perfect by any means, but it's obvious improvement. I might have to do that beet test now, for laughs, if I can tolerate it. I know all the dyes, particularly Red Dye #40, used to go right through me!!! Ugh, bringing loose stools in it's wake.... I still avoid it like the plague.
@RalfLott - I should clarify - a single isolated burp resulting from carbonation is moderately normal. The occasional passed gas is somewhat normal-ish, too...but more than once or twice (usually for me it was bad enough at the worst it was a cascading failure)...after a meal, yup....particularly if they stink. Mine, unless part of the bathroom download process, generally don't have too much smell. I can tell I'm eating something my body doesn't like or I didn't get enough acids and such if I start letting off gaseous byproducts to rival mustard gas in military implications. Thankfully, that has been a while.
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KnitOrMiss wrote: »@auntstephie321 I think my results CURRENTLY were like 6, and if I filled in all my previous symptoms it was around 18... I'm still not perfect by any means, but it's obvious improvement. I might have to do that beet test now, for laughs, if I can tolerate it. I know all the dyes, particularly Red Dye #40, used to go right through me!!! Ugh, bringing loose stools in it's wake.... I still avoid it like the plague.
@RalfLott - I should clarify - a single isolated burp resulting from carbonation is moderately normal. The occasional passed gas is somewhat normal-ish, too...but more than once or twice (usually for me it was bad enough at the worst it was a cascading failure)...after a meal, yup....particularly if they stink. Mine, unless part of the bathroom download process, generally don't have too much smell. I can tell I'm eating something my body doesn't like or I didn't get enough acids and such if I start letting off gaseous byproducts to rival mustard gas in military implications. Thankfully, that has been a while.
Haha! KnitOrMiss SCUD missiles....4 -
auntstephie321 wrote: »what form of mag are you taking, and when you say heavily, what does that mean, how much?
I didn't see this answered. This is my question too.
Everyone needs different amounts of magnesium and not all forms of mag are well absorbed. You may only be getting 5-10% of the dose your taking if it's not a bioavailable form. And if it is, sounds like you need more.
I used to take 1000mg a day of magnesium carbonate, which is well absorbed. For whatever reason, I don't seem to need as much anymore since eating more carnivore.0 -
Kale, spinach and other green leafy emetics all contain non-trivial amounts of magnesium, as do gut-wreckers like pumpkin and sesame seeds.
Prof. Bruce Ames, a retired UC Berkeley prof who runs a lab at Oakland Children's Hospital (where YouTube phenom Dr. Rhonda Patrick hung or maybe still hangs her hat), opines that if you get enough dietary magnesium, maybe you only need calcium supplements.
(It's apparently a good thing if these two minerals are present in certain ratios, like sodium & potassium and omega-3 & - 6.)
https://youtu.be/ZVQmPVBjubw 2 -
Okay, I'll increase my ACV and switch to mag glycinate and see if that helps. The only reason I use the mag citrate is the cost: I already spend huge amount of money on supplements, and now that we're retired our medical insurance doesn't cover as much of our prescriptions as it used to.
Incidentally, I was looking up research on low stomach acid, and many of the symptoms I've had over the years are mentioned in this context. The most notable one is constipation. Even when my thyroid numbers are adequate I am chronically constipated unless I take large doses of magnesium. Grain fibre never helped me at all -- it bloated me and hurt. I'll be interested to see if increasing stomach acid helps me in this regard.
I also just completed a 24-hour urine test for all hormones (sex, thyroid and adrenal) as well as electrolytes and melatonin, among other things. I'm hoping this will reveal some issues that can be treated.2 -
Okay, I'll increase my ACV and switch to mag glycinate and see if that helps. The only reason I use the mag citrate is the cost: I already spend huge amount of money on supplements, and now that we're retired our medical insurance doesn't cover as much of our prescriptions as it used to.
Incidentally, I was looking up research on low stomach acid, and many of the symptoms I've had over the years are mentioned in this context. The most notable one is constipation. Even when my thyroid numbers are adequate I am chronically constipated unless I take large doses of magnesium. Grain fibre never helped me at all -- it bloated me and hurt. I'll be interested to see if increasing stomach acid helps me in this regard.
I also just completed a 24-hour urine test for all hormones (sex, thyroid and adrenal) as well as electrolytes and melatonin, among other things. I'm hoping this will reveal some issues that can be treated.
This is what I use, I know it's more than citrate but without taking this I get neck spasms and charlie horses each night.
https://www.amazon.com/KAL-Magnesium-Glycinate-400-tablets/dp/B00013YZ1Q1 -
@LauraCoth : I also suffer from severe leg/foot cramps at night. But, to be truthful I also suffered on the SAD. They are very intermittent. I can go weeks/months with no cramping and then suddenly they return. I have read everything possible and have tried everything possible but get no complete relief, albeit sometimes temporary relief. I keep a heating pad in my bedroom night stand for the really bad bouts. I have had them come and leave with absolutely no dietary changes, exercise changes, supplement changes, etc. I think that, in my case, they are caused by a wide variety of reasons (unknown to me) and I just accept it as part of my life. N.B. We are both retired and have the same first name, so that must be a factor LOL! Friend me if you ever find a cure!!1
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Foot cramps can be caused by medications. Do you take any medications on a regular basis? Even over the counter stuff?
