Calf cramps while sleeping... VERY painful!!

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Replies

  • alexis831
    alexis831 Posts: 469 Member
    Drink more water!

    I will give you a trick I learned while being pregnant. You get them all the time because of bad circulation when you are pregnant. When you get another, although painful at first, pres your heel as far down and raise your toes up. It immediately stops mine and releases the pressure and the pain stops. Had them all through my last trimester with both kids. I found it on a website and it works for me right away. It for some reason just loosens everything up. Give it a try… hopefully it works for you.
  • larsmac83
    larsmac83 Posts: 24
    I get these every now and then, too. When I feel one coming on, I IMMEDIATELY shove my heel down and lock my leg before the cramp can really get hold of my calf. It usually goes away very quickly and I don't usually have any soreness the next morning. Water and potassium are great, but my doctor also told me to not forget magnesium. It also contributes. So water, potassium, magnesium. Usually you can get a little of all of these by drinking something like Powerade Zero or something else with electrolytes in it. Good luck!
  • mandibergman
    mandibergman Posts: 1
    I've also been told it is due to not enough water. If you're doing that much walking each week you need lots of water. I've torn both my calf muscles so I have had them in both legs EVERY morning when I get up for the past 7 years and they're no fun. I've found now that I'm drinking more water they're not as severe.
  • FatCopThinCop
    FatCopThinCop Posts: 40 Member
    Water and Bananas... Get it in ya today day.. Muilti-Vita Pack too. It should help. I know it does for me. I get the same thing if I don't do tow of the three stated.

    Good luck,

    Paul
  • crystal_darling
    crystal_darling Posts: 53 Member
    I get this too! Hasn't happened for a bit since I started eating bananas and drinking tons of water. So I agree with everyone on this.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    It doesn't have to be bananas, any veggies and fruit have potassium.I tracked it for a year, and found that if I eat 4-5 servings of any vegetables a day, I get plenty.

    You can Google potassium rich foods, but off the top of my head I know that these are especially good:

    Potatoes (with skin)
    Beans
    Dark leafy vegetables
    Melon
    Coconut water
    Tomatoes
  • skonly
    skonly Posts: 371
    I have had severe calf cramps while sleeping twice during the past week. They are so painful that they wake me out of a sound sleep. Today, my leg is still sore from the one I had last night, so I am taking the day off from exercising.

    I typically walk 6 - 8 miles four to five days a week, and in addition, I do Vinyassa Yoga three to four times per week.

    I am not sure what is causing these cramps, but I would appreciate any advice on what can be done to avoid them that you may have.

    THANKS!!!

    Did you have to stand up and force your foot flat to the ground? Women seem to get those a lot! Eating banana's help me. I walk a lot to(I'm a dog walker) and drink a lot of water. Make sure you are hydrated.

    I bet every woman on here knows exactly what you are talking about. I've always been told it's a charlie horse. They hurt.
  • ak_in_ak
    ak_in_ak Posts: 657 Member
    i get them constantly. The biggest help for me is to fill a hard plastic water bottle with hot water and lay it under your calf. You can roll it under your calf to massage the muscle and the hot water helps to relax it.
  • jjelizalde
    jjelizalde Posts: 377 Member
    Drink tons of water. I found a glass of 2% milk before bed stops those leg cramps. (That's what my Dr. suggested and it worked.)
  • reyopo
    reyopo Posts: 210 Member
    Coconut water and avocados are higher in potassium than bananas, so are dried apricots, prunes, raisins, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, halibut, salmon, beans and DARK CHOCOLATE! Just sayin'...

    (Unsweetened baking chocolate provides 830mg (24% DV) per 100 gram serving or 241mg (7% DV) per square. Most sweetened milk chocolates will provide around 272mg (11% DV) per 100 gram serving, and 164mg (5% DV) per bar (1.5oz).)
  • momornana
    momornana Posts: 10
    Check your Vitamin D level. I went to nutritionist because of major leg cramps at night. Bananas weren't helping. Found out my vitamin D level was extremely low. Normal level is 30-100, the recommended level is 60. Mine was 14. I knew vitamin D was good for the bones, but unaware it is also for muscle health. It's quite common now that most of us use so much sunscreen. No sunrays, No D. Hope you're sleeping better
  • yaddayaddayadda
    yaddayaddayadda Posts: 430 Member
    Thanks to all for the wonderful suggestions!! I will be sure to drink more water and to eat more potassium rich foods. I really appreciate all of your great ideas!!
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
    I would also recommend tonic water as a remedy.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Along with the extra vitamins a foam roller really helps!
  • Setof2Keys
    Setof2Keys Posts: 681 Member
    Lots of water, and stretching especially before bed. I get them so bad I am debilitated (sp?) and they are sore for days. Potassium didn't help me, but doesn't mean it won't help you.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    How's your blood pressure? I've heard that it can be associated with that.

    I used to get them ALL the time. It was horrible and I'd wake up in the night crying out from the pain (embarrassing when this has happened not in my own house!) I never found out for sure the actual cause, but I do know that my blood pressure was quite high then (~145/95 @ 16/17 years old, and a healthy weight!) and since then I have reduced it, (mainly through exercise) to around 120/75 and I can't remember the last time I had them. It's been a good couple of years at least, and I've not even had them once in that time!
  • Hezzietiger1
    Hezzietiger1 Posts: 1,256 Member
    Try a homeopathic called CUPRUM METALLICUM. I found it at Earthfare other natural food stores probably have it or online. I had tried everything from drinking more water, to increasing potassium, magnesium, stretching, rolling my calves, etc. Since beginning to take this stuff the cramping has stopped completely.
  • yaddayaddayadda
    yaddayaddayadda Posts: 430 Member
    How's your blood pressure? I've heard that it can be associated with that.

    I used to get them ALL the time. It was horrible and I'd wake up in the night crying out from the pain (embarrassing when this has happened not in my own house!) I never found out for sure the actual cause, but I do know that my blood pressure was quite high then (~145/95 @ 16/17 years old, and a healthy weight!) and since then I have reduced it, (mainly through exercise) to around 120/75 and I can't remember the last time I had them. It's been a good couple of years at least, and I've not even had them once in that time!

    The blood pressure is typically low 120/80 , but last time it was up a bit... 139/90. I think it is ok...
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