Cramp in my leg

[DC_FC]

I sometimes get cramp in my right calf, is there anything i can do to try and prevent it from happening, it tends to happen while im in bed at night, i thought if you stretched your toes it would help to lessen the pain but it didnt work unless what i read didnt apply to the calf

[ladyalex]

Try drinking tonic water. (With or without gin)

Seriously, the quinine in it is very helpful against cramp.

At the time, I'm afraid you have to get out of bed and stand on the affected leg. This will stretch out the affected muscle in your calf.
Good luck. It really hurts, I know.

[evedawn]

Perhaps you' re low in magnesium, try a supplement like Beroca Calmag?

[Goodsoulette]

There is nowhere near enough quinine to combat cramps and even then its highly debated as to whether it will work or not. If it happens regularly it might be worth getting a prescription of quinine tablets from your doctor.

Other things are stretching your calf muscles out. You can do this by standing on a step with the back half of your feet hanging off the edge and then dropping your heels. You will feel the stretch if you do this properly. Do that 20 odd times before you go to bed.

It could be to do with salts in your body. You could either not have enough or they could be too concentrated. So make sure you are hydrated enough or that you are getting a good variety of vitamins in you.

Eating a banana about 2 hours before bedtime is sometimes helpful, there is a link between potassium deficiency and night cramps.

Also magnesium and zinc deficiencies can cause them too.

More than likely you calf muscle is just shortened abruptly by your curled up position and that causes the cramp.

[Goodsoulette]

As soon as you get the pain, push your hand on the knot and pull your whole foot up then stand up, with your legs straight. it should disappear pretty quickly then, just that lingering burning feeling for the next day.

[Whoever]

Every night before you get into bed do this calf stretching exercise:
Stand three feet away from the wall, putting one leg twelve inches in front of the other.
Put on your hands on the wall.
Bend your front knee. Straighten and stretch your rear leg & calf, keeping your foot flat on the floor. Hold stretch for 5 - 10 seconds.
Repeat with the other leg.
Do this a couple of times.

[clever trev]

If your bed is near to the wall, and you get it in the night, for a quick cure do as i do, stop on your back and press the flat of your foot against the wall as hard as you can, it works for me in seconds. this is better than trying to get out of bed and less painfull.must admitt the wife wonders what the hell i'm doing sometimes. : )

[DC_FC]

It doesnt happen alot, its more like twice a month it happens maybe once a month, ill try your suggestions,