Calf cramps while sleeping???

Omg I used to suffer from them and hated it. I've never understood why but I've been told it could be because of a lack of potassium... I'm not sure about this. Might want to make more researches about this topic... anyway asking your doctor would be much better.

Yes, I've had these many times before and they hurt like h3ll. I find I don't have them much when my diet is healthier. Potassium is important as are all electrolytes. If you are doing 80 min of cardio, you may be depleting your electrolytes a bit much. Bananas and sweet potatoes are great potassium sources, but remember that sodium is part of the electrolyte family, you just don't need to go crazy. Focus on getting in a good amount of fruit and veggies and you should see these issues diminish.

As for the pain right now, it would usually take a day to work the cramp out fully. These are killer and suck so very much. I sometimes wake up fearing that one is just about to happen like a bad nightmare.

When my calf is tight from running . the best solution that I've found (after proper hydration) is my Foam Roller - It's BRILLIANT. (can't shout that loud enough!)

Just had one of these this morning, so I know how you feel. I used to get them a lot more, and my doc recommended getting more water, magnesium, and potassium.

Calf cramps are bad but thigh muscle cramps are REALLY bad. I didn't know they could happen til a couple summers ago when I was working as a flagger for a road construction crew. I figured out I was dehydrated. I was desperate for relief when I woke up in the middle of the night with my upper leg cramping and no position helped, finally hobbled to the kitchen sink and drank about 3 full glasses of water, which settled it down. Never let myself get dehydrated after that.

Until... last fall I had my first ever colonoscopy and prior to the procedure was required to empty my entire digestive tract. The method the doctor who performed the procedure requires his patients to use is a 3 step process of dulcolax tablets -- wait 2 hours -- drink a bottle of calcium citrate -- wait an hour -- drink clear gator aide mixed with miralax powder.

WELL, within 3 minutes of drinking the bottle of magnesium citrate I started puking. Had no clue it would bother me but it really, really did. I puked and puked and then my thigh muscles started cramping. Holy Hannah it was horrible!!! I knew I had to drink something so I started on the gatoraide/miralex prep early in order to rehydrate. It helped within a few minutes.

I really do not know if it was just dehydration or if I screwed up my electrolytes with the effects of the puking from magnesium citrate, but it was something I'll never forget.

If I ever have to do another prep for colonoscopy I'll choose a different method, believe me.

Sorry, if TMI, but I figured I talk about lots of personal stuff here as to many others, so wth. And if my dehydration symptoms prevent someone else from drinking too little water, it was worth telling.

be sure to hydrate as well...tat seems to help me more than anything.

Yes, it used to happen to me when I ran every day. Do you have bananas in your diet? You need Potassium. You don't have to get it from bananas, but that's the most common place to get it from. Look up potassium rich foods and add them to your foods every day. And yeah, keep hydrated, though you said you're already doing that.

I know they're so painful and horrible. :^\

I get terrible cramps in my feet. Two things that have helped are epsom/baking soda soaks and foam rolling. Also drinking more water is supposed to help but the jury is still out on that.

Yes I get them. Usually in the toes (wtf?) or mid back (oww!) For me it's from electrolyte imbalance. I feel best when I drink a crapton of water, but the side effect of drinking a crapton of water is electrolyte loss through sweat affects you more. Thus I also drink g2 anytime I train. I am cramp free and happy even if people at the gym are giving me side eye for drinking g2 on the arc trainer.

I get these occasionally and used to get them a lot when pregnant. The nurse practitioner said it was due to low calcium, so I would just eat extra calcium or take a supplement. When I get them now, it's often from too much walking or high impact aerobics (kickboxing, zumba, step) with shoes that have inadequate support. I have 2 pairs of sneakers, one with more of an arch and one pair that's flatter. If I walk too much in the flatter ones, I often have leg cramps at night, but I love to bring them to travel because they are so light. They're the "minimus" type, but I can't wear them for heavy aerobic stuff, or I'll really pay for it, although some people swear by them.