b is for books - and vitamins

A while back, I was having the most painful leg cramps. They were horrid. Whenever a spasm hit, I basically had to stop whatever I was doing, grab that leg and try to massage or move it about to ease the pain, and moan "oh, oh, oh .." That was all I could do. All of which is fine if one is at home. Not so fine if one is out - in public.

I had a vague recollection of reading somewhere that leg cramps could be caused by a vitamin deficiency, but I couldn't get motivated enough to investigate. Well .. I was motivated enough when the pain hit - except otherwise occupied. When the pain was gone, so was the motivation. (Because pulling a book out of the bookshelf and thumbing through the index is awfully hard work.)

When I did look it up, it noted that leg cramps could be a symptom of a vitamin B6 deficiency. Conveniently enough, I had a bottle of B6 gathering dust in the cupboard. I took a few pills that evening. The next day, no cramps. For a week, no cramps. I just realized that I am starting to get twinges again. Guess what .. I haven't been taking my vitamins.

Sometimes these things happen and I wonder .. is this all in my mind? I mean, would a half day's worth of B6 really make a difference? But then I realize that I really don't care. Whatever works, I say!

Oh! I did have another cool thing that happened though. I was lying in bed one night when a spasm started. I was thinking about yoga at the time and decided to try to breathe into the pain. I breathed .. and just let the spasm be instead of consciously resisting it .. and I did not feel that same urge to do whatever it took to make the spasm stop. The sensation in my leg was still the same, but it was like I only noticed the sensation itself, not the pain that typically went with it. It was fascinating. But then I started taking the vitamins so I was unable to investigate further. Next time.

Comments

[Toni]

It's kinda like Lamaze breathing through the pain when you are having a baby - it does work. You could also be dehydrated or have a potassium deficiency. Try drinking more fluids and eating more bananas or potatoes. (I'm just doing my part for the potato industry.) =)

Also, I just read a thing about acupressure - apply pressure to the area between your nose and your lip while you are having a cramp. I don't know if it will work or not, haven't tried that. I used to get leg cramps if I pointed my toes when stretching before getting out of bed when I was pregnant and when I started flexing my foot when stretching the leg cramps stopped.

I'll have to remember the B6.

[elizabeth @ the blue lotus]

@toni: help! it's the potato spammer! tee-hee. thank you for the suggestions! i bought potatoes and bananas both. i like the acupressure idea - except i don't know if i could remember it in the moment. "pain in leg! aiyyeeeee! must rub between nose and lip." is not intuitive. ;)