Frequent night leg cramps

immahappyhappyhorse
immahappyhappyhorse Posts: 12 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Not really weight loss related but it's something that I'm pretty worried about.

For the past few years (maybe for the past 3-5 years?) I've been dealing with night leg cramps. It's those excruciating leg cramps that happen in the middle of the night when you're sleeping. In the past, it wasn't that frequent and only happened once in a while. Nowadays, it's happening almost every night and it's getting worse.

Last time, it would just hurt like hell but feel the same but nowadays, when I touch my calf when I get the cramps, it seems super tense and firm which is scary. It also usually only happens once a night when I get it but yesterday, I got it twice in one night.

I'm worried about this being some kind of symptom to a sickness or something, based on sites online. Could be due to how unhealthy I used to eat.

Has anyone else faced this problem? Please do let me know! I really hope it's not a symptom for something bad given how frequent and progressive it's getting. If it persists, I'll probably head down to a doctor.
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Replies

  • pogiguy05
    pogiguy05 Posts: 1,583 Member
    Heading to the doctor I think is a great idea. Dehydration or possibly a lack of some kind of nutrient your not getting enough of thru eating. I am a scuba diver and if I dont hydrate well enough, I can get nasty cramps during my dive. Try stretching out a cramp underwater in a drysuit in cold water. UUUUUGGGHHH

    I would ask the doctor for a blood workup to see if your not low on Potassium or something.
  • gcconroy29
    gcconroy29 Posts: 85 Member
    Ugh, charlie horses are the worst. But you're having them a lot, def see a doctor. Check how much water you're drinking too, dehydration can cause a lot of cramping. I take vitamin D and its helped a lot with overall leg cramps which I get a lot, but I haven't had a charlie horse in years.
  • ap1972
    ap1972 Posts: 214 Member
    charlieandcarol wrote: »
    You could try taking Magnesium at night or quinine. Leg cramps are usually related to electrolyte imbalance but could also indicate other medical problems. Might be worth getting a checkup if you haven't been to the doctor for a while. Inadequate hydration can also cause leg ramps

    I have a mate who suffers the same and he finds drinking tonic water a help due to the quinine
  • BeccaLoves2lift
    BeccaLoves2lift Posts: 375 Member
    These could be happening for a variety of reasons. I had them during all of my pregnancies. My husband got them shortly after his steroid allergy shot, he had them every night for a month and then they started to subside. They can happen due to electrolyte imbalances and dehydration. A simple lab panel can answer that for you. I would recommend visiting your doctor.
  • DX2JX2
    DX2JX2 Posts: 1,921 Member
    See a doctor. In the meantime, trying upping your hydration. Water is fine but try a sports drink if you've been running at a calorie deficit. Eat bananas.
  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    edited March 2018
    eat bananas - and when you have a cramp put your foot on a cold floor or ice pack.
  • BattyKnitter
    BattyKnitter Posts: 503 Member
    Do you sleep on your back with a heavy blanket? I used to sleep on my back with a ton of blankets on me because I like the weight. But the weight pushing down on the tops of my feet all night would cause me to wake up with these excruciating cramps in my calves! I got a warmer lighter blanket and tried to not sleep on my back and they mostly stopped.

    Either way a doctor visit would be a good idea.
  • becky10rp
    becky10rp Posts: 573 Member
    I used to get a LOT of leg cramps in the middle of the night. Mentioned it to a nurse/friend - she also mentioned possible dehydration and possibly an electrolyte issue. I now drink Gatorade when I workout - no more leg cramps (I swear this is NOT a paid advertisement......LOL)!
  • hroderick
    hroderick Posts: 756 Member
    potassium - eat a banana occasionally
  • saragd012
    saragd012 Posts: 693 Member
    This happens to me when I'm not drinking enough water. It really is terribly painful. I would see a doctor for blood work if it's happening that frequently though. If you're not into bananas, watermelon has even more potassium, as do potatoes :)
  • conniemaxwell5
    conniemaxwell5 Posts: 943 Member
    I would suggest increasing your water intake (multiply your weight by 2/3 - that's how many ounces you should shoot for each day) and eating a banana every day for a couple of weeks and see if it improves. If it doesn't you should see a doctor.
  • MichelleSilverleaf
    MichelleSilverleaf Posts: 2,027 Member
    Definitely see a doctor, you could try tonic water in the meantime. Don't know if it's placebo or not but really helped my mom out with her cramps, especially since a lot of the meds dr would be able to prescribe she couldn't take.
  • AshEvelynn
    AshEvelynn Posts: 205 Member
    Just a little trick after I suffered through pregnancy with them...

