Like the rest of you, I suffer from severe inner thigh cramps. They seem to hit most frequently at night, although today I had one during the day and feel one trying to start now (early evening). I've been searching for "cure-alls". My Dr. gave me quinine, which seemed to work (you never really know if they do since you don't get the cramps daily, so you can't know for sure if the lack of cramp is due to the quinine or just that you weren't "due" one that day). Unfortunately, I became alergic to quinine, so that isn't an option anymore.
I have found that the only option is to stand flat footed, legs straight and bent at the waist. Get something cold (ice is preferred, but cold water on a towel works in a pinch) and put it on the cramp. If you can stand on a cold floor, that also helps. I've found rubbing the cramp makes it worse, but pressing higher up on the leg, near the joint, seems to help. I can actually feel the muscle quiver when I'm having one of these cramps and it takes a while for the spasm to end. The pain - as described by others - is excruciating.
I have yet to find a prevention, but I'm still looking!
I have found that the only option is to stand flat footed, legs straight and bent at the waist. Get something cold (ice is preferred, but cold water on a towel works in a pinch) and put it on the cramp. If you can stand on a cold floor, that also helps. I've found rubbing the cramp makes it worse, but pressing higher up on the leg, near the joint, seems to help. I can actually feel the muscle quiver when I'm having one of these cramps and it takes a while for the spasm to end. The pain - as described by others - is excruciating.
I have yet to find a prevention, but I'm still looking!
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I am a pharmacist - but not an expert in this kind of pain, but the fact that these cramps come to you especially at rest more than other times suggests a nerve condition called restless leg syndrome. restless leg syndrome can be more than just a feeling like you need to move your legs..it can also be felt as pain or a sensation of something crawling on the skin. if it seems to be positional, like occuring when your sitting or lying, then that is another good indicator. there is medicine that can treat this and resolve symptoms entirely. good luck.
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I've had several episodes where I've experienced inner thigh cramps. When I say inner thigh, it feels like an excruciating pain close to the bone - unlike leg/foot cramp it's almost impossible to locate the pain to "massage" away.
These episodes seem to be related to periods in my life when I've tried to "detox" and taken a variety of supplements. Possibly not hydrating enough.
It's hard to lie down as the cramps just get worse so I found walking around helps as well as distracting from the pain.
The last time these cramps occured I ran a hot bath and soaked in the bath to relieve the pain and it did work. The pain is extremely draining so I always feel very tired/sleepy following an episode.
The pain seems to go away when I return to eating properly, not taking supplements and go back to drinking coffee. I know this doesn't sound very feasible but it works for me.
These episodes seem to be related to periods in my life when I've tried to "detox" and taken a variety of supplements. Possibly not hydrating enough.
It's hard to lie down as the cramps just get worse so I found walking around helps as well as distracting from the pain.
The last time these cramps occured I ran a hot bath and soaked in the bath to relieve the pain and it did work. The pain is extremely draining so I always feel very tired/sleepy following an episode.
The pain seems to go away when I return to eating properly, not taking supplements and go back to drinking coffee. I know this doesn't sound very feasible but it works for me.
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Thank you so much for posting this. I have had these over the last 15 years and could never describe them to my doctor with any success. I just had one on 7/4 and my leg is still sore to the touch and extremely hard to lift. Does the bending at the waist seem to help? I'm at a loss.
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I'm not glad there are other sufferers, but misery loves company and nice to know i'm not nuts. Having these with varying frequency for many years. Also agree that childbirth isn't as bad (although a few yrs removed) contractions don't last as long. Even working with trauma nurses for 20+ yrs only returned wide eyes after that comment. No one ever quite got it!! Tried quinine ??help??, vitamins E and B12 and also Valerian root (boy it stinks) but thankfully it is not an everyday thing so its hard to tell what helps. WORST 1 waking up on the ground with a couple dozen girl scouts, cramp in each thigh, and the latrine 1/2mi away down a trail.
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I'm 44 and have been suffering with severe inner thigh cramps for about 2 years. I work long hours at a desk job and I think the constant sitting position contributes. I've had foot, hand, calf and other muscle cramps before and NOTHING has ever been so excruciating or long-lasting as the thigh cramps. I've been nearly to the point of calling 9-1-1. I've had to stay in bed the next day before it makes my thigh so tender.
Due to back problems, I can't use the bend-over stance suggested by one of the posters above. However, I have found a move that does help me get relief faster. I lie flat on my back on the bed, raise the leg with the cramp perpendicular to me/bed and extend as far out to the side as possible, slightly turning my foot further outward. Hold for a few minutes past when the cramp subsides. I usually lower my leg just slightly out-turned and rest for several minutes afterward.
