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

I get bad cramps in my calves when I’m at Pilates and it stops me from doing some of the exercises…..

@grandmabv Thank you!!! I will start today!!!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

I do this, as well from time to time- but I was told to take 4 oz- and I add 4 oz of water to make it palatable.

@catchercoach8 I wouldn’t recommend it. It can be downright dangerous and quinine is no longer recommended because of the side effects. Please investigate any recommendations before you wholeheartedly, adopt them!!

thrombocytopenia, severe bleeding, or heart rhythm issues. While low levels in tonic water are generally safe for most, excessive consumption can cause dangerous reactions. It is primarily FDA-approved only for treating malaria.
Key Health Risks and Information:
Adverse Reactions: Known side effects include cinchonism (headache, dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears/tinnitus, blurred vision).
Severe Complications: Rare but severe reactions include low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia), hemolytic uremic syndrome (kidney damage), and cardiac arrhythmias.
Contraindications: Should be avoided by those with known hypersensitivity, tinnitus, optic neuritis, or myasthenia gravis.
Tonic Water Intake: The FDA limits quinine in beverages to 83 ppm, which is much lower than therapeutic doses, but, for sensitive individuals, even small amounts can trigger adverse reactions.
Pregnancy: Quinine is generally advised against during pregnancy.
It is highly recommended to consult a doctor before using quinine for any condition other than malaria.
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Due to Drinking Tonic ...
Quinine is a common cause of drug-induced thrombocytopenia and the most common cause of drug-induced microangiopathy [7]. In a systematic review done by Liles e...

National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)

6:18
The Side Effects of Quinine (Tonic Water) to Boost GLP-1

YouTube·NutritionFacts.org
Will tonic water prevent nighttime leg cramps? - Harvard Health
Quinine is FDA-approved only for treating malaria. It is sold with a warning against using it to treat leg cramps or muscle pain, because it increases the risk ...

Harvard Health

Quinine - Wikipedia
The most common adverse effects involve a group of symptoms called cinchonism, which can include headache, vasodilation and sweating, nausea, tinnitus, hearing ...

Wikipedia

Quinine: not a safe drug for treating nocturnal leg cramps - PMC
Quinine is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity, a history of immune thrombocytopenic purpura or thrombotic microangiopathy, G6PD deficienc...

National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)
Quinine: Pediatric Medication | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer ...
Avoid giving your child foods or drinks that have quinine, such as tonic water. Low blood sugar has happened with this drug, especially during pregnancy. If you...

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Ototoxicity - Medscape Reference
Quinine toxicity can produce tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo, headache, nausea, and vision loss. Hearing loss is usually sensorineural and reversible. A charact...

Medscape
Quinine | Prescribing information | Leg cramps | CKS
What are the adverse effects of quinine? * Haematological: thrombocytopenia, intravascular coagulation, and pancytopenia. * Neurological: coma, vertigo, agitati...

CKS | NICE

@catchercoach8 this is also very unhealthy and a doctor wouldn’t recommend drinking pickle juice. It is loaded with salt and that could be really dangerous for some people.

It depends on the reason you’re having the cramps as to what the remedy would be. Sometimes people have a vitamin deficiency which causes their calf muscles to cramp at night. Sometimes people have an impinged nerve root coming out of their spine, which needs an x-ray or an MRI to determine if the cause is an impinged nerve route. I would suggest making sure you are eating well and taking some supplements like magnesium and be foliate vitamins to see if that resolves the matter. Also exercising and visiting an MFR therapist will help give you an understanding if you have glued facia, which is causing your muscles to go into spasm. You have to determine the source or the reason for the leg cramps before you can properly attend to them. When I was pregnant, I had the leg cramps because of my nutritional needs. Later on I had problems because my nerves were impinged coming out of my spine and after that I had problems because my muscles needed to be unglued. Good luck.

I have had chronic nighttime leg/calf/foot/hand cramps for years, probably approaching 20 years. I had multiple blood draws to try to find something out of balance, they found nothing. Tried neurologist, he prescribed 300mg Gabapentine. It did nothing. Was perscribed Cyclobenzaprine, it just made me tired in the morning, I tried all of the electrolytes, even though blood work did not indicate. Personal observations include the fact that I have diminished Sense of thirst, and if I monitor color of urine, it's a very good indicator if I will have problems that night. If I get home 5-7PM and realize I didn't drink much, I won't be able to drink enough water to offset the dehydration, but I try anyway. Have also noticed drinking a gatoraid can help reduce but not eliminate. Tried a homeopathic remedy to stop a leg cramp once it starts, and it WORKED in less than 60 seconds, Every Time (Caleb Treeze Old Amish Muscle Tonic 8 fl oz, Leg Cramps Relief, Foot Cramps Relief, Restless Legs, Muscle Cramps & Spasm Relief on Amazon) - reviewed the effecacy with my neurologist, and he said it is physiologically impossible for a compound to be taken orally and to kill a cramp in less than a minute, yet this apple cider vinegar with garlic did that very thing. Neurologist thought for a moment, and suggested that what MAY be happening, is that this awfully pucker-worthy solution may cause my brain to loose focus on the cramp, and focus on the awful taste, thereby loosing the grip on the muscle. He said next time I get one, try something else but equally as pungent. I tried a wedge of lemon. Well, it worked !

