I used to get really bad muscle cramps in my calves and feet at night. My toes would even curl and I couldn’t straighten them out without using my hands. It was really so painful. I was given a medication that was supposed to help stop cramping but it sure was t working for me. I then read that a calcium deficiency can cause muscle cramps! I was taking a calcium supplement but I started taking 2 a day. I take one maximum strength Citracal with vitamin D3 in the morning and another one in the evening. The cramps have completely gone away.
It is my understanding that as we age we don’t absorb nutrients as well. So this could account for the need to have more calcium. There is blood work they can take to check your calcium levels. Even though I take 2 maximum strength Citracal with D3 tablets, my calcium blood work shows I’m right in the middle of where I should be! So do check it out.
I also use Citracal because the body recognizes it as food so it’s absorbed pretty easily. Caltrate is made from shells so I understand the body doesn’t recognize it as food as easily. Also, calcium needs the vitamin D3 to help be absorbed. I personally take 5,500 IU of D3 a day and the blood work also shows my D levels to be in an excellent range. I like to take supplements to help me so I can avoid as much medication as possible.
Sherrine
Forum Moderator/Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia, Crohn's Disease, Ostomy, Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Glaucoma, Scoliosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis
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God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Great info, I think also I have the same effect on back pain, when taking calcium the pain sometimes go away..✌️
MooseSafari, you gave good information also! I had never heard of calcium possibly helping with inflammation so I looked it up. It looks like calcium citrate, which is what Citracal is, can possibly help with inflammation! This is what I found out.
“Calcium citrate has been shown to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated macrophages. It can also reduce the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, further contributing to its anti-inflammatory effects.”
So, thank you for telling us about your experience! This could help others.
Sherrine
Forum Moderator/Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia, Crohn's Disease, Ostomy, Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Glaucoma, Scoliosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis
************************
God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
“Calcium citrate has been shown to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated macrophages. It can also reduce the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, further contributing to its anti-inflammatory effects.”
So, thank you for telling us about your experience! This could help others.
Sherrine
Forum Moderator/Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia, Crohn's Disease, Ostomy, Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Glaucoma, Scoliosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis
************************
God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Post Edited (Sherrine) : 6/8/2025 8:14:16 AM (GMT-4)
I get cramps in my hands & fingers caused by Dupuytren’s disease and ankles and toes due to Ledderhose disease. Heat treatments help by using gel microwaveable heat pads with velcro straps to wrap around the area and to lesson pain by relaxing cords from wrists to fingers and ankles to toes. Also collagenase treatment injections used to shrink the build up and enlargement of nodes on the cords of hands and feet.
Even hot wax spa treatments help relax and relieve pain. My hands left untreated they had curled up in the past like a fist and cannot be opened. It’s important to remember that surgery on these cords only causes the disease to become more active . Surgery is never the first or last answer for Dupuytren’s syndrome or Ledderhose.
Some treatment options also include radiotherapy, specifically with low-energy X-rays, can be an effective treatment for early-stage Dupuytren's contracture . Management techniques are regulated by different stages of this disease including if the fingers are contracted to the palm.
I always think ahead using mindfulness before activities to protect my hands and feet from further damage from injury or over use. It’s likely that I have developed a recording in my head managing each step and cognitive of each movement developed to enhance my understanding and my physical abilities without falling . Falling is the number one injury that most elderly never return back to original health or worse.
If there are nodes on hands and fingers and feet and arches and toes then there could be a possibility it could be manages by a hand and foot specialist familiar with the treatment of Dupuytren’s and Lederhosen disease.
Even hot wax spa treatments help relax and relieve pain. My hands left untreated they had curled up in the past like a fist and cannot be opened. It’s important to remember that surgery on these cords only causes the disease to become more active . Surgery is never the first or last answer for Dupuytren’s syndrome or Ledderhose.
Some treatment options also include radiotherapy, specifically with low-energy X-rays, can be an effective treatment for early-stage Dupuytren's contracture . Management techniques are regulated by different stages of this disease including if the fingers are contracted to the palm.
I always think ahead using mindfulness before activities to protect my hands and feet from further damage from injury or over use. It’s likely that I have developed a recording in my head managing each step and cognitive of each movement developed to enhance my understanding and my physical abilities without falling . Falling is the number one injury that most elderly never return back to original health or worse.
If there are nodes on hands and fingers and feet and arches and toes then there could be a possibility it could be manages by a hand and foot specialist familiar with the treatment of Dupuytren’s and Lederhosen disease.
Post Edited (Chotti) : 7/30/2025 1:16:08 AM (GMT-4)