CPap and Leg Cramps???

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
jaye8898
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2014 6:48 pm
Location: Washington State

CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by jaye8898 » Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:18 pm

Last night I was in my usual deep sleep since starting Cpap and was startled awake with a horrendous leg cramp in my left calf. The pain was excruciating. Have not had a cramp like that for many years. This is probably silly but can it have anything to do with cpap therapy? I noticed I have been waking up with lower leg stiffness in my leg ankle as well. Not a hypochondriac but just wondering....... Numbers were good......AHI..1.79

_________________
MaskHumidifier
Additional Comments: Diabetes, Grave's Disease, Fibromyalgia, M Depression w/Anxiety, Asthma

User avatar
BlackSpinner
Posts: 9745
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:44 pm
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Contact:

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by BlackSpinner » Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:30 pm

Most often leg cramps are due to a vitamin deficiency. However with cpap you are laying much stiller in the same position for much longer lengths of time. My hips and neck were very painful and I could hardly move in the morning for the first few weeks until I added some padding to my mattress.

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows and Headgear
Additional Comments: Quatro mask for colds & flus S8 elite for back up
71. The lame can ride on horseback, the one-handed drive cattle. The deaf, fight and be useful. To be blind is better than to be burnt on the pyre. No one gets good from a corpse. The Havamal

jaye8898
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2014 6:48 pm
Location: Washington State

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by jaye8898 » Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:41 pm

Yes, you are right....usually a potassium or calcium deficiency. I do take potassium and I know I'm deficient in magnesium so take that too......I also was having bad shoulder pain because of the deep sleep but that has resolved.......maybe I just need to drink more water and take a multi-vitamin as well! The muscle in my leg actually bunched up into a ball ..........been sore all day.....weird!!!!

_________________
MaskHumidifier
Additional Comments: Diabetes, Grave's Disease, Fibromyalgia, M Depression w/Anxiety, Asthma

User avatar
Sheffey
Posts: 428
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 3:07 pm
Location: Wilmington Island

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by Sheffey » Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:53 pm

Years ago, when I was doing a lot of running, I had one cramp up on me in bed. It was so bad that it left a big bruise.

I had run eight miles on mountain singletrack that day. It was hot and I did not care to drink an electrolyte replenishment drink.

Watch your electrolytes. If you are very active drinking a lot of water may flush out too many of your electrolytes.
Sheffey

jaye8898
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2014 6:48 pm
Location: Washington State

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by jaye8898 » Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:02 pm

Sheffey wrote:Years ago, when I was doing a lot of running, I had one cramp up on me in bed. It was so bad that it left a big bruise.

I had run eight miles on mountain singletrack that day. It was hot and I did not care to drink an electrolyte replenishment drink.

Watch your electrolytes. If you are very active drinking a lot of water may flush out too many of your electrolytes.
Thanks. I wish that was the problem! I was just doing some reading online.....it may be the additional diuretic (lisinopril) my doctor prescribed a couple of weeks ago. I will check with her.......good blood pressure and great sleep......lol.....seems like there's always something after age 50!!!

_________________
MaskHumidifier
Additional Comments: Diabetes, Grave's Disease, Fibromyalgia, M Depression w/Anxiety, Asthma

User avatar
deerslayer
Posts: 1193
Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Mid Tn

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by deerslayer » Sat Apr 12, 2014 8:49 pm

FWIW i have a history, Thank God very infrequent ! generally Quad or Hammy. These attacks are Painfully Crippling & incapacitating ! Usually a sign of dehydration / Salt imbalance . what works instantaneously for me is a good swig of dill pickle or green olive juice. ....Sweet Relief !
Nothing to due with cpap.

_________________
MachineMask
Additional Comments: straight cpap 12.20 AHI avg.0.79
RESMED AUTOSET 10 / P 10 NASAL PILLOWS /straight cpap 12.20 / AHI 0.79 avg /
thanks to Nick sleep HQ
Feeling Blessed & firmly believe in The Holy Trinity 🙏

jaye8898
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2014 6:48 pm
Location: Washington State

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by jaye8898 » Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:22 pm

deerslayer wrote:FWIW i have a history, Thank God very infrequent ! generally Quad or Hammy. These attacks are Painfully Crippling & incapacitating ! Usually a sign of dehydration / Salt imbalance . what works instantaneously for me is a good swig of dill pickle or green olive juice. ....Sweet Relief !
Nothing to due with cpap.
I don't drink as much water as I should! Pickle or olive juice? Because of the salt?? I found this on line I never heard of:

http://restoreunity.org/leg_cramps_in_diabetics.htm

Morton's salt substitute? Interesting.........According to the article, it will relieve cramps immediately!

