We wanted to update everyone since it has been nearly a year. My husband has been off Zocor since our last posting. He still gets jabs in his abductor muscles but has not had a full blown attack. We met a fellow death-leg-cramp sufferer back in November who said he takes 2 GNC "Mega Man" vitamins daily, pops "Sports Legs" supplements whenever he is active hiking, etc. & drinks LOTS of water. Since we are at the point of total desperation & willing to try anything, my husband immediately took up this guy's regimen. Since taking the vitamins, drinking plenty of gatorade & water, & popping "Sports Legs" supplements every time we hike or snowshoe we have had peaceful nights uninterrupted by the death leg cramps!!! Our suggestion to everyone is try the "Sports Legs" too!!!!!!
i thought I would check this post and surprised to see so many also suffering from these. I have found several things that work and things that trigger them. I am in my early 50's and I started having them over 3 years ago. Triggers I found are dehydration, especially if I have been in the sun all day or working out, nothing even super strenuous, but like a bike ride for example. They only seem to happen at night and when i go to straighten or stretch my leg. I would rather give natural birth to a child then have these!!! Anyway, another indication that can happen during the day is cramping in the palm of your hand. That is also a sign of dehydration. Combine the lack of water with a salty meal, or a diuretic like coffee or black/green tea or even alcohol and watch out! That combination seems to be lethal. So to stop the pain almost immediately, I take potassium. Within minutes the pain is gone. But if I am super dehydrated they are really bad and keep coming back so the next remedy is a liquid magnesium that can be sprayed directly on the area and rubbed in. I know that too much of either potassium or magnesium is not good, but again, this seems to work. So make sure that you get plenty of electrolytes and/or water during the day, especially if you are working out or in the sun for any extended period. Hope this helps!
Had my first experience with inner thigh cramps last night where I feared my thin leg bones would fracture. The cramps lasted 3 hours, off and on, with walking, screaming, drinking water and eliminating the water only offering brief relief.
It looks like this posting area stopped some time ago. Is there something more recent so I can receive and trade ideas? I've listed to try other's suggestions of : mustard under the tongue, tonic water, biting the lips, magnet under mattress, rubbing liquid magnesium into the thigh, pounding on the thigh and Hylands homeopathic leg cramps with quinine. Also heard of a STOPS LEG CRAMPS from Caleb Treeze Organic Farm - anyone tried it? It is Apple Cider Vinegar with garlic and ginger juice!
Hoping to hear from someone. . .
I HAVE HAD THESE CRAMPS IN THE FRONT AND INNNER THIGH FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. THE ONLY RELIEF IS A HOT WHEAT BAG HEATED IN THE MICRO WAVE FOR 2 TO 3 MINUTES. LAST NIGHT I HAD THE FIRST DOUBLE WHAMMY. I HAD IT IN BOTH LEGS SEVERAL HOURS APART. I LAY ON THE FLOOR CRYING IN PAIN. COULDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE MICROWAVE TO START THE HEATING OF THE WHEAT BAG. I'M TOLD IT IS A POTASSIUM OR MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY
I have had these cramps for over 20 years. Recently I had a right hip resurfacing in 2009 which (coincidentally or not) has eliminated cramping on that leg. I am going to probably have the left side done this year. This may not be the root of everyone's problems but I think arthritis in the hips and knees contribute to the problem.
On nights that my knees are sore I apply DMSO and then a coating of mineral ice all around the knee.
In the meantime, to alleviate the frequency of theses attacks I purchased a sleep by number adjustable bed. I know its pricey but I am willing to spend anything to stop this. I sleep with my head and feet at almost the highest setting. I sort of look like the letter U. The reason I tried this was because of the nights I had attacks, I would eventually wind up sleeping in a chair in the living room.
I too have these horrendous cramps...but besides the inner thighs, I get them sometimes in my neck, my feet (of course the most), and the typical lower leg cramps. THEY are ALL soooo painful and I don't know what to do. The older I get the more I seem to get them...just had the thigh cramp and at the same time a small one in my other foot!
I hate this, and it's very depressing...I'm starting to sound like a hypochondriac to people I bet with all the pain I have in my body at one time or another...I LIVE with neck pain and now have upper arm pain constantly too...I used to be flexible even up to a few years ago..now all of a sudden I am aging quickly cause I am sedentary due to all this pain all over and the cramps.
Life sucks!
