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I am a 40 yr old, recently dx's with pre-diabetes and am on Glucophage. In the past few months, I have the worst cramps in my legs, usually my right, at times my left. I also get them in the plantar area of both feet. Enough pain to make me leap out of bed and never go back to sleep.

I also stared having hand cramps. They feel like a "Charlie hourse" in the palm of my right hand - it contracts (cannot move any fngers and my thumb contracts into my pals. I use heat, but it doesn't sem to help.

Any idea? I forgot to ask my NP last week and thougt Id ask you anyway! I do work out, walk, swim, take pilates and strength training - but it truly doesn't make a difference. In fact, for about 3 days after these "attacks' I'm soooo slow walking, as my calf hurts so badly.I'd love to hear your input!

Sincerely,

Marci Farriss

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Female, Age: 40, Virginia

Already Tried:
warm compresses, Advil, and cursing!

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Hi!

Thanks for the advice. Actually, I know what Plantar Fascitis feels like (I was a soldier for many years!!) and this is nothing like it. Truly it is a "charley horse" in the plantar part of my foot, enough that my toes actually contract downward, not unlike the cramps in my palm, which make my fingers contract, about 5 minutes.

I do have hypothyroidism, take Synthroid for 4 yrs now. My husband and I are going thru a fertility procedure in Sep and I'm trying to get as healthy as possible (ie: LOSE A BIT OF WEIGHT!), why I'm working out. I wish I was overdoing the exercise!! I usually walk 2 miles at about 2.5-3 mph, then either use lite weight machines, go to a pilates class 3x a week, or swim - not all of these in one day! My walking shoes are the best I've ever had - if you don't own them, look up Oprahs favorites - New Balance!

While the metformin has helped with my BS, my perinatologist has recommended insulin during a pregnancy. Also being tested for some reproductive immunity problems now.

Ok,can we narrow it down a little more? I hate whining with my NP or MD, so I thought I'd try here to see if it warrented a "whine" to either of them! Thanks so much!

The bar of soap - hmm. Going to look that one up!

Blessings!
Marci Farris - not getting relaxation from the foot/leg/hand cramps!

Dear Marci,

I see that you have a great goal for the fall. You know when you lose weight, yo may be a diet controlled diabetic, and not need meds. I recognize the effect of gestational diabetes, and you may need insulin during that time, so I am glad you are being followed closely.

I cannot diagnose on the web, because I cannot examine you nor do I have access to your records/labs. I can give you some ideas--on the mild end I would still look at a mineral deficiency-calcium and magnesium. You want to take these in a 2 to 1 or 1 to 1 ratio dosing. 1000 mg CA to 500mg Magnesium and or 1000 mg Magnesium. If taken at nite helps with sleep.

Your cramps almost sign like tetanus, but you would not be here writing me but in the hospital. My next thought is charcot-marie-tooth disorder--here is a link that explains it well- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/charcot-marie-tooth-disease/DS00557

and there are other problems associated with diabetes and joints, and here is the list and descriptions: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/AN01072

Keep doing those stretches of all you joints, keep them warm, use advil like products but stop when pregnant, you might also try apply red pepper cream-capsacin.

If you do use capsacin, make sure to not touch your eyes or genitals until you wash your hands well with COLD water and soap. Otherwise, you get an unpleasant feeling!

If you think white soap sounds weird, others swear by yellow mustard for leg cramps.-probably the tumeric in it. Here is a link to the People's Pharmacy, and you can read about these remedies anecdotes for yourself. Please let me know if you try any of these and how it worked for you.

http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/editorial/leg_cramp_remedies_earn_boos_and_cheers.asp

http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/Search/search.asp?zoom_query=leg+cramps

Hope these links give you more to go on. You might consider working with an endocrinologist since you have diabetes and hypothyroidism another sign of autoimmune problems.

Let me know how you do, I am pulling for you. Make sure you are on folate 400mcg (it is in most multivitamins) daily in preparation for pregnancy. Take care, and Blessings to you, too. Paula

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