Prior to this diet, I suffered foot cramps for 20 years while taking Synthroid for my thyroid. My doctor at the time gave me Quinine Sulphate, which sort of helped but is apparently quite dangerous stuff.
The cramps stopped about two days after I got off the Synthroid and switched to Erfa Thyroid. My doctor told me this was nonsense, but sure enough, when I looked on the official Synthroid website, foot cramps are listed as an uncommon side effect -- and one that you are supposed to report to your doctor right away!
I'mm going to try to stick with the electrolytes and the ACV, but in a couple of weeks if I still have the cramps I may have to switch my attention to my new thyroid medication, the compounded T3, which, I suspect, is a synthetic, though I asked for a natural form of it. It may be the cause of the cramps.4 -
My leg cramps stopped when I lowered my caffeine intake and stopped urinating out all of my electrolytes. Now I just have "high test" coffee in the morning.2
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My leg cramps stopped when I lowered my caffeine intake and stopped urinating out all of my electrolytes. Now I just have "high test" coffee in the morning.
Interesting. I had a little bit of problems with leg/foot cramps initially but have done well with only 100mg of mag. glycinate and less sodium than most indicate is needed. Perhaps that is because I drink only decaf and have for years.0 -
@LauraCoth You are correct!!! I only take one medication (Evista, for pre-osteoporosis) which does list leg cramps as a side effect. I mentioned it to OB GYN and she felt that since they are intermittent, it would be good if I could tolerate it for the benefits of the drug. I actually agreed with her but sometimes wish I hadn't. Right now I have been cramp free for two full weeks, and am hoping I am in a remission of sorts.
@Aquawave: I do drink 1.5 mugs of coffee each morning and will try to cut back a bit.
Thanks for all of the suggestions above.2 -
I forgot to add to my post:
My 2.5 month trial of Jardiance bring on a leg cramp in the wee hours of the morn two weeks ago. First leg cramp I have had in years, going to the bathroom, 5 times a night with this drug. Without consulting my Endo, I took myself off of it 12 days ago. Thank heavens, I was so dehydrated from it and my blood pressure on this drug dropped to 92/68. I still drink coffee in the AM, but am starting to rethink about getting off this addictive caffeine wagon. Oh, and my sugars (just on Metformin) are still averaging 92 for the last week. (both pre and post meals) and my BP is back to 110/76.
Anything that causes bladder frequency, for me, has resulted in leg cramps. YMMV3 -
Good move, @Aquawave. I'd want to wait a while to see how those pee-away-your-diabetes drugs work in the long haul. (Obviously, they're bad for some of us even in the short haul!)
With numbers like yours on metformin only, hard to see why you would have been directed to try Jardiance in the first place, but I assume your profile was not quite as pretty a few months ago. ??1 -
Good move, @Aquawave. I'd want to wait a while to see how those pee-away-your-diabetes drugs work in the long haul. (Obviously, they're bad for some of us even in the short haul!)
With numbers like yours on metformin only, hard to see why you would have been directed to try Jardiance in the first place, but I assume your profile was not quite as pretty a few months ago. ??
My A1C was 7.2 and it has been creeping up for years (since 2001). I am 60 years old. On May 18th, My Endo wanted to put me on a drug that would increase my insulin and I flat out refused. His alternative was a trial on this sugar pee pill,smallest dose. So I tried it and did not see a vast improvement on my daily levels (about 140). He told me diabetes was a progressive disease and that I needed to take more drugs to get my sugar levels down. Is he under pressure from the insurance company for results?
On June 20th, after an all you can eat Chinese Buffet, my husband and I almost fell asleep driving home. Just on a whim, we tested. Our Glu numbers were 259 and 295 respectively. What a wake up call! Our drugs were not helping at all! and husband, on insulin at night to decrease dawn phenom.
I googled and found dietdoctor.com and started us on a lchf diet. By the second day, my levels were normal. Husbands was running about 115. What a miracle!11 -
Yes. Starting in the 4th grade, my hands would shake about 2 hours after eating sugarcoated cereal, never told anyone since I did not want be be "weird".I was called hypoglycemic when I was 18 years old. Tried Atkins, got prego in 1978 and was told no more Atkins, it was bad for my baby even though I had gestational diabetes. Was told I had high cholesterol in the 80's and was put on a high carb diet. After my Dad had a triple bypass. I told my doc and he put me on Statins. Lost my gallbladder as a result of the low fat diet. After eating out Chinese with my hubby for a lunch date in 2001, I had my yearly checkup. I knew what was up after I gave a urine sample and the tech came in with a glucometer to check my glucose levels. Every elder in my family has died from complications of diabetes and even though I was professionally, a Medical Technologist, I should have known better.
I am just done with doctors, I took myself off Lipitor last month too after learning that it could be causing all these unsolvable joint problems. There will be no more donations to the American Diabetes Association from this household.
This is so off topic. I am sorry.10 -
In the 80's both husband & I were having cramps in what seemed like the bones of our shins (probably were dietary deficient in some thing) & a doctor friend told us to take chromium. It worked for us. When ever we feel it starting up again (it goes years between) we take a chromium supplement & it disappears. I don't know if this is the same thing as what you have just putting it out there as another alternative to research.4
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