Excruciating leg cramps at 4-4:30 AM. Need diagnosis, treatment!?!

Excruciating leg cramps at 4-4:30 AM. Need diagnosis, treatment!?

a friend of ours, Indian woman in late fifties, had multiple foot fractures two years ago, was immobilized in cast for 2-3 months, and has since suffered leg cramps at same time early morning (4-4:30am), for 2-3 minutes, for last two years, destroying her sleep for the rest of the morning, and forcing early nights. Cramps now may be spreading to right leg and thighs. Her otherwise highly proficient doctor has declared her condition a mystery, originally prescribing quinine (discontinued due to side effects), now dietary supplement (C-Q 10) which helps but only a bit. Ring any bells? Any NET sites, or forums, that offer diagnostics for such "mystery conditions"?

OK I know of two conditions that can cause these symptoms since I have one now, and have had the other. One is more easily controled than the other. the easier one is called RLS or restless Leg Syndrom, where mainly at night, your leg may feel creepy crawly, crampy, painful, or jolty. there is a medication I take it called requip. It keeps me asleep. You need a doctors perscription. they start at a low dose, and work up, until they find the right dose.

the other is RSD (reflex Sypathetic Dystrophy), this one is usually started by an injury and usually a small one. it is a central nervous system condition, and takes lots of physical therapy, medications (usually medications that they use for seizures, or antideppresents, that work on blocking nerve signals. It took about 1 year for mine to almost get fully rid of, once in a blue moon it will flare up.

I will give you links to web sites for both conditions. To me RLS sounds more likely since she seems fine during the day. That is the good news.