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I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
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VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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Why are her feet, legs, and thighs cramping every night? Has she seen her Dr.? The elderly are prone to dehydration and dehydration can cause muscle cramps. Is she drinking enough water?
Jjkokua, does the cramping happen at night when your Mom lies down? Just wondering.
I have a similar issues with my legs and hips hurting at night, but when I stand up it goes away. Thus, for me, it is probably a back issue. I am able to take an over-the-counter pain pill and that does help [Aleve]. Otherwise, I would wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep. I have found watching TV helps me keep my mind off of it.
There are many reasons for cramping of the legs. The most serious is peripheral vascular disease. The least serious is cold muscles. Other things could be dehydration or electrolyte imbalance. If you think it could be vascular disease, check with her doctor. Sometimes a simple operation can make things better. Also have the doctor check her electrolyte level. If you think her legs are getting chilly at night, try an extra blanket folded over her legs when she sleeps. I have to do this myself because I get calf cramps in the morning if my legs are cold. Hurts!
How are they eating? A common problem with elderly is malnutrition. Give her foods high in potassium. Such as bananas, avocado, and nuts. Peanuts and almonds especially.
Jessebelle is right: It could be an electrolyte imbalance. Sometimes caused by a build up of lactic acid in the over-exerted muscle of atheletes. Or depletion of minerals due to medications, especially pain meds. Loss of muscle mass, or so many things only a doctor could diagnose. KayKay is also right about the foods to replace potassium. Try magnesium and Vit. D in therapeutic doses, but see a doctor.
I'd check with her doctor of course, to see if any of the things listed above. Sometimes, seniors are not drinking as many fluids as they think they are.
I know that my mom gets cramps in her feet and legs a lot at night and it seems to be worse when she is not wrapped up warmly or there is cold air or a fan running. She improves with turning off the fan and covering her legs and feet with a blanket as JesseBell suggested.
The cure for a sudden cramping of the toes, feet, calf, is to jump up and walk it out if at all possible. The idea is to stretch the cramping muscle the opposite way.
Just last night, my big toe did a major turn down, it surprised me-and it hurt so bad-but it also stayed that way! I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I couldn't get up to walk, so I reached down to pull it back, then massage.
Owie, owie, owie...then water, banana, apply heat, lie back flat and stretch....avoid turning foot down or pointed. Turns out I skipped a dose of magnesium and vit. D.
Oh my, feet/toe cramps are awful. Sometimes I get them when I drive...big owie! I can watch my toes move too and get stuck in a weird position. Gonna take everyone's advice
I'm 62, in good shape, exercise, drink lots of water but a year ago was plagued with leg and toe cramps every single night. My husband suggested putting a pillow under my legs at night or between my legs which is what he does for his bad back. My leg cramps went away first night and have been sleeping this way ever since.
My husband suffers from leg cramps. His doctor told him to chew two Tums when the cramp hits. My hubby swears by it and has a huge bottle on his nightstand. I've also read eating two Tums an hour before bed works as a preventive measure. Supposedly Tums works when the issue is related to a calcium magnesium deficiency.
I've also read that eating a couple spoonfuls of yellow mustard or drinking 1-2 ozs. of pickle juice both work to stop cramping in about 85 seconds. Again - a magnesium issue. Personally, I'd rather do the Tums.
Cramps in legs and feet are often cause by a deficiency in Magnesium. I too have these problems and it causes Restless leg syndrome at night. Since I have been taking 500mg of magnesium each night before bed it has alleviated the symptoms for me and I do not have to take Aleve or Ibuprofen at night any longer.
I would haul her butt to the doctor to check for nutritional defancies, dehydration or maybe an electrolyte imbalance. If she protests, ask her if she wants to be in pain. If she doesn't want to be in pain, she must go to the doctor.
Poor circulation, calcium and magnesium deficiency, low ferritin (iron may normal but ferritin is still low). She needs bloodwork to evaluate what's going on. Make sure to tell the doctor to add on the ferritin test as this test isn't on the standard lab order. I suffered pain/severe cramping/Restless Leg Syndrome at bedtime. My ferritin was 7. Normal starts at 40. After a few weeks of taking a ferritin supplement, all leg symptoms stopped.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Have you tried massaging her legs?
This sounds like a frustrating problem.
I have a similar issues with my legs and hips hurting at night, but when I stand up it goes away. Thus, for me, it is probably a back issue. I am able to take an over-the-counter pain pill and that does help [Aleve]. Otherwise, I would wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep. I have found watching TV helps me keep my mind off of it.
But feet, legs and thighs, all of them... How's your mother's back, I wonder? Is there anything else going on?
Sometimes caused by a build up of lactic acid in the over-exerted muscle of atheletes. Or depletion of minerals due to medications, especially pain meds. Loss of muscle mass, or so many things only a doctor could diagnose.
KayKay is also right about the foods to replace potassium.
Try magnesium and Vit. D in therapeutic doses, but see a doctor.
Is she sleeping too much during the day?
I know that my mom gets cramps in her feet and legs a lot at night and it seems to be worse when she is not wrapped up warmly or there is cold air or a fan running. She improves with turning off the fan and covering her legs and feet with a blanket as JesseBell suggested.
Just last night, my big toe did a major turn down, it surprised me-and it hurt so bad-but it also stayed that way! I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
I couldn't get up to walk, so I reached down to pull it back, then massage.
Owie, owie, owie...then water, banana, apply heat, lie back flat and stretch....avoid turning foot down or pointed. Turns out I skipped a dose of magnesium and vit. D.
Gonna take everyone's advice
I've also read that eating a couple spoonfuls of yellow mustard or drinking 1-2 ozs. of pickle juice both work to stop cramping in about 85 seconds. Again - a magnesium issue. Personally, I'd rather do the Tums.