Lower leg/calf cramps pre-op

AdRoc · September 19, 2012, 04:16:51 PM

Hi,

For the past couple of months, I have been experiencing some fairly intense lower leg/calf cramps on my soon-to-be surface-hippied left side. They mainly hit at night when I am in bed, and have more than once woken me up.

Has anyone else experienced this? And are the cramps indicative of something more serious going on? With less than 3 weeks before surgery, I want to make sure I have a handle on this.

Any advice or feedback would be helpful.

Thanks!

AdRoc
L BHR with Dr. Pritchett scheduled for 9 October 2012

imgetinold · September 19, 2012, 04:34:12 PM

I had referred knee pain quite often, but not cramps.

I would think that cramping is more related to overuse, poor stretching, or possibly your diet (low potassium?). I am certainly no MD, so that's where I'd go for answers. I'm sure if you call your soon-to-be surgeon, they can advise you.

Mike D · September 19, 2012, 04:35:33 PM

AdRoc,
I had that for about 6 months prior to surgery, sometimes it got so bad at night it almost brought tears!
A couple of times it just wouldn't go and gripped my whole leg. Even on the night before my surgery I was up twice nearly crying!
The good news is that in the 6 weeks since surgery, I've not had the slightest twinge.
I wondered if it was because of the blood thinning injections post-op, but it's just my theory.

Tin Soldier · September 19, 2012, 04:40:29 PM

Another Pritchett hippy (to be). :) I bet it's just pain and cramping from the way you walk, a limp?, increased degeneration of the hip?, and probably nothing more serious than that. A lot of folks mention pain or even numbness in the lower part of the leg and it goes away after HR and the readjustment period (few weeks to a couple months). I had some odd pain and numbness in the lower part of both legs before surgery and it all went away from surgery. Not really cramps, but I think that woul dbe easy to get with decreased ROM and maybe low potassium as Imgetin pointed out.

There were a few weeks of what felt like my muscles readjusting to the new joint, but that goes away with time and PT. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask Susan/Pritchett, but I don't think it's anything to worry about.