What do people use for severe cramps??

[Janne]

Sorry, yes, Sodium = Na
Potassium = K

Bananas are supposed to be high in Potassium.

Yes we eat much less salt than 200 years ago. But much more than the millenia before that.

 

[Bionic]

As far as your leg cramps go with mention of a bad back as well I’d strongly advise getting it checked out. I have a back full of metal as well as an implanted neurostimulator as a result of neglecting something similar. In my case I initially thought it was a pulled muscle in my thigh and over the course of several months it got gradually worse with the associated cramping you mention. It culminated in waking up in agony one morning to the point of not being able to walk or dress myself etc. I was in that state for the four months it took to get to see a specialist who then got me in to surgery three days later to decompress my sciatic nerve and trim my L5S1 disc. Unfortunately despite another four major surgeries I’ve now got permanent nerve damage affecting my right leg. Moral of the story I suppose is don’t do the typical man thing (like I did) and ignore it in the hope it goes away

 

[Toddy]

Folks, make life simple. If the cramps are just cramps, and not something that's going to cripple you, just buy CRAMPEX tablets and get out of bed and take one. They work quickly, they settle the problem, they let you sleep and the reassurance means you stop tensing up and encouraging more of them.
Not addictive, not expensive, easily kept in a FAK if you're enduring cramps when out.
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.4866.pdf

 

[oldtimer]

Following this thread with great interest.

I've been experiencing bad leg cramps at night recently and wondered whether it had to do with medication for high blood pressure, but GP says unlikely. However, because of high blood pressure I do not use salt on food and seldom cook with it, and very seldom eat ready made food with additives.. I may try some suggestions above and add a bit more salt to my diet.so
Also, I wonder about the connection with a bout of sciatica I had a couple of years back.

Sympathise with your problems, Sundowner, but you have done a lot of good by posting and to judge from the large volume of responses, you seem to have hit a nerve! (Sorry, couldn't resist it!)

 

[Kepis]

Folks, make life simple. If the cramps are just cramps, and not something that's going to cripple you, just buy CRAMPEX tablets and get out of bed and take one. They work quickly, they settle the problem, they let you sleep and the reassurance means you stop tensing up and encouraging more of them.
Not addictive, not expensive, easily kept in a FAK if you're enduring cramps when out.
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.4866.pdf

Crampex tablets are excellent, unfortunately i think they stopped making them, ive run out and cant find replacements anywhere.

I get cramps and never added salt to food, but following the discontinuation of Crampex i started adding a bit to food, i also stared drinking tonic water as it has Quinine in it which i find helps too.

 

[Broch]

Crampex tablets are excellent, unfortunately i think they stopped making them, ive run out and cant find replacements anywhere.

I get cramps and never added salt to food, but following the discontinuation of Crampex i started adding a bit to food, i also stared drinking tonic water as it has Quinine in it which i find helps too.

Fever-Tree is made from the Fever Tree which has natural Quinine in it as you probably know (as opposed to all those saccharin filled substitute quinine products) - but personally I never take mine without the Gin

 

[Toddy]

Sorry, back in a bit
M

 

[Toddy]

I contacted the company listed as manufacturers, but I think they're actually an umbrella type company who organise supplies from smaller producers, and have had a prompt reply....

Re Crampex,

Good Afternoon,


Thank you for your enquiry regarding the above named product.


Unfortunately we are still experiencing supply issues.


We are still searching hard for another supplier, however as this product is a licensed medicine, all

manufacturers and suppliers have to have their facilities audited and approved by the Medicines & Healthcare Agency (MHRA)

which unfortunately is taking longer than we anticipated.


We are doing all we can to rectify our stock issue, but this is out of our control at the moment.


We are hoping for a return to market in the late part of 2018 dependant on supply and MHRA decisions regarding manufacture.


So, sorry folks. Crampex is still the best option I reckon, if you can get it.

M

 

[Kepis]

I contacted the company listed as manufacturers, but I think they're actually an umbrella type company who organise supplies from smaller producers, and have had a prompt reply....

Re Crampex,

Good Afternoon,


Thank you for your enquiry regarding the above named product.


Unfortunately we are still experiencing supply issues.


We are still searching hard for another supplier, however as this product is a licensed medicine, all

manufacturers and suppliers have to have their facilities audited and approved by the Medicines & Healthcare Agency (MHRA)

which unfortunately is taking longer than we anticipated.


We are doing all we can to rectify our stock issue, but this is out of our control at the moment.


We are hoping for a return to market in the late part of 2018 dependant on supply and MHRA decisions regarding manufacture.


So, sorry folks. Crampex is still the best option I reckon, if you can get it.

M

Hope they can sort out the supply problem as Crampex is the best solution I've ever found. Fingers crossed.

 

[Toddy]

Me too. I've been checking my FAK and my response pack type bags too, and I have 'some', but if they're back on the market I'll buy more.
Do you see the prices some folks are quoting for old stuff they have at home ? I think it's too useful to sell.

M

 

[Kepis]

I read that a box of 24 tablets went on Ebay for just shy of £500.00 - lunacy

 

[Broch]

OK, how about trying your own concoction of vitamins B3 and D with calcium gluconate in tablet form (or some other calcium source)?

