inner thigh cramps

I listed hot water and towels which relieve the pain for me. I stretch my leg out as I go and stretch until the water gets hot. But, I read on an British web site where a doctor suggested elevating the end of your bed by 10 cm. (I think about 8") I put a big plastic bin to raise the end and I'm going to try this tonight. The doctor said this increase circulation of the legs. It was noted that the British and Japanese are working on curing these cramps? Some where I read where a doctor suggested powdered calcium, powdered magnesium and double the doses. Plus, calcium. He said to take large doses. I would, however, talk to a doctor before doing this because of overdose problems? But I will try the powdered versions. I will let you know if elevation of end of bed works???

I get the most painful inner thigh cramps at night. Its good to hear from people who share my affliction. Someone else said that they dont think the Dr. could even understand how painful they are and I agree. You have to have them to know. I wake up screaming at the top of my lungs. Its been my good fortune that my husband has been there each time I have had them, he works out of town and is home on weekends. It hurts so bad i cant move my lower body, he brings me the blue ice block that someone else mentioned. That works after direct touch to the skin which if you were to do that to a normal leg would be so cold you couldn't stand it. After ten minutes of pure ice its usually subsides. Last night i got them on both inner thighs and in one calf, and then one foot, but the calf and foot subsided, and those are manageable, but the inner thigh renders you helpless and in agony. I too would think nothing of calling 911 for help, you have no choice, it feels like someone is pulling your muscle and twisting it at the same time, it literally takes my breath away and I scream for help. While applying the ice my husband brought me a banana, water, and a muscle relaxer, it brings me to tears just thinking about it. Last nite my husband tried to shush me as we had company and he didn't want to disturb him, that hurt my feelings because I felt he didn't believe how painful it was, like at that point i care who i wake up.

That being said.......in the past i have taken calcium supplements and they worked, i ran out and had been taking multivitamins and eating oranges and bananas, which I had done that day but it didn't help so Im going to get some more Calcium today. I feel for everyone who gets these cramps in the inner thigh, im going to sleep with a cooler IN my bed with a blue block of ice in it when my husband isnt there, in fact I think im going to make up a rescue pack with a bottle of water and a muscle relaxer in it as well. There is NO way to walk when i have this pain.

My grandmother suffers from severe thigh cramps and she was told by a colombian doctor to drink atomic water every night before going to sleep and that most of your nights should be just fine. There might be a night here and there that you would get an occasional severe cramp.

>:( I had them in both thighs last night and I can't remember the last time I screamed like that. Probably labor. Never experienced anything so painful and I've been through cancer. I've been trying to control my diabetes with diet and every time I cut out carbohydrates I get cramping of some kind...usually in the neck and feet. Now I don't know what to do. I never want to go through that again. It appears this is not uncommon. Why can't they figure out what causes it. It's up to us I guess. Was anyone else on a restricted carb diet?

I get those inner thigh cramps often when I'm asleep. As soon as I feel one start I roll onto my back and stretch my leg out straight with my toes flexed up toward my upper body as hard as I can stretch. This often stops the cramp before it gets a good hold on the muscle. If I don't get it in time I just lie there in that position and try to just wait it out. I find nothing helps it. If I try to get out of bed it 's just worse. They last for about 2-5 minutes of excruciating pain.

Ditto...ditto.ditto...I cannot believe I stumbled onto this website and found people who KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT when I say upper leg cramps. Oh, they're just plain awful (in spades)! I often get both legs involved at once which frequently happens when I'm using my leg muscles to get out of a recliner. I've tried cold, hot, and nothing. I usually have to get to my feet and stumble around half bent over, screaming and crying, for about seven minutes until they gradually dissipate. I researched the muscles that are involved and I think they are the ABDUCTOR muscles at the very inner top of the thigh right by the groin. I've been drinking tonic water with quinine every day. To tolerate the taste, I put a little lime juice in it. I get these cramps less frequently since I've been drinking this, but every now and then...ZAP!

I experience these after I've been on my feet alot, too much coffee and expecially alcohol. These are truely the most painful cramps that will make you panic. My family immediately runs for the hand towels and hot water as hot as we can stand it. Eventually they subside. I have had them last 10 minutes. I am a healthy 64 year old woman. I'm not too much of a water drinker but intend to start. Thank all of you for your input.

Thank all of you for your input here. We all seem to have variations of things that we feel bring on these cramps. I have not had one in months, however, I feel a combination of things here may be key and how they affect our "water balance" in the body. I too am on blood pressure medication and they did NOT start to occur until the THIRD medication was added that depletes water from the body. Not that it happens all of the time, but what I feel is dehydration here, may be the key element. I too have had a panel work up on blood and nothing has been found. The combination that seems to trigger for me is first, I am not a big salt eater...had nachos (cheese and chip and salsa salt) hour or so before going to bed, usually do not snack before bed and am not a big eater. Then, I have NOT had much water today and was up with case of diarehhia (sp) last night from eating artichokes and butter only (all day). I have found if I can catch them and walk...immediately getting in the shower with HOT...HOT water starts the relief... The episode is going to run it's course...it does NOT stop it but certainly relieves it...also as one lady suggested...HOT HOT towels on the area or water bottle. Dry heat does not seem to do any good. I think the key here everyone is that things that dehydrate may trigger...coffee...chocolate (caffiene) . Funny thing salt is suppose to HOLD on to water...but it seems to be a factor...large amounts in triggering. And yes as one lady I am drinking a bottle of water as the pain is coming on... Until I discovered, thank GOD!!....these ways of relief...I too felt having a baby and natural child birth for 24 hours would have been the better option could I have had the choice. NOTHING IN LIFE have I ever felt is as painful, even my MIGRAINES do not compare. I think Water is the KEY...and the levels can not be gauged, especially when on Blood pressure meds. Thank you all...as many of you...it got so bad tonight...I looked for something that did not require my getting into the shower (and waking folks up) to do. God bless you all. Another thing most of us have in common is we are over 50...which once again, suggest a blood pressure related issue what may trigger this...even tho some younger may also have blood pressure issues. Thanks again....I hope I can go back to sleep now.