It's a truly debilitating "injury" when you experience it.
Due to back problems, I can't use the bend-over stance suggested by one of the posters above. However, I have found a move that does help me get relief faster. I lie flat on my back on the bed, raise the leg with the cramp perpendicular to me/bed and extend as far out to the side as possible, slightly turning my foot further outward. Hold for a few minutes past when the cramp subsides. I usually lower my leg just slightly out-turned and rest for several minutes afterward.
It's a truly debilitating "injury" when you experience it.
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javascript:emoticon('>:(') I'm a 60 yr old lady who has had sorta a restless leg symdrome for several years in right thigh. My doctor suggested the presicription drug for RLS, but rather I try an herbal mixture call RELORA. Relora really works after a while to keep the occurances to a minimum; however, I just had a total right hip replacement surgery on 7/25/08 and on some strong pain pills like Tylox. BUT, all the strong pain meds really made the inner right thigh cramps more painful and more often in both lying down position and sitting up position. Finally a shot of Toradol was the only thing that kept the cramps away; but Dr said 5 days is maximum for taking Toradol as it is a deep pain med for right after major surgery and can be damaging to kidneys, etc if used longer term.
So, now I am at home now for 3 days after 3 days in hospital, I have come to deduct that it was the strong pain killers that were causing the cramps to be worst than ever. These cramps come on instantly like the sharp pain of birthing a baby and are gone in about 15 seconds. Ice packs on the inner thigh seems to prevent the frequency of the cramps, but can't go around all day and night with ice pack on thigh. Finally today I decided that the pain from the cramps are so much more painful than the pain from the surgery site of cutting my hip into and putting in a new ball joint, etc; so, I have went totally OFF of the high power pain meds and now strictly Tylenol. I have discovered that the inner thigh cramps are almost gone now, or when they do happen they are not so painful. So, I am now just on Tylenol and Relora for the thigh cramps and Tylenol and ice packs on surgery site for the mininum pain from that site; and now I am able to manage walking longer distances too with the walker too and doing my PT exercises more often, too.
So, now I am at home now for 3 days after 3 days in hospital, I have come to deduct that it was the strong pain killers that were causing the cramps to be worst than ever. These cramps come on instantly like the sharp pain of birthing a baby and are gone in about 15 seconds. Ice packs on the inner thigh seems to prevent the frequency of the cramps, but can't go around all day and night with ice pack on thigh. Finally today I decided that the pain from the cramps are so much more painful than the pain from the surgery site of cutting my hip into and putting in a new ball joint, etc; so, I have went totally OFF of the high power pain meds and now strictly Tylenol. I have discovered that the inner thigh cramps are almost gone now, or when they do happen they are not so painful. So, I am now just on Tylenol and Relora for the thigh cramps and Tylenol and ice packs on surgery site for the mininum pain from that site; and now I am able to manage walking longer distances too with the walker too and doing my PT exercises more often, too.
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I have been having these terrible thigh cramps for several years. I just had an episode last night. Of course first thing I do is jump up and walk hunched over of course. Brings tears to my eyes everytime. I drink at least 48 oz of water a day, so I know it is not dehydration. But one thing I am curious about, myself when I do extra walking (like shopping or site seeing) that night I am almost guarenteed to get one. I have tried Quinine and vitamins E and B12. I tried to explain the pain to others but they pass it off as a "Charlie horse". I have gotten them in both legs at the same time. Thanks to everyone here, I know I am not alone. And by the way the dr says I do not have Restless Leg Syyndrome. But he cannot tell me what it is.
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I just had a really bad episode of inner thigh cramps last night. The first one came while I was at a Poison concert and was sitting in one of those low-to-the-ground lawn chairs at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. The first one was only the right inner thigh. I got up and walked from the lawn over to the concession area and back and the cramp went away. The next one was both inner thighs and came less than an hour after the first. This time I had to walk from the lawn, to one concession area, all the way to the other side to the other concession area, and back before the cramp subsided.
On the way home, I stopped at Walgreens and picked up some Hylands Leg Cramps with Quinine. I took a few of those, ate a banana & some prunes and took some potassium & magnesium when I got home. I went to bed, and less than 15 minutes later I woke up with excruciating inner thigh cramps in both legs. I got up, walked around, took more quinine, and applied moist heat to both inner thighs. It took forever but they subsided. Unfortunately, I had about 4 more episodes through the night and finally had to sleep in the recliner upstairs with moist heat applied to both inner thighs.
