Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Muscle Cramps In Arms And Hands At Night?
Question: Am having a couple different kinds of cramps: in calves 3 to 6 times per night while sleeping, have to stand to make them go away. Arms and hands also cramp at night.
The last couple of days have been having abdominal cramps in the daytime.
this has been happening for years and appears to be worsening
I have been taking vitamins, eating bananas, drinking lots of liquids
muscle relaxers work for about 4 hours, sometimes less, but I don't like the way they make me feel.
It never seems to go away. Please tell me what can I do to make the cramps stop
Thanks
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
The last couple of days have been having abdominal cramps in the daytime.
this has been happening for years and appears to be worsening
I have been taking vitamins, eating bananas, drinking lots of liquids
muscle relaxers work for about 4 hours, sometimes less, but I don't like the way they make me feel.
It never seems to go away. Please tell me what can I do to make the cramps stop
Thanks
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Need some more investigations.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX! Good morning. I am Dr Shareef answering your query.
Presuming that you do not have any other pre-existing disease like Diabetes, or Hypertension, in case of I being your doctor, would have advised you for a routine blood test like CBC, ESR, Blood sugar, Blood Urea and serum creatinine, serum calcium, serum parathyroid hormone estimation, serum sodium and potassium estimation and also a Thyroid function test.
Till the reports arrive, I would advise you for the following remedies:
1) Enough liquids along with your diet, with some amount of lemon juice and a bit of salt in it.
2) Go for a regular timed light exercise of your legs including the heel muscles depending on your medical fitness
3) I would prescibe a dose of Vitmin E 400 mg once a day, which not infrequently is seen to give miraculous response to cramps in the legs.
4) Some kind of mild anti inflammatory drug for a symptomatic relief.
5) You can continue to be on the same diet what you are already on.
Further management would largely depend on the reports of investigations.
I hope this information would help you in discussing with your family physician/treating doctor in further management of your problem. Please do not hesitate to ask in case of any further doubts.
Thanks for choosing health care magic to clear doubts on your health problems. I wish you an early recovery. Dr Shareef.
Need some more investigations.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX! Good morning. I am Dr Shareef answering your query.
Presuming that you do not have any other pre-existing disease like Diabetes, or Hypertension, in case of I being your doctor, would have advised you for a routine blood test like CBC, ESR, Blood sugar, Blood Urea and serum creatinine, serum calcium, serum parathyroid hormone estimation, serum sodium and potassium estimation and also a Thyroid function test.
Till the reports arrive, I would advise you for the following remedies:
1) Enough liquids along with your diet, with some amount of lemon juice and a bit of salt in it.
2) Go for a regular timed light exercise of your legs including the heel muscles depending on your medical fitness
3) I would prescibe a dose of Vitmin E 400 mg once a day, which not infrequently is seen to give miraculous response to cramps in the legs.
4) Some kind of mild anti inflammatory drug for a symptomatic relief.
5) You can continue to be on the same diet what you are already on.
Further management would largely depend on the reports of investigations.
I hope this information would help you in discussing with your family physician/treating doctor in further management of your problem. Please do not hesitate to ask in case of any further doubts.
Thanks for choosing health care magic to clear doubts on your health problems. I wish you an early recovery. Dr Shareef.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
