Tightness around knees

Jaded · Post by **Jaded** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:49 pm

Hi folks

I've been having this for a while, think it's the ms causing it as I have tried stretching etc.

Does anyone know what could help short of drugs...please? I am seeing my neuro soon but i'd rather resolve it with supplements or something less drastic.

Thanks

J.

prauly · Post by **prauly** » Wed Oct 06, 2010 5:25 pm

That is one of my common/regular symptoms. I definitely see a major flare up when I am under stress. Under normal circumstances, I have found relief with a product called 'Formula 303' (http://www.formula303.com/). Which, is an all natural muscle relaxer. When the stiffness is at its worst, I tend to take the max dose. I can't speak for you, but this product does not make me drowsy as compared to the meds that the Neuro gives me for the same symptom. My Neuro has given me something called Baclofen but it makes me QUITE drowsy and I feel as though I am in a fog. I find that the Formula 303 gives me a similar result, without the drowsiness. I will agree that the Baclofen seems to completely relieve the issue, while Formula 303 needs to be consumed throughout the day.

In addition, I have also seen a noticeable improvement since I have started drinking coconut water. Initially, I just sipped on coconut water throughout the day. Then, I started drinking GREEN drinks in the morning, as a coffee replacement, and I made those drinks witth coconut water rather than water. (3 cups spinach, 1 mango, 1 banana, 1 orange, 1 cup ice, 2 cups coconut water, 1 cup regular water -- in a blender that can emulsify, like a vita mix or health master). The coconut water is very high in potassium, which is known to help with muscle cramping. It also seems to give me a great energy boost. I have not had my green drink for 3 days.....and I have definitely been more sluggish in the morning!

Well, my apologies for blathering on, but when I saw your post I just had to respond!

Jaded · Post by **Jaded** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 12:57 pm

Hi prauly

Thank you so much. That's just the kind of thing I was after.

I would rather avoid the hard drugs!

Will let you know how I get on!

J.

Absentee · Post by **Absentee** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 3:54 pm

Magnesium is known to help with this too. Per another string on this board, I started taking Natural Calm, a powdered magnesium supplement. I think it helped me and now I take it every day. Looks like the other suggestion has some Mag in it too.

http://www.petergillham.com/wp/2009/11/natural-calm/

good luck!

swelves · Post by **swelves** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:31 am

I just avoided hot shower. I had tightness on my left knee this summer, so I could just keep the heater off. I felt better.

Jaded · Post by **Jaded** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 12:37 pm

Thanks guys.

Much appreciated.

J

Post by **jimmylegs** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 7:55 am

hi jaded,

yep stress does cause us to excrete minerals like magnesium that help muscles function properly.

also yes coconut water is high in potassium which is needed for nerve function. magnesium is needed to utilize potassium.

interesting abstract excerpt:
Magnesium, Potassium and Zinc Deficiency in Subjects with Type II Diabetes Mellitus
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3202015

Subjects with type II DM had lower concentrations of magnesium (3.79±0.32 vs. 4.29±0.22 mmol/100 g FFDS), potassium (40.5±5.17 vs. 46.1±3.81 mmol/100 g FFDS) and zinc (231±29 vs. 247±23 ng/mg FFDS) in skeletal muscle.

while i can't compare those skeletal muscle concentrations to serum numbers posted elsewhere, we can still see that the patients have lower levels than healthy controls.

ms patients are also lower in (serum) mag and zinc compared to healthy controls. i have not been able to find anything specific to suggest that ms patients are low in potassium. i can't find a decent case control study looking at serum potassium at all.

did find this in NEJM:

A low serum potassium concentration is perhaps the most common electrolyte abnormality encountered in clinical practice. When defined as a value of less than 3.6 mmol of potassium per liter, hypokalemia is found in over 20 percent of hospitalized patients.1 The majority of these patients have serum potassium concentrations between 3.0 and 3.5 mmol per liter, but as many as one quarter have values below 3.0 mmol per liter. .

as for supplements, i used to recommend natural calm but now i prefer magnesium glycinate. you can ingest more elemental magnesium in this supplemental form, without suffering negative GI effects.

magnesium is supposed to be absorbed in the lower intestine and the glycinate form, being chelated, has a better chance of doing so.

magnesium makes chlorophyll green. ergo dark leafy greens like swiss chard and spinach (boiled) are great dietary sources.

HTH jaded!

Jaded · Post by **Jaded** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:23 am

Thanks jimmylegs.

Yep I am definitely stressed!

So I'll get some mag glycintate, and some potassium - coconut water - to take with my zinc.

Might try some green drinks too! May as well go for it!

Thank you all so much.

J.

Post by **jimmylegs** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:22 pm

cool you're welcome!

jaded quick question - how much zinc are you taking daily, IIMA?

Jaded · Post by **Jaded** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:59 am

You got me there jl.

Well I haven't been taking any. I am terrible at taking supps. And now I am all stressed out and rundown. I take some but not daily.

If there was something I could just take the once each day it would be so easy.

But I'm seeing what that's done now so I have to change it.

J.

Post by **jimmylegs** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 1:27 pm

awww sorry to hear that jaded.. i know where you're coming from - i slack off sometimes too.. right now i'm busy taking things to recover from a bit of laziness with the diet and supplements over the last couple months!