_________________
MaskHumidifier
Additional Comments: Diabetes, Grave's Disease, Fibromyalgia, M Depression w/Anxiety, Asthma

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:31 pm

Best source of electrolytes you can get: V-8 juice, cold or hot (with sour cream)
also get a vegetable out of the way--nearly painless!
Some folks add a bit of happy juice, too.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

jaye8898
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2014 6:48 pm
Location: Washington State

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by jaye8898 » Sat Apr 12, 2014 10:33 pm

chunkyfrog wrote: Some folks add a bit of happy juice, too.
Kind of gave up the happy juice for the most part.....too much sugar!!!

_________________
MaskHumidifier
Additional Comments: Diabetes, Grave's Disease, Fibromyalgia, M Depression w/Anxiety, Asthma

User avatar
jencat824
Posts: 1442
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:06 pm
Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by jencat824 » Sat Apr 12, 2014 10:36 pm

My trick for leg cramps is quinnine, found in tonic water. I keep a couple of two liter bottles by my bed. It usually takes almost a bottle, but relief is immediate. When they hit, it usually awakes me from a dead sleep & I jump right out of bed from the pain. Having a remedy close by helps.

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Pressure Auto 12-20cm CPAP compliant since 2000
Other masks I've tried: *=liked, #= no way
Piliaro, SleepWeaver Elan*, Swift FX w&w/o Bella Loops#, OpitLife#,Simplicity*, Mirage Vista*, Go Life for Her#, IQ (original hg only)*, Quattro FX (barely)###, Wisp*, Nuance#, Swift LT for her**

jaye8898
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2014 6:48 pm
Location: Washington State

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by jaye8898 » Sun Apr 13, 2014 12:22 am

jencat824 wrote:My trick for leg cramps is quinnine, found in tonic water. I keep a couple of two liter bottles by my bed. It usually takes almost a bottle, but relief is immediate. When they hit, it usually awakes me from a dead sleep & I jump right out of bed from the pain. Having a remedy close by helps.
Wow! thanks, Jen. It's easy to keep tonic water in the bedroom.

_________________
MaskHumidifier
Additional Comments: Diabetes, Grave's Disease, Fibromyalgia, M Depression w/Anxiety, Asthma

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by chunkyfrog » Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:09 am

If the cramp happens anyway, the best way to handle it is to stretch the contracted muscle out.
I've crawled out of bed with a knot in my calf, and slowly stretched the muscle out by pulling my toes up and straightening my knee.
Massaging the knot helps too--but prevention is best.
---Bananas, quinine water, or just drinking enough regular water throughout the day.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

User avatar
Cereal Killer
Posts: 228
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:49 pm

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by Cereal Killer » Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:19 am

jaye8898 wrote: Morton's salt substitute? Interesting.........According to the article, it will relieve cramps immediately!

Nothing special about this. It's the potassium in the salt substitute. If your potassium levels are low, the salt substitute may help.

_________________
MaskHumidifier
Image

User avatar
deerslayer
Posts: 1193
Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:46 am
Location: Mid Tn

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by deerslayer » Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:45 am

One other thing i forgot to mention is ---> if you are taking statins , which are nasty for causing cramps is to take a supplement such as Co Q 10 . i take it twice a day to avoid the daily torture. This remedy was told to me by my Primary Dr. & it has worked !
Also, like others have said staying hydrated is Key & to protect kidneys. ....I rode a couple hundred miles yesterday in 75-80 degree temps. one of us had a breakdown so i went too many hours without eating or drinking enough water & i paid for it later that evening...i will be better prepared next time !

_________________
MachineMask
Additional Comments: straight cpap 12.20 AHI avg.0.79
RESMED AUTOSET 10 / P 10 NASAL PILLOWS /straight cpap 12.20 / AHI 0.79 avg /
thanks to Nick sleep HQ
Feeling Blessed & firmly believe in The Holy Trinity 🙏

jaye8898
Posts: 199
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2014 6:48 pm
Location: Washington State

Re: CPap and Leg Cramps???

Post by jaye8898 » Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:29 pm

deerslayer wrote:One other thing i forgot to mention is ---> if you are taking statins , which are nasty for causing cramps is to take a supplement such as Co Q 10 . i take it twice a day to avoid the daily torture. This remedy was told to me by my Primary Dr. & it has worked !
Also, like others have said staying hydrated is Key & to protect kidneys. ....I rode a couple hundred miles yesterday in 75-80 degree temps. one of us had a breakdown so i went too many hours without eating or drinking enough water & i paid for it later that evening...i will be better prepared next time !
Did not know that....I do take Simvastatin.. I am impressed with your biking(?). I just started walking today.....nothing impressive but I feel really good about it.....the weather here is beautiful...no rain, sunshine, and in the 70s...do hope it does not get any warmer, though! I tend to look at the 10 day forecast looking forward to the rain coming back.... yes, I'm a little odd! Thank you!

_________________
MaskHumidifier
Additional Comments: Diabetes, Grave's Disease, Fibromyalgia, M Depression w/Anxiety, Asthma