brida
05-31-2008, 07:44 PM
I have been having severe leg cramps in both of my calves for the last several nights. They wake me up and last several minutes. It feels like someone is pulling my muscle away from my bone.
I haven't been doing anything usual as far as excersize or activity goes.
What can I do to make them stop!?
I haven't been doing anything usual as far as excersize or activity goes.
What can I do to make them stop!?
Sponsor
Lindaru
05-31-2008, 08:27 PM
As long as you are not pregnant, drink about five or six ounces of tonic water before bed time (over time you will be able to adjust the amount upwards or downwards as suits you). Tonic water contains quinine which stops leg cramping. When we sleep, we tend to cut off circulation in our legs which causes the muscles to cramp. The quinine evens this out.
If you absolutely cannot stand the taste of tonic water, check with your pharmacy about quinine pills.
Lindaru ;)
If you absolutely cannot stand the taste of tonic water, check with your pharmacy about quinine pills.
Lindaru ;)
brida
05-31-2008, 09:20 PM
How soon would this type of symptom show up in a pregnancy?
If I am pregnant, I would only be a couple weeks a long--- I had my period 2 weeks ago.
I will try the Tonic water. Can I get it at my regular grocery store?
If I am pregnant, I would only be a couple weeks a long--- I had my period 2 weeks ago.
I will try the Tonic water. Can I get it at my regular grocery store?
bethsheba
05-31-2008, 09:32 PM
Legs cramps that you describe have often been attributed to an electrolyte imbalance which heavy sweating, dehydration, an improper diet, or the stomach flu can bring about.
Potassium, calcium, and magnesium need to be in a certain ratio to meet the body's daily requirements and to prevent leg cramps. Eating enough fruits and veggies can correct the problem as long as it isn't due to the body's inability to absorb some of these nutrients.
Bethsheba
Potassium, calcium, and magnesium need to be in a certain ratio to meet the body's daily requirements and to prevent leg cramps. Eating enough fruits and veggies can correct the problem as long as it isn't due to the body's inability to absorb some of these nutrients.
Bethsheba
Lindaru
05-31-2008, 10:31 PM
Brida . . . you can get the tonic water at any grocery store.
If you are early in pregnancy, it should be okay but complications can occur later on. Check with your doctor if the tonic water does not work or if you think you may be pregnant.
Bethsheba . . . how would we be able to find out if we are imbalanced or not absorbing? A lot of women in my husband's family and myself have had this happen to us with the night time only leg cramps. One doctor told one of my in-laws that it was a circulation thing related to position at night.
If we could cure this another way (husband gets these, too, but refuses to do either tonic water or quinine), that would be great.
Lindaru :)
If you are early in pregnancy, it should be okay but complications can occur later on. Check with your doctor if the tonic water does not work or if you think you may be pregnant.
Bethsheba . . . how would we be able to find out if we are imbalanced or not absorbing? A lot of women in my husband's family and myself have had this happen to us with the night time only leg cramps. One doctor told one of my in-laws that it was a circulation thing related to position at night.
If we could cure this another way (husband gets these, too, but refuses to do either tonic water or quinine), that would be great.
Lindaru :)
glamour girl
06-01-2008, 01:23 AM
Use can just drink Gatorade.. That helps heaps with leg cramps too.
Available anywhere.
Available anywhere.
aussiejono
06-01-2008, 02:44 AM
Take 50mg of diphenhydramine(benadryl) at bedtime, and give your calves a good massaged before going to sleep
bethsheba
06-01-2008, 09:38 AM
....Bethsheba . . . how would we be able to find out if we are imbalanced or not absorbing? A lot of women in my husband's family and myself have had this happen to us with the night time only leg cramps. One doctor told one of my in-laws that it was a circulation thing related to position at night.......
Hello Lindaru,
I take no stock whatsover in the circulation at night theory...other theories supported by government and university research suggest more plausable explanations.
I used to get leg cramps (or charlie horses as we used to call them) at night and sometimes when I swam in the swimming pool. Years ago I learned that increasing one's potassium would eliminate the cramps. I haven't had charlie horses since I was a kid....and just for the record, we didn't have access to the fruits and veggies in the winter months when I was a kid that we do now.
When I started taking a diuretic for blood pressure, I had problems with leg spasms and started doing alot of reading about these kinds of problems as my primary and my sleep specialist (the leg spasms interfered with my sleep) were of NO help here and denied it had anything to do with the medication I was on (a diuretic for blood pressure). When I discontinued the diuretic, my spasms disappeared...that's when I, despite my doctors denials, knew there was a correlation between my meds and my leg problems. In the last year I have done some serious reading about leg spasm, leg cramps, and other unwanted body movements. From what I've read, magnesium is the key but other electrolytes in a proper balance are needed for processing the magnesium.
From what I know, electrolyte imbalances can come and go so although a lab test may show "normal" one day, it may not show a "normal" the next day....if I'm off base here, someone please correct me. For example, someone who eats a well balanced diet can run in a marathon and end up with an electrolyte imablance if they don't replenish their liquids and their salts (calcium, magnesium, potassium)...that's why they have rehydration drinks in addition to water at competitive and charity runs/walks/whatevers.
Glamour girl's suggestion of Gatorade is an example of a rehydration drink that replenishes electrolytes but there are others...lots of runners and other athletes drink the stuff (I can't handle it personally) but perhaps you could interest your husband in doing so because many men rehydrate this way.
