[Talula Fairie]

I called my midwife already, thinking about calling my OB advice nurse too since my midwife wasn't there. She's pretty good at getting back to me though.

Anyway. Earlier this morning I had the worst leg cramp I've ever had in my life. Like enough to make me scream out in pain and writhe around until it let go a little.

Thing is, when I woke up for good, I realized it never went away completely. It hurts enough that it makes walking harder, I limp a bit. I can feel it now, crampy and not letting go. I'm worried it's a blood clot.

Thoughts?

 

[serenekitten]

I was sore from a "leg cramp from hell" for two or three days. My midwife suggested taking calcium supplements.

(I haven't taken the supplements, yet, but I haven't had another nasty leg cramp, either.)

If you're concerned about it being a blood clot, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

 

[bemommy]

Calcium supplement could help. Potassium is generally good to. To try to loosen it up more you might want to try standing barefoot on a cold surface (tile, porcelain coated tub. . ) although I only know that that works during the cramp, not sure now that it's been with you for awhile.

 

[Talula Fairie]

I take a cal/mag supplement but I have been slacking so I'll take some more. I also get lots of potassium, in fact I drank a tea that has a lot of it in it just last night.

Maybe it's just soreness from the cramp? I read that if it doesn't go away it could be a blood clot and to call your practitioner, but of course I read this on Baby Center of all places so maybe I should take that with a grain of salt...

 

[bemommy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talula Fairie Maybe it's just soreness from the cramp? I read that if it doesn't go away it could be a blood clot and to call your practitioner, but of course I read this on Baby Center of all places so maybe I should take that with a grain of salt...

It could be soreness. Sometimes if I get a particualrly bad one it can take a day or 2 to feel normal again. I don't know much about blood clots. . so I wouldn't know if they feel differently. Hopefully your midwife will get back to you soon and let you know something.

 

[Talula Fairie]

I called the OB advice nurse and it's definitely not a blood clot, I don't have any of the symptoms. So it's just a nasty leg cramp. Ouch!

I took some more cal mag.

 

[emmaegbert]

I got these twice during this pregnancy- SO horrible. Once happened when I decided to take a long steep hike. The second time it woke me up screaming in the night. Yeah- I was limping from it. Anyway- massage, hot bath, stretching, and actually wearing shoes (I tend to be a barefoot gal) helped with the residual soreness.

My MW says its a mineral imbalance. She suggested really loading up on Cal and Mag, and taking them separately, cal up to 2000mg, mag up to 1500mg but it can give you loose stools (it did), potassium 100-200mg. The first time I had def been slacking on my vits. Now I am taking 1000mg of mag spread out through the day.

She also suggested taking emergen-c b/c it can help to balance minerals and the glucose helps too for some reason. Especially if I am taking an extra longer walk or something, to put an emergen-c into my water bottle.

I looked it up and lots of foods have potassium. Bananas are not actually all that high compared to some other things. (I have diet-controlled gestational diabetes and bananas are too sugary/carby for me right now). Beans, avocados, and almonds as I recall were all good sources. But you can look that up easily and see if eating some more potassium helps too.

Anyway, I feel for you! It hurts like heck! I couldn't believe it. Never happened with my first pregnancy.

 

[Full Heart]

Leg cramps are the worst during pg. Even after they go away your legs can hurt for days. Remember the next time it happens (which better be never right

), to flex you foot up towards your knee. Slowly and then release slowly. Becareful not to point your toes either. You can try massaging some arnica into your legs too. Although its really hard for me to reach my calves anymore lol. I have dh massage my legs for me, it really helps to keep the blood flowing. Def keep up the calcium, its good for more than just leg cramps. I like chewable calcium. Helps with the heartburn.

 

[1stBabyAt39]

Oh man, I had a really bad one Friday morning!

I woke up howling at about 4am. I ran the massager on my calf & put a heating pad on it. That helped for a little while. But three days later, it STILL hurts! Weird, I drink tea & eat a banana just about every day (both contain potassium). Maybe I'll try more calcium & magnesium in addition to the prenatal vitamins.

