I wake up every night with cramps in my legs. Is there anything that I can do?

Answer 1

I had this problem a lot when I was working, standing on my feet all the time. I was told that a possible cause was lack of potassium, or Vitamin E. Try taking a Vitamin E capsule each day, with plenty of water, and eating a banana everyday. I worked with the elderly for a period of time, and when they suffered night time leg cramps frequently, we gave them a banana daily, and it helped.

I've included a link that gives several possible reasons for cramping and solutions. Hope it helps.

Answer 2

the latest research on leg pain has found that people are lacking Iron in their brain and that is what produces the leg pains. Take a good quality Multivitamin every day.

This is the first place your body targets when you are dehydrated. Drink lots of water! I recommend purified water and mineral water mixed 50/50. The mineral water is going to put back into the muscles what they are losing on a daily basis.

I suggest that adults and children drink 40 ounces of water per 100 pounds of body weight every day.

In the evening take a hot bath with 2c. of dissolved Epsom salts and soak for 30 minutes. Afterwards , if you have something shaped like a cylinder and made out of hard material (think of a large rolling pin you would use for pizza dough or something) place it under your leg and push down and roll it back and forth...this should massage the spasms out of your leg. It will hurt while you're doing it, but more so the type of pain that actually feels good, in the long run.

Answer 3

oh i wonder if u have heard about nocturnal leg cramps?
well in case you didn't let me share it with you...

nocturnal leg cramps are involuntary muscle contractions that occur in the calves, soles of the feet or other muscles in the body during the night or while you are resting. the duration of nocturnal leg cramps sometimes lasts for a few seconds and other times several minutes. however soreness in the muscles may remain for some time after the cramp ends.

nocturnal leg cramps can be very painful especially if dehydrated.

potential contributing factors are believed to include low levels of certain minerals (magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium) and prolonged sitting.

nocturnal leg cramps may be relieved quickly by stretching the affected leg straight out and pointing the toes upward.

hope this information helps... =)

Answer 4

too have suffered from cramp in my legs at night and also twitchy muscles and restless legs. I've just been diagnosed as having low calcium in my body,(probably due to the Phenytoin AED that I was prescribed for the seizures that I had during and after the brain haemorrhage) so my GP has put me on a calcium and vitamin D supplement. It seems to be helping and the cramp has gone. It might be worth visiting your GP to find out the cause.

Answer 5

As stupid as it sounds, people have had great success with putting a bar of soap (not Dove) at their legs when going to bed. I don't know the theory, but a syndicated columnist, Dr Gott, has published several letters from people having had the same problem until using the soap! What have you got to lose? A couple bucks?

Answer 6

Increasing liquids help ease muscle cramps (water, not soda or coffee). If it's bad and is relieved by moving them around it may be Restless leg Syndrome, which sounds fake and dumb but is a legitimate problem.

Answer 7

Might be low on potassium, eat a couple of bananas the next few days.

Might help.

Answer 8

See a doctor

Answer 9

You are probably deficient in potassium, calcium, magnesium or Vitamin B6.

Answer 10

Keep your potassium levels up and drinks plenty of water.