Night Leg Cramps... any ideas?

vintagebrighton
vintagebrighton Posts: 51
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi any one else suffer and any ideas how to stop them? I've tried upping my salt by having a cup of buoilion a day, tried stretching my legs after walks, massage. Any ideas?

Replies

  • KaydeForce
    KaydeForce Posts: 96 Member
    Leg cramps are almost always due to a lack of magnesium. Either eat magnesium-rich foods (bananas for example) or take a magnesium supplement. I'm taking a supplement a day and it has completely stopped my cramps (which I had even though I'm eating 4-5 portions of fruits and veggies a day).
  • poleydog
    poleydog Posts: 37 Member
    Try taking a supplement of calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D. I find it helps with cramp, restless legs and also helps you sleep.
  • Agacy
    Agacy Posts: 1
    Make sure youA're drinking enough water too, I find that helps me.
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    And make sure you're getting enough potassium. I had this happen to me, ate a bag of potato chips, and it went away. :)
  • Adveshan
    Adveshan Posts: 8
    If these cramps are from exercise then you should massage the tissues in your leg, or stretch.
  • iris8pie
    iris8pie Posts: 224 Member
    night leg cramps = dehydration
  • LisaJ2904
    LisaJ2904 Posts: 157 Member
    :flowerforyou: Caffine!!! The root of all evil..... If you can cut it out completely, and I mean completely you will see dozens of benefits, you will have the worst headaches for about a week but after that you will feel super human x
  • stuntpilot51
    stuntpilot51 Posts: 53 Member
    night leg cramps = dehydration


    I'll second this answer
  • smilesalot1969
    smilesalot1969 Posts: 392
    Quinine is fab for night cramps, some doctors will argue for it and some against but it worked for me. try drinking indian tonic water, this contains quinine :)
  • vintagebrighton
    vintagebrighton Posts: 51
    Thanks for all the responses. Don't think it's dehydration... I'm a 3-4 litres of water a day girl! Maybe thats part of the problem? Think I'll try mineral supplements and carry on with massage and stretching. Thanks again, much appreciated :)
  • RoastyToasty
    RoastyToasty Posts: 17 Member
    Try eating a banana towards the end of the night. Or up your calcium. A big glass of milk helped me tremendously when I had night leg cramps while pregnant. They are not a fun way to wake up!
  • BettyIW
    BettyIW Posts: 103
    When I used to get night leg cramps, it was due to a lack of calcium and/or potassium. I currently drink Almond milk which has 50% more calcium than regular milk. I also eat bananas frequently. And if I ever sense a leg cramp coming on at night, I immediately point my toes upward and that will stop the cramp.
  • happyfeetrebel1
    happyfeetrebel1 Posts: 1,005 Member
    Potassium for sure. This happened to me and potassium really helped :)
  • lynda707
    lynda707 Posts: 1 Member
    I've had them for years and a bar of soap between the sheets will chase them away. Don't mock it till you've tried it. Doesn't seem to matter what brand or what size, just slide it down by you legs and feel the cramp ease up. And I have NO IDEA how it works. I found it on the internet.
  • Eisskween
    Eisskween Posts: 84 Member
    Okay, this is going to sound crazy and I thought so too, but my Mom and Dad both swear by it and swear it works.

    Take a plain bar of ivory soap and put it under your sheets of your bed. For some reason, this works for leg cramps. I have no idea how, but it does.

    Reference: http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2005/12/07/soap-under-the/
  • Kate4911
    Kate4911 Posts: 24
    I put a heating pack on my legs. It could be caused by take any type of sedatives. If I take Tylenol pm, I know I'm in for a long night!

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