Fibromyalgia Support Group

You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.

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PolarBear427 07/08/2008

I was just wondering if any of you experience this? It happened to me again last night. I was holding my cross-word puzzle book down with my left hand and it all of a sudden cramped up on me to where I couldn't undo my fingers from each other for a few minutes. I took a quarter of my Zanaflex and rubbed some medicated cream on it and it let up. Then I was awakened this morning by a charlie horse/cramp in my left ankle extending into the top of my foot and into my leg. Again, rubbed the cream on it and took another quarter of my Zanaflex.

This has happened a few times before. I asked my endo about it and he said it could be low calcium. I'm on two different calcium pills a day. He had my blood checked a couple of months ago and it was fine.

I saw my rhemy yesterday and of course forgot to ask her about it. So I called her nurse today, but haven't heard back yet. I was just wondering if any of you experience it too.

It sure hurts like heck!!

Hugs,
PolarBear

deleted_user 07/08/2008

HAVE YOUR POTASSIUM LEVELS CHECKED THEY MAY BE LOW IF YA CAN EAT A BUNCH OF BANANNAS FOR A FEW DAYS AND SEE IF THAT HELPS ALSO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER, HOPE THAT THIS HELPS..LOVE AND HUGS..BECCA

deleted_user 07/09/2008

YES, AND IT DOES HURT LIKE HECK. WORSE PAIN I'VE EVER FELT AND I'VE HAD MANY SURGERIES. MY DOCTOR SAID IT COULD BE A CALCIUM DEFICIENCY, BUT I TAKE OSCAL + D, 3 TIMES A DAY. SHE IS GOING TO TEST MY CALCIUM. HAPPENS TO ME 3-4 TIMES A WEEK, EVERY MONTH OR SO, BUT CRAMPS USED TO BE UNDER 5 MINUTES, NOW AS LONG AS 20 MINUTES. HOPE THEY FIND OUT WHAT IT IS AND HOPE YOUR CRAMPS STOP.

deleted_user 07/09/2008

I get muscle spasms and drives me crazy sometimes. I am on calcium supplements and also potassium supplements and Vit. D all from the doctor but still have the problems so not sure what it is from ? I never was much of a water drinker in the past but for sometime now have been making the effort to drink at least 4 -16 oz bottles of water per day.

Take care always gentle hugs

deleted_user 07/09/2008

When I get bad cramps it is either lack of calcium (like you) or salt. How is your salt intake?

deleted_user 07/09/2008

This is strange, as I have noticed in the past three weeks, my fingers will cramp up and I have to use the other hand and gently "pull" them out to normal.

Could be arthritis, I guess, but it sure does hurt, not to mention it limits my time spent here writing on the coomputer.

Hope we both find out what is causing this soon, as it can really ruin my day, lol.

Good luck to you, and let me know how it turns out. I will also let you know, however, can't go to the doctor for a while as there are no extra funds to do so right now. But that will get better soon, I hope.

Gentle, soft HUGS To ALL!

CarrieinSK 07/09/2008

Are you on a liquid calcium? I take a liquid calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. I also have a separate liquid magnesium. I have had a busy schedule this last week and only took my supplements one morning..big mistake! I ended up with a charlie horse in my calf last night. This morning I took both liquid doses and will again tonight.

deleted_user 07/09/2008

try eating a banananana Everyday...also, gatorade helps ALOT with cramping Muscles...I used to get charlie horses SO bad in my left Thigh everytime i attemted to walk...took several days of switching from plain water to gatorade, and eating a bananana...but the cramps have gone...even the ones in my toes !!

deleted_user 07/09/2008

I get really bad cramps in the soles of my feet and they really hurt for me the only thing that calms it down is cold, I walk on a cold floor maybe you could use an ice pack. I have no idea of what causes mine have just put it down to the fibro like I do everything else!

deleted_user 07/09/2008

My hands do cramp like you are explaining and then they stay sore and fatigued. It's quite bothersome. My feet and legs cramp terribly also.

I plan on talking to the rheum about it tomorrow. If I learn something useful, I'll pass it on.

And I do drink lots of water, eat at least one banana daily and supplement with calcium. So, it's a mystery to me.

My MOM recommends drinking red wine! She such a hoot...
~K

deleted_user 07/09/2008

I think (I don't have my book here) that calcium may be something that's harder to test because what's in the blood isn't necessarily what's in the muscle. What kind of calcium are you taking? My naturopath says calcium lactate is the easiest to absorb, followed by calcium citrate, with calcium carbonate being the most difficult form for the body to use. Caltrate is mostly carbonate. Citrical is mostly citrate. I agree that potassium and magnesium may also be in play. Drink more water--good idea. Divide the calcium through the day, with one dose at bedtime for night cramping. Also, do you take any flax oil supplement? It's important to help transport toxins, lactic acid out of cells. My naturopath has me on (very high quality) flax oil: 1,260 mg, 3 times a day with meals. Fish oil is another possibility but can upset the stomach at higher doses. Whichever you try, be sure you get the good stuff. You don't want it to be old or rancid.

deleted_user 07/10/2008

I have muscle cramps and they can be anywhere even in my throat but if I eat a couple of bananas when I start getting them it will help for a while.

deleted_user 07/10/2008

I have had craps all week so bad I cannot move,my back and shoulders have gone into spasam.Doc gave me Diazapram to relax them,seems to work a bit but makes me sleep.

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