Nocturnal Calf Muscle Lock Up

Discussion in 'Driver Health' started by Dark Squall, Mar 4, 2015.

  1. Dark Squall

    Dark Squall Medium Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2013
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
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    I've had this since I became 16. They hit randomly but used to be rare.
    Lately these have intensified in the last month and now for about a month, my calves feel on edge all the time. At night they sometimes twitch.
    Wife is making an appointment. What I need to know, is this a career killer?
    Or is there a DOT approved medication I can take while asleep?
    I don't want to ask company safety first, on account our income is very Dependanton me.
     
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  3. Chewbongka

    Chewbongka Light Load Member

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    Feb 11, 2015
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    I use to get these cramps all the time.
    Could be a lack of potassium in your diet.
    I started eating more bananas or took a 99mg potassium pill and the cramps went away immediately.
     
  4. walstib

    walstib Darkstar

    Ask your doctor about getting an Arterial Doppler on your legs, it's painless and non-invasive, you just lay there...It will show if you're having reduced blood pressure and/or reduced flow in your legs which will lead to more cramping and SEVERELY PAINFUL ONES if not treated...I had one due to same issues, my lower blood pressure was 50% of what it should have been...Getting treatment now which I won't discuss, you'll have to ask your doctor...Insurance should cover it too!
     
  5. walstib

    walstib Darkstar

    Hmmm....

    Recently, scientists gave men no, one or two servings of bananas after they biked in the heat for an hour. They measured blood potassium and observed that when one serving (about 1.5 bananas<<really? who eats 1.5 bananas???) was ingested, their potassium level did not change for 60 minutes! When two servings were ingested (about 3 bananas), it took 30 minutes to see a change in blood potassium level. (1) The takeaway message: if you've got a muscle cramp, eating bananas is too slow to relieve it. You're better off stretching the muscle...

    Ask any professional athlete, there is no 100% way to prevent cramping muscles, even if you stretch them regularly...If it occurs too often, it's a circulatory issue you should have checked, especially if a driver...
     
  6. Dark Squall

    Dark Squall Medium Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2013
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
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    Arterial Doppler.
    Is the treatment surgical or pharmacological?
    If the latter, does it disqualify you from work?
     
  7. steaburn

    steaburn Bobtail Member

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    Oct 10, 2013
    Paris, TN
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    I don't think he meant eating the banana made a cramping leg stop cramping. I think he was referring to the fact that once he increased his potassium intake, the cramping issue went away.
     
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  8. V8ChopperJim

    V8ChopperJim Bobtail Member

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    Dec 10, 2013
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    Could be caused by Restless Leg Syndrome as well. Google it.
     
  9. Dark Squall

    Dark Squall Medium Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2013
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
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    That's a secondary fear I've had lately.
    Ever since two months ago, with my wife in that way, and having a calf seize, my calves have felt on edge.
    Its like, is this RLS or what currently triggering it?

    I've always had these calve muscle seizures since my teens, but this is different
     
  10. king Q

    king Q Road Train Member

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    Jul 26, 2010
    Johannesburg sa
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    I have twice had a similar experience developing.
    The first time after blood tests I was prescribed a magnesium/calcium supplement.
    Couple of days and all fixed up.

    The next time it was due to some sleeping tablets I was taking for about two weeks.
    Turns out I was suffering from sleep apnea and because of the turbo charged sleeping tablets I was going long periods with oxygen depletion to my lower legs.
    Scary stuff , now I wont touch a sleeping tablet.
     
  11. KANSAS TRANSIT

    KANSAS TRANSIT Road Train Member

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    Glasco,Ks.
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    Drink more water, less caffeine.
     
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