Gransnet forums

Health

Agonising ankle cramps

(10 Posts)
Sallywally1 Tue 26-Oct-21 15:52:19

I have had these horrible cramps nightly for weeks now and not just once, they are multiple horrors. They wake me up and I have to walk about to ease them so sleep is minimal. I also have myoclonic jerks and muscle spasms. A trapped nerve was found in my neck at one point.

I am worried about MS or MND. I have a telephone appointment with GP, but not till next week.

Can anyone help?

Maggiemaybe Tue 26-Oct-21 17:02:51

I’m sorry to hear about your ankle cramps, Sallywally1, they sound awful. But please try not to worry too much about the reason for them before they’re investigated (though tbh I’d probably be googling and doing exactly the same). There could be a simple cause, such as a nutritional deficiency. My dad had horrendous night cramps in his calves, and it turned out that it was to do with a sodium deficiency. Salt tablets sorted them out. I hope your appointment goes well. flowers

Fleur20 Tue 26-Oct-21 17:40:32

Do u have shin pain too?
Or a shooting pain that feels as if its inside your leg bone?

Blossoming Tue 26-Oct-21 17:48:09

This may sound daft, but have you tried woolly bed socks? My right foot spasms and cramps and it’s excruciating, but it doesn’t seem to happen if I keep it warm.

MayBeMaw Tue 26-Oct-21 18:09:22

Try magnesium tablets and drink a large glass of water before you go to bed.
These can be caused by dehydration (often following a glass or two of wine in the evening) or after a long drive too.
I take 4 magnesium tablets if ever leg cramps kick in (no pun intended) and it works.

Thistlelass Wed 27-Oct-21 01:28:40

Could be connected to dehydration. I have stiffness and pain in my calf. I am due to neurology today 27th. I am under suspicion of MS for past 20 years so will see what he thinks. In the meantime time I was given doppler scan to check for peripheral artery disease. It was not that. They check out your pulses in your feet, ankles etc Your blood pressure is compared between the top and lower half of your body. As I say it did not explain what is happening for me. I have no pain overnight.

Sallywally1 Wed 27-Oct-21 21:59:47

As an interesting update; I suddenly wondered if an ankle support might help and bought one from amazon. Yes it did! My toes still wander about in a disgruntled sort of way, but the agonising pain has, for the last couple of weeks, not happened.

I write this in the hope that this might help someone else. Touch wood the cramps subside for me though. Thank you for your replies ladies.

SpringyChicken Wed 27-Oct-21 23:16:56

I get cramp in my shins and feet occasionally - it's excruciating. For instant relief, I put a heated wheat bag on them, even if I have to stagger downstairs in the middle of the night to fetch it. It never fails.

Blossoming Wed 27-Oct-21 23:21:49

Thanks for the update Sally

MarianNicholson Tue 02-Nov-21 14:24:20

I think I can stop the agonising calf cramps by ensuring I walk enough. I seems to me that 3 miles every three days is enough to keep them at bay...