 

[sky_and_lavender]

This happened to me last week. It was incredibly painful. Before that, I'd never had a leg cramp in my life! It was sore for several days, and I worried it was a blood clot, too. What finally made the big cramp leftovers feel better was having my husband massage my feet and legs at night, a couple of nights in a row.

I upped my cal-mag-vit D dose, and it seems to help with the leg/foot crampy twinges that have started up.

I hope your leg muscle recovers soon!

 

[Mal85]

I got some pretty nasty leg cramps during pregnancy. One night was God awful. It woke up me up and felt like I was having contractions from hell in my leg, it was like pulsing it was horrible! My leg was sore and crampy for a couple of days after. First thing the next day I went and got a more supportive pair of shoes. I also bought a bunch of bananas for potassium, I'm a milk junky so I really didn't think it was calcium. The shoes helped tremendously. It was a couple of months before I got another cramp... got more bananas and they helped.

 

[Peony]

I've gotten horrid leg cramps during all my pg, I never get them when I'm not pg.

Definitely flex your foot when you feel one coming on, and yes they leave me limping around for days. It's a really deep soreness that just takes a while to go away.

 

[TzippityDoulah]

TF - i had the SAME thing 3 days ago. it was such a horribel cramp and it would not leave! I was all but crying on the floor. it hurt too badly to cry - I was like gasping!

today it's finally starting to get better. yesterday it hurt like crazy! I have been rubbing arnica on it and it still was hurting.

I take a cal/mag/possasium supplement so I havent had too bad of cramps this time but in my last two pregnancies this was nearly a nightly issue! OUCH! this one was so unexpected. I was limping for 3 days!

 

[bajamergrrl]

So I had my third leg cramp for this pregnancy around 2 am this morning. I'm still sore. I've noticed that each leg cramp is worse than the one before. I hate that when it seems like the cramp is about to be over, the muscle contracts again and starts the pain all over. Do they generally get progressively worse? They usually happen when I'm waking up and move my leg suddenly. I'll see about getting some more cal/mag/potassium.

I'm not afraid of labor sensations but I fear these leg cramps because they have me on the floor yelling and almost crying. Please tell me the leg cramps are worse!

 

[Talula Fairie]

I guess it's normal reading the responses but I'm still limping 2 days later! I've been rubbing arnica on it, I took lots of cal mag and ate potassium foods as well as fortified drinks (vitamin water, coconut juice, powerade).

 

[Talula Fairie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bajamergrrl So I had my third leg cramp for this pregnancy around 2 am this morning. I'm still sore. I've noticed that each leg cramp is worse than the one before. I hate that when it seems like the cramp is about to be over, the muscle contracts again and starts the pain all over. Do they generally get progressively worse? They usually happen when I'm waking up and move my leg suddenly. I'll see about getting some more cal/mag/potassium. I'm not afraid of labor sensations but I fear these leg cramps because they have me on the floor yelling and almost crying. Please tell me the leg cramps are worse!

I went to my chiro yesterday and she said the leg cramps really were worse than her labor

 

[LionessMom]

i always get them when i dont drink enough water.

 

[Talula Fairie]

It could have been that. I think I had been dehydrated for awhile becuase we ran out of bottled water and drinks that I like, and I hate tap water

I have been working to hydrate myself well for the past few days. You should see my fridge, it's full of drinks

 

[LionessMom]

i am actually drinking gatorade right now. i have the stomach flu and it is the only thing that will stay down. my cramps attacked me last night and 3 other days this week. i am pretty sure i was close to being dehydrated. so here is to drinking stuff! lots of stuff, even though it makes us pee more

 

[Full Heart]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talula Fairie I went to my chiro yesterday and she said the leg cramps really were worse than her labor

I get them during my labors and yes, they are seriously worse than the contractions. Makes me panic thinking about it.