Help: Leg cramps and RLS

Subject: Leg cramps and RLS
From: tremodt
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 07:42 PM

does any one have any information on using Quinine water for these problems

thanks Nice ole Ron

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 08:12 PM

Go to the Mayo Clinic on line. leg cramps
Enter "leg cramps" in the box to the left and look at the article on "Pain, cramps and charley horses."

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 08:57 PM

Dicho:

Jerry has had severe, even incapacitating, leg cramps due to a condition called spinal stenosis (don't ask). The doc suggested taking calcium (Tums) or drinking tonic water which contains quinine. The calcium did nothing but the tonic water gave almost complete and immediate relief. He drinks about 6 ounces every afternoon. On a bad day, he drinks another 6 ounces. Try to use as little as you can because quinine is bad for your liver. The doc says you used to be able to get quinine tablets over the counter (at least in the U.S.) but you can't anymore because of potential liver damage.

Since Jerry also takes a statin drug to lower his cholesterol, he has a liver test every six months anyway so if there is any problem with the quinine, it will be spotted quickly.

Quinine water is cheap and readily available without a perscription and some people even like the taste. If you put a little gin or vodka in it, you won't care if it works or not.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: mack/misophist
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 12:02 AM

I get severe cramps in the long muscles of the torso and legs. They give me potassium for it. It takes a few hours but it does the trick. A good source is bananas. The doseage I take is immense but 3 or 4 bananas might do you. Can't hurt, anyhow.

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 12:38 AM

True spinal stenosis usually calls for surgery. See Mayo Clinic site, link above, for description.

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 01:57 AM

Actually, misophist, it can hurt. Your kidneys generally will get rid of whatever potassium you don't need. However, if your kidneys aren't quite up to snuff (and there are thousands if not millions of people with low-grade kidney failure from a variety of causes who feel perfectly fine), and the potassium builds up, it can kill you. Literally. Be very careful about self-diagnosing and self-treating cramps that are severe or persistent. See a doctor. (And not a pediatrician like me!)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: Mudlark
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 03:39 AM

Dear Nice Ole Ron...Calcium/magnesium (especially the magnesium but it should be balanced w/calcium) is very helpful, calcium 2 to 1 to magnesium. I take 1K mg cal, and 500 mg magnesium....if I run out I start getting leg cramps within about a wk.

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: Mr Happy
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 06:57 AM

what's rls?

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: mooman
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 07:03 AM

I agree with Mudlark...I often get leg cramps and magnesium (prescribed by my doctor) has helped.

mooman

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: DonMeixner
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 07:31 AM

I'm in the Quinine pool as well. But good hydration and excercise will help as well. Providing you are one of those people who are helped by good hydration and excercise. The bottom line is ask a Doctor. One persons cure can be anothers poison.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: UB Ed
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 07:46 AM

I thought potassium (banana) was helpful...

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: Noreen
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 07:58 AM

UB Ed, potassium (banana) can indeed be helpful if your body is short of it. However if the symptoms are caused by something else then it won't help, and potassium, like most other things, can be dangerous in excess.

There is no one answer for any problem!

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 08:03 AM

Like Mr Happy, I wondered what the RLS was, the only time I've seen that abbreviation was for Robert Louis Stevenson, And I won't make the obvious comment.

Nigel

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From:
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 08:07 AM

I think RLS is restless leg syndrome, where the legs twitch involuntarily, usually when you're trying to sit or relax or (worse) sleep.

V

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 06:27 PM

Dicho:

Yes, spinal stenosis is generally cured by surgery and Jerry came this close to the knife. But, the neurosurgeon was too busy to get to it right away so Jerry went to a chiropracter who suggested some excercises. By the time the neurosurgeon could see him, his symptoms had virtually disappeared. So far, he has put off the surgery for three years by constant excercising. The neurosurgeon said put it off as long as you can. So, that's what he's doing.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: tremodt
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 10:11 PM

once again I thank all you catters for your valued apinions

thanks

dear ole Ron

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: Bert
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 11:57 PM

Then there's the soccer players remedy for leg cramps. Lie on your back and get someone to rotate your foot as much as they can.

And don't forget that plain old warmth will help. Just cover your leg with a blanket.

Subject: RE: Help: Leg cramps and RLS
From: rangeroger
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 12:21 AM

I get massive,middle-of-the-night,cramps in the long muscles of my thighs which are extremely painful. Particularly when they hit both thighs at the same time. Quinine ( as tonic water) and potassium (potasium gluconate tablets) seem to control them.

I mix the quinine with red grapefruit juice( no alcohol). Only problem is, my stomach gets sensitive to the mixture, I'll stop the tonic water, run out of potassium tablets and wham, here are the cramps again.

Increased water intake also helps with me.

rr