Just a charlie horse?

I got up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Suddenly I got the most horrible cramp in the front of my leg, wrapped around to the back and even my foot! I could barely put weight on it (usually I jump up and down with such cramps!). I hobbled back to bed where my husband rubbed it and it was okay after that. But ouch!

Is that any bad side effect of prednisone? I thought I remembe reading something about muscles.... Either that I might be low on potasium again. That's happened in the past, and got better when I started adding a lot of it back in to my diet. With all the D lately, that's a real possibility. Just seeing what you guys thought?

Oh no Nanners, they are so not fun. Did you mention them to your doctor? Just wondering if it's not a big deal (as in just another awful side effect)? Or if it means something more serious?

Started the day off with a little more formed bowel movement (not great but better then watery), however. So things are improving for me, at least in that department!

I've always gotten crazy charlie horses in my legs, my feet, my back and my intestines when I go. I've been on pred before but not now- maybe they're an IBD thing not necessarily a pred thing?

Hi Jen Put your foot on a cool floor as soon as you feel one of them coming on, it helps get them to stop cramping before it gets too bad. lol gail

Thanks for all that wonderful info Ingrid_Norway. I've been eating lots of bananas and potatoes the last few days and haven't had anymore cramps. So I'm guessing that's what was going on. I've had problems with potassium levels in the past too. So it shouldn't surprise me! Thanks again!

Well I'm hoping the increase in potassium helps, but if they continue I'll be blaming the pred as well! My fingers are crossed though, that was a painful bugger!

I don't know why it gets worse on prednisone, but cramping in general is from low magnesium.

All a blood test will show is the level in your bloodstream, but what you need to know is the level in your cells.  In other words, you can have low magnesium and it won't show in your bloodwork.

unfortunately, D is a side effect of too much magnesium or a bad form of it.

above all, don't take magnesium oxide, it has a potent laxative effect.  this is the one doctors prescribe.

mg aspartate, citrate, maleate, glycinate, these are all good forms.  you can get it as a supplement.

I get WICKED foot cramps. I am not on steroids. I do have low calcium though and saw that muscle cramps can be a side effect.

I get leg cramps and never attributed it to crohn's or calcium. However, it didn't start till crohn's and my lactose intolerance. Hmmmm. It wakes me up at night. I will start taking calcium. Worth a try.