Leg Cramps!!!!!!!!!!!!
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GB333
Posts: 261 Member
I got Charlie Horses before, but only when I wore heels and tromped up and down stairs all day or something. I had to stop cocktail waitressing when I was 23 because I got leg cramps each night after I worked a shift.
However, it's every night now regardless of my footwear or level of activity - and sometimes both legs - meaning I wake up in screaming, crying pain twice a night. I am about to start weening myself off Atkins because I can't take this anymore.
I take potassium, magnesium, calcium, and a non-iron multivitamin and multimineral every night before bed. I drink my water. I even stretch my calves before bed. I am doing everything I have read about in other forums, but I STILL get the leg cramps. Any other ideas before I'm forced to give up Atkins all together? I've never had anything in my life cause me this much pain.
(Not to mention that I'm keeping my husband awake, too.)
However, it's every night now regardless of my footwear or level of activity - and sometimes both legs - meaning I wake up in screaming, crying pain twice a night. I am about to start weening myself off Atkins because I can't take this anymore.
I take potassium, magnesium, calcium, and a non-iron multivitamin and multimineral every night before bed. I drink my water. I even stretch my calves before bed. I am doing everything I have read about in other forums, but I STILL get the leg cramps. Any other ideas before I'm forced to give up Atkins all together? I've never had anything in my life cause me this much pain.
(Not to mention that I'm keeping my husband awake, too.) 0
Replies
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There is a reference to leg cramps and atkins on webmd.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/new-atkins-new-you-diet
Sounds like it should be temporary. I'm not doing atkins, but Ideal Protein which is also low in carbs high in protein. I have had some leg cramps early on, but not really any more.
You could also have something like restless leg syndrome. I have a co-worker who has this. There is a med to help with it. MIght be worth talking to your doctor.
Good luck!0 -
Atkins also suggest drinking chicken or beef broth because when you start low carbing you lose alot of water due to the diurectic affect. The sodium in the broth helps with that and I haven't had any problems with leg cramps since.
If this doesn't help then I would check with your doctor.
Good luck,
Anita0 -
Agree - sodium might do the trick.0
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Try APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!!!!! That's what stopped my leg cramps! I take 2 tablespoons before bed. I know it tastes horrible but the pain was worse than anything I could stand!
I researched on earthclinic.com and found many people swearing by it.
It works for me! Cheap and natural! :-) Hope it helps you too!0 -
Low iron absorption can lead to leg discomfort. If you also have pink urine after eating beets or foul smelling urine after eating asparagus, you might have low iron absorption. Taking an iron supplement has cured my Restless Leg Syndrome.0
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Thanks everyone! I am making a point to eat more salt (which seems so weird for me!) and we'll see how it goes!0
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Thanks everyone! I am making a point to eat more salt (which seems so weird for me!) and we'll see how it goes!
When you eat a high carbo diet your kidneys hold onto the salt and you retain water, but when you eat low carb your kidney flush it out and then you can lose too much sodium. Which can cause a whole host of symptoms (light headiness, headaches, and muscle cramping and much more). That's why you lose a lot of water weight when first start a low carb diet.
Hope you find relief soon!!!0 -
Hmmm, I am not on Atkins , but following primal lifestyle and aiming for 100g carbs a day.last week I had the most insane leg cramps. I had a lot of standing on those days, but I did that before. Unintentionally I went down to 70g carbs and maybe that was the reason.
Good to know it is actually a c'mon symptom0 -
It happened to me too, but stopped.
I upped my magnesium and potassium, and drank more water.0 -
You can also try Morton's Lite Salt which is made from potassium chloride. Mix that with regular salt so you get sodium and potassium. Maybe they aren't getting into your system enough in pill form? You can also drink low-carb drinks like Vitamin Water Zero to get your electrolytes.0
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Try APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!!!!! That's what stopped my leg cramps! I take 2 tablespoons before bed. I know it tastes horrible but the pain was worse than anything I could stand!
I researched on earthclinic.com and found many people swearing by it.
It works for me! Cheap and natural! :-) Hope it helps you too!
Similar to ACV - try pickle juice. Yes, it sounds weird to drink it, but it works for me! It's basically diluted vinegar, plus sodium. I prefer the juice from kosher pickles to dill pickles taste-wise, but both work. In the summer after a lot of sprinting (I play rugby), I would get insane leg cramps at night (that's how I knew we had a hard practice!).0 -
And from a healthcare standpoint - it wouldnt hurt to inform your doctor as well. They may want to consider drawing labs to get a good picture.0
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Low iron absorption can lead to leg discomfort. If you also have pink urine after eating beets or foul smelling urine after eating asparagus, you might have low iron absorption. Taking an iron supplement has cured my Restless Leg Syndrome.
And I thought that was just the asparagus and it water draining features
Hey to Ozaukee Cty - Just south of you!0
