Cramp attacks?

Question

Hi ! I'm a 40 yr-old male - when I was in my early 20's I suffered a bit with cramp attacks in my calves during the night - if anyone has ever experienced this they will know it is very painful - the muscles in your calf screw up into a tight ball and hurt like hell.

I have suddenly started having these attacks once again - sometimes I wak up in bed and get the odd "twinge" in my leg, and I daren't go back to sleep for fear of moving in my sleep and setting if off, thus having to endure more pain.

Sounds crazy but it's bloody awful - so..............before I see my Doctor, does anyone know of any good remedies for cramp....maybe some herbal stuff or something you can buy over the counter without a prescription ?

Thanks !

Answer 1

'Charley-horses' 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 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.

Take 500mg of calcium and magnesium every evening. This will help stop the cramping.

Answer 2

There are many different causes of these leg cramps. Just a few are dehydration and low potassium. Some say to eat lots of banana's for the low potassium and drink lots of water for the dehydration (lol). I have suffered with these for 12 yrs now. I think I've tried everything to cure them. But 6 months ago my doctor put me on a prescription drug called Requip. It was originally manufactured for restless leg syndrome but it has worked wonders for me and these nightly leg cramps.

Answer 3

You can try Magnesium tablets every day and increase/decrease the salt in your diet [increase if your deficient/decrease if you add alot to your food already] but your doctor will be able to prescribe 'quinine tablets' which are excellent. If you go that route take one every night for a week then you should be able to stop them for a period until the cramp starts to return, then same procedure again.

Answer 4

Oh my god! I get exactly the same! I have no idea why i get it but i have been told its a lack of salt. That would fit as i generally avoid salt at all costs! I would love to know what to do about it too

Answer 5

I do get that i just wake up and scream because I cant move with it and I cant put my heal of my foot down the next day where it has siezed up from it. you are right I do not know what it is though that causes it if you find out please let me know. I do know there is something called crampex out now do not know what that is like either though sorry.

Answer 6

Take Magnessium capsules as these help to rid the body of cramps

Answer 7

I have had this and yes it is really painful, when it starts turn your toes towards your body and stretch them upwards it works for me.

Answer 8

Just take more salt in your diet - it works

Answer 9

HAVE MORE SALT IN YOUR DIET