I usually refrain from suggesting herbal remedies but traditionally (at least here but I also believe in Native American medicine) a tincture of cramp bark (Guelder Rose - Viburnum opulus) was taken both internally and externally for severe cramps of all kinds and a muscle rub can be made as a lotion. That's a statement, not a recommendation

 

[Toddy]

There's a problem with B3. I'm not alone in suffering from a 'niacin flush' if I take much.....and it doesn't need to be very much at all.
Most uncomfortable and actually painful. It's as though my skin were on fire from the inside out.
There was a thread a long while ago on using it as an anti-midge remedy. So, it was duly tried.
Not a good idea, well, not for me

M

 

[Broch]

Ah, I thought Crampex contained B3 in the form of niacin acid - maybe I'm wrong; apologies if so.

 

[Sundowner]

I contacted the company listed as manufacturers, but I think they're actually an umbrella type company who organise supplies from smaller producers, and have had a prompt reply....

Re Crampex,

Good Afternoon,


Thank you for your enquiry regarding the above named product.


Unfortunately we are still experiencing supply issues.


We are still searching hard for another supplier, however as this product is a licensed medicine, all

manufacturers and suppliers have to have their facilities audited and approved by the Medicines & Healthcare Agency (MHRA)

which unfortunately is taking longer than we anticipated.


We are doing all we can to rectify our stock issue, but this is out of our control at the moment.


We are hoping for a return to market in the late part of 2018 dependant on supply and MHRA decisions regarding manufacture.


So, sorry folks. Crampex is still the best option I reckon, if you can get it.

M

I'm certainly going to try this

 

[Toddy]

Ah, I thought Crampex contained B3 in the form of niacin acid - maybe I'm wrong; apologies if so.

It might well do, but it must be a tiny amount. The crampex certainly eases the cramp, and lets me sleep through the night without pain, but I don't suffer the painful skin rash of the B3 pills.

M

 

[Macaroon]

I've been away for a while and have only just caught this one.

I suffered indescribably bad calf and foot cramps in both legs for a good few years and it nearly drove me insane. GP was no help at all and in the process of sorting it out myself I tried all of the suggestions above, and a damn sight more, to no avail. About three years ago I had a knee replacement and mentioned the problem to my orthopaedic surgeon, who promptly wrote me a prescription for 200mg tablets of Quinine Sulphate, take one about half an hour before bed for about a week, and thereafter keep them by the bedside and if you awaken with the first signs take one immediately with a glass of water.

That regime has worked so well for me that I've just been to the bedside to be sure of the tablet strength and noticed that they expired over a year ago........'nuff said, in my book. I still get the odd attack, but swallow one of these as above and it's gone.

You'd need to drink and awful lot of the best, purest tonic water to achieve that dosage, but that's what it takes. Your GP should prescribe immediately and without fuss, mine did and she's a ......well, I'll not go there.

A complete and radical life-changer for me, give it a try

 

[Billy-o]

Good advice largely. A couple of other things help

Stretching, and especially using pressure points with a lacrosse ball (or cricket ball) - To get your head around the principles, see if you can get a session of myo-fascial release massage. You'll get the idea right away ... or look at a you tube ... search 'lacrosse ball massage calves' or similar. This helps in a ton of ways but, partly, by taking the twist out of some muscles, a cramp doesn't then pull on an already stressed system of ligaments and muscles.

Another thing is electrolytes. A little while ago I figured out a DIY electrolyte solution that doesn't cost a bomb and isn't full of sugar. It puts all the salts you might need in without popping a kidney. You need it as a prophylactic treatment, so add it to a litre of water and drink up a few hours before bed.

1/4 tsp salt substitute like from the supermarket. One with Potassium Chloride in it mainly
1/4 tsp baking soda for the Sodium (not baking powder)
1 pinch of table salt for Sodium in another form
1/8 tsp epsom salt for Magnesium. Easiest to get this from a chemists in food safe form.
Add a 1 tsp glucose if you like

Hydration is a thing here, too, so drink the water anyway, even if you don't include the salts

I was going to mention a couple of exercises to work and stretch out large muscle groups in your hips, backside and lower legs, but the simplest thing is to go to an entry level, low impact yoga class.

 

[Sundowner]

I've been away for a while and have only just caught this one.

I suffered indescribably bad calf and foot cramps in both legs for a good few years and it nearly drove me insane. GP was no help at all and in the process of sorting it out myself I tried all of the suggestions above, and a damn sight more, to no avail. About three years ago I had a knee replacement and mentioned the problem to my orthopaedic surgeon, who promptly wrote me a prescription for 200mg tablets of Quinine Sulphate, take one about half an hour before bed for about a week, and thereafter keep them by the bedside and if you awaken with the first signs take one immediately with a glass of water.

That regime has worked so well for me that I've just been to the bedside to be sure of the tablet strength and noticed that they expired over a year ago........'nuff said, in my book. I still get the odd attack, but swallow one of these as above and it's gone.

You'd need to drink and awful lot of the best, purest tonic water to achieve that dosage, but that's what it takes. Your GP should prescribe immediately and without fuss, mine did and she's a ......well, I'll not go there.

A complete and radical life-changer for me, give it a try

My GP prescribed Quinine Sulphate for years which worked, up to a point!!! After standing in the river all day salmon fishing, a cramp would get me every night. Could have set the alarm clock by it!! Then one day the GP said to me that they know QS works but they didn't know why and that he wasn't allowed to prescribe it any longer and I've been on Amitriptylene ever since. This too works as long as I don't get cold, kneel in my canoe all day or stand in the river fishing for hours. I need to do these activities or I'd lose my marbles. When cramps come, in my case, they are so debilitating that I'd kill to get rid of them!!!

 

[Sundowner]

On a lighter note I should have mentioned at the beginning of the thread that I'm a
1 cantankerous old git
2 grumpy leaning toward antisocial
and finally
3 extremely argumentative and opinionated!!
In my defence, I love it and am quite happy living with that