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Question: Does low sugar, low sodium, or low potassium cause muscle "spasms", pain?

(Posted by: Bo P on 2008-10-31 13:04:29)

I get these muscle spasms where its like my whole body seizes up, and i just want to cry in pain, sometimes its sudden, i get grouchy, then suddenly really tired, then the unbearable muscle pain starts all thru my back n everywhere, my arms feel heavy etc. nothing helps, ie no meds, or anything except sometimes drinking electrolytes or booze with sugar in it (not just simple sugar, nor booze without sugar in it do NOT help) so im thinking it has something to do with the sugar and sodium or potassium channels, (does booze effect sodium or potassium levels? i know its a diuretic so that perhaps the sodium/ potassium gets concentrated in my blood so the levels are raised? as well as its muscle relaxant properties of course..) im guessing its sodium channels as when i took meds that inadvertently caused hyponatremia when the dose changed the muscle spasms started again. once when the dose changed suddenly, i had literally had to drink 7 litres of electrolytes at once to stop this "episode " wtf is going on? any ideas? DONT EVEN BOTHER TO ANSWER IF YOU SAY GO TO A DOCTOR.. ive been to soo many doctors and they are absolute CRAP and say its cuz "im getting old " (in 30s) or its stress (OH, does electrolytes suddenly stop stress then??) or i had to drink 7 litres of electrolytes once to stop muscle spasms "cuz it was warm outside " (its the UK not the bleeding Sahara) . this is NOT due to dehydration, as sugary BOOZE (which dehydrates) helps it too instead of electrolytes, and for some reason with booze i dont need extra sodium or potassium . however straight sugar, like juice, or choc bar will not stop the pain. i have been reported to have low potassium before, when i was in hospital and they wouldnt let me eat what i wanted. so i got imbalanced and the nimwits made me drink it instead.

Posted by: DEBRA O on 2008-10-31, 13:14:30

MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO GET A LOT OF LEG CRAMPS, THE DOCTOR TOLD HER TO EAT A BANANA AND 1 GLASS OF ORANGE JUICE DAILY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT WAS DUE TO A POTASSIUM DEFICIENCYY, SO EAT UP!

Posted by: happypappy on 2008-10-31, 13:09:13

I've had spasms from low potassium. but i would your doctor needs to check you out and find the reason.

Posted by: babbalabbadingdong on 2008-10-31, 13:51:24

You are so not looking after yourself at the moment and this is the outcome. Eat properly, sleep well, smoke less (or try to do all three) and I'm sure you'll feel better. Look, don't argue. Just bludy do it woman!!!!!

Posted by: big al on 2008-10-31, 14:40:44

I'm type 1 diabetic on 3 x novorapid and 1 x solostar through the day & i get these extreme pains only when i miss my solo star ( don't try to miss but fall asleep in front of tv ) the pain is mostly down the left side & mainly in my arms, i also feel my breathing pattern change as if i'm having a stroke ( never had a stroke, but this must be what it's like ) it only lasts for about ten mins but there is no way to stop. Been to Doc on a couple of occasions who check me out & everything normal. The only thing that has happened to me in the last two years is that i tore my left chest, arm & shoulder muscles badly and i don't think they have gone back right, also very gastric lately & honest to God mate the wind i get only up top around chest area is killing me, cannot breathe sometimes amazingly only in evening when relaxing. Now on deflatine, ibuprofen, paracetamol, little bit better. Hope this is a help.

Posted by: annou on 2008-10-31, 14:54:13

I can relate as I am having the same problems. I have been experiencing these twitches for a few months now but in the past few weeks they have got really bad. At the moment every three seconds I'll feel a twitch or a jolt of pain somewhere in my body and sometimes the twitches go into a full blown spasm which can last for days. They have a habit of waking me up in the middle of the night so I am exhausted. The other symptoms I have been experiencing is sweating due to the activity of my muscles, severe moodiness and headaches. Went to the doctor who said they were called 'fasciculations' (which I am sure you know) but generally she said they were due to an imbalance and treatabe unless its due to a neurlogical disease. They took blood to check my magnesium, potassium and sodium levels and I'll only get the results on monday. I didn't quite feel like the doctor was too sure about the whole thing as I have been referred to a neurologist. So I have been doing some research of my own and from what I understand, if its due to an imbalance which is generally caused by a little bit of stress and fatique over a long haul and a moment of dehydration which is the catalyst to kickstart the whole thing. Constant stress can deplete the body of magnesium which in turn affects your absorbtion of potasium and sodium. Without magnesium, taking the latter is fruitless. I think the situation becomes a viscous cycle because the spasm just tire you even more and the whole thing has been quite stressful. The doctor advised not to drink coffee or take any other stimulants and it has helped a bit. Maybe thats why the boose helps as its a relaxant. Maybe the sugar thing doesn't have anything to do with the equation. I have also found that sex helped too. I tried doing exercise to distracted me from the twitches but it hurt to move my body and it was worse afterwards. Anyway some other causes of Fascicilations are: Lower motor neuron lesions Werdnig-Hoffman disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (rare) Kennedy disease Organophosphate poisoning Benzodiazepine withdrawal Magnesium deficiency (which can be caused by stress) Multiple sclerosis Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Dehydration Fatigue I really hope they get to the bottom of it. If you find out anything interesting, please let me know!

Posted by: Matthew B on 2008-10-31, 15:14:40

You've got to take more care of yourself dear,if i were there i would make sure you had some decent grub and a good nights rest,lord knows you need it.hugs.