If thine muscle offends thee CUT IT OUT

[slemslempike]

My leg has been twitching for a week or so now, which is annoying in any case, but now it's starting to affect my sleep, and I am getting CROSS. The internet found me a list of possible causes (it also found me certain proof that I'm going to die from metal poisoning, but the list seemed more sensible), and the only ones that it might be are muscle strain (though I'm surely not active enough to have incurred a proper physical injury), and emotional stress or anxiety, which seems much more likely but is also something I can't really do anything about.

There isn't really any helpful information on how to STOP THE DAMN TWITCHING, but I wonder if it's just that no-one's tried stabbing the offending limb into submission? At the very least it would give me another sensation on which to focus.

Comments

[leedy.livejournal.com]

You could try taking a calcium/magnesium supplement before going to bed, that can work for twitches and cramps.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I may well try that. It would save on washing up.

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

I'm joining in to second this, as I have HORRIBLE problems with muscle twitches and restless leg syndrome, and although I am useless and haven't properly experimented with magnesium, lots of people have suggested I should.

(Next time, I shall stop drinking to excess and taking prescription painkillers and just try magnesium. And other such improbable promises.)

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I went to the local coop shop and they had magnesium supplements for £9, and I was so shocked I forgot to go anywhere else to see if it's cheaper.

[snowballjane.livejournal.com]

I suggest bananas and Deep Heat. Be sure to use them the right way around.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I would rather eat Deep Heat than bananas! But bananas are potassium? Maybe there is a supplement.

[lsugaralmond.livejournal.com]

As well as what leedy suggested, you might find salt helps. People who have bad muscle cramps often have a salt deficiency. Who knows, maybe it works for twitches too. Can't hurt to try just putting a bit of salt on your dinner.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I eat a lot of marmite, and I always thought that should cover my salt intake, but I could perhaps start having more CHIPS.

[irrtum.livejournal.com]

I've had that recently too (but always after or during exercise) and been told it's dehydration. I don't think it could possibly be as I drink so much, but worth bearing in mind I suppose.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I thought I drank quite a lot too, at least when I'm at university. I shall keep that up so that my leg doesn't fall off.

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

I thought I drank quite a lot too, at least when I'm at university.

You do, of course, know how this statement sounds...

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I hadn't until you said! Oops.

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

*g*

It must be the fact that I'm sitting here with my third a glass of wine...

[netgirl-y2k.livejournal.com]

That happened to me, and I was absolutely convinced that I was about to drop dead ANY SECOND NOW. Then someone suggested that I stop drinking caffeine and that stopped the worst of it.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

The internet said that too, but I haven't drunk any caffeine (apart from a swig of coke on Wednesday) for a year or so now. IF ANYONE SUGGESTS GIVING UP CHOCOLATE I WILL CUT OFF MY LEG AND THROW IT AT THEM.

[jekesta]

I have watched the episode of possibly Hornblower where someone has their leg amputated and immediately became ENTIRELY CONVINCED that in an emergency I could totally handle that. I am here if you need me.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I saw Master and Commander and all I'll have to do is take laudanum and bite down on a stick. Do we have laudanum?

[jekesta]

We have a LOT of port, won't that suffice?

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Probably I should just drink the port until the twitching no longer bothers me.

[anglaisepaon.livejournal.com]

Refer to your bible, you wee young heathen! "Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off and cast them from thee"

It does go on to suggest gouging out your eye, but nothing about legs. But I'm sure the spirit of self-massacre is generally all-encompassing.

[anglaisepaon.livejournal.com]

Oh. I've just noticed the title of this post. Erm. Still!

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Great minds, etc! Though actually I only know it from an episode of Cold Feet.