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Muscle spasms and leg cramps

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Posted 5/1/2009 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
My daughter has been having terrible pain in her right knee.  From what she describes it sounds like a muscle spasm that goes down into her calf.  Are those with UC or Crohn's more likely to have muscle spasms?  I know some vitamin deficiences can cause this but how do we find out?  Or could it be "growing pains" ?  She has grown over an inch in the last 5 months and put on about 15 lbs (she was VERY tiny before being diagnosed)

HELP!

Posted 5/1/2009 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
Is she on any medications? I got painful muscle spasms when I was taking Prednisone. The muscle spasms were due to an imbalance in electrolytes--sodium, magnesium, potassium and chloride. Prednisone depletes magnesium and potassium. I eat bananas almost every day. Bananas are also part of the BRAT and BRATTY diets, which help diarrhea. I each spinach almost every day and sunflower seed butter occasionally. Spinach and sunflower seeds are high in magnesium. They also are anti-inflammatory.
Posted 5/1/2009 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
She is on Asacol 2400 mg daily and Rowasa enema. She recently started taking Allegra and I am really curious if that is the culprit. However, she does not drink enough fluids, hates bananas and does not take a multivitamin....it is impossible to get her to take more pills than she already has to.

Thanks for the info!!
Posted 5/1/2009 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
Could definitely be growing pains (I remember feeling them in my shins when I was a kid, not really in the knees though), how's her B12 and potassium levels, if either are too low then they can cause similar symptoms to what you're daughter is experiancing.

:)
Posted 5/1/2009 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
I heard low potassium levels can cause leg cramps. Maybe you can give her Pedialyte (sp?) to help her with her electrolytes (sorry about my spelling, not sure about that one, lol). That's the first thing I buy to drink when I start to flare, because I don't like gatorade.
Posted 5/1/2009 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Try Potassium and Magnesium. There are liquid forms if the pills are too tough. Both good for leg cramps and growing pains. My son was tortured by them for 6 months. Heating pads tended to sooth him too.
Posted 5/1/2009 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Gwen, this site has a list of potassium-rich foods. There may be items on there that she will eat:

http://www.essortment.com/all/potassiumfoodh_rkyn.htm

Posted 5/1/2009 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
I've been having leg cramps or spasms in the calf area for over a month now on and off, and my potassium is normal. I've had blood work done 3 times over the past 3 or 4 weeks for other issues and every time it is normal. And I take a daily vitamin and eat bananas quite often. So I think it is my asacol as I take 2400mg a day.
Posted 5/1/2009 7:00 PM (GMT 0)

Judilyn said...
Gwen, this site has a list of potassium-rich foods. There may be items on there that she will eat:


http://www.essortment.com/all/potassiumfoodh_rkyn.htm

Very informative link. I hadn't realized spinach was also high in potassium.
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