Nocturnal Leg Cramps - Help!

Posted by ashby1947 @ashby1947, Oct 20, 2019

Does anyone have a suggestion to help deal with foot/ankle/leg cramps in the middle of the night? I take plenty of calcium and magnesium and am thinking that I need to increase my potassium intake. Topical lotions (Theraworx, Tiger Balm, etc.) have not helped. I hope this is a good day for whoever is reading this! Sue

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lucasmom | @lucasmom | May 23 11:11am

I keep calcium and Magnesium (I have one pill has both) pills next to my bed at night. My cramps resolve withing a few minutes after taking it. I have taken just the calcium too and it works too.

kzeiss | @kzeiss | May 24 10:10am

Try drinking lots of tonic water with quinine. Helps a lot!

sdh4561 | @sdh4561 | May 25 8:40am

In reply to @kzeiss "Try drinking lots of tonic water with quinine. Helps a lot!" + (show)

Please read Harvard Health's information regarding tonic water before drinking it. it is not without possible side effects.

dmotwell | @dmotwell | May 25 12:35pm

Vlasic dill and pickles. Works amazingly well

hraka13 | @hraka13 | May 26 2:14am

Water and potassium. I found that orange juice (458 mg in 1 cup) has a lot more than a banana (422 mg in medium banana).
Potassium can interact with certain medications, including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and potassium-sparing diuretics. It’s a good thing to check with your doctor before adding something to your diet.

liveitup | @liveitup | May 26 8:16am

You can get Magnesium Cream that you rub on the bottoms of you feet and up your calfs. It absorbs easily through the skin. Also, Epsom salt baths or foot soaks.
Tonic water is also, helpful (love the stuff!)-- but, yes, it's not totally benign if you drink too much.
I going to give this product a try. They have discounts for chronic disease sufferers, teachers....
https://justaddbuoy.com/collections/all

peggyjean | @peggyjean | May 27 6:47am

If you are talking any kind of stomach meds Mayo suggested that I take magnesium & increase my fluids, I take magnesium everyday & sometimes if I can’t sleep because of leg crampsI take an extra one & it helps. Just do your research on the best absorbing kind… and what it’s good for…. I usually take about 400/500 mg everyday for maintenance & it usually works when I’m hydrated.

deanna2 | @deanna2 | May 27 10:11am

In reply to @hraka13 "Water and potassium. I found that orange juice (458 mg in 1 cup) has a lot..." + (show)

However, people, who need to watch their sugar levels, should realize that a cup of orange juice also contains significantly more sugar than one banana because it takes a number of oranges to make a cup of juice. So one should compare one orange to one banana to learn which fruit has more potassium. Both are healthy fruits if we don't eat (or drink) too many.

kathm650 | @kathm650 | May 29 11:05am

Hi! I had leg cramps so started on Magnesium and they have pretty much gone away. My daily routine includes a 30 min exercise routine in the AM (EssentricsTV) and a 30-50 min walk each night. If I don’t do those and am too sedentary (I love to sew!) then I would get leg cramps. When that happened, I would do some leg exercises in bed or on the worst nights get up and walk around the house which seemed to calm down my legs.
FYI - I started taking calcium and vitamin D supplements for osteoporosis at the same time as the Magnesuim just so you know the whole story! Good luck to you!