‘I need help with muscle cramps’

Cape Town - 100403 - Willies Sithole recieves medical treatment for bad cramps - The Old Mutual Two oceans marathon was held on Saturday. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

Cape Town - 100403 - Willies Sithole recieves medical treatment for bad cramps - The Old Mutual Two oceans marathon was held on Saturday. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

Published Nov 26, 2014

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QUESTION: I have experienced cramps in my thighs since the age of 25, but they were mild and bearable and did not affect my life dramatically. Now I am 62 and it affects me when I do housework, like sweeping or mopping the floors.

I feel fine while walking and usually walk for 90 minutes a day, five days a week, but when I sit on a sofa for a little while and get up, I have cramps and can’t walk normally.

I have to massage my thighs before I feel normal again. Sometimes it’s embarrassing and feels like I am becoming 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. They all say the same thing – that it’s a problem with the sciatic nerve.

The state hospital is giving me magnesium which I have been taking daily for the past three years – with little or no effect.

Nothing seems to be help and when I tried to help my father who was unable to bathe, my leg had this twisting feeling. I found it difficult to help him and I am losing hope.

Besides the twisting feeling in my thighs, I also have weakness in my legs and need support to move sometimes. I also try to wear socks and sports shoes and health socks to support my legs.

What is wrong and what I can do?

 

ANSWER:The topic of cramps is certainly one that becomes more and more popular with seasonal variation, as well as activity.

Simply put, most of us describe a cramp as a contraction or tightening of our muscles, debilitating and certainly very challenging sometimes.

Cramps refer to intense muscle contractions that seem prolonged and often lead to pain.

This type of pain is most commonly experienced in the lower extremity. Cramps 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.

 

BACK TO BASICS

If you think about it simply, no matter where the muscle spasms, 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, 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.

Conditioning the muscles is the flavour of the day.

 

Fighting back

* Massage the cramped muscle and stretch the muscle gently and slowly.

* Take a hot shower or bath.

* Persistent and recurring cramps should be referred to a physician.

* Electrolyte imbalances are often treatable reversible causes of cramps.

* Muscle relaxing medications can be prescribed if the muscle cramping is a problem, particularly at night.

* Finally, your medications and medical history should be reviewed to investigate for possible factors contributing to your leg cramps.

 

Risk factors that predispose for cramps

* Muscle fatigue.

* Heavy exercising.

* Dehydration.

* Overweight - not necessarily obese.

* Electrolyte imbalances

* Medications (statins, prednisone, others…)

The most common cause that is typically seen in patients who develop leg cramps is when changing a routine of activity – either more activity or a different exercise. Leg cramps are more common in young (adolescent age) and older (over 65) patients.

 

How to prevent muscle cramps

Hydration

All muscle cells need water and electrolytes to function. The intricate mechanisms of muscle contraction and relaxation depend on essential elements like calcium , magnesium and energy. Also drink plenty of fluid before, during, and after exercise.

Stretch Regularly

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

Don’t go too big too soon. Avoid sudden increases in activity. The “10 percent Rule” is a good rule of thumb: never increase your exercise over one week by more than 10 percent compared to the week before. 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.

If you’ve got medical problems, contact the doctor at [email protected], 021 930 0655 or Twitter @drdarrengreen.

The advice in this column does not replace a consultation and clinical evaluation with a doctor.

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