Horrible cramps in my calf. Relief ideas?

Question

It's actually for my wife. She's not on her feet too much but her calfs have been really bothering her for the past few weeks and we're not having success finding any relief. Ideas?

Answer 1

i used to get that all the time!!

potassium and calcium helps tons!

i still get them occasionally so i just eat a banana and grab a glass of milk!
always works!

hope everything works out!

Answer 2

I'm not a doctor but my advice is free. Cramps usually occur if there is poor circulation or dehydration. I have job where I sit in front of a computer all day and I sometimes get cramps.

If the problem persist after a small amount of walking just to improve the circulation, and she is not dehydrated, then maybe she should see a real doctor.

There are serious medical problems that sometimes show up as poor leg circulation.

Oh, another cause is a change in shoes, If shes started wearing a new pair of shoes with a lower than she's accustom to, heel that could also cause some stress in the calfs.

Answer 3

As others have said bananas are good. You might also want to try baked potatoes. The skins are chock full of potassium.

Another thing you might want to think about... is she getting enough to drink? Muscle cramps can be a symptom of dehydration. Upping her intake of fluids (juices, water) might do wonders.

As for when the cramps actually happen... when I get muscle cramps in my legs the only thing that serves to alleviate the cramp and get rid of the pain is to stand up and put weight on the offending leg. It hurts like heck for a little bit, but takes care of the cramps in no time.

Answer 4

I had horrible leg cramps just about all my life,and I found that after eating yogurt daily my legs have almost stopped cramping.On the days they really do hurt I take a OTC supplement I found at our local Wal-Mart called Calcet.It works for me!And it's got extra calcium in them,and thats something every woman needs too.Hope this is useful and your wife finds some relief.

Answer 5

You really should check with your Doc, but one thing that most definitely can't hurt would be some simple stretching exercises to help strengthen the muscles. AND, believe it or not, but among the deficiencies - add sodium. If she is on a low sodium diet and is sweating a lot this summer, lack of sodium can bring on cramps just like lack of potassium and others... BUT check with the Doc about all that.

Answer 6

soak in a hot bath for just over five minutes.
Also, there's a thing called "shin splints", caused by excess impaction upon the legs (running, jumping, stairs, theme park meandering, etc...)
-the pain from a shin splint might seem to emanate from everything between the 'knee' and the 'ankle'...
-a shin splint is a small fracture within the 'lower leg-bone' (not-a-doctor reminder) that will heal un-assisted, quite soon.
try the hot bath. The "pinching the upper lip" advice seems worthwhile... had never heard of that one!
-hot bath, Vitamin K, selenium, calcium. try to avoid a bone marrow transplant... unless necessary, I heard they are more painful than they are expensive...(but again, I'm no doctor)

Answer 7

I saw bananas and potassium, but also if you can get quinine, they usually put it in tonic water by Canada Dry. Cut it with some cranberry Juice and it is not to bad. They used to make something calle Q-10 that were Quinine supplements, but I haven't seen them around in a while.

Answer 8

Try bananas. She may be having muscle cramps from a lack of potassium. I told someone about this and they laughed until they started eating bananas and the pain went away.

Answer 9

Yea potassium is something you should try.I used to have cramps in my calves at night that were so bad they would knock me out of bed onto the floor, both legs at the same time. I talked to a doctor and he said if I exercised they'd go way.I told him I thought that was what was causing them in the first place and he said it probably was but if I continued to exercise they'd go away, and they did.

Answer 10

If she is wearing heels she needs to come down on the heels a little. Also, Potassium deficiencies can cause this. If she eats a banana a day this will help.