Tiffany Vance-Huffman
It’s the middle of the night and you’ve finally fallen asleep. Even if it’s just a sleepy. Then, out of nowhere, you scream in agony because your leg and foot cramped severely. So severely, in fact, that your toes contract and contort in strange positions. The pain is so intense that you can not even put your feet on the floor or against a wall to stretch your toes to normal. The muscle cramps in your leg are so powerful that they look strangely like the pains of childbirth. In fact, it sometimes even seems that ebb and flow in the same way just like contractions. Finally, the pain disappears, but it happens a few more times during the night.
This is the story of many fibromyalgia patients who suffer from fibromyalgia and leg cramps. And some of them do not even realize the connection with debilitating muscle cramps and spasms to their fibro. However, the American College of Rheumatology says that 42% of people with fibromyalgia and leg cramps. It is actually a different symptom of right muscle pain that affects 100% of fibro patients. So what causes these cramps or spasms in the legs and often the feet too? Frankly, they do not really know what causes fibromyalgia and leg cramps. At least not with regard to patients with fibromyalgia in particular. So let’s just look at ways to mitigate it. There are many techniques for treating fibromyalgia and leg cramps. You just have to find the one that works for you. We will only cover two here.
Magnesium
The Journal of Integrative Medicine reported a study on magnesium and its effects on fibromyalgia conducted at the Mayo Clinic. The first study of its kind, studied, examined the effectiveness of topically applied magnesium in relieving six different symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, including muscle cramps. The study found that after two weeks of application of a solution called “Fibro Flex” on their skin, fibromyalgia patients found improvement after just two weeks of regular use. The improvement was maintained for the duration of the study which lasted four weeks.
“This study confirmed existing medical research, which says that maintenance of therapeutic serum magnesium levels has been linked to a decrease in symptoms of fibromyalgia, including depression, sore spot and fatigue,” says National Fibromyalgia Association. Apart from some irritation of the skin on which the spray was applied, the tested subjects had no other negative side effects. Since most people in the West suffer from magnesium deficiency, this could be helpful for more than just muscle cramps of fibromyalgia.
TENS EMS Machines and Devices
If you’re like me, a TENS machine did not seem familiar from a distance. I first came across a fibromyalgia forum, where I thought someone was misspelling it. But then I discovered that I have used something similar several times in my life, especially at the chiropractor’s office. Do you know what I’m talking about? I mean when you go to the chiropractor and they connect you to those little electrodes. It almost feels like they flex muscles and relax with electricity. I still have to keep mine at a really low level because I’m so sensitive. But they are really useful. And now you can get them for private use at home. These are called EMS devices that help increase blood flow to the muscles, increase the range of motion, and more. He can be a life saver for fibro patients!
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) sends stimulating impulses to nervous skin and strands to prevent pain signals from reaching the brain . Take this in a minute. Now, think about it: it is also used to stimulate the body to produce more endorphins or natural painkillers. A key difference between a TENS machine and EMS devices is that you carry the TENS machine on your body. No worries, it’s small. But many patients with fibromyalgia find it very useful and effective as an alternative to pharmaceutical analgesics. In other words, it’s safe, non-invasive and drug-free pain management.
Are there other methods?
There are absolutely other ways to relieve the often debilitating and agonizing pain of muscle cramps / spasms that accompany fibromyalgia. Vitamin E is very useful for muscle cramps, especially for those who live a rather sedentary lifestyle. Many have been very successful with the prescription drug Lyrica, which is one of the most commonly used pharmaceuticals for treating fibromyalgia anyway.
There are other options such as acupressure. Some fibro patients have learned how to do this to themselves. But you’ll need to begin by visiting a quality acupuncturist or acupressurist first in order to get some direction. Yoga is exceptionally beneficial for keeping the muscles stretched and mobile. This leads to greater blood flow and minimizes cramping. For some fibro patients, it works completely. The keys are to not overdo it and to listen to your body. One more option is called the Bowen technique, also known as Bowen therapy. Similar to acupressure, this technique uses gentle rolling movements to promote healing and pain relief. It’s so effective that it’s even used for horses!
Do you have any experience with these methods of dealing with fibromyalgia and leg cramps? Which ones helped and which ones failed you? Have you found a different method or technique that works for you? Please share your thoughts with us. Maybe you stumbled upon something that just might help fellow fibromyalgia patient deal with their fibromyalgia and leg cramps.
