Foot Cramps and Charlie Horses....Anyone Else Have This Problem?

 I can only assume it's a vitamin deficiency.  I think I will email my surgeons office and ask if they can help me with it.  My general doc has no idea why I would be getting foot cramps and charlie horses.  It's really bad pain that comes on without any warning in the middle of the night.  I have to stand up out of bed to get the pain to go away.  It's disturbing.  It happens about 3 times a week.

Anyone else have this problem or any ideas how to get rid of it?

I take nexium, and I'm trying to get off it.

I take yasmin too.  I'm not real complient on vitamins.  I go through times when I do better than others.  It does not seem to change the foot cramps.  

I'd get your potassium level checked...

Hugs

Donna

Symptoms of Low Potassium

• Muscle cramps
• Muscle Fatigue and Weakness
• Irregular Heartbeat
• Fatigue
• Mental Confusion
• Irritability
• Abnormally Dry Skin
• Insatiable Thirst
• Chills
• Depression
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Nervousness
• Insomnia
• Diarrhea
• Low Blood Pressure
• Periodic Headaches
• Salt Retention
• Constipation
• High Cholesterol Levels
• Glucose Intolerance
• Impaired Growth
• Edema
• Extreme cases, cardiac arrest

Along with low potassium, low calcium and magnesium can cause cramping. Does your calcium supplement also have magnesium in it? Dehydration can cause cramping, but nighttime cramping is often indicative of low potassium and/or an imbalance between calcium and magnesium. It wouldn't hurt to get your levels checked.

I have had the nighttime cramping and it is horrible to say the least. OUCH! Making sure that I have magnesium with my calcium helped to decrease the frequency and intensity.

GET COMPLIANT ON YOUR VITAMINS!!!

Nexium doesn't have anything to do with it.

gail

 I just check my most recent labs and my potasium on Jan 12, 2012 was 4.4.  My Potassium has not changed much at all in fact over the many months that I've tracked it.  It has ranged from 4.4 to 4.1.  

Are you taking calcium with magnesium?

Low sodium will also cause muscle cramps.

However, there are tons of vitamin deficiencies that can cause neurological problems and sometimes neurological problems manifest themselves as muscle cramps. Sounds like it's time for a full blood workup to test every little thing!

These plague me as well.  I find that if I increase my water consumption, it helps.
An old wives' tale, put a bar of Ivory soap at the foot of your bed, underneath the covers.  LOL!  It didn't help but I tried it.

Janet

 I had read about the soap cure and tried it.   Sorry to say it didn't help. DArn.

 I always get them if my carbs are very very low.  When I eat straight protein and veggies I have to add a potassium pill.