Nighttime Leg Cramps

Posted by peterstl @peterstl, Feb 25 9:02am

I have been diagnosed with microbacterium abscesses. I am on three antibiotics a day. I’ve recently been experiencing leg cramps in the middle of the night which awakens me and I need to get up and walk around. Has anyone else had this problem?

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kenj29 | @kenj29 | Feb 27 8:59am

I use magnesium cream by Ancient Minerals, available on Amazon. I rub it into the muscle areas that I had a problem with, and I seldom get cramps any more.

rozie83 | @rozie83 | Feb 27 9:58am

In reply to @ckscoville "@rozie83 Thanks for the heads-up!" + (show)

@ckscoville I wish someone would have warned me. I am 84 so my memory loss may be due to age too

juliea55 | @juliea55 | Mar 5 6:13am

I am not on the big three but am taking immunotherapy drugs and sometimes get severe calf and feet cramps. My doctor suggested magnesium but my magnesium levels are checked regularly and are fine. Drinking a glass of water almost always helps and if they are severe running both hot and cold water over my legs will stop them.

lindabreathless | @lindabreathless | Mar 6 7:18am

My husband swears by pickle juice. He also suffers from severe cramping. He says it works very quickly after he drinks a small bottle of 2 oz.

peterstl | @peterstl | Mar 6 8:41am

In reply to @lindabreathless "My husband swears by pickle juice. He also suffers from severe cramping. He says it works..." + (show)

@lindabreathless
Thank you! 🙏

karli1 | @karli1 | Mar 6 11:03am

I keep prepared mustard at my bedside table. A small dab on the tongue when the leg cramps begin and they disappear within seconds.
Pickles or pickle juice works the same.
Only effective when the cramps occur.
My doctor recommended this and it works for me every time.

blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Mar 6 1:32pm

In reply to @juliea55 "I am not on the big three but am taking immunotherapy drugs and sometimes get severe..." + (show)

@juliea55 Many medications have sodium as a base. Sodium/potassium/magnesium are important to work together.
I find taking a potassium tablet, to balance out the sodium, every couple or so days, don't want to overdo it, helps along with banana smoothies and bananas with greek yogurt.
Barbara

juliea55 | @juliea55 | Mar 6 7:06pm

Thank you for the great suggestions!

laughlin1947 | @laughlin1947 | Mar 7 10:29am

In reply to @rozie83 "I get leg cramps (and hand cramps). I use a product called Theraworx which I get..." + (show)

@rozie83 The bananas you eat are probably mostly helpful for potassium intake. You can still afford to take more potassium however. The MDR is pretty high for potassium, it is hard to get enough via foods. When I work in the yard and/or do something with my hands like mow the lawn and hold tightly onto the handlebar, then later I will get excorticating cramps. But I take a couple of potassium gluconate tablets and within a very few minutes, the cramps have disappeared. Take the tablets ahead of time, anticipating the cramps, and it works even better that way. Potassium tablets via Swanson Vitamins are very inexpensive. A medical doctor I met on a dog walk suggested the magnesium chloride as being her first choice for cramping.

laughlin1947 | @laughlin1947 | Mar 7 10:31am

In reply to @blm1007blm1007 "@juliea55 Many medications have sodium as a base. Sodium/potassium/magnesium are important to work together. I find..." + (show)

@blm1007blm1007 It would be very hard to take too much potassium. The MDR is really high and you can't really reach that via food intake. The body will eliminate any potassium it does need for the day.