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

Hello, Linda @lioness, Thanks for the tips. I drink 64 oz daily, have for several years as I have had many years of fluid retention problems, sometimes serious. I recently last year received a legitimate diagnosis for the first time since high school.....I have primary aldosteronism, my aldosterone hormone doesn't work like it should. Thus, my blood potassium was always very low, at times dangerously so. I have sodium blood retention causing too much sodium causing high blood pressure; actually, several hormones are wonky and cause several issues like this. Add to that the thyroid issues and I must be very careful what I put into my mouth/body.....no added salt for over 50years, when pregnant with my son. None!

This edema problem caused me to spend 4 days in hospital in 2019 for CHF, then during a year long recovery I was diagnose with MS for the 3rd time, which was again a mistaken diagnosis. The problems at the time were largely hormonal, discovered at Mayo thankfully. Now, with daily meds and life changes my heart is better - have an aortic aneurysm, but not CHF.

I still work with edema problems, so I can't drink too much water, have to be sure to keep it in the right range as I take diuretics daily for the primary aldosteronism. Make sense??? Things get complicated, at times, eh?

Love pickles....BUT, were I to drink pickle juice or eat a pickle or eat anything with any vinegar in it, I'd be in hospital ED ASAP! I have bad reflux, Gerd, and vinegar is a dangerous thing for me. So is mustard or any such food stuff. You are drinking a lot of sodium with that pickle juice BTW, which may not be a good thing for fluid retention, high blood pressure, heart issues....just be careful with all these kinds of things when we have so many issues combined. Never know what balance in our bodies we may be upsetting. I've found it's very much a balancing act, watching what goes in and what goes out!

Also, I'm sure your doctor told you when he put you on iron supplement that you should add C as well. C helps the body accept and better use the iron, keeps it from upsetting your tummy if it might. The iron I take is called Vitron, Iron+C, over the counter but prescribed by name by the Mayo doc. It is working so well. I'm much better, that plus Requip as a dopamine enhancer in the brain have truly saved my life!

Love hearing from you. Hope some of this makes sense and helps with your cramping....blessings, and stay well. elizabeth

@ess77 I don't drink it to often since I am on iron and c my legs don't cramp hardly at all any more thanks for your concern wow you sure have a juggling act with your body Bless you I,m glad the Requip and it's has helped and is
I don't use hardly any salt eggs yes that's about all Have gotten away from it and sugar But with this lockdown we had here I put on to much weight so going on diet next item on my list of to do,s Take care L

@ess77
I take iron since I donate blood products so often. I was taking vit C with the iron but it didn't make much difference. But my hemoglobin increased much more after I started taking it with orange juice a couple of hours before eating. I also eat cereal with 18mg of iron (recommended daily allowance) and I switched from putting milk on it which impeds iron absorption to orange juice which increases absorption.
Take care,
Jake

Hi Everyone. Theraworx!!!! An amazing product made just for cramp and spasm relief. You can buy it anywhere. I used to have scream in the middle of the night, grab my calf, try to work it out manually cramps. Now I apply Theraworx, and in a short time, I'm back in bed sleeping. I don't know what's in it, but it has never failed me. Good luck! Sue

@ashby1947, I'm glad that you found something that works for your leg cramps.

When considering supplements, complementary or alternative treatments, be open-minded yet skeptical. Learn about the potential benefits and risks. Here is an article from Mayo Clinic that might interest you about evaluating claims made by the producers and/or sellers of supplements, natural products and other alternative medicines. http://mayocl.in/2tGC0Jp

I had not heard of Theraworx and therefore I did an Internet search and found this information.
A study published in 2018, concluded that "The homeopathic solution may provide a complimentary therapy to treating Nocturnal Leg Cramps (NLC) and associated symptoms.
- The Effect Of Theraworx Relief On Night-Time Leg Cramps And Associated Symptoms https://kaizo-health.com/chiropractic-health-and-wellness-blog/relief-on-night-time-cramps/

However, Nov 2020, the National Advertising Division (NAD) questioned the company's health claims stating there is insufficient evidence.
- NAD Recommends That Health Claims for Theraworx Relief for Muscle and Joint Products Be Discontinued (2020) https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/nad-recommends-that-health-claims-for-61909/
"The National Advertising Division (NAD) carefully reviewed the studies submitted by Avadim Health, Inc., (the company that makes the product) in support of its health claims for both of its products and determined that the evidence was not a good fit for the claims. ... The NAD also recommended that Avadim discontinue its claim that “healthcare professionals recommend” Theraworx products, since Avadim presented no survey evidence of healthcare professionals to show that a substantial portion recommend its products."

My husband has regular leg cramps that he cannot get worked out. He tried theraworks, and it did help. The primary ingredient is magnesium, the rest was just fluff. I did some research and purchased a product called calm, this is a magnesium powder that is an electrolyte replacement. I mix a tsp. In a glass of water and he drinks it. The cramps go away quickly and he does not need it again for sometimes a week. The doctor said these cramps are cause by too much or not enough water, causing an electrolyte imbalance. Your body will eliminate what you don’t need if you add them. Beware too much oral magnesium, it will give you bowel side effects. I have another friend who mixes calm into a lotion and just uses a bit on the muscles and said that helps at a fraction of the price of theraworks. I always look for moderation in any of these products. If it truly works, ask why, then ask if it is safe.

Hello, everyone. @auntieoakley, @colleenyoung, @ashby1947, @sueinmn , @jakedduck1, @lori76, @lioness, @gingerw, @becsbuddy, @jude07, and all.....Bing on calm. then, click on the pic of the aquarium and youtube marimba music and water sounds, This is a good app for meditation and sleep. I love the marimba and water/fish. Lovely.

Seems this meditation app co in calif. produces the calm magnesium your mentioning, @auntieoakley???? uses the same artwork/logo???? interesting. magnesium, potassium, chloride, sodium, all the electrolytes are water soluble, I think????, and have to be replaced. that's one reason it's important NOT to drink TOO much water, upsets the balance we must have for everything to perk along, especially the heart I guess. I take daily supplements of potassium and magnesium, etc. love this music...playing as I write you....blessings in this peaceful, calm place....elizabeth

Nope! Correction....not the same logo....duh! same word......same color blue! Believe that? I am really calm.....ess77

@ess77 But make sure you drink a bottle of smart water or whatever brand that can rep,Elisha your electrolytes especially when you sweat alot then its good to drink to replenish

So glad to see this comment on leg cramps. I don't get them all the time, maybe several times in the week. When I first got them, they were excruciating. But then when I felt them coming on, I learned how to relax my leg and do a little stretching, which seems to ward off the cramps. I seem to get them mainly when I'm lying in bed, perhaps more often in the morning rather than night. I did notice that on one of my medications it said that cramps (don't recall if it said leg cramps) can be a side effect of it. I was never aware of anything one could take for cramps!!!