File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Hello /fit/.

Again, I was woken up by a severe cramp in my leg. This has been going on for at least three years now, and Doctors don't seem to give a shit about it. I was told it was probably due to a mineral deficiency, but was given no further info.

The pain occurs at least twice a week in both legs, mainly in the gastrocnemius and peronus longus muscles (see image).

I have hypothyroid and we have recently discovered that my brother is gluten intolerant, so I will be getting blood tests for that in the near future.
>> Anonymous
i get this when i walk places. ignore it, its just the weaker half of you dying.
>> Anonymous
>>122581

My legs are already very muscular, and this happens when I'm asleep, no physical exertion what-so-ever.
>> Anonymous
>>122584
is it like when your just drifting off to sleep, or do you get properly woken up mid cycle by horrendous pains? because i've read a lot of people get a massive twitch in their legs just as they drift off, something to do with the your brain testing your extremities to make sure you're not going into shock/ dead. if its not that and your legs are just randomly cramping up and it hurts and affects your sleep pattern, get a massage and a prescription for sleeping meds.
>> Anonymous
>>122590

It's not the twitching, it completely wakes me up and it takes me an hour to massage it down to a tolerable pain.

It feels like a small part of my muscle is contracting when the rest isn't.

What I'm worried about isn't the lack of sleep, but the damage being caused by it. The pain follows me throughout the entire day.
>> Anonymous
Have you tried sleeping in a night cast?
muscle relaxers?
do you play any sports?
>> Anonymous
>>122595

Nope.

I sometimes use Tiger Balm, but that's only temporary relief.

Not currently. Because of my hypothyroid, I have a very slow metabolism and just don't have the energy to do any sports on top of my studies. I used to practice TKD, though.
>> Anonymous
>>122597
Look into getting a muscle relaxer like Flexeril then.
How is your range of motion when you dorsiflex? (how far down can you squat before your heels come off the floor?)
>> Anonymous
>>122603

Until the muscles are touching.

I didn't feel any strain though, so I could probably go down further if my legs weren't huge.
>> Anonymous
I just measured my calf, it's about 19 inches around.
>> Anonymous
Try a magnesium supplement.
That's what helped me.
>> Anonymous
>>122619

How long did it take before you had a noticeable change?
>> Anonymous
Celiac disease can affect the absorption of calcium and other minerals, so maybe you do have that shit. My mom has it, which sucks for her.

It doesn't sound like your calves are too tight, so the night cast might not help at all. I'd say go for a prescription muscle relaxer that you can take before bed.
>> Anonymous
Alright then, thanks for the help, guys.
>> Anonymous
>>122620
immediately.
If you have a mineral deficit, it'll help.
Most cramps are due to magnesium deficit.
If I remember correctly, the body needs kalium and sodium as well for the nerves to function correctly.