Leg cramps at night

Hi all,

New member here that is still waiting on the results from my latest MRI.  My PCP says she is 100% sure it is MS but the neurologist is still dragging his feet even though he says I have many things that do meet the criteria for MS.

Question is - do any of you suffer from leg cramps at night?  They wake me up they are so bad.  I am taking Tylenol PM but I still wake up around 5 with pain. 

Any help or information that you can give me would be great.

Sandy

Hey there Sandy,

I have had problems with leg cramps and it is pretty common in MS.  You may want to ask your doctor about some meds for relief.  You don't have to have a dx of MS to get help there.  This is just symptom relief.  You could ask for baclofen or soma wich are both muscle relaxers or you could go with klonpin with is a muscle relaxer and pain reliever.  Ask your PCP what he or she recommends.  Just describe your symptoms and let them know it is affecting your sleep.

Good luck.

Love and prayers,

Hey Sandy

I have TONS of leg pain!!! Mine is mostly in my right leg (my symptoms have all been mostly right sided) but i do have it in both legs at times or either. I have tried many things, but finally landed on three that i use kinda together. My doc dx'd Restless Leg Syndrome for me and gave me Requip and that seems to help with the jerking and jumping...but i get that in my arms and fingers too and seems to have helped that as well. Also, i use klonopin as needed and neurontin. The neurontin is for nerve pain (in my legs and elsewhere), so be sure to describe ur' pain to him very clearly. He will need to know exactly what u'r feeling and if there is movement (jerking and jumping) involved. Take care friend. I know how bad leg pain is and i do hope u get some relief soon!

Sandy,

The advice above are good ones. Also your doctor needs to know to jot this on your chart as well. You might even be able to call instead of waiting for that appointment!

Baclofen if they are very cramped (not realeasing) is a good one, the other's are also.

Even though the cramps maybe coming from wrong nerve impulses, I read somewhere, and then tried it...use a dry brush on your legs, to help circulation (i make mine soapy as its still bristly and does the job), massaging them prior to laying down does seem to help mine at times. Can't hurt!

I was dx'd with RLS about , gee 15yrs ago. I went 6days one time without any sleep do to the legs. What a time that was. Like Rhonda, i now get them in my arms. What a crappy feeling for sure. I found that requip is the best, but had been on simminet also, before requip. Vitamin E is also recommended. That's if your legs and/or arms feel an intense urge to move them. Or they move on their own. Also a feeling inside of them that you just cant seem to get rid of. From what you've described it sounds more like cramps/spasticity of a sort.

If you do have to wait for the appointment, pls try the soapy bristle brush that will increase circulation and help massage the muscles. I cant say why this works (i can for circulation), but it seems to at least help.


Best Wishes

thanks

kiera