    The moment you feel your calf start to tighten up, push your heel down as far as you can and quickly - not sure why it works but for me, it instantly stops the leg cramp EVERY TIME and has not failed me yet...
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    edited March 2018
    Try stretching your calves every hour for 30+ seconds.
    Also set your food log so it's visible to us. :+1:
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    edited March 2018
    Sounds like a potassium deficiency. You can buy salt substitutes that are made up of potassium chloride, much cheaper and more potent than the tablets. You can sprinkle the potassium salt on your food or mix it into a drink. Daily recommended intake of potassium is around 1600 - 2000mg.

    Foods highest in potassium are: squash, potatoes, spinach, lentils, kidney beans.
  • ValeriePlz
    ValeriePlz Posts: 517 Member
    Agreed with others on dehydration and potential potassium deficiency.
  • GOT_Obsessed
    GOT_Obsessed Posts: 817 Member
    Oh my God is there a more rude awakening than that?! I get them from time to time too. When it happens I try pulling my toes backwards (towards my knees) and it relieves them.
  • tar2323
    tar2323 Posts: 141 Member
    edited March 2018
    If you go down the potassium supplement route, please be aware that in some people it can cause stomach issues. I started with potassium tablets two weeks ago and am now left with gastritis. It was an almost immediate effect. If you are prone to these sorts of stomach things, do a bit of research first or eat plenty of bananas/other high potassium foods instead :)
  • bioklutz
    bioklutz Posts: 1,365 Member
    I used to get them regularly. I noticed if I can get out of bed and stand up on the leg that is cramping when it first starts it is less painful later.

    I had suspected that the source of my leg cramps was too little sodium. I tend to add black pepper, garlic, chili pepper to my food instead of salt. Once I increased my sodium intake the night leg cramps subsided.

    Some information I would take with to the doctor is how many ounces fluid you typically drink. Take a look at a few typical days of eating and write down how much sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium you are getting.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    Cramps are caused by fatigue. Fatigue from what, you would know. Usually over exercising, more steps than usual, lack of recovery.

    I'm going to have to disagree. I still overdo it and have fatigue, but no longer get charley horses. For me it was some sort of vitamin deficiency. Not sure what as I am now taking everything mentioned above - potassium, magnesium, D, etc.
  • mohanj
    mohanj Posts: 381 Member
    My husband use to get severe leg cramps so severe that he wanted to cry every time. Doctor advised him to drink Tonic water which usually has quinine that helps the cramps. Check with doctor and increase your Potassium intake. Over exercising could also cause the cramps and you may want to add recovery time. Good luck.
  • Danp
    Danp Posts: 1,561 Member
    edited March 2018
    I get them occasionally. I'll be jolted awake in the middle of the night with my calf in spasm and my foot pointed straight down unable to flex it back. The only way to stop it is to get up and put my full weight on my foot to force it to relax and even then It will instantly cramp up again if I even move it forward a little.

    Oddly the only thing I've found that stops them when they start is to (and I know this sounds weird) rub salt on my gums. I'll pour a small amount of salt into my palm, dab my finger in it and rub it along my gums. It seems to provide me with pretty much instant relief.
  • ElizabethAN2017
    ElizabethAN2017 Posts: 565 Member
    My son had a similar problem and it ended up being a deficiency of calcium. Having some bloodwork would help your dr identify any deficiencies (calcium, potassium, etc) you may have, so you can address the issue. Hope you feel better soon.
  • the8BitGirl
    the8BitGirl Posts: 38 Member
    I used to suffer from these stupid cramps almost nightly. So painful! Would go from being dead to the world to wide awake in agony. Magnesium taken daily has helped me. I didn't even realise it would help for cramps, I just took magnesium and potassium because I was on keto and was told I should. I no longer supplement potassium because I now get enough of it in my diet, but as soon as I stop taking magnesium for a few days the cramps come back. :neutral:
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    In my case it seems to be a relationship involving hydration level and ratio of Vit D3 and K2 and Magnesium.
  • johnslater461
    johnslater461 Posts: 449 Member
    GaleHawkins wrote: »
    In my case it seems to be a relationship involving hydration level and ratio of Vit D3 and K2 and Magnesium.

    Let me guess

    You self diagnosed

  • cheryldumais
    cheryldumais Posts: 1,907 Member
    Magnesium did it for me. I would check with the doc though just to be on the safe side.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    GaleHawkins wrote: »
    In my case it seems to be a relationship involving hydration level and ratio of Vit D3 and K2 and Magnesium.
    johnslater461 wrote: »
    GaleHawkins wrote: »
    In my case it seems to be a relationship involving hydration level and ratio of Vit D3 and K2 and Magnesium.

    Let me guess

    You self diagnosed

    Actually, hydration and electrolyte balance is the key cause of night cramping.

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