Cramp

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I am 4 weeks 1 day Post Op and about 1 week ago I started getting cramp during the night on my good leg.  I have to get up several times during the night for the loo as it is so getting up as well for cramp is driving me mad.  Has anyone else had this issue?  Still have another 2 weeks wearing stockings 24/7.  Help!

 

2

hello viv,

there are many explanations for these cramps, like medication, dehydration, overdoing etc - 

Make sure you stay hydrated and what helped me and many others here on this forum is, drinking Tonic Water - 

I am sure more tips will come your way ..

how are you doing otherwise, darling?

bug warm hug

renee

3

Thanks Renee01952

Becoming paranoic about DVT I think.  Probably don't drink enough but due to medication I am sick and tired of getting up between 3-4 times to use the loo so tend to drink less in the evening.

I think I am doing ok thanks.

4

Keep drinking, it helps, and most people go the loo, loads, you don't want to be dehydrated or end up with a water infection.

I had bad spasms, for weeks,a long time, it started on my thigh on the op side,but eventually ended up both legs from bum to toes. I think mine was because I never moved off my back, except to go to the bathroom. As soon as I woke, one slight movement would set it off.  Things got better when I started being able to sleep on my side.

I tried tonic water, didn't work for me nor did the muscle relaxants,that you can get off the doctor.

A few people get them,but does not mean they will last ages though. Hope yours sort out quicker.

Take care x

5

Actually Lynn you are right.  Laying on my back and as soon as I make a movement, that's exactly what happens.  I will try tonic anyway.  I have high blood pressure so one of my meds is a diuretic hence getting up at least 3 times for that.  Sleeping on the side, can't wait.  Thanks.

6

Hi vivb.....yes, I certainly have had leg cramps and in my good leg also. Mine seem to hit at night when I am trying to move my leg or also to get up to use the bathroom. Yep, is very annoying along with being painful. Not sure what causes it but funny I didn't have it prior to my hip replacement 5 weeks ago....Hope they ease up for you...Oh and I didn't have to wear the TED stockings just had the blood thinning injections....Have read about others saying they are painful and they can't wait until they don't have to wear them any longer....Wishing you the best....Barb

7

Hi lynn.....I was reading your post and was wondering about the tonic water, what is it supposed to do or help with? I a curious...like vivb I also take a water pill and have to get up several times a night and so I tend not to drink anything in the evening. Also been taking the muscle relaxants but they don't seem to stop the leg cramps...My second night after surgery while still in the hospital I had horrible spasms from the hip all the way down and every time I would doze off I would get woke up with these horrible spasms that would actually make my leg jump and the pain would hit and wake me up. My surgeon came in the next morning and when I told him he increased my dose of muscle relaxer and that did seem to help with that. I still had the cramps after coming home, come to think of it haven't had any in a few days, hope they are going away....Thanks.....Barb

8

I didn't think I could lay so long in one position but when you first wake it's like your body is paralysed.  Once you have the spasm it helps get the muscles going again. I had a lot of trouble in the beginning with my waterworks, up loads and my incontinence was worse, settled back to how it used to be now.

9

Hi Barb, the quinine in it is supposed to help with cramps, I only had 3/4 of a bottle, couldn't stand the taste even with juice in. Maybe it would of worked if I persevered with it.

I didn't get my spasms until about a week after coming out of hospital. Someone had suggested muscle relaxants on here, but after two nights I found I had restless legs which was uncomfortable, I had to keep getting up and walking about, so figured might as well stick with the spasms.

That sounds good Barb,maybe they are on the way out. They are not very nice at all.

10

DVT is a serious condition, and if it progresses to PE (pulmonary embolism) can be life threatening. It is what my own father died from many years ago, so I was particularly careful about wearing TEDS and taking the blood thinning tablets.

Best wishes

Graham

11

Thanks lynn...I have never tried it and probably wouldn't like the taste either. If the leg cramps come back I may have to try it....lol....(or maybe not)...Did the muscle relaxants cause you to have restless legs? Was wondering about that because I have also had that, and very irritating when I am trying to go to sleep. Never thought it might be caused by the relaxants...Hum.....Thanks again......Barb

12

Hi Viv:

I am almost 10 weeks post surgery and also experiencedmsome spasms but mostly pins and needles, first in my non operated legs then both legs. Started a couple of weeks ago in bed at night on my back. I was freaking out also worrying about a blood clot but woke up each morning and felt better as the day progressed. Not sure sleeping on my side helps but I do it for a bit at night to change up positions.

Sometimes I get up and go on this forum for some input and reassurance. That helps a lot.

Take Care,

Cathy

 

13

I assumed it was them, because it only happened when I took them. Never had it before or after.

14

I have this too, mine is from my waist down.  Mine started before the op. and affected both legs.  The cramps vanished straight after the op but came back after a few days.  It now affects my unoperated leg a lot more, I am 19 weeks post and really fed up with it.  I have tried the suggestions with no luck.

15

Dear Wendy:

sorry to hear that you are still experiencing the leg cramps. I can empathize with your frustration. It must be disheartening. I try to hang onto the feedback that people say it can take up to a year for the body to heal. Have had to let go of my pre surgery thinking that at 3 months, once precautions were done, I would be back to normal.

my temporary solution is that after a bad night night, I try to pace myself the next day and I am so tired, the pain and cramps don't wake me up.

Take care,

Cathy

Take 

16

Oh I am sorry your still having them, I hope they stop soon. Do you have them in the daytime too?  I only had mine at night. Maybe a trip to the doc, to see if they can help.

17

I only get them at night, seems to be after I have been still for a while.  Like others have said, they seem to be worse when laying on my back.  I am hoping that they will stop eventually.

18

they will stop Wendy -- when you lie on your back, gently stretch your legs and breath in to them - ( upon exhale) - it is annoying and painful, i know -

I hope you had a better night 

big warm hug

renee

19

They will stop sometime, try what renee suggests. I rarely sleep on my back nowand move around alot, so that'swhy I don't get them anymore.

20

I am almost 2 weeks post LTHR.  Before surgery and for years I have had terrible leg cramps.  Rarely go a night without getting up a couple times to ease them out.  Since surgery, I haven't had any and not sure why that is.  But things that seem to help me are a magnesium powder mixed in water, TBSPs of regular yellow mustard or dill pickle juice.  I've tried sleeping with bars of soap at the bottom of my bed.  Same with wine corks in a bag at the bottom of the bed.  Things like that seem to work for a while and then stop.  Good luck with yours.  I feel lucky that I haven't been having the cramps since the surgery cuz it would be a huge pain to get up and walk it out!