I'm 56 years old, Fibro, Diabetes, Lo thyroid, high BP- and Obese (hate that word) After searching the internet for YEARS on this- I FINALLY find this forum! I'm NOT alone! I thought I was alone in this. Have had them for years- but haven't in almost a year. My Mom used to send me quinine for them- which is now no longer made in anything but nasty Quinine water (Tonic water-a Mixer!). My Fibro has been bad lately, so I haven't exercised- but yesterday went out back and weeded about an hour. Then last night one hit me. I managed to get out of bed and stretch before it was full- blown- then was upright for a few hours (couldn't sit or it would start)- BAD when you have to go! But took potassium, water and muscle relaxants and made it back to bed. Then WHAM! - 3 hours later- both legs-full cramp. I was screaming(can't help it- it's worse than labor!). My kids (I live with my daughter and sion-in-law) were at work. I manged to get up and straighten my legs (20 min)- make it into a blistering hot shower- and called my daughter. They are now home with magnesium, Tonic water and electrolyte drink. Know my legs will be sore for DAYS- but hoping no more attacks.

I am now 35 years old and I have been suffering from leg cramps since I was 30. The first time tone hit me was during sex with my husband. No one understood how much pain I was in until now. My husband replied that he gets them all the time. That is untrue. I jump up out of bed because I can feel it coming. Sometimes I can catch it in time and sometimes I can't. I get a belt and loop it around my thigh and try to force the muscle to release. I can hardly breathe, start to sweat, and feel myself starting to pass out from the pain. I had tried bending at the waist and straightening my leg. That seems to work until I try to stand up. The pain seems to double. I wake up everyone in the house with my crying and praying. I swallow a mouthful of mustard because I heard somewhere that it helps. The 10 to 15 minutes that it takes to subside feels like hours and I feel like I am dying. I have never experienced any pain like this before and I have no idea what causes it. The meals before bedtime are not the problem. I cannot always lie straight in bed because I have a husband that has other ideas at times. My doctor says that it is a potassium deficiency and considers them to be regular leg cramps. I have had regular leg cramps and they do not even begin to compare to these "thigh cramps". I wish that the doctors could experience this pain at least once so that they would be motivated to seek a remedy. I am glad to have found someone that understands the severity of this issue.

I too have been having these horrific thigh spasms. They started when I began gaining weight and working long hours on my feet as a respiratory therapist. They are so bad that I scream out and literally pray and beg God for relief. And I have had 3 totally natural child births without meds or screaming out! I can tolerate a lot of pain but this is crazy pain! I just suffered an attack while attempting to go to the bathroom...after 4 12 hour night shifts on my feet no less. I automatically bent forward and kept my legs straight, there was no choice. But that took 5 minutes to hepl. I can't take the pain, what can I do?
There has to be a solution to this.

Inner thigh cramps are the worst pain I've ever felt. I don't think there is any way to describe them adequately to anyone who has never had one. To me, it feels like a bolt of lightning trapped in your thigh.

Calcium! Potassium!
Calcium! Potassium!
Calcium! Potassium!

Get Supplements & Take Them! Even if the doctors test your levels and say their okay. They may be okay on some chart, but we are all different and I am convinced some of us need more calcium and potassium than others. Get them into your system and keep them there! I was having bouts with inner thigh cramps and the Potassium & Calcium supplements seem to be keeping them at bay.

Somebody, in an earlier posting, recommended biting your lip. I don't know if that's a good idea. If I bit my lip during one of those cramps, it would be gone!

I cried while reading your posts. Last night I had these thigh cramps. Yesterday afternoon I ran about 4 miles. I had a sports drink and thought I was hydrated. I get these cramps quite a bit, but I can usually head them off before they get too bad. Last night was the second time I just stood there and screamed. I thought I was going to pass out. I managed to get off my couch - standing up is a chore because you have to bend your legs to do it - and made my way to the kitchen.

I've read that mustard (also pickle juice) is helpful so I got the bottle of mustard out of the fridge and swallowed several gulps all the while feeling the blood drain from my face. I washed it down with water and then took some vinegar and mixed it with water and drank that too. The cramps subsided after what seemed like 5 minutes and didn't return. My legs are sore this morning.

Just for your information here is the website where I read about the mustard/vinegar/pickle juice remedies.

health911.com/remedies/rem_cramp.htm

I forgot to mention that I have asthma and my medication sometimes seems to cause these cramps. I take Advair everyday and that normally keeps my symptoms at bay, but yesterday I used my rescue inhaler before I started running so I don't know if that contributed or not. I only used one puff.

I told the Rheumatologist I have been going to about them, and although he says there is no known remedey for them- that they are Neurological in origin. He did a nerve conduction study on my legs, and an MRI on my backbone, and in addition to having a pinched nerve in my backbone- I have peripheral nerve damage in both legs (don't know from what). I've just been relying on tonic (Quinine water) and muscle relaxants when I DO get them- and drink TONS of electrolyte water when I feel any tightening at all. So far no reoccurance since last post (knock on wood). But thought I'd tell you all what my Dr said causes it.