Leg/foot cramps

[nancy324]

Anyone else get frequent leg/foot cramps?

I know I inherited this tendency from my mother. They seem to be more frequent lately. I asked my doctor about it and she said that they could come from drinking so much coffee! No kidding. Something about the caffeine destroying the magnesium in my body. My calcium/magnesium supplements help tremendously. But whenever I forget to take them, I get the worst leg cramps.

Just wondering how common a problem this is.

 

[saia11]

I get foot cramps fairly often, but not usually leg cramps. I've heard that upping your potassium intake or making sure you get adequate dietary potassium can help as well.
Mattea

 

[Dutchie42]

Lately I've been having them regularly. Particularly when I'm in bed. Some nights I jump out of bed with bad cramps like 5 times or more. And on occasion it has happened I was having great difficulty stretching the muscle. In my case I think a hard leg workout has a lot to do with it.

Dutchie

 

[Mckmain]

Hi Nancy....I get toe cramps sometimes....normally after a very long run. I turn over in bed about about scream!! http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/9/help.gif[/img] ......Carole

 

[nancy324]

I forgot to mention that they are nocturnal. I wonder why they only happen at night when I am ready to fall asleep? And yes, Dutchie, I too jump up out of bed in excrutiating pain several times per night when I have them. They start in the foot, but go all the way up the leg. Sometimes even my thighs are affected.

 

[merrybaker]

This would happen to me mostly while pregnant . I know your not preggo ,but My Dr Had me up my Vitamin D to help .So take more calcium/vitamin D... It really will help !!!! Good luck

 

[Dutchie42]

And you have to be so very careful when you slide back into bed, cause make the wrong move and it cramps up again I think when we're in bed about to fall asleep the muscles are very relaxed. Maybe they're so used to being worked out they don't like relaxtion Just kidding, but I do believe relaxation of the muscle has something to do with it, cause I don't have it as long as I'm busy.

Dutchie

 

[ColleenM]

Make sure to take potassium (but do not take too much) and also calcium carbonate. I think that is the one. There are two kinds; one is more expensive. That is the one that works better. DH used to get sever thigh cramps at night and I did some research on the internet. Once he started with the calcium, they were much better.

Colleen

 

[red_mct]

Another tip is to elevate your feet/calves on a couple of pillows. A friend of mine gets excruciating leg cramps and this is the only thing that helps.

Good luck!!
Marie