frequent leg cramps scaring me

[ckelley116 9]

I've had restless leg syndrome since I was a kid (probably about 30 years now). I've also, for maybe 20-25 years, woken up from charley horses maybe 2-3 times a year. No big deal.

About 3 weeks ago I woke up in the middle of the night with a charley horse in my left calf. I got out of bed, stretched the muscle, and it went away. I fell back to sleep and didn't think about it again. The next night, I woke up with an even worse one in my right calf. This one was stubborn, and it took a few minutes to work it out. The next day my right calf was really sore, and it took about a week for the soreness to go away completely.

The really weird thing is that I've been getting them with some frequency in both legs ever since, during both the day and the night. I can even sort of "induce" them sometimes if I try to stretch my legs a certain way (which I'm trying not to do, but sometimes it's just a normal stretch, or like a ballet pointed-toe foot stretch). My legs feel weak a lot of the time, though they don't actually seem to be clinically weak, my left leg has been achy and my RLS has been been pretty bad at night. Sometimes my ankles feel like they're stuck or don't want to move right, and my feet feel like they want to cramp as well and sometimes actually do.

I've started taking a magnesium supplement but I'm not sure how long I'd have to take it before I started to feel a difference, if that's actually what's causing it. I'm not diabetic, but I did just experience a large kidney stone, and from what I understand kidney disease can be a cause of frequent charley horses. However, between diagnosis on March 31 and when I eventually passed it on May 30, I had comprehensive bloodwork twice, four urine tests, an abdominal CT scan, three kidney x-rays and one renal ultrasound - I think if I had kidney disease, someone would've noticed. I'm not dehydrated. I do sit for most of the day thanks to my desk job - could it be that? I don't have the greatest posture thanks to all that sitting. Otherwise, all I can think of is that I've developed some scary neuromuscular disease. 

I'm not afraid of blood clots; I know it's not that. Anyone experience anything like this and have it not be something worrisome? I've been doing pretty good with my anxiety lately; I'm mad that this is affecting me like it is.

[MARC 406]

My wife gets very painful leg cramps at times and needs to walk around for a while before they go away. The doctor said not to worry. 

[Ironman 103]

Potassium can help with muscle cramping.

[MARC 406]

I would try banana's, watermelon, avocados, spinach, salmon, lentils and Greek yogurt. 

[ckelley116 9]

Thanks for the advice! The magnesium supplement I've been taking actually includes potassium (though not a lot of it). I do eat Greek yogurt and salmon pretty regularly, as well as potatoes, leafy greens, and poultry. (I wish I liked bananas but even the smell of them makes me gag!) I should probably pay more attention to just how much I'm getting, though. I may be getting less than I think I am.

The muscle cramping itself seems to be easing; I haven't woken up with any charley horses in a few days and am making conscious efforts not to stretch my muscles in a way that might bring one on. My left leg is still achy a lot of the time, though, my ankles are a little sore (not the joint, but the muscles and stuff around it) and I woke up to restless legs several times just last night. I'm hoping the achiness and sore ankles are just from me "checking" for muscle cramps and moving my legs and feet in ways I normally wouldn't (stupid HA). The RLS I've had for decades and can deal, but it's annoying when it's this bad.