Horrible leg cramps

[val92083]

Hi everyone!

Lately, I have been suffering from terrible leg cramps. They don't occur during my workouts, they happen either when I am in bed or lounging on the couch watching tv. They are so bad that I cannot get rid of them without my husband having to massage them out for me.(Which would be a nice thing, if I weren't in such pain! ) And even then, if I move my leg too soon, the cramps come right back. Last night, while watching tv, I got a horrible cramp in my upper inner thigh. Man, it hurt!

Is there something missing from my diet that could be causing these cramps?

Thanks!

Veronica

 

[Loriv]

I would say ask your doctor, but even my doctor had to guess. I have always gotten leg cramps at night, but it seems the older I get, the worse they get. To keep them from keeping me up at night I exercise regularly (6-7 days a week), take a multi-vitamin and an extra Vitamin E tab. I have been told that I get leg cramps because I need more potassium, more iron, more Vitamin E, etc. No one really knows. My doctor told me to just start trying things and eventually I would find something that took the leg cramps away. I stretch twice daily, once in morning after jogging and once at night right before bed, and that seems to help. My best bet is to work my body so hard during the day that I am totally exhausted at night and I sleep through them. Another thing that causes my leg cramps is when my feet and legs are too hot. Coolness seems to help. When I get them at night, I walk out onto a cold floor and they go away. Lots of luck!!!

 

[Lynda]

My mom used to get terrible leg cramps at night and her doctor told her to eat a banana before going to bed. It's a good source of potassium I think. It worked for her, but she was no athlete.

 

[val92083]

Thanks!

I'll try the banana before bed, and I think I will do more stretching. The only stretching I do is whatever is on the tapes, and maybe I need to do more.

Thanks for your help!

Veronica

 

[hiitdogs]

Veronica:

I had pretty bad leg cramps a few years back, my doctor told me to take Magnesium because I probably don't get enough in my diet and especially when you exercise you need a lot more. I took it for a few weeks and it improved drastically. They also gave it to me when I had preterm labor with my first baby and they were able to stop it. It has worked well for me.
But be sure you buy a magnesium supplement, not the one combined with Calcium. I know they are popular, however, the Calcium seems to prevent the absorption of the magnesium, so at least I read.
Hope this helps!

Carola

 

[val92083]

Thanks Carola!

 

[Cruncholi]

Veronica,
I believe that dehydration can also be a cause of leg cramps. Do you drink plenty of water (minimum of 64 ounces per day)? You should probably check with your doctor like the others suggested.
Cruncholi