I wake up several times every night with muscle cramps in my lower legs and feet. I've tried the over the counter stuff and it doesn't help. Most of these have a generic form of Benadryl in them that keeps me up. Any suggestions? I'm becoming desperate.
2007-09-11 16:30:56 · 10 answers · asked by chasead95 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
There are medical drugs available from your doctor that might help this problem.
Here's what I find works really well.
The legs are 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 the minerals they are losing on a daily basis. You must drink beyond your thirst to get the benefits of hydration.
I suggest that adults and children drink 40 ounces of water per 100 pounds of body weight every day. Realize that exercise, ambient temperature, and state of health affect the water needs of your body.
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. Afterwards massage an analgesic cream into the area. You will start feeling better very quickly.
2007-09-11 16:41:02 · answer #1 · answered by Cherokee Billie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cramping at night is usually due to either dressing too warm while under too many blankets; a lack of excercise; or, most likely a lack of potassium and vitamin E in your body. Get raisins which are rich in 300mg of potassium and do at least 3-5 times a day. Both selenium and Vitamin E are anti-oxidants which helps to keep your muscles cooled down and working normally, and is good for your heart too.
An alternative which I'm familar with in a liniment is called: Absorbine Veternary Liniment Gel, good not only for horses but people as well. It gets rid of cramps, et al, and encourages healing in ones' body recommended by a vetenarian.
2007-09-12 00:05:56 · answer #2 · answered by classicalchevy57 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ahh yes, been there. try stretching before you go to bed and a few times during the day. Find a step and put your toes on the step and bob up and down a few times facing the step. This will stretch out your calf muscle. When you get cramps, grab a cold or hot compress, everyone is different, and put the compress on your leg. Warm works best for me it relaxes the muscles the best. Have you recently stopped working out or doing an exercise? When i stopped dancing i got the worst cramps for a few years until i started exercising again.
2007-09-11 23:40:33 · answer #3 · answered by aliciamichelle06 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had this problem all of my life. Potassium or Vitamin e didn't help. I was talking to a old timer and he suggest that I get my doctor to per-scribe me some Quinine tablets. I did and the problem went away. They used to be over the counter but they are prescription now. When I have the problem I take one and in about 30 minutes the cramps are gone.
Good luck.
2007-09-12 00:44:20 · answer #4 · answered by edj009 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would check with a doc, cause it could be lots of things causing it, though the cause of leg cramping is not generally well understood. i usually try to stretch out my legs, especially my calves, throughout the day and before bed. sometimes a heating pad on the cramping area while i sleep helps to prevent it from cramping, as does elevating my legs a bit.
i know that sometimes doctors prescribe muscle relaxers but i don't recommend these on a regular basis.
2007-09-11 23:39:46 · answer #5 · answered by ism 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First try eating a lot of bananas/potatoes; anything high in potassium. I got bad cramps in my legs when I went to college because I was potassium deficient. If that doesn't help you should see a doctor, you could have some sort of sleep disorder.
2007-09-12 00:03:48 · answer #6 · answered by Emily 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try a Yahoo search for "leg cramps" + "natural remedies".
2007-09-12 02:27:16 · answer #7 · answered by Susan Yarrawonga 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may be restless leg syndrome, talk to your doctor and ask him about REQUIP, it works really well for me. Good luck
2007-09-11 23:35:30 · answer #8 · answered by Suzan M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
eat bananas and drink Gatorade.
2007-09-11 23:42:27 · answer #9 · answered by KitKat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
need md to check your potassium level
2007-09-11 23:35:05 · answer #10 · answered by furmanator1957 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