QUESTION: I have experienced cramps in my thighs since the age of 25, but they were mild and bearable and did not dramatically affect my life.
Now I am 62 years old and it affects me when I do housework, like sweeping or mopping the floor.
I feel fine while I walk and usually walk for one-and-a-half hours a day, five days a week. But when I sit on a sofa for a little while and get up, I experience cramps and can’t walk normally. I have to massage my thighs before they feel normal again. Sometimes it’s embarrassing and I feel like I am a cripple.
I have been to a few doctors over the years and all of them have told me there’s nothing wrong with my legs, that it is a problem with the sciatic nerve.
The state hospital gives me Slow-Mag tablets which I have been taking daily for the past three years – with little or no effect.
Nothing I have tried seems to help and when I try and help my father who is unable to bathe himself, my leg twists.
I am losing hope as I have this twisting feeling in my thighs, weakness in my legs and I need support to move sometimes. I also try and wear socks and sports shoes and health socks to support my legs.
Please can you tell me what is wrong with me and what I can do from here.
ANSWER: The topic of cramps is one that becomes more popular with seasonal variations, as well as a variation in activity levels.
Simply put, most of us describe a cramp as a contraction or tightening of our muscles – debilitating and challenging sometimes.
Cramps refer to the intense muscle contractions that seem prolonged and often lead to pain. This type of pain is most commonly experienced in the lower extremity.
They usually last less than one minute, but may last several minutes before the contraction subsides.
In some patients, the spasms occur primarily at night, and can awaken the patient from sleep. More severe leg cramps can cause pain that lasts several days after the cramp occurs.
Leg cramps occur when the muscle suddenly and forcefully contracts. The most common muscles to contract in this manner are muscles that cross two joints. These include the calf (crossing the ankle and knee), the hamstring (crossing the knee and hip), and the quadriceps (also crossing the knee and hip).
No matter where the muscle spasm, when you cannot voluntarily release or “relax” muscle, it can cause discomfort. You should also remember that the muscle cells receive a rich blood supply and venous drainage, and when muscles go into spasm or cramp up – the blood supply is diminished. Patent blood vessels and muscle fibres that contract and relax in a smooth sequence of intricate mechanisms, drive successful and comfortable movement.
High performance athletes have to condition these muscles and fine-tune these mechanisms to optimise peak performance, so conditioning the muscles is the flavour of the day.
What causes cramps?
* Muscle fatigue.
* Heavy exercise.
* Dehydration.
* Excessive weight – not necessarily obesity.
* Electrolyte imbalances
* Medications (statins, prednisone and others).
The most common cause that is typically seen in patients who develop leg cramps is a change of routine in activity – either more activity or a different exercise. Leg cramps are more common in young (adolescents) and older (over 65) patients.
How to prevent spasms
Hydration: All muscle cells need water and electrolytes to function. The intricate mechanisms of muscle contraction and relaxation are dependent of essential elements like calcium, magnesium and energy. Also drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after exercise.
Stretch: Stretching can relax muscle fibres. After rigorous training, a stretching routine can help relax muscles and prevent cramps. Make sure you cool down after exercising, and do not exercise vigorously just prior to sleep.
Progressive training: Never increase your exercise over one week by more than 10 percent. Sudden changes in activities can cause leg cramps. Most athletes who have leg cramps, such as long-distance runners, have increased their level of intensity or duration of activity too quickly. - Cape Argus
* Dr Darren Green, a trusted figure in the field of media medicine, is a University of Stellenbosch graduate who adds innovative spark to health and wellness issues.
He features on 567CapeTalk, and is a regular guest on SABC3 and the Expresso show. Dr Green works as an emergency medical practitioner at a leading Cape Town hospital and completed four years of training as a registrar in the specialisation of neurology.
If you’ve got medical problems, contact the doctor at [email protected], 021 930 0655 or Twitter @drdarrengreen. Catch him in Cape Town on 567 CapeTalk, most Fridays at 1.30pm.
The advice in this column does not replace a consultation and clinical evaluation with a doctor.