I get severe, debilitating thigh cramps if I take a diuretic or sweat heavily during the day. The pain is intense and feels as if the muscle is about to tear in half. The cramping almost always start at night, usually if I bend my knee while in bed. I had blood tests, but was only deficient in Vitamin D. Now, as soon as I feel the cramp starting, I leap out of bed and throw the shower on. Okay, I then stand around moaning and occasionally shreiking in pain until the water gets hot. I aim the now hot shower on my leg until the cramps die away, which generally takes about ten minutes. I then take at least 3000 mg of Vitamin D, about 300 mg of potassium, and about 3000 mg dose of Calcium with magnesium (the magnesium and Vitamin D are important because your body doesn't really utilize Calcium unless they are present in sufficient amounts). Taking that mixture of vitamins and minerals seems to help prevent further cramping, but they take several hours to be absorbed, so I put a heating pad on high between my thighs when I climb back into bed. If I don't, I risk having another cramp session.
My husband is a physician, so he has been observing my problem for some time. It has him stymied, but the vitamin/mineral cocktail is his concoction. Now, if I need to take a diuretic, I take some D, calcium with magnesium, and potassium along with the diuretic, then take more about three hours later, then more just before I go to bed. If I do that, I generally don't cramp. If I don't take them, I can count on waking up in agony after a few hours of sleep.
These upper/inner thigh cramps are usually related to an L3 nerve compression. Many occcur at night due to the sleeping position, but may happen during the day when sitting. An MRI of the lumbosacral spine will give a more definitive diagnosis. If possible, sleep on the stomach with two pillows under the pelvic area to open up the vertebral spaces. Good luck!
Don wrote:
I have the same problem, and I believe I have the cause and the solution. The very first time it happened to me, I was sitting in my livingroom chair and then it happened. Pain beyond belief!. I have had kidney stones that I thought was the very worst pain that one could imagine untill I had this muscle cramp or spasm or what ever it is in my inner thigh. The dizzyness, cold sweats, the need to vomit.....I thought I may even die from this horrible experience. It was in my right thigh that I had had a blodd clot in, so I naturally put the two together. I kept tabs on when I would start to feel that pain begin and what I was doing. I realized that after sitting for a while or driving for a long distance, I would have the synptoms of one coming on a short while later. I would massage the thigh vigorously, trying to push the blood down the leg and it worked! I then realized that when I drove and my leg was bent up and my groin was "crimped" that I would have the symptoms later.So I started driving with the leg placed as strait as possible, and it reallyhelped. I also noticed that when a seat I was sitting in would press against the underside of my thigh, it would begin again a while later. I other words, the chair, or seat would be slightly sunk in in the middle causing my thigh to have pressure under it, thena short while later the thigh spasm would begine. So now.................I only sit where my thigh has very little to no pressure inder it, and my leg would have plently of blood flow to it by not crimping my groin area. I am also about 40 lbs over weight, which I believe increases the blood restriction by helping to crimp the groin aea when I sit. As a matter of fact, I just now leaned back to allow the crimp to release which has helped my leg and the feeling that a cramp may happen. In short I believe it is caused by poor blood supply to the muscle, because of being over weight, and / or by sitting in the wrong seat or wrong posture (leaning forward). So far so good. No more cramping. Now time to loose this weight.
I agree Don - mine have usually happened when I have been sitting for a period of time (restaurant, supper table, computer) and I feel mine, at least, are related to blood supply to that part of my leg. I too, am so pleased to have found this site (that sounds crazy I know!) as I have had about half a dozen of these and literally feel like I am going to faint - bright lights in my eyes, sweat. Like almost everyone else, I wondered if I was having a heart attack. My last one (last night) followed walking 18 holes of golf and a brisk walk with the dog - too much exercise with too little stretching. I am much more careful about sitting long times. In a restaurant, I will get up every 30 - 45 minutes and walk around. Now I'm going to do more stretching before walking - good luck everyone. Nice to know I'm not alone!
I agree with the majority of the above two entries. I've observed the same trriggers".
I find LEG CRAMPS brand available at health food stores (and now some supermarkets and pharmacies) to be the ONLY thing that has relieved mine when they start. Often they will ease up within a minute or two. They are the only way to get a small dose of quinine, except for drinking tonic water since docs can no longer prescibe it. Don't waste your money on the Night type as they have the same ingredients and dosages and cost more for 1/2 as many. I take 4 when the cramps strike and they go away quickly.
I am not normally a natural health store frequenter, but I tried this in desperation and am I glad I did!!! (Note I take a little more than they suggest and have never experienced any negative effects. To be sure, check with your doc to be on the safe side. I also use it pretty infrequently,but now carry it whenever traveling, etc. Just in case. Good luck, fellow sufferers!