General Question

imrainmaker's avatar

Have you experienced nocturnal leg cramps?

Asked by imrainmaker (8380points) June 13th, 2018

If you have you know how much painful it is. I had first hand experience of it recently and it was awful. Did you have any treatment for that?

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12 Answers

Darth_Algar's avatar

I have. Treatment? Not much you can do other than trying to work the muscle to work the soreness out. Eating a banana, or something else high in potassium, can help some. Soaking in hot water might help relax the muscle as well.

chyna's avatar

I figured out mine was caused by my cholesterol medicine. I discussed it with my doctor and cut back on it.

canidmajor's avatar

I get “charley horses” a lot when I am in a changing circumstance, like traveling, or high stress projects and my eating patterns are different. (Like right now, when I’m visiting a friend at some altitude, in a completely different climate.)
At the time it happens, I slowly straighten out and stretch the affected muscle. It seems counterintuitive, but it pretty much eliminates the problem. Might be a little tender after, but noth8ng like how bad it is if you don’t.
Take a multivitamin to help with potassium.

LadyMarissa's avatar

Mine usually come from a sciatic nerve being inflamed. I usually go to my Chiropractor & she fixes me right up. Some comes from low Potassium or low Sodium & adjusting your diet might help. While on the midst of having one, I slide down in bed pressing my heel into the foot board on my bed & then turn my toes up toward my upper body. This stretches the muscles & that will often stop the pain albeit temporarily. Then I jump up out of bed putting all my weight on the foot of the leg that is in pain. That usually stops the cramping. Yes, the cramped muscle will remain sore for the rest of the day; but the actual pain will be relieved!!!

si3tech's avatar

@imrainmaker I use Hylands Leg Cramp Cream when the cramp is persistent. (keeps trying to cramp) It works.

kritiper's avatar

My father wrapped my legs in warm towels.

2davidc8's avatar

My mom had this problem, and she was advised to eat a banana (for the potassium content) every night. This is what she did, and it seemed to help.

Strauss's avatar

I get mild, occasional night leg cramps. 1 banana, 2 tokes cannabis, in any order will usually do the trick. Although I’ve used pot for recreation for many years, I consider this a medical use. I talked about it with my doctor, and even though he couldn’t officially prescribe it, he said if I find it works, he can’t see any harm in it.

imrainmaker's avatar

Thanks all for your suggestions!!

snowberry's avatar

I have had them also and sometimes I have wakened up screaming An easily absorbed form of magnesium such as magnesium citrate can also help.

Inspired_2write's avatar

Only when I have been sedentary for too long on the computer etc
Drink water more often daily ,for charlie horses it alleviates it.
Also circulation problems will cause the leg cramps at night..so walk . Go for hikes etc.
Sometimes even exercise causes pain in the legs as the muscles react by contracting and thus expand to get strong legs etc
I heard vitamin B6 ,B12 etc but I found in my case the hikes helped a lot..even if just around a couple of blocks in the neighborhood plus using the stairs instead of elevator .

cheebdragon's avatar

Bananas give me awful Charlie horses at night, The more severe cramps will have me instantly jumping out of bed because I’ve found that standing on one foot with my other foot can help them relax faster.

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