Cramps [muscle]

[Waz1]

In my other life (before cpap) I used to get bad cramps most nights was taking magnesium but still suffering but have not had them since beginning the masked life. I have read the thread about less toilet breaks and have benefited from that but have not seen anyone cured of night cramps.

[PaulaO2]

Every time you have an obstructive apnea event, your body tenses. Your chest strains, your arms and legs may twitch, etc. all in an effort to wake you up to breathe. So, yeah, muscle cramps can happen. Now that you are on CPAP, the body isn't undergoing such exercise every night and the cramps are decreasing.

[trish6hundred]

Hi Waz1,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
It's good to hear your leg cramps have cleared up.
Good luck with CPAP therapy.

[mattm1]

i had similar issue! and i took magnesium, and did massage, tried to stretch, no good!

it was pretty rough tbh, it was a big issue when i would go to the gym. it got to the point where i couldnt use any heavy weight because it would cause things to get so tight and uncomfortable. i thought i was just getting a bit older and my body wasnt built for that-depressing at early 30's

i went to a physiotherapist and he said hed never seen someone with muscles as tight as mine. it would sometimes feel even worse after i stretched! it was a real bummer, caused much discomfort.

my muscles dont feel like that much anymore thankfully!

[HalfAsleep]

I have experimented quite a bit with hot or cold packs to keep muscles relaxed, especially if I’m having trouble sleeping.

Could you be dehydrated? This could definitely give you bad cramps.

Also, some sleep positions can give you bad cramps. I had to go to the ER with a cramp like a charley horse behind my shoulder blade, with nerve damage from the back to the finger tips. This went on for hours. Absolutely, pass out excruciating. The ERs response? “This is not good. Not good at all.” They eventually used IV valium to dissolve the cramp, but the nerve damage is permanent. It took them a while to figure out what to do, because they couldn’t access that spot; they had to rely on my assessment for the diagnosis. This all came about because I momentarily rolled onto my side while sleeping. I basically folded in half down the middle.

For leg cramps, also try using a pillow between or under the legs. For back and neck, make sure your head doesn’t dip. Try pillows under your elbows....

I now sleep with my elbows on pillows and my arms in a W position. It relaxes my back, and opens my lungs.

Try everything!