Remedies for leg cramps (besides bananas)

I used to get horrible leg cramps, then I started to get hip and thigh cramps. I went to the doctor and he told me to take a calcium and magnesium supplement like caltrate. I did, they went away. A few weeks ago I got dehydrated so I drank a ton of water and got the leg cramps again. Took some calcium/magnesium again and they went away. It worked for me. Good luck.

This is going to sound gross, but I swear it works... I use it for my athletes all the time: pickle juice or a mustard packet. They both have something in them that make you stop cramping. I keep mustard packets in my med kit while at soccer practices/ games and every time someone gets cramps, they get a pack. They hate it, but it works! My dad also suffers from charlie-horses in him hamstrings and he drinks pickle juice all the time to help get rid of them. I do it too whenever I get them. It works! but brush your teeth afterwards

One of my friends gets horrible leg and groin cramps and swears by the mustard packets!

Soaking your feet in warm water and Epsom salts is a great way to relax the muscles and get your magnesium also.

This helped me http://www.askmen.com/sports/foodcourt_60/94_eating_well.html

This is going to sound gross, but I swear it works... I use it for my athletes all the time: pickle juice or a mustard packet. They both have something in them that make you stop cramping. I keep mustard packets in my med kit while at soccer practices/ games and every time someone gets cramps, they get a pack. They hate it, but it works! My dad also suffers from charlie-horses in him hamstrings and he drinks pickle juice all the time to help get rid of them. I do it too whenever I get them. It works! but brush your teeth afterwards

It's the vinegar. Our varsity football team keeps jars of pickle juice on the sidelines. I have a friend who sticks her tongue in a spoonful of vinegar and she swears the leg cramps are almost instantly gone.

Iron deficiency can also cause cramping, once the MD tested me and found out I was deficient in that and I started taking supplements, no more cramps....if you are stretching and getting potassium as well as staying hydrated I would recommend a visit to the dr for testing to make sure you are not deficient in something else (such as iron or magnesium as someone else suggested)

Someone mentioned this already but it worth repeating proper shoes new ones or better fitting ones suited the activity your doing. Arch or ankle support can really make a huge difference

Thanks everyone for all the replies...lots of great suggestions. Just to clarify - I do drink ~10cups of water per day (today I will drink 12 with the exercise). I had 8 oz of Gatorade when I got home. Maybe that wasn't enough?? I don't know. I also take a Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc with vit D supplement daily, extra vitamin D (all by itself), and right now, a "Hair, Skin, and Nails" supplement (it says to take like 3/day, but I only do 1 because of the other supplements I take, and I try to eat healthier type food...although, not as strict about that). I will look into some of the other ideas mentioned here that I haven't tried. I usually have bad leg cramps or stiffness, if I skip the banana...we'll see how things go.

Your issue is most likely related to a lack of sodium, not potassium. You need SALT, not a banana...

Your cramps probably aren't caused by a potassium deficiency, especially if you normally eat bananas. Maybe you need new shoes, or less pounding. You could substitute biking or swimming for some of your walks/runs, exercise on softer surfaces, like dirt or a track instead of pavement, and make sure that your footwear is working for you.

^This

If you are already going out of your way to eat potassium-filled foods like bananas and potatoes, its not as likely that the problem is related to lack of potassium. The FDA does not require food labels to list the amount of potassium in the product, but that does not mean that there isnt any potassium in the food. As a result, the daily potassium total you see is usually far less than your actual total consumption.

Those doing hard physical activity for extended periods of time like marathoners, ultra-marathoners, and cyclists sweat a lot and will need to replenish both sodium and potassium to keep their muscles working but this usually is not a problem when exercising under an hour.

If you are concerned about your levels of magnesium and potassium it is better to go to a doctors for a blood test. It is easy to oversupplement minerals (when taken in vitamin format-with real foods its a lot harder) which can lead to many health problems. More likely, its a small problem with form, breathing, shoes, or running surface which can be easily solved. People on a dedicated running website, such as runnersworld online, may be able to help figure out your problem and will have great advice for getting through c25k

Ok, this is going to make the person who recommended vinegar as a cramp reliever sound completely rational lol. If you have leg cramps at night, put a bar of soap at the bottom of your bed. Regular soap, no Dove or one of those with a bunch of moisturizers or perfumes. Just put it there and leave it there. No more cramps. I know it sounds nutty, but it is old Appalachian mountain medicine that actually works.

Try it- it costs very little. If it doesn't work after a week, you can always actually wash with it. But I've never met a person that tried it who said it didn't work for them. You just have to ask the right generation of people.

Good luck- cramps are the worst!!