Can anyone offer any suggestions for helping my wife's nighttime spasms (mostly leg)? It starts as soon as she lays down. She has to take two soaking hot baths, one at midnight and one at 2am, to finally get it to quell...and then only sometimes.
We both have lyme. She is taking neurontin, magnesium, seriphos (herbal supplement) from LLMD to try to address this, with limited results.
Thanks
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Adding taurine to the magnesium may work. Taking magnesium up to 1,000 - 2,000 mg, just below bowel tolerance may help.
Be sure to add calcium in the proper ratio (but I'm never clear on what that is). Other minerals and electrolytes, too such as potassium (a banana) and zinc.
Restless legs can be a type of myoclonus - which can be a kind of seizure activity. Not to freak out about that, anytime the brain is overloaded with toxins, seizures can happen. Magnesium and FISH OIL are the two very best things.
Maybe a difference form of magnesium would be more effective. If she chooses shot, they can sting horribly but adding B-12 to the syringe takes the sting way down.
I wonder if the hot bath would be better as a WARM bath with some massage to follow.
i too have restless leg syndrome; i'm all over the bed all night long; have to sleep alone due to this and my wierd hours of sleeping so hubby can get a good nights sleep.
prayers for you both. not on any med for that.
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
Magnesium deficiency can cause muscle spasms, heart palps and so much "muscle stuff", also helps w/sleep. Even if she is taking Magnesium it may not be absorbing or not big enough of a dose.
Magnesium Citrate pills did nothing for me, I bought powder form by NOW brand at Iherb.com and it has helped beyond words.
It won't be an overnight cure, but in time it will work. You may want to ask your LLMd for a muscle spasm reliver in the meantime.
Make sure to report this to your LLMd if you haven't already and you can even request tests magnesium. It is a water soluble vitamin so is in and out of the body quickly.
Posted by DoctorLuddite (Member # 13853) on :
Mag Citrate absorbs way better than Mag Oxide. I had foot cramps last fall winter, stopped with the first dose of mag citrate. Now I take 100 mg 2X daily, then it was 400 2X daily.
Posted by dsiebenh (Member # 5353) on :
Smoke marijuana before bed.
Take Baclofen or Zanaflex or Klonopin as rx by your doc.
Stay away from dopamine drugs like Sinemet, Mirapex or Requip; they work but have bad long term effects.
Good luck!
Posted by MY3BOYS (Member # 17830) on :
i have this too.. klonopin and the generic brand of unisom (which is just 50mg of benadrly)
when is real bad i have soma that can take 1/2 tab or whole tab.
also- i do take mag. lots of it. i found the one dr b recommends behind the pharm counter at walgreens. had to ask for it and they order it for me. is a slow release. i take it am, late afternoon, and eve.
Posted by GiGi (Member # 259) on :
You may need to do a bunch of footbaths or others to get your reserves back to where they should be.
Take care.
Posted by LindaS (Member # 20251) on :
E-mail your llmd. He/she needs to know your wife's symptoms and will alter her meds or add something.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I had a lady put 4 drops of valor essential oil on my painful shoulder yesterday. I was amazed at the results. May be worth a try. I could not believe it and wished I had got some then, but I am going back for more.
Posted by Elizabeth S. (Member # 22405) on :
I second baclofen.
I have severe spasms in my back, and it stops them.
A family member has Periodic Leg Movement Disorder (this sounds like your wife?) and it helps that, too.
The drug has been around a long time and is safer than most new meds, and can be taken for an extended time (if needed) while still having the same benefits as when you first started taking it
Good luck =)
Posted by Cass A (Member # 11134) on :
Dear Friends,
Klonopin is not generic benedryl, according to Wikipedia. It is a much stronger anti-seizure drug.
I had severe leg cramps overnight for some time. Taurine (one gram each time) along with increased magnesium handled it. Taurine was recommended to me by my LLND. At one point, I was taking 5 grams a day!!
Recently, I switched to magnesium oil (trans-dermal). I don't need to take anywhere near as much, and I don't have any leg cramps, either! I just rub 3-6 drops into the calf of each leg just before bedtime.
I still take 2 gms of Taurine per day, but am looking to decrease this, as a test, to see if a lower dose will still work.
Since the data on oral magnesium "feeding" Lyme actually penetrated the lyme fog, I've been using the transdermal magnesium oil instead. Results have been fine, with no adverse effect from switching.
Hope this helps,
Cass A
Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
My leg cramping was so bad I had to sleep in a sitting position for months. It turns out that I had severe central spinal stenosis, confirmed by MRI and myelogram. The spinal cord was being squeezed because the central canal was narrowed, I believe because of borrelia infecting all the ligaments and cartilage of my spine for decades.
Had decompression surgery to open up the canal. Got alot of relief. Then got dx'd with Lyme, started treatment, and cramping would return somewhat during herxes. 2 1/2 years of abx, and cramps are mostly gone.
Anyone with Lyme arthritis and leg cramps should have an MRI of spine to look for central stenosis.
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[kiss]](graemlins/kissing.gif)
sending you both moral support.