I finally got to sleep around 4am and had to get up at 6am. Both inner thighs are sore today, but no more cramping.
I am at a loss on what to do for prevention! The pain is so excruciating it is hard to walk at all and it brings me to tears.
Any suggestions out there? Should I see a doctor about this?
On the way home, I stopped at Walgreens and picked up some Hylands Leg Cramps with Quinine. I took a few of those, ate a banana & some prunes and took some potassium & magnesium when I got home. I went to bed, and less than 15 minutes later I woke up with excruciating inner thigh cramps in both legs. I got up, walked around, took more quinine, and applied moist heat to both inner thighs. It took forever but they subsided. Unfortunately, I had about 4 more episodes through the night and finally had to sleep in the recliner upstairs with moist heat applied to both inner thighs.
I finally got to sleep around 4am and had to get up at 6am. Both inner thighs are sore today, but no more cramping.
I am at a loss on what to do for prevention! The pain is so excruciating it is hard to walk at all and it brings me to tears.
Any suggestions out there? Should I see a doctor about this?
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I just had a really bad night with inner thigh cramps last night. The first episode came while I was at a Poison concert and was sitting in one of those low-to-the-ground lawn chairs at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. The first one was only the right inner thigh. I got up and walked from the lawn over to the concession area and back and the cramp went away. The next one was both inner thighs and came less than an hour after the first. This time I had to walk from the lawn, to one concession area, all the way to the other side to the other concession area, and back before the cramps subsided.
On the way home, I stopped at Walgreens and picked up some Hylands Leg Cramps with Quinine. I took a few of those, ate a banana & some prunes and took some potassium & magnesium when I got home. I went to bed, and less than 15 minutes later I woke up with excruciating inner thigh cramps in both legs. I got up, walked around, took more quinine, and applied moist heat to both inner thighs. It took forever but they subsided. Unfortunately, I had about 4 more episodes through the night and finally had to sleep in the recliner upstairs with moist heat applied to both inner thighs.
I finally got to sleep around 4am and had to get up at 6am. Both inner thighs are sore today, but no more cramping.
I am at a loss on what to do for prevention! The pain is so excruciating it is hard to walk at all and it brings me to tears.
Any suggestions out there? Should I see a doctor about this?
On the way home, I stopped at Walgreens and picked up some Hylands Leg Cramps with Quinine. I took a few of those, ate a banana & some prunes and took some potassium & magnesium when I got home. I went to bed, and less than 15 minutes later I woke up with excruciating inner thigh cramps in both legs. I got up, walked around, took more quinine, and applied moist heat to both inner thighs. It took forever but they subsided. Unfortunately, I had about 4 more episodes through the night and finally had to sleep in the recliner upstairs with moist heat applied to both inner thighs.
I finally got to sleep around 4am and had to get up at 6am. Both inner thighs are sore today, but no more cramping.
I am at a loss on what to do for prevention! The pain is so excruciating it is hard to walk at all and it brings me to tears.
Any suggestions out there? Should I see a doctor about this?
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I also suffer from these horrible leg cramps. The word cramps just doesnt seem appropriate to describe this horrid pain. I am a 54 yo female who is not in the best of health and I take 18 different prescribed medications a day. I aslo am NOT very active.
I havent had these cramps in about a year and today I took my grandkids to the library and two parks and after three hours I laid down for a nap. Slept for an hour and then woke with the cramp in one thigh as I tried to stand, the other thigh started and I laid back on the bed in intense pain, which you all understand. I slowly straightened my legs in bed while rubbing the knots and it finally went away. I stayed laying down for another ten minutes to be sure they weren't coming back.
When you try to explain them to people they say, "OH, Charlie Horse I get them too" and ya say ,"NO, it's not like that, the pain is excruciating!" and they just say uh huh. So you feel like an id**t. I was so happy to see these posts as I can tell by what you all wrote, that its the exact same pains I get.
I can't offer any advice as nothing I try seems to work. Just wanted to say thanks to all who contributed to this thread to let me know I am NOT alone.
I havent had these cramps in about a year and today I took my grandkids to the library and two parks and after three hours I laid down for a nap. Slept for an hour and then woke with the cramp in one thigh as I tried to stand, the other thigh started and I laid back on the bed in intense pain, which you all understand. I slowly straightened my legs in bed while rubbing the knots and it finally went away. I stayed laying down for another ten minutes to be sure they weren't coming back.
When you try to explain them to people they say, "OH, Charlie Horse I get them too" and ya say ,"NO, it's not like that, the pain is excruciating!" and they just say uh huh. So you feel like an id**t. I was so happy to see these posts as I can tell by what you all wrote, that its the exact same pains I get.
