Leg cramps

smadag1

I have been getting cramps in my calfs in the middle of the night that almost bring me to tears.
I will wake up between 2and 4 am with a very bad cramp in mr right calf. I will rub it for a while and bring me knee up to me chest to try to releave the pain. But I am wondering what may be causing the pain. I did not workout yesterday , but I did the night before the last one happened. I am drinking about 7 glasses of water every day so I don't think I am dehydrated but I might be wrong, it is very hot here in the deep south.

Does anyone have any ideas of how to prevent more of these in the future?

s_sanchez

I've heard that leg cramps could be due ot a lack of potasium. I got them a lot when I was pregnant and was told to eat bananas and it seemed to help me. And definately keep hydrated, 7 glasses may not be enough if it is really hot.

Wishful

I'm in the south. I don't know if it really helps, but when my sons played football, we kept dill pickles and bananas in the house and they rarely cramped up.

suezkue

I actually had leg cramps that woke me from my sleep when I was pregnant. These are no fun! :noway:

Here is a link to a site that might be helpful to you. They list a few different reason as to why you could be having them. http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/sprainsstrains/a/legcramp.htm

Hope this helps!

jb_sweet_99

I have been getting cramps in my calfs in the middle of the night that almost bring me to tears.
I will wake up between 2and 4 am with a very bad cramp in mr right calf. I will rub it for a while and bring me knee up to me chest to try to releave the pain. But I am wondering what may be causing the pain. I did not workout yesterday , but I did the night before the last one happened. I am drinking about 7 glasses of water every day so I don't think I am dehydrated but I might be wrong, it is very hot here in the deep south.

Does anyone have any ideas of how to prevent more of these in the future?

I so feel your pain, this used to happen to me all the time when I was working 15 hour days, it hurts so bad! I've found that if I stretch before bed and before getting up it helps a lot. A couple things I do : sit in bed with your legs straight and grab your toes and stretch your calves that way; another thing to do is sit the same way but point your toes and hold it, do this a few times, it stretches the muscles in the other direction I think., then draw circles with your pointed toes to stretch; or stand with your toes on the stairs and bring your heels down until you feel the stretch, hold it a few seconds and repeat a few times. I hope this helps, lots of massaging your calves throughout the day helps too. I don't have the problem as much as I used to, so hopefully you get through this quickly. I would say though that if you don't feel relief after a week or two, go to the doctor, just to make sure that there isn't anything wrong.
Best of luck to you :flowerforyou:

chrissyh

I get them too - it's a side effect of the Tamoxifen I take - bananas really help me. Dually - for running I don't cramp as much and if I've been eating them, I dont get the leg cramps at night either.

CALIECAT

When I get them i force myself out of bed aand stand with both feet flat on the floor and it goes away. Oh boy does it hurt. Wish I knew what cause them. Mine usally happen when I stretch my leg out in bed.
Calie

Chenoachem

I get these too, or used to. Spinach is another good source of potasium. Also strawberries contain a natural anti-inflamatory.

Robin9

Banana's are a good recommendation, but they don't have as much potassium as rumors say they do. A food HIGH in potassium are pistachios! Also, tooooo much protein can also cause cramps. Watch your electrolytes as well, and water intake and you should be great. Feel better!!

Robin9

Oh, also forgot...when you stretch your leg (usually when you get a cramp) you tend to stretch with your toes pointed (this contracts your calf muscle, so to get rid of a leg cramp...do the opposite....flex your foot to stretch the muscle in your calf (Flat foot, toes pointed towards your knee). It hurts like the ****ens to do this, so do it slowly, but as soon as the muscle is stretched back out you will have immediate relief! I would rather have 15 seconds of severe pain than several minutes of moderate pain! Hope this helps!!

smadag1

The weird thing is my leg is still sore like I ran a marathon yesterday, but it is only my right leg. I will try more water today plus I will have a banana (does banana pudding count )