Myasthenia Gravis News Community Forums Healthcare and Treatments Do you get leg and foot cramps throughout the night?

  • Do you get leg and foot cramps throughout the night?

    Posted by MG Community Member on February 5, 2025 at 7:15 am

    Do you experience leg and foot cramps at night? Does it occur every night? Do particular things worsen it?

     

    Many individuals with MG experience cramps, particularly in their legs and feet, especially at night. I am one of these individuals. It can be tricky to pinpoint their exact cause. Still, they can be attributed to several factors, including overexertion and muscle weakness during the day, which can lead to muscle fatigue, which might result in cramps at night. Low levels of potassium can contribute to cramping. Some medications used in the management of MG can cause muscle cramps as a side effect. Dehydration can worsen cramps, particularly during sleep.

    MG Community Member replied 2 days, 12 hours ago 9 Members · 8 Replies
  • 8 Replies
  • MG Community Member

    Member
    March 15, 2026 at 3:20 pm

    I have experienced severe cramps in my calf and shin on many occasions since being diagnosed over 10 years ago, especially if I walk for more than about 10-15 minutes in the evening , then I would wake up with severe cramps in the middle of the night.

    More recently I’ve started to experience a lot of painful cramps in my abdominal muscles, just under my ribcage, but am not certain if this is MG related – perhaps other have experienced similar?

  • MG Community Member

    Member
    March 20, 2026 at 4:50 pm

    I do get leg muscle spasms usually frequent after Pheresis

  • MG Community Member

    Member
    April 8, 2026 at 4:04 pm

    I had severe leg cramps in thighs, calves and ankles. Working with my neurologist, I stopped taking pyridostigmine bromide. It took a couple months but they have all subsided. I occasionally get thigh cramps sitting too long on a hard chair, but the overnight cramping is gone

  • MG Community Member

    Member
    April 9, 2026 at 10:43 am

    I still get them occasionally, and have to walk around a few minutes to relieve the pain. But they are rare if I don’t take pyridostigmine after about 3:00 pm.

  • MG Community Member

    Member
    April 10, 2026 at 10:43 am

    For me too it disappears as soon as I stop mestinon, and it was way worse with Mytelas

    My doctor told me it happens when it’s overdosed

  • MG Community Member

    Member
    April 10, 2026 at 5:38 pm

    I have had leg, feet, toe cramps, mostly in the evening fr as long as I can remember. But I believe I have had MG since I was in my teens, though I was only diagnosed 15 months ago. Recently, I have been awakened by cramps and have to get out of bed until they subside.

  • MG Community Member

    Member
    April 11, 2026 at 1:53 pm

    I’m fortunate to have a mild version of MG, but I do have leg cramping – mostly at night. I’m on 240mg of Mestinon a day (not sure if that’s considered a high dose), but hesitate to change it since it fixed all my other symptoms.

  • MG Community Member

    Member
    April 15, 2026 at 7:03 pm

    Yes absolutely! I am having them now as we speak😆. My potassium stays consistently low and it’s always a first sign that I need a big dose even though O take 40 Meqs daily. I have learned from all of you that I am not the only one who goes through this. When my potassium is good the cramps go away.

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