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

Have you tried taking Magnesium supplement? Or using Magnesium oil? Google Magnesium as there are some good articles out there about Magnesium and muscle cramps.
The Magnesium oil is rubbed directly into skin. It best when mixed with a carrier oil of your choice. I use coconut oil. I use both for leg cramps. I also soak in a tub with Epsom salts. There is also an over the counter supplement called SPORT LEGS (available on Amazon) this has helped me considerably when cycling or swimming when I frequently get cramps.
Pickle juice also works.
One question.....are you on cholesterol medication? Statins can cause cramping. My sister had the same cramping you are describing and she was on statins. Talk to your doctor if you are taking them. She actually got off of them and no more cramps for her.

I had been getting "Charlie Horses" from time to time. Recently try to do some squats at home every day and have also been soaking in a jetted tub (don't need it to be jetted though) with Dr. Teal's Epsom Salts (which is magnesium). I put in two or three handfuls under running water and try to stay in the tub no less than 15 minutes. I think it not only helps with leg/foot cramps but also with reducing inflammation. I have osteoarthritis (knees and fingers) as well as carpal tunnel. I think it helps these too, and feel like a million dollars after these baths. I purposely don't rinse off my knees in the shower afterwards (although not doing so my be drying to your skin).

I have also been taking magnesium pills (300 to 500 mg) daily. I don't know if this helps. It is my understanding that magnesium is better absorbed through the skin in bath water.

@marthajean Welcome to connect Your right anything is better absorbed through the skin I too have leg cramps but deal with them with Epsom Salt rub there is a product by ProCure

so now 3 years after this @gkleiner1 post I found another possibility. I'm going to look IT up. I've tried extra magnesium which I found someone had said worked and I've tried even extra water which puts me at over 1 liter per day of water. That one worked for about 4 nights but now I am back to having the foot, ankle and low calf and shin cramping at night. I wake up about 1.5 hrs after retiring to bed, then about every hour afterwards with cramping. There has to be something. My friend told me that a coach for a high school tennis group gives packets of mustard to the player when he has cramps. My friend said she tried it and it did work. I can't bear to try it. There is no way I can squirt an entire packet of mustard into my mouth and then swallow it. Does anyone have a cause or remedy?

My mother and mother in-law swear by a bar of Dove soap at the bottom of their beds between their sheets and blankets. I haven’t tried it, but have tried mustard and that does work sometimes for me.

@donnacarp, @migizii, @lioness, @artscaping, @sueinmn and all....This is something I've experienced and it's awful, a really tough way to wake up and for me I had nights of hours of cramping. Do you have any idea what's causing this issue? Have you seen a doctor about this? The cramping I had and still occasionally have, was caused by low potassium levels in my blood, and some other wonky blood levels. It's not something to play around with....it can indicate a serious underlying issue causing the problem that may be a symptom your doctor needs to help you address.

FYI: I have hormone problems that cause my potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron and other levels to run low. Once we identified that issue and put me on a replacement med for aldosterone, I am much better. I use Voltaren creme on my legs and feet when they cramp, or back which can also lead to leg cramping. You can get voltaren over the counter now and it might help get through until you get to the doctor. The salt baths are wonderful, and since you do take them, I suppose you can still get in and out of the tub. That's wonderful! I can't and it would only be a lovely temporary help at best, like it sounds like it is with you.

Suggestion, tomorrow, if you haven't seen your doctor, call him and get his advice. That's number one. Secondly, drink plenty - a reasonable amount - of water daily, not too much. Too little or too much can cause you problems. So, like Goldilocks, just right.

Eat fresh bananas, fruits, and then get yourself a real diagnosis.

Let us know what happens.....You are connecting with folks who may have similar experiences, but very different bodies and very different issues causing what's happening. So, don't depend on anyone but take control of yourself, you find the answers beginning with your doc.
Sounds like a plan? You'll get a bunch of suggestions in a few minutes from some very wise folks.....
Blessings, may tonight be free of the cramping and you rest. Elizabeth

@ess77
I was watching how to eat properly if you have neuropathy. One thing they mentioned was lack of water can cause cramps. Just something to think about.
Take care,
Jake

last night when I had dinner I used mustard as a dipping sauce. No cramping last night

@ess77 Hi Elizabeth I found that my iron was low so added iron to my pills also make sure to drink alot of water 64oz is recommended a day. For instant relief I drink a couple of swallows of Dill pickle juice I think it's the vinegar in it that does the trick. Hot washcloth over area .All good tips