When you get a cramp that runs from the groin to your knee, and there is no possible way to stretch that muscle, and it feels like a 1" diameter rock hard tensed up tree-root / muscle that you can't kneed or rub out, and you are gritting your teeth and cursing because it hurts so frickin bad. Could it get worse? how about both legs cramp with the same tree-root muscle that you can't stretch out. Could it get worse? How about your quadriceps
and your hamstring cramping at the same time? Try stretching THAT out !! or another favorite, waking up with a cramp in your foot somewhere, the only way to stretch your foot is by standing on it, but when you jump out of bed to find your big toe is pointing straight up to the ceiling. WTF ??! You might think, as I did when I first saw this oddity, just force it down. Oh, you don't understand the pain till you try THAT. It seems so random and unexpected it's like evil spirits are torturing me with an invisible cramp poker of some kind. When it happens 5 times through out the night, you might get so pissed off that you will pound your fist into the cramping muscle as if you are trying to get even for the sleepless night and the pain it's delivering to you. "Take That! you fricking cramp !!! " You will be happy for the apple cider vinegar trick I mentioned, however it doesn't stop them from starting. I noticed later in the evening, if my hands / fingers start to contort in cramps, fingers moving into unnatural shapes, I know I'm going to have a bad cramp-filled night. ahead of me. I also have loaded up on the Hyland's melt under your tongue disolvable tabs, they are pretty fast and effective.

I went to a pain doctor recently, and told her about these cramps, and just "old man" related aches and pains. She said I need to lower my A1C which will reduce inflammation which would deal with the old-man-itis, but she also suggested two supplements, which have MOSTLY fixed the cramps. Woo Hoo !!
1) Magnesium L-Threonate. It's not cheep but it cannot be found in this form in nature, read about it.
2) T Relief arthritis formula - basically a homeopathic sugar pill with Arnica, that is most effective if you tuck it under your tongue and let it desolve, which takes a while. I tuck one in before I put my CPAP mask on, which helps keep my mouth moist from the trace sugar.

Keep hydrated, monitor your intake of electrolytes, and try these two supplements. Good luck!

Hi Dawn,
I am so sorry you are in pain. I started taking Gabapentin for an unrelated problem. I was surprised when my terrible cramping disappeared. Maybe this wouldn't be an option for you but you can investigate the possibility with your Dr.

@loriesco I drink some pickle juice and it does help a lot. I take magnesium every day but it has to be the right one. I think whatever helps you, you should continue. The rules set up by all medical organizations seem to have worked against helping people. All results like drinking quinine maybe another ivermectin hoax. We all need to do a lot of research for ourselves and try different things.

@charmedcandy I can't subscribe to irresponsibly says whatever works rule because of the harmful consequences! Things like too much salt (pickle juice) can cause people to have strokes if their BP rises too much! It can cause edema and kidney issues. Too much salt is really bad for people who have high blood pressure. Quinine is NOT an ivermectin hoax. Quinine has long helped people. But now we know and it has been BANNED for quite a long time. It should not be recommended under any circumstances. There is medicine which replaces it, that won't cause pulmonary embolisms!!!
Yes, the FDA has heavily restricted and largely banned the sale of unapproved, over-the-counter quinine products due to serious safety risks. The FDA ordered manufacturers to stop selling unapproved, high-dose quinine-containing drugs for off-label uses like leg cramps in 2006/2007. Only FDA-approved quinine (e.g., Qualaquin) is permitted for treating malaria, as it can cause fatal side effects, including arrhythmias, blood disorders, and renal failure.
Key Details on Quinine Restrictions:
OTC Ban (1994/2007): In 1994, the FDA banned over-the-counter (OTC) quinine for nocturnal leg cramps. In 2006, they ordered a stop to all marketing of unapproved, non-prescription, or improperly marketed quinine products.
Approved Usage: The only FDA-approved use for quinine is to treat malaria.
Risks: Quinine can cause severe side effects, such as cardiovascular problems, vision issues, deafness, and thrombocytopenia.
Tonic Water: Quinine in tonic water is not banned, as it contains only trace amounts for bitter flavoring.
Leg Cramps: Using quinine for leg cramps is generally considered off-label and not recommended by the FDA.