Nocturnal Leg Cramps - Help!

@ashby1947 Hi just saw your post as Fl Mary said cramps are awful I agree with the right kind of Magnesium Glycinate is the best for immediate help ,drink dill pickle juice or eat mustard it's the vinegar that helps or mix some vinegar in water with honey but all the rest as above is important

Try doing some stretches to increase circulation before going to bed--I notice that sometimes my calf muscles are sore at the end of the day. I do the basic cat/cow/child yoga, pumping motions with elevated legs, edema massage of legs (toes to torso)--I am pretty limber, though. The Stick is great for massaging until the calves are not so sore. Twenty minutes of legs elevated against the wall. An epsom salt bath (magnesium) might help. I also use a heating pad/microwaveable hot pad before bed. If one muscle is especially sore, try a KT tape stretched down the leg; my primary issue is the one next to my shin. Compression socks during the day, especially if you are standing or sitting most of the time, might help. I know this sounds like a lot, but it is rather hit and miss for me. I ended up also going to a pain clinic for Percoset, which seems to help me sleep better.

I STARTED HAVING LEG CRAMPS ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, 8 TO 10 EVERY NIGHT MY HOLISTIC DOC CUT SOME HAIR OFF THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND FOUND I HAD A MAGNESIUM LEVEL OF .3. HE SAID IT SHOULD BE AROUND 7. SO I STARTED TAKING MAGNESIUM AND IT HELPED. I STARTED WITH 500-600 MG. I HAVE INCREASED ALITTLE AT A TIME TO KEEP THE CRAMPS DOWN. NOW I AM UP TO 3500 MG AND THE CRAMPS ARE WORSE THAN EVER. I TRYED SOME DOPE A DOPE DOC GAVE ME AND 2 WEEKS AGO I FELL DOWN THE STAIRS HERE AT MY HOUSE. WAS AT THE HOSPITAL FOR A DAY AND A HALF. DOPE DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE 40 TO 50 CRAMPS DAY AND NIGHT. WE CANNOT TRAVEL. I AM READY TO HAVE MY LEGS REMOVED. THAT WAY WE CAN AT LEAST TRAVEL.

Hi @crcape, sorry to hear about your frustrations and difficulties with ongoing leg cramps. As someone who deals with chronic joint issues and joint pain, I can relate to reaching such a level of frustration that you feel like removing the troublesome joint or body part would be the easiest path forward. Obviously, this is not a solution we can just choose to have, but chronic issues can often lead us to this line of thinking.

@crcape, you mentioned you have a holistic doc, have you met with any other medical providers to investigate the cause of your cramping further? You mentioned travel is difficult, but are you able to get to an appointment if you were able to get one scheduled? Before trying more medications, supplements, or other treatments, it may be wise to seek another opinion and further testing.

I SEEN MORE THAN DOZENS OF DOCS ALL DO THE BASIC BLOOD TEST AND SAY I AM FINE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE HOSPITAL 9 TIMES WHEN THE CRAMPS WILL NOT STOP COMING. ONE DOC TOLD SHE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I HAVE HAD TEST DONE BUT NO DOC HAS FOUND ANYTHING WRONG.

I changed my diet to Carnivore and soak in Epsom Salt baths. I do take Mag. And Cal. Cal is at 1800 a day for me…..no thyroid. I will assume you’ve been to have your T levels checked for Hypothyroidism……BIG…..if you haven’t you should immediately. I also use a weighted blanket……very helpful…..if I ever have another one, I check to see if I’ve forgotten to take a calcium and thats now always the culprit.

Night leg cramps
By Mayo Clinic Staff

I completely sympathize . I find that my cramps are MUCH WORSE on days where I do dance classes or very long walks because I: (1) don't do warm-down stretches after physical activity or I just sit in a car afterwards and get all cramped up; (2) I don't drink enough fluids that day; (3) I forget to take Magnesium Bisglycinate in the evening (or maybe needed a higher dose); (4) I neglect to get my calcium and potassium through food. (I can't take supplements for those vits. for other reasons and can't digest bananas); and (5) sit in what seems a comfortable way but WITHOUT BACK SUPPORT watching video on the tube or hanging out here on my computer.

If I do remember the warmdown/stretches post-exercise, drink PLENTY of fluids, take my magnesium and potassium/calcium through food, and sit supported, I get fewer cramps. But sometimes it is just heating pad, voltaren (found out recently that you can get a prescription voltaren at a much higher dose) and walking around the house at 1 am in the morning till they go away. I remember my 88-year-old uncle complaining about his leg cramps so I imagine it does go on until one day it won't matter at all but I hope that day is FAR off....All the best to all of you out there who have this issue...

I'm wondering if you should see a neurologist or ask your primary care doctor to arrange an EMG. The 8-10 leg cramps per night do not seem normal. My initial symptom of peripheral neuropathy was toe cramps that kept me awake all night. I now have leg cramps, but not at the frequency that you describe.

Hi Sue,
Are you sitting too much?
Are you getting enough water?
This was my issue. Once I started moving more and making sure I was well hydrated my cramps decreased tremendously. I hope these simple things help you. Good luck to you.
Jean