Night time leg cramps

[Izabarack]

Something to think about if you suffer from night time leg cramps, and/or Restless Leg Syndrome. Get your Ferritin levels checked. According to sites like the NIH (gov), Ferritin is a protein that stores Iron and releses it when the boday needs it. Short background story is that I have recently been suffering really painful leg cramps in the middle of the night. Seriously painful. Then, the Blood Bank rejected me from a regular donation appointment because of a low iron count. Turns out, after lots of Iron supplements, my problem was a low Ferritin level. Elemental Iron with 500 to 1000 mg of Vitimin C on an empty stomach daily for the last three months and I can report I am night time cramp free.

Personal story this but I've tried every vitamin supplyment plus lots of mushrooms, spring onions, and Quinine to no effect. The Ferritin thing is based in medical science and has, apparantly, worked for me. So, just putting it out there if anyone else is having trouble with night time cramps.

[supersparky]

Thats kinda interesting Iza. I've had ongoing night time leg cramps for years now. I have dealt with that in the past with magnesium supplements. My iron levels have always been in the healthy range. However, the bloodbank also refused me as a donor about 4 years ago. They did not disclose why, but claimed some inconsistent test result. My GP started a few background tests, to no avail. I will follow it up when I get back home.
I have always thought my issues were caused by too much grog and not enough water through the day. Maybe there is another reason. Thanks for the heads up.

[T1 Terry]

Certainly worth a try, do you get it as a supplement or is it one of those things the body has to generate and requires a higher dose of certain vitamins and minerals to get the required levels back up?
I have one of those electrolyte tablets dissolved in water when the cramps strike, but that's generally a summer thing in SA.
If I do much work while on a ladder I really suffer the leg aches when I go to bed .....
The S e r t r a l i n e (nutter pills for the chronic depression caused by the constant pain and dealing with N R M A for 20 yrs after the MVA) have a known side effect of restless leg syndrome as well, but I'm open to try anything that has some medical background behind it.

T1 Terry

EDIT: Crazy dirty word lockouts on this platform, had to put spaces between the letters of the words it didn't like

[Newcastle George]

I sometime suffer from leg cramps but have found that if i have a glass of tonic water before going to bed I do not suffer cramps. The ingredient in tonic water that helps with cramps is quinine.

George

[Izabarack]

A follow up to address a couple of questions. I did try all the home remidies like Magnesium, Bananas, Potassium, Zinc, Tonic Water, and Hydration. The relation between Ferritin and Iron really came clear when I researched the long term effects of daily PPIs (for Reflux) on Iron absorption. The body best absorbs Iron in a acid rich environment gut. PPIs reduce acid in the gut as a preferred effect. Hence my regimen of Iton supplement on an empty stomach, several hours after any PPIs and when stomach acid levels are higher. The Vitamin C mega dose is another recommendation to enhance the uptake of the Iron suppllement in the upper part of the gu,.

My Iron supplement is cheap-as-chips Ferro-tab. It's across the counter at the Chemist. I'm also doing Blackmores B12 Rapi-Melt from Woolies, again, quite cheap. The B12 is in there because my GP sugggested that B12 infusions could be in my future. Cheapest Vit C seems to be Melrose breand Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid in powder form from the shelf at the chemist. I did three months of daily Iron plus C and now down to every second day. Apparantly, you need high doses over an extended period to recover from serious deficiency. My research says there is no quick fix. Diet and interactions with other medications, and age are all factors in 'getting better' I still have access to serious Medical Journals from my time at Uni and they helped put a serious scientific spin to my research. I'm now at normal for age levels of Iron, Ferritin is still improving and Liver function is excellent for age.

So, as aid earlier, just my personal experience that might help.

[T1 Terry]

Thank you Iza, that certainly makes sense, without the strong stomach acid, the iron remains undissolved to a form the body can deal with ..... so, iron tablets first, somac later in the day? I guess taking multi vitamins isn't going to help if other medication is stopping the desired reactions

T1 Terry

[Dot]

Pays to check your diets as well. Got rid of my leg cramps by taking the "pill"

[Busman]

Few glasses of red before bed will make sure gut will devour anything !

[supersparky]

Bill, when I have a few glasses of some type of red, I can be assured of a night of broken sleep. I'm used to it now, and it what it is.
A mate of mine swears by the old nana version of, keep an old cork tile in the bottom of the bed, and when you feel a cramp coming on then put the sole of your foot flat onto the cork. It actually worked for me for a while, but never in summer time.
I think that it really a case of 'you are what you eat' or sometimes maybe what you drink. If it works for you, then go for it.
I will certainly be discussing the ferritin (spl) research that Iza has highlighted.

[Dot]

As soon as you feel the cramp coming on get someone to push your toes up (hard).