What can cause severe leg cramps at night?

Answer 1

If the cramp is accompanied by calf muscle contraction, the easy answer is a potassium deficiency. A calf muscle contraction will cause your toes to point, so to ease the cramp, try to pull your toes back (to where they are pointing at the ceiling) with one hand, and massage your calf muscles with the other hand. It hurts pretty bad, but it feels sooo good when the muscle finally relaxes.
I suggest that the next day you should try to gently stretch the muscles because they are probably a little sore. Eat a potassium rich food every day (bananas are good) and drink plenty of water.

Answer 2

If you (or others) are taking any type of STATIN Drugs (drugs that help in lowering cholestrol in the blood) it is very likely that the statin drugs are depleting needed elements in your body.

After reading about this cause & effect, I went immediately to the healt store (or drug store) and purchased COENZYME Q10 (100MG) TABLETS. Within 3 nights, I slept through the night and have not had a single leg cramp in weeks. I am a believer and a happy camper.

You can look this up on Yahoo by searching for "coenzyme Q10"

I suffered with SEVERE cramping for over 18 months with major sleep interruption and no help from my doctor.

Answer 3

You could be lacking some potassium in your system. Try eating a banana a day. Orange juice has good potassium too. You don't mention your age or weight or how you are sleeping at night (back, side, stomach). You may want to try placing a pillow between your knees so your legs are not putting pressure on each other. If you sleep on your back, try placing the pillow under your legs. Find a comfortable position. It may be best right under your knees or more under your calves. My daughter used to get bad leg cramps at night. I gave her warm milk and a banana at bedtime, and we would gently stretch and massage her leg muscles before she went to bed. She still occasionally sleeps with an extra pillow that she puts between her knees or feet. Good luck.

Answer 4

The best tested remedy I know is calcium- magnesium pills (preferably with vitamin d) taken according to the directions on the bottle. Or, cal-mag-zinc pills taken 3 times a day with meals.
I cured all the nurses on the SNF unit at my hospital with this when they were all having muscle spasms and cramps.
You may want to try to get 3-4 servings of fruit and fruit juice for potassium whose lack can also aggravate crampy muscles and irritable nerves.
I am a pharmacist.

Answer 5

Lack in quinine levels.
Try drinking soda water which contains good amounts of quinine. Alternatively, see your doctor about getting some Quinine tablets.

Answer 6

Don't eat banana. You probably lack calcium. Drink more milk.

Answer 7

i like to think of it as hard work but you are low on potassium, so go eat a banana that will help, unless you are working out

Answer 8

hey me too! but im like half asleep... restless feet maybe?