These cramps are killers in the night, and pointing the toes straight up or straight out doesn't seem to help get rid of the excruciating pain. HELP!
2007-03-01 03:08:31 · 8 answers · asked by Tina 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
Make sure you are drinking enough water and getting enough potassium. That should eliminate them.
When you get them, stay calm, massage the area, and if you can try to walk it out. Be careful about pointing your toes, sometimes that can actually make them worse.
2007-03-01 03:13:46 · answer #1 · answered by 'Lissa 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Fastest - a couple swigs of molasses (pain goes within minutes)
Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.
Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.
The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).
For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.
2007-03-02 19:20:35 · answer #2 · answered by Keko 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually they say that if you are having cramps (most commonly in the legs) in the front, it is due to a calcium deficiancy, if it is in the back, you need potassium, so make sure you are getting plenty of both. Also, if you feel it begining to cramp, either try to get up and walk on it, move around, or if you happen to be lying down, and your leg cramps, and you dont have time to get up, try stretching your foot twords your leg. It flexes the muscle that most commonly cramps, and will keep it at bay untill you can get up an walk on it. Unfortunatly cramps are a part of life, but let me tell you, since i learned that little foot trick, i have not had to suffer through that horrible pain ever again. I hope it helps. Best of luck!
2007-03-01 03:28:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've had that before and I can tell you, it's horrible...I'd wake up screaming because it would just appear out of nowhere at like 4:30am....
The only thing that works is walking it off and stretching. Unfortunately. If there is something better, I don't know of it, and unfortunately for me, I had days when it would last the entire day... not full blown, but still tight and sore. I can remember going to to school like that and wishing I could just get some relief.
I don't know what else to suggest...sorry. I feel for you.
2007-03-01 03:14:16 · answer #4 · answered by jessicadiamond_4einc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All you can do once it starts is to rub rub rub...you have to work the muscle that is actually going into spasms. Sometimes hot washcloth helps to relax muscle.
To stop them from even happening, eat a banana a day...potassium will help this, as will sufficient calcium in your diet. Good way to start (or end) a day is a banana and yogurt. Good luck and God bless
2007-03-01 03:39:33 · answer #5 · answered by gmabell 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can get to a cold floor (linoleum or tile) go there and stand on it, it will decrease the "shock" sensation and get the blood flowing properly. Good luck, I know how bad the "killers in the night" can be. Just when you think you're going to have a nice stretch you're wrong!
2007-03-01 03:13:40 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have these at night these are leg cramps and you need to be sure you are getting enough calcium. If you know you are getting enough calcium then see the doc about getting medication to help eliminate them.
2007-03-01 03:12:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i used to get them every now and then after basketball practice;probably from dehydraytion.i would get them in my calf and hamstring.i found that stretching the muscle out asap worked the best
2007-03-06 13:45:09 · answer #8 · answered by RICHARD B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