1. < Bones, Joints & Muscles

Severe leg cramps: How do you relax severe leg cramps?

Posted by Dawn, Alumni Mentor @dawn_giacabazi, Jun 25, 2016

Please someone tell me the trick to relax severe leg cramps????
Lord, they are lasting 1-2 hours, debilitating pain. Can't walk them off. Starting behind the knees down to my toes. Some curl my toes some point them. Tried stretching, bio feedback relaxation. NO HELP!! HELP!

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catlover4884 | @catlover4884 | Sep 6, 2018

Yep. Pickle juice. Liquid quinine. Magnesium. Potassium. Sodium. Calcium. Hot baths. Hot showers. Massages. Vibrators. I've tried EVERYTHING - even really stupid things that I found on n the internet. I've had every test known - bloodwork, muscle stimulation and conduction. Nothing wrong found. Nothing worked except quinine. My legs would cramp: calves, quads, other thigh muscles, feet, hands, toes and fingers all cramped. It was horrible. And if I go off quinine for more than a day, I'm all crippled up again. Quinine has made SUCH an improvement in my life that I can't imagine not having it.

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2 replies
Ann broussard | @user_ch98d0b5c | Sep 6, 2018
In reply to @catlover4884 "Yep. Pickle juice. Liquid quinine. Magnesium. Potassium. Sodium. Calcium. Hot baths. Hot showers. Massages. Vibrators. I've..." + (show)
@catlover4884

Yep. Pickle juice. Liquid quinine. Magnesium. Potassium. Sodium. Calcium. Hot baths. Hot showers. Massages. Vibrators. I've tried EVERYTHING - even really stupid things that I found on n the internet. I've had every test known - bloodwork, muscle stimulation and conduction. Nothing wrong found. Nothing worked except quinine. My legs would cramp: calves, quads, other thigh muscles, feet, hands, toes and fingers all cramped. It was horrible. And if I go off quinine for more than a day, I'm all crippled up again. Quinine has made SUCH an improvement in my life that I can't imagine not having it.

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How do you take it and how much?

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2 replies
Jordan Lovejoy | @jlovejoy23 | Sep 6, 2018

My dad gets pretty bad "Charlie horses" and he swears by mustard. He keeps a few packets next to his bed and eats it when he can feel one coming on or gets one and by the time he's walked to the steps it's already started to kick in.

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2 replies
catlover4884 | @catlover4884 | Sep 6, 2018
In reply to @user_ch98d0b5c "How do you take it and how much?" + (show)
@user_ch98d0b5c

How do you take it and how much?

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The quinine ?

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catlover4884 | @catlover4884 | Sep 6, 2018
In reply to @user_ch98d0b5c "How do you take it and how much?" + (show)
@user_ch98d0b5c

How do you take it and how much?

Jump to this post

It's a capsule prescription that I get from my doctor. I take it once a day at bedtime. I THINK it's about 200 mg or so. When the FDA started saying how dangerous it was, my PCP refused to continue to prescribe it. He was afraid it was too dangerous even though I (and my parents) had taken it for years. I even offered to sign a release of liability. I COULD have bought it from the internet from another country, but that scared me. I then consulted a sleep doctor who agreed to prescribe it for me. Bingo. Life saver.

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catlover4884 | @catlover4884 | Sep 6, 2018
In reply to @jlovejoy23 "My dad gets pretty bad "Charlie horses" and he swears by mustard. He keeps a few..." + (show)
@jlovejoy23

My dad gets pretty bad "Charlie horses" and he swears by mustard. He keeps a few packets next to his bed and eats it when he can feel one coming on or gets one and by the time he's walked to the steps it's already started to kick in.

Jump to this post

I wonder if he has some sort of deficiency: magnesium, potassium, etc. Whatever works ! Glad that mustard helps.

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catlover4884 | @catlover4884 | Sep 6, 2018
In reply to @dawn_giacabazi "@lioness I have had and tried hundreds of Medical and Home remedies with no relief. Absolutely..." + (show)
@dawn_giacabazi

@lioness
I have had and tried hundreds of Medical and Home remedies with no relief. Absolutely not effective in anyway for my condition. But thanks for the advice. It may help others.
For me the only relief that has been effective is rubbing/Massaging the Anti-antagonistic muscle group that is associated with the muscle that is cramping. I also avoid prolonged use of any particular muscle group by changing positions frequently.

Have you had success with the remedies you listed?

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Prescription Quinine pills.

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lioness | @lioness | Sep 6, 2018
In reply to @catlover4884 "Yep. Pickle juice. Liquid quinine. Magnesium. Potassium. Sodium. Calcium. Hot baths. Hot showers. Massages. Vibrators. I've..." + (show)
@catlover4884

Yep. Pickle juice. Liquid quinine. Magnesium. Potassium. Sodium. Calcium. Hot baths. Hot showers. Massages. Vibrators. I've tried EVERYTHING - even really stupid things that I found on n the internet. I've had every test known - bloodwork, muscle stimulation and conduction. Nothing wrong found. Nothing worked except quinine. My legs would cramp: calves, quads, other thigh muscles, feet, hands, toes and fingers all cramped. It was horrible. And if I go off quinine for more than a day, I'm all crippled up again. Quinine has made SUCH an improvement in my life that I can't imagine not having it.

Jump to this post

Catlover4884 by all means we all need to stay on what works quinine didn't help me much folks are different

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2 replies
lioness | @lioness | Sep 6, 2018
In reply to @jlovejoy23 "My dad gets pretty bad "Charlie horses" and he swears by mustard. He keeps a few..." + (show)
@jlovejoy23

My dad gets pretty bad "Charlie horses" and he swears by mustard. He keeps a few packets next to his bed and eats it when he can feel one coming on or gets one and by the time he's walked to the steps it's already started to kick in.

Jump to this post

Jlovejoy23 your Dad,s right pickle juice the same its the vinegar

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