@shara
I have struggled off and on with nighttime leg cramps for years. Recently it has been more on than off. I won't go through the history, but will tell you what I'm doing currently. I have PN in my feet and experience the tingling and burning, plus a sharp pain in my left foot from time to time that lasts just a few seconds. I take amitriptyline 30mg and 900mg R-Alpha Lipoic Acid for the PN and have good success. I do not know if the cramps are a result of the PN, so I don't know if those two items have any positive bearing on them.
So to reduce the chance of leg cramps while I sleep, here is my focus:
1. plenty of water
2. plenty of movement, including stretching; the more the better
3. I don't let my legs get cold. In the A/C, I wear long pants and I bought a large heating pad that will wrap around my legs. Especially before bed.
4. I massage my calves and feet with magnesium oil spray (it's really not an 'oil' so it washes off your hands easily)
5. I wear short socks and leg warmers to bed.
6. I take CoQ10, 100 mg one hour before bed, along with 400mg of magnesium glycinate (this apparently is the best for absorption)
7. I do heel raises several times a day to strengthen my calf muscles so they can pump the blood better.
8. I practice relaxing breathing after I get into bed.
9. Last but certainly not least, I pray for God to use the things I've done during the day, whether they were well done or not.
Is it overkill? Maybe. I'm still working on that. But most nights I do not have any leg cramps. And the ones I do have are minor and I don't have to hop out of bed to make them go away. 🙂