Cramp

[MsBehave]

What causes cramp and why should raising you legs help get rid of cramp in your feet/legs? Just curious.

On another note... Occasionally i get woken up by cramp in my calf(s). This happens once or twice every 4 months or so. Its annoying and i want to know why it happens. As far as i know i dont sleep awkwardly! lol.

Also, is going to the gym (i use running and cycling machines, cross trainer and stepper) a good idea?

Thanks

[jno]

I've been told that it helps to make sure you get enough salt in your diet.

[twiglet4frog]

my gran age 87 wass getting cramps in her legs and was advised that an old wives tale of drinking a bottle of tonic water a day would keep them at bay. she decided to give it a go out of despair and rarely has cramp at all now. she isnt on any other medication or exercising any more than normal but the tonic water seems to be stopping the cramps in her legs. might be a cheap thing to try out and see if it helps (give it a couple of weeks)

[Clanad]

The mechanism casuing leg cramps is not well understood.  Having said that, a leg cramp, as you probably know, is a sudden, sometimes violent, contraction of a muscle.  They are most common in muscles that cross two joints so the legs are unusually suited for such cramps.  Out of condition leg muscles are a known contributor to cramps, as well as the lack of stretching and the lack of sufficient water intake.  Overweight people (not neccessarily obese) seem to suffer more often than those whose weight is better maintained.  BTW, if you start going to the gym, start gradually, lots of stretching, lots of cool down time and don't exercise vigorously just before bed... Good luck...

[dmsjps]

twiglet's right: my dad suffered with terrible cramp for years but when he took the doctor's advice and started  drinking tonic water, it worked for him too. If you don't like the taste of it on its own, you could use it instead of water to dilute some orange squash or somthing.

[Woodstock]

I used to get cramp a lot and was told it was due to lack of salt in my diet, but in these days of trying to cut down on salt intake it's hard to achieve a balance.  However, I had heard that doctors used to treat cramp with quinine (perhaps still do), and that there is quinine in tonic water so that's what I take.  Seems to do the trick.

[dmsjps]

Woodstock, you're right. I couldn't think what the ingredient was called that helps to cure it, but it is quinine! Thank you, I've been bashing my head on the desk all evening trying to remember what it was. Well, not literally, but you know ...

[spangle111]

If you, like me, can't stand the taste of tonic water, the doctor can prescribe quinine pills - no cramp and no foul taste either!

[MsBehave]

Thanks everybody, really appreciate the help and suggestions. I have never tried tonic water but will give it a bash.

With regards to gyming it last night i took Clanads advise and concentrated more than usual on warming up and cooling down and my legs feel a lot better today!  :O)  I also did some stretching before bed which i think helped.

[grannyg]

I know you will say it's an old wives tale but I put a cork in my son's bed and that cured his cramp. It has since worked for me. So that it doesn't roam around the bed put it between the sheet and the matress at the foot of the bed.

[crisgal]

i suffered terrible cramps when i was pregnant and had an egg cup of salt by the bed. as soon as the cramp came on I licked my finger, dipped it in the salt and wiped it on my tongue. the cramp went IMMEDIATELY. I know it sounds bonkers, but i swear it worked every time!

[MsBehave]

Weird but i shall try both those suggestions too! :o)