I have been having a funny pain in my left leg lately. It occurs either straight away when I go to bed, or in the morning before I wake up. I get it whenever I have had more than a minimum of calcium in my food.
Ten years ago, cancer treatment left me with maldigestion, and I have to take various supplements for that.
During a period when I had very little milk products, this also included calcium. Then I started having custard daily, and forgot to stop the calcium, so for quite a while I had too much of it.
This was when I developed the pains.
Having finally twigged that I was taking too much calcium, I stopped, of course. However, this is now three weeks ago, and I still get the pains. This does not seem to improve. Unless I have hardly any calcium in my food at all - which cannot be right, surely? Today I had cabbage, some bits of turnip and 3 spoonfuls of custard, which was apparently too much. Also I wonder why it is just my left leg?
Does it take that long for hypercalcemia (if that's the name) to disappear?
Thanks!
What about magnesium in your diet? What supplements are you taking? Is the custard home made?
Yes, the custard is home made, with organic custard powder and has no sugar in it, only soft fruit.
I do take magnesium - like so much else:100 + 150 mg/day. A surplus or shortage of magnesium gives me (leg) cramps, but this is definitely not a cramp. It is more a pain, and feels better for heat. I know there is an ideal balance of Mg and Ca but it's all so complicated!
I forgot to mention: I have a lazy (yang-deficient) right kidney, but that is a lot better than it was before.
I don't take any medicines, only supplements.
As well as magnesium I take at the moment: yeast, zinc, potassium, omega 3, vitamin E, all in more or less minimum sizes. Vitamin B12. Have been testing this out the last 10 years, it varies a bit with what I eat, and the seasonal veg.
Have you had your levels checked?
No. I've done it all myself.
Originally, after the cancer, I aired my complaints when I went for checkups, but they always said: "old age" or "psychological", or “try this medicine” - and then I went and bought a supplement which seemed indicated and it worked a treat. Not always, not always straight away, but I usually got there in the end. Learning a lot while I was at it.
So, now I just read up on things, research where any symptoms might come from, whether I have too much or too little of something, found mineral or vitamin supplements (and food of course!), and devised a way to live with all this happily. Only tiny little ups and downs, nothing gets too serious thank god.
I usually find out what things mean in the end. And have by now acquired a decent insight in how things work in me, on a practical level.
I can do this because I have the time and the interest, which not many have. I know!
After looking up the calcium-magnesium stuff, I will try have a bit more Mg tonight, see if that helps.
No. I've done it all myself.
I can relate to that. A consultant suggested a problem I had with cramp could be due to my calcium levels always being on the low side of normal. So calcium supplements are part of my routine . But I don't always take the dose he suggested because I am very aware of the risk of ever supplementation. Basically if I get cramp problems I take the supplement for a day or two...
but have had no calcium, high levels should have subsided by now. it should have subsided by now. My concern is that hypercalcaemia can be an indicator or problems with come cancers, If you DO have that kind of hypercalcaemia simply removing calcium from your diet won't work. You would need some medical treatment.
I really would suggest asking your gp for a blood test.
Thanks for that. I did see the cancer link.
I am now trying a bit more magnesium than I used to have. And also found a possible reason why I now need more: I used to take it with vitamin C in the morning, but this summer I had so much soft fruit that I stopped taking the vit C. And I read in my files today that Mg is better absorbed, if taken with vit C.
Last night, after taking more Mg, I did not get the pain. And tomorrow I'll have vit C again with the Mg, raspberries or not!
Often it is so simple once you found the answer. I'm not sure yet, but have high hopes. I eat and live so totally healthy now, am not stressed, generally contented: though you never know, cancer is not very likely for me, is it.
A pleasurable way to raise magnesium levels - Buy 5kg of magnesium chloride flakes. A desert spoon of salts can go in warm water for soaking feat in or add to bath water, or simply make a 2:1 solution mg, warm water solution and rub all over the body especially along kidneys. Leave it on for 20 minutes then shower. It does have an oily slippery feel to it. It also is a natural sun protection
Too much calcium depletes magnesium levels in body which is vital for numerous functions in the body.
A nice idea Jnani - but I'm afraid I'll stick to my tablets, it's simpler, and also more exact. It looks as if it was indeed lack of magnesium, due, mainly, to not taking vitamin C with it.
"Calcium excites nerves, while magnesium calms them down. Calcium makes muscles contract. Magnesium is necessary for muscles to relax." - a useful quotation, I find, from .