Leg Cramps.

[Jeza]

Every night in bed I get really bad leg cramps. I wonder do the cramps wake me up. They are very painful and the only way I have found to get rid of them is to stand on the cold bathroom floor. Then I'm wide awake. Is there anything I can do to stop them. I was told a magnet at the bottom of the bed but it doesn't work for me.

[Sqad]

O_G......cramp whilst swimming.....yes. But did you get cramp in bed at night?

[Old_Geezer]

I do occasionally now, usually on waking & moving my legs (more exercise see). But I don't recall doing so as a youth when I felt I should swim.

[Sqad]

O_G...I just have the feeling that the mechanism of cramp on exercise is completely different from that of night cramps.

[DaisyNonna]

Tonic Water seems to work for me although I do try to get a walk every day.

[Pooka1950]

I have heard that eating a banana just before bedtime can help. Not sure why though ...

[Sqad]

Pooka.......because banana are high in potassium and that is thought to be implicated in night cramps.

I am not convinced.

[woofgang]

what sorted it for me was calmagzinc tablets (calcium magnesium zinc) they are like house bricks to swallow but I don't get cramp any more provided I keep taking them.

[jno]

I was told my potassium was low and I should take multivitamin tablets. So I do and I haven't had cramp all year (and I used to get it once or twice a week, light or severe). You could try it at least.

[RATTER15]

If you are on any Statin tablets, they can cause dreadfull cramps, I vowed never to take Symvastatin again after a bout of leg cramps, not had cramps since.

[naomi24]

Depending upon any medication you're currently taking, Crampex tablets bought over the counter at the pharmacy are really effective. The Pharmacist will advise you.

[jno]

Crampex are good, the only problem being you have to take them before an attack, which involves some guesswork.

[bunkmoreland]

If I'm not hydrated enough,I've often shot out of bed with leg cramps.Strangely enough,a cold bathroom floor would also bring on a cramp and i've just had to walk it off up and down the bedroom floor.

[birdie73]

Jeza like you am housebound with a disabled husband but guess like you don't know how many miles per day we put in as carers,, I massage my legs before going to bed with Deep Heat & find this relaxes the tired muscles. Worth a try & you don't have to swallow pills !!!

[Old_Geezer]

Crampex are beginning to sound like those anti-tiger pills I take. Been taking them for years and not seen a tiger around these parts during all that time !

[silverside]

I made a note of the food I'd eaten each day and the following morning noted down any reaction.
Found out after this non scientific trial that the main foods that contributed to my cramp were:
Corn derivatives-sweet corn,corn on the cob, Modified food starch etc.
Pasta also gave a bad reaction so tried gluten free-seemed to work.
Use gluten free flour.
Milk chocolate.
As far as possible, I avoided potatoes.
This has worked really well for me and I rarely have cramp these days.
Also if I've had some of the foods above a swig of tonic water does seem to help.