Hope someone can help. For the last year or so every month I am woken by the most awful cramp in my left calf/area going down to my ankle. Its so horrific it literally takes my breath away and I am lame for most of the next 12 hours. I realise that Im stretching in my sleep and then I wake up straight into this cramp?? Any ideas??
Thanks for any help :)
2007-06-12 07:10:09 · 10 answers · asked by Iona 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
I dont really like bananas!! Suppose I will have to eat some now!!
My diet is I suppose quite high in salt so maybe I need to cut that down a bit. Like sosgez says, its like a golfball in my calf,very painful. Im 36, maybe I should take up some form of daily gentle stretching exercise to loosen my muscles up a bit.
2007-06-12 07:31:36 · update #1
You may need potassium. Bananas are a good source of potassium. I've always been told to eat a banana to ease leg cramps. It sounds crazy but it does help.
2007-06-12 07:14:27 · answer #1 · answered by kat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I get the same problem after eating beef - which I seldom do now, in all but small quantities. I know about the agonising pain. I find a couple of aspirin help, if chewed quickly or dissolved. I thought it was either protein or salt problems.
Marshmallows or nougat have a similar effect. (Egg proteins?)
I have never liked very salty food. It might be the salt in the stock cube that I'd cook the beef with. The muscles in my calf go into spasm and knot like a golfball. They get damaged, ache for a day or 2. As you say, it can happen in the middle of the night, but I cannot stand up when it occurs.
2007-06-12 14:23:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're probably low on iron and potassium. Add a banana to your daily diet and eat more green veges. And drink Propel or Gatorade for the eletrolytkes a few times a week.
Also, to get rid of calf cramps (charlie horses) is to pinch the area below your nose and above your upper lip. It's a thing my mom taught me and it sounds weird but it works. I usually only have to pinch it for about 1 minute and I can feel the cramps melt away. Don't pinch too hard or you will leave a bruise. Also, my grandmother told me to walk barefoot on cold tile floor, like the kitchen or bathroom to get rid of leg cramps. It helps but takes a little longer. I rather walk the cramp out instead of rubbing it out.
2007-06-12 14:35:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I get these about twice a week and it is because I am on steroids for my asthma, as steroids can cause this problem.
If you are on steroids speak to your doctor about having quinine tablets - they should help prevent cramps.
Alternatively do what I do - as soon as you feel the cramp get up and walk around on a cold tiled floor. It will hurt like hell but exercising it will make the pain go quicker and you will concentrate on the movement more than the pain. There is no scientific grounds that I know of to do it on a cold floor, but it just seems to work better for me.
Do not just lie there accepting the pain, you need movement to get the blood flowing and to make the muscles relax.
2007-06-12 14:46:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
omg i thought i was a freak! i was exactly the same i woke up one night in hysterics it was so bad,i got them on and off for 2 years and now very occasionally.i tried drinking more water coz i thought it might help, im not sure as im 17 and might be growing pains but we should try bananas and maybe you should drink more water and deep breathing when it does happen and try not to clench you leg up as it lasts longer! Hope this helps!
2007-06-12 14:24:02 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Potassium and ordinary table salt both help break down the calcium carbonates that are the cause of the cramp.
I'd check with your doctor though, your symptoms seem pretty extreme!
2007-06-12 14:19:58 · answer #6 · answered by Icarus 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would run this one past your GP.
There is a remote chance that it could be a DVT.
One other thing to look for is a hot , hard, or increase in size of the calf.
2007-06-12 14:53:46 · answer #7 · answered by dave k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do you eat foods high in potassium, such as bananas? try that, it usually helps.
stretching it out when it's cramping and after the cramp helps a lot too.
2007-06-12 14:16:03 · answer #8 · answered by md2b 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How old are you? They could be growing cramps. When I used to get growing cramps I would rub alcohol on the sore muscles, it helps!
2007-06-12 14:14:59 · answer #9 · answered by Jen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
grab something like a pillow or a piece of clothing and breath in and out on it and don't take it away from your face for about 2 minutes!!!
hope this helps!!!! x x x x
2007-06-12 14:17:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