Q: My 80-year-old friend is very healthy, swims 40 laps in the pool every day but has such terrible leg and hand cramps, she hasn’t had a full nights sleep in years. She takes 1000 mg calcium daily but not vitamin D. She says she gets all she needs from the sun. Her skin is brown like saddle leather. Please help me.
A: Your friend should probably be on a vitamin D supplement. Those over 65 may not get adequate amounts from their diets or enough sunlight exposure. Individuals with darker skin also do not absorb as much sunlight into the skin and the body’s production of vitamin D may be reduced.
If she has osteopenia or osteoporosis (which is likely given her age) she should likely be taking 1000 – 1500 mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D daily and, depending on the severity of the bone loss, an anti-osteoporosis medication. Her swimming is an excellent exercise, but the addition of light weights may be beneficial.
There are many causes, both minor and serious for muscle cramps such as arthritis, certain vitamin or mineral deficiencies (including vitamin D), a medication side effect, restless leg syndrome, and much more. In my opinion, your friend should seek the advice of her physician regarding her cramping particularly since they are interrupting her sleep and have been going on for years.
I suggest your friend also take a good look at what she consumes daily, including foods, beverages, supplements, and medications. Do the cramps occur every day? Are they worse following certain activities or consumption of specific foodstuff or medication? Does anything reduce the severity or eliminate the cramping? If she can find a pattern, it may be helpful to the physician in making a diagnosis.
In the meantime, she can try stretching out her legs and hands thoroughly before retiring or whenever she feels the beginnings of a cramp. She can try drinking a glass of tonic water each night, which contains a very small amount of quinine. She can also try soap-under-the-sheets. She can best achieve the effects by grating the soap directly onto the mattress before placing on the bottom sheet so that her entire body is exposed to the soap rather than placing a bar near the legs. Potassium and magnesium are also known to help alleviate the discomfort.
Readers who are interested in learning more can order Dr. Gott’s Health Reports “Vitamins and Minerals” and “Osteoporosis” by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 (for each report) US check or money order to Peter H. Gott, MD Health Reports, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form from www.AskDrGottMD.com.