They sometimes add fruit flavors/juices to quinine water and if the quinine works, it may be the fruit additives that help and not the actual quinine.
Instead of having lab testing done, I would suggest making sure you ate something with potassium, calcium, and magnesium everyday...for example, a glass of orange juice or a banana, a glass of milk, and some peanut butter...but there are many, many other options. If improving your diet doesn't work, get the lab work done, and ask for a referral to a dietician. Although there are a number of reasons for malabsorption, a poor diet is probably the most likely.
Bethsheba
Hello Lindaru,
I take no stock whatsover in the circulation at night theory...other theories supported by government and university research suggest more plausable explanations.
I used to get leg cramps (or charlie horses as we used to call them) at night and sometimes when I swam in the swimming pool. Years ago I learned that increasing one's potassium would eliminate the cramps. I haven't had charlie horses since I was a kid....and just for the record, we didn't have access to the fruits and veggies in the winter months when I was a kid that we do now.
When I started taking a diuretic for blood pressure, I had problems with leg spasms and started doing alot of reading about these kinds of problems as my primary and my sleep specialist (the leg spasms interfered with my sleep) were of NO help here and denied it had anything to do with the medication I was on (a diuretic for blood pressure). When I discontinued the diuretic, my spasms disappeared...that's when I, despite my doctors denials, knew there was a correlation between my meds and my leg problems. In the last year I have done some serious reading about leg spasm, leg cramps, and other unwanted body movements. From what I've read, magnesium is the key but other electrolytes in a proper balance are needed for processing the magnesium.
From what I know, electrolyte imbalances can come and go so although a lab test may show "normal" one day, it may not show a "normal" the next day....if I'm off base here, someone please correct me. For example, someone who eats a well balanced diet can run in a marathon and end up with an electrolyte imablance if they don't replenish their liquids and their salts (calcium, magnesium, potassium)...that's why they have rehydration drinks in addition to water at competitive and charity runs/walks/whatevers.
Glamour girl's suggestion of Gatorade is an example of a rehydration drink that replenishes electrolytes but there are others...lots of runners and other athletes drink the stuff (I can't handle it personally) but perhaps you could interest your husband in doing so because many men rehydrate this way.
They sometimes add fruit flavors/juices to quinine water and if the quinine works, it may be the fruit additives that help and not the actual quinine.
Instead of having lab testing done, I would suggest making sure you ate something with potassium, calcium, and magnesium everyday...for example, a glass of orange juice or a banana, a glass of milk, and some peanut butter...but there are many, many other options. If improving your diet doesn't work, get the lab work done, and ask for a referral to a dietician. Although there are a number of reasons for malabsorption, a poor diet is probably the most likely.
Bethsheba
Lindaru
06-01-2008, 12:25 PM
Thank you, Bethsheba. I will pass this information on to the others. I definitely do three or four servings a day of dairy but not sure where I am at on potassium and magnesium. May have to add that to my search for supplements.
Thanks!
Lindaru :)
Thanks!
Lindaru :)
bethsheba
06-01-2008, 07:05 PM
...I definitely do three or four servings a day of dairy but not sure where I am at on potassium and magnesium. May have to add that to my search for supplements....
You're welcome, Lindaru.
The 3-4 servings of dairy a day is great but keep in mind that too much calcium can interfere with the absorbtion of magnesium so it's important to do some reading about the recommended daily requirements for these nutrients.
As for supplements, when it came to using supplements to increase potassium, magnesium, and calcium levels for people with hypertension, government researchers found that vitamin supplements were not as effective as real food. They theorize that things like fiber and trace minerals play a role in how we metabolize our nutrients...that may or may not be the case for an electrolyte imbalance but why take a chance when foods are tastier and often cheaper.
Take care!
Bethsheba
You're welcome, Lindaru.
The 3-4 servings of dairy a day is great but keep in mind that too much calcium can interfere with the absorbtion of magnesium so it's important to do some reading about the recommended daily requirements for these nutrients.
As for supplements, when it came to using supplements to increase potassium, magnesium, and calcium levels for people with hypertension, government researchers found that vitamin supplements were not as effective as real food. They theorize that things like fiber and trace minerals play a role in how we metabolize our nutrients...that may or may not be the case for an electrolyte imbalance but why take a chance when foods are tastier and often cheaper.
Take care!
Bethsheba
Linda_in_NJ
06-01-2008, 07:21 PM
Low potassium caused my leg cramps. Get some bloodwork done.
Feel better.
PS They are very painful
Feel better.
PS They are very painful
Misty800
06-01-2008, 07:45 PM
V-8 Juice is a good source for potassium.
ibake&pray
06-02-2008, 03:35 PM
Bananas, watermelon, cantelope are all high in potassium which is one of minerals that when you lack-causes charlie horses. Not changing posititons at night just causes you to get stiff and sore......But not having enough magnesium and potassium will cause leg cramps. Actually I have found that whenI am short of potassium I cramp quicker....Potassium is found in bananas and as little as a half a banana can be enough to raise your levels. Watermelon is also a good source as are the melons. It is an easy mineral to get enough of once you know what to eat. Suppliments can fill the bill also...
An there's alot to be said for a good gin and tonic!;)
An there's alot to be said for a good gin and tonic!;)