I've been getting these cramps for years, maybe 3-4 times a year. I have three kids, and the pain of the cramps is much worse than childbirth! The other night I had an attack, and I remembered reading on here about taking salt. Husband was despatched to the kitchen and bought me the IODISED table salt. I took around half a teaspoon, and honestly, within about 30 seconds the pain was GONE COMPLETELY! I was amazed at how quickly and totally it worked. There was no pain left at all, and the next day no dull ache which is what I usually get. I have to say, I'm almost looking forward to my next attack to see if it works again. I wonder if the fact that it was iodized salt made any difference?
Reading these threads, I realized I have tried almost every remedy here over the last 35 years since I was a young ballplayer. I even recall my dad having them now. The ONLY thing that helps me in prevention, and it greatly decreases the instances from multiple times a night to once or twice a month...is a MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT. I need about 500 mg every night at bedtime for my best shot at getting some consistent rest without severe thigh cramping. Of course all the other things help when one is full-on... ice, stretching (though I have been told to resist the urge to stretch in the opposite direction until you feel the strongest spasms subsiding a little, as the muscle "needs to contract first"). PS My husband and kids are so used to the drill by now, I feel badly for them to have to endure my limping around and moaning for 15 min episodes. It's nice to be here where someone understands how truly excruciating the pain is. Makes the baby delivery and kidney stone passing seem like a warm up activity.
After 4 year of complaining to my Doc about night cramps and the severe inner thigh cramps he sent me to a neurologist who after several tests found I had nothing obviously wrong. He then told me "they" don't really know what causes cramps, but he'd put me on Parkinsons medication as this has proved effective. After the first batch did not work I was given another type and this has eased the cramps (The next step is to go onto anti-epilepsy medication).
Then one of the women at my chemist told me cholesterol lowering medication(the statin kind) can cause cramping, I talked it over with my Doc and told him I was going to stop taking my medication and after 1 week I have not had a single cramp- I also stopped taking the parkinsons medication, though that has only been for a few days. SO far so good.
My chemist tells me there are other non-statin cholesterol medication I can take, so I am about to check into this.
A doctor once told me to place a pinch of baking soda under my tongue as soon as it starts. I keep a bottle of it next to my bed with a glass of water. Sometimes it takes two pinches but it does work. Keep a heating pad next to the bed too and place it on your legs too. My mother, brother and one of my sons also have these thigh cramps so I think it has something to do with genes too. The cramps are truly unbearable and frighting. Some times the next day it feels like someone had been kicking me in the thighs.
OMG ... I'm looking at this post which was submitted more than a year ago. I have had "EXACTLY" the same inner thigh cramping for more than 15 years. I've done everything you've done and still have the issue. Are you still responding to your posts? I've never, ever found anyone that has had this problem. I can't believe that your description is exactly the same as mine. I hope you're still out there. I would love to hear any updates. I'm desperate. Does the soreness from your episodes last for a few days after? I also pound my thighs, screaming, puking and defecating. I've been temped to reach for a sharp object to just cut the rock-hard ... what? Is it a muscle, tendon, adductor?
Actually I've been having some pretty fair results with a bedtime cocktail of half Powerade Zero and half diet tonic water. I use it to hydrate and to swallow a potassium and magnesium supplement just before bedtime and it seems to be working well. I have not had an episode when I have done that little bedtime ritual. Topricin creme from a health food store is also excellent in helping relieve the lower leg cramps that sometimes precede those killer inner thigh spasms. Topricin is also great in relieving the post-spasm pain the next day. Let me know if you try this and it works for you.
Over the years, and being desperate for something to help ... I've started taking 800mg of Quinine (prescription). This works great but I hate taking medicine. I will try your cocktail. Thank you so much for the suggestion.
Dear All. This pain is the worst of the worst. Both my wife and self have had episodes where we have been crippled and in agony. Now I know there have been many recommendations and some of them may be considered as old wive's tales but, we were advised of the following by an ex military medical friend who swore by the results.
When attack occurs, quicly swallow a mouthful of Gherkin vinegar. (The only reason for Gherkin is that it is sweeter than the standard type of fluid and easier to take). We have been amazed at how quick the cramps subside after using this technique.
Can I explain it? No. However, it is my understanding that vinegar in general has a multitude of uses (including many of a medical nature). Try it. What have you got to lose?
All best from a fellow sufferer - who keeps hoping for a formal well researched simple medical solution.