Owwwwww

Oh what a feeling, and not in a Lionel Richie "Dancing on the Ceiling" kind of way. Last weekend was the first time I had ever experienced leg cramps during pregnancy . These things are unbelievable! I have never felt anything quite like them. A couple months back, I experienced a foot cramp, but just once and it was something I hoped would never return. Ever. It was like my foot, from my arch to my toes, took on a mind of its own and I couldn’t control it as it contorted into new shapes. Toes in goofy directions and all. I tried and tried to get relief, having to bend my toes with my hands because my foot wasn’t able to function to stop these horrendous cramps on its own. I was paralyzed by pain. I am trying not to use that phrase lightly either; that’s what it was. I would get relief for about five seconds until OH MY GOSH, again? Thirty seconds or so of pain, five seconds of some relief. The process lasted about 20 minutes and I was in misery until poof! It just went away. Well, this weekend started something new, but along the same lines. Now this madness had taken over my leg, and multiple times.


In the middle of the night this past Friday (or technically early on Saturday morning) I awoke to excruciating pain in my leg. It was like a spasm of sorts, a tightening that affected my entire leg, even causing me to cry out in agony. Seriously, paralyzed by pain is the best way I can describe it. I had been forewarned about these monsters, but thought I had escaped their wrath since it had been so long since that pesky foot cramp. I was wrong, and Saturday night, the same thing! Again I awoke to pain as I slept and this time, there were multiples. Every time, I’d wake up and have to spring out of bed with my awkward leg that didn’t even feel like my own. I watched as it straightened while everything in my mind asked for it to bend. Noooooo! Please, no more! I stood on my heel which was all I could manage until slowly being able to push my foot to the floor until the pain subsided. Then it was over. Each cramp lasted about fifteen seconds and thank the lucky stars for that because even though these were short-lived, they really hurt. I hope not to jinx myself, but I haven't had one since. If I can be guaranteed that if I do get them again, they'll be short, then fine. But it's the---what if they don't go away so fast the next time?---that gets to me. Hello, doctor? Is it too soon to ask for an epidural?