I can't offer any advice as nothing I try seems to work. Just wanted to say thanks to all who contributed to this thread to let me know I am NOT alone.
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I'm 62 now and I've been getting leg cramps for the past 5 or so years now! YES! Is painful! I used to sleep on my back, but woke up with a cramp in the inner right thigh area. I got up and tried to walk it off, but it took its' course, 5 straight minutes of pain. No such thing as 'walking' it off...it does its thing. I discovered lying on back and asleep, your feet gradually point outward (in my case) and bingo..got immediate cramps in calves and it worked it way up to my thighs..and that time..it was both inner thighs...you wouldn't believed the pain I had that night. I was on quinine up until 3 months ago. Was informed by our Medical Ins Provider, that they do not manufacture quinine and to inform my doctor to prescribe something else...he had nothing, but to take eat more potassium. I did the pickle juice thing the other night..seemingly worked. But I ate two bananas last night...and was fine. I usually get the cramps after doing a lot of leg work, kneeling painting base trim, or climbing up and down on a ladder. Whatever you do, don't bend over to relieve the pain when having cramps in your thighs....it may feel better, but when you bend over, your muscle contracts a bit to make you feel better, but try to stand back up and you'll feel a much greater pain. Tonic water with it's limited quinine in it helps too, doesn't taste all that great, but drink an 8oz, glass should help. My leg is sore yet from the other day..I did the NO thing - bending over and then standing back up and am paying for that. Just be careful!
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Hi I've been reading all these post about inner thigh cramps and am thankful for seeing other people's methods of dealing with the pain.
My mother is 45, she sometimes awakes at night (so during rest) with EXCRUCIATING AGONIZING pain, so much pain that she cries, saying that she is going to die etc...
It's a shocking sight to see a loved one go through this, all my father, brother and I can do is stand there whilst she screams in pain, as if someone is torturing her.. I would love to know ANY other methods that would be helpful helping her.. so, so far I've seen:
- applying heat (hot shower) or cold water to the thigh
- standing upright
- quinine
- Sodium (She takes magnesium)
- Drinking a lot of water
- stretching before and after excercise
------- What else????
Thanks. And i really do feel for those who suffer from this.. i hope to become a doctor one day - it's experiences like these that scare me into how fragile people are..
My mother is 45, she sometimes awakes at night (so during rest) with EXCRUCIATING AGONIZING pain, so much pain that she cries, saying that she is going to die etc...
It's a shocking sight to see a loved one go through this, all my father, brother and I can do is stand there whilst she screams in pain, as if someone is torturing her.. I would love to know ANY other methods that would be helpful helping her.. so, so far I've seen:
- applying heat (hot shower) or cold water to the thigh
- standing upright
- quinine
- Sodium (She takes magnesium)
- Drinking a lot of water
- stretching before and after excercise
------- What else????
Thanks. And i really do feel for those who suffer from this.. i hope to become a doctor one day - it's experiences like these that scare me into how fragile people are..
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I too, have the debilitating inner thigh cramps at night. (just last night) It's scary, frustrating and excrutiation! I can't help but cry every time and I end up covered in sweat and exhausted when it subsides.
There is absolutely NO WAY to satnd up straight when these start.
I take a muscle relaxor every night before bed and they help most nights. But there are a couple nights a months that I want to cut my own leg off to relieve the pain.
I have a hand help massager with heat next to my bed for those nights. It help a little.
There is absolutely NO WAY to satnd up straight when these start.
I take a muscle relaxor every night before bed and they help most nights. But there are a couple nights a months that I want to cut my own leg off to relieve the pain.
I have a hand help massager with heat next to my bed for those nights. It help a little.
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I have suffered very much over the years with the absolutely excruiating inner thigh cramps. my observation is that if I happen to miss taking my blood pressure medication or fluid tablet and then I take it a day late I am guaranteed to get cramps that night. Another thing is I'm addicted to COKE and if I'm out and have 2 cans of coke and no water it is also a guarantee I'll get thrm.
Now for my remedy which works for me everytime, besides drinking lots of water is to put a wheatbag in the microwave for 3 minutes on high with a cup of water and then place it on the cramp and then like magic it gradually disappears. I always leave it where I can access it during the night
Now for my remedy which works for me everytime, besides drinking lots of water is to put a wheatbag in the microwave for 3 minutes on high with a cup of water and then place it on the cramp and then like magic it gradually disappears. I always leave it where I can access it during the night
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