Re: magnesium if supplementing daily, should we be taking calcium along with it as to keep a good balance ?
Mrs D this one may be for you. Thanks

People taking Vit D to improve blood levels, typically don't need
calcium supplements much. Vit D will improve calcium absorption from food.

But for people taking acid blocking drugs every day, some calcium may be needed...these drugs block absorption of both magnesium AND calcium.

Up to 70% of people can be low in magnesium alone! This is from taking some drugs, diabetes, or poor dietary intake.

A couple years ago I was experiencing little cramps in the top of my left calf, my DR prescribed Nortriptyline which knocked that right out- only took it for a couple weeks.

I take two Mag64s a day, and it's cut back on my twitching tremendously. Mag64 is the generic version of SlowMag which is rather pricey. I just get the five-pack.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...keywords=mag64

I ran into a problem with muscle cramping when I stopped dairy for awhile. I'm now taking vitamin D and making sure I get enough calcium from food or supplementing on an off day. The Mag64 also supplies 224mg of Ca in two tablets.

Thanks for that info. I have been using way too much Epsom Salts in my bath. Curious why not in hot water? Before all this I loved Epson Salts HOT baths. Now hot water triggers my symptoms so it's lukewarm for me. Glad to know I shouldn't be doing it since I can't!

Hi Kazzar1958
I had twitches for a time in my upper arm. They were not painful but lasted for a few hours and then came back again for about a week. They haven't been back for awhile but that doesn't mean they won't. My neurologist told me they were BFS.

Since the onset of my symptoms I have had them in my calves. They would keep me up every night. I still get them some nights but they are much milder. Some things that have helped me:

Slow mag 2 times a day
Morton's Epsom Salt lotion
10's machine
banana or coconut water
Gabapentin (I think it has helped with the twitches but I am not pushing this drug. I'm planning to try getting off it soon.)

Hi Kazzar,

I had the whole body twitching/cramping at the onset of my PN. And went through that same ALS paranoia. I completely understand. But it is one of the seemingly less known symptoms of SFN. And unfortunately, the more you obsess about it, the worse it gets. That is a big reason why I always say that stress reduction is one of the key components to dealing with PN. (Here I'm talking like a long timer, but I've only had this for 15 months now )

Ultimately, I think going through the ALS paranoia was a good thing for me. It made me re-examine every priority in my life. I have had life-long issues with anxiety, but after going through that, I've rarely been bothered by anxiety.

You didn't say if you were taking any medications for your PN. I found that taking gabapentin drastically reduced the twitching/cramping. But it seems like everyone has a different experience with gabapentin, so it may not work the same for you.

Interested in the twitching, my leg, my arm,my thumb and first finger, my knee, over the past weeks I've been ticking and you can clearly see the muscles almost pulsing.
I've been having a really hard time eating for the past week or so.
Tummy twitching actually makes me nauseous and then I get cramps within two hours of eating, then what I've eaten has gone.
I found eating porridge for breakfast is ok if I take it slowly. I'm making soup for trying tomorrow lunch.
I presume the twitching is because of a lack of nutrients, which then makes it difficult to eat, which makes me twitch more.
I'm so tired. It's hard working when all I want to do I'd drink constantly.
Can someone suggest a multi vitamin thing or something that might help?
I'm in the city tomorrow for an MRI, Brain and complete spine. I can call into health shop whilst I'm there.

Blairzo:

We don't generally use the name "porridge" in the US, but I believe that is a wheat based hot cereal? Turning to a diet of mostly wheat may not be the best thing for you.

As for supplements, magnesium is one that can often help with twitching and cramping type conditions, but don't use the magnesium oxide form - that isn't absorbed very well. I use magnesium citrate, and there are several other forms as well.

Instead of your porridge, maybe you could try oatmeal. It's not quite as big of a carbohydrate hit, moderates your digestive function (eases constipation but also slows diarrhea), and contains quite a bit of magnesium which is also helpful.

I have been eating oatmeal most mornings for over a year now, and while it gets a bit boring, it seems to help a bit with my SFN, but I also have IBS and it helps a lot with that.

Hey Ragtop,

I don't know of Blairzo's particular recipe, but porridge is traditionally made with oats in the British Isles. And Tradition it is, the further north you go, the more deeply ingrained the love of porridge. My step children all grew up on it and my grandkids are following suit as Winter draws in.

Dave.