Do you get nighttime "Charlie Horse" leg cramps?

[kasar]

Last night I had a doozy and it's still hurting today. I used to get them all the time but haven't had one for years - I was hoping I was done with them.

That twisting feeling is just the worst late at night! You know it's coming but there's nothing you can do to stop it! I'm eating lots of bananas today but are there any other preventative measures to take?

 

[cl1067]

I actually think leg cramps are caused by lack of calcium, so you might want to try some milk to go with your bananas!

 

[Christine]

I've only ever gotten them twice in my life:

When I was pregnant and when I was very hypothyroid.

I think it means something when you have these.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I actually think leg cramps are caused by lack of calcium, so you might want to try some milk to go with your bananas!

I thought the same thing it is a lack of calcium.

 

[live4christp1]

I had them really bad both times I was pregnant and I think it is actually due to a lack of potassium. Try eating a banana daily or drinking a sports drink high in potassium and see if that helps!

 

[kasar]

I did find this if anyone's interested:

Cramping during sleep is usually due to an exaggeration of a normal muscle reflex. When you turn during sleep, you contract your calf muscles and stretch their tendons. This stimulates nerve stretch receptors in the tendon and sends a message back to the spinal cord, telling the calf muscles to contract. Sometimes, the muscles remain contracted and hurt. Painful muscle cramps at night can also be caused by nerve damage such as that caused by pinching a nerve, muscle damage, a partially-obstructed flow of blood to the legs and abnormal mineral or hormone levels, so if you have this problem, check with your doctor. If you do not have a serious cause, you can often prevent night cramps by exhausting the stretch reflex before you go to bed by stretching your calf muscles with wall pushups, and applying a heating pad for 10 minutes before you go to sleep.

 

[Beth76]

Never heard of lack of calcium, only potassium. I only get them when I'm pregnant. With my second pregnancy I figured out that if I felt it coming on I would flex my foot and that would stop it.

 

[pfishgirl]

I used to get them like crazy...I am on my feet almost all day at work...
They hurt like **bleep**

DR told me drink extra Water and it does help at least for me anyway

good luck

 

[CEDmom]

Never heard of lack of calcium, only potassium. I only get them when I'm pregnant. With my second pregnancy I figured out that if I felt it coming on I would flex my foot and that would stop it.

They're the worst aren't they. They are caused by a lack of potassium. I get them if I've worked out really hard and are a little dehydrated. Flexing my foot works to stop it for me as well. A doctor friend who gets them said tonic water is another good thing to drink to help stop them. Personally if you know you've over done it a little I'd have some gatorade before bed.

 

[Feralpeg]

I used to get them all the time. When one starts, grab your toes and pull them toward you. It will stop it before it really gets bad.

 

[laurajetter]

I'm pregnant and got one a few months ago. It was horrible! It was intense enough that my calf was sore for at least the next 5 days. I've heard it could be a lack of potassium but also can be triggered from being too dehydrated, so make sure to drink enough water throughout the day!

After it happened, I found out from a couple different people that if a leg muscle starts cramping up, to flex your toes upward, toward your face. I also heard to get up, put weight on it and flex your foot. I got a second one a few months later and tried these techniques. I first flexed my toes, but to my dismay, even though it felt like they were flexed, when I looked at them they were still straight out! So I stood up on the cramped leg and combined that with the toe flex and it went away shortly. I did not have the lasting pain that I did from the first one, because I was able to stop it sooner.

 

[Southern4sure]

DR told DH to take Vitamin E daily. I think its 1000 iu or ie. Vitamin E is not in milligrams like regular vitamins.

 

[cristbaby]

I get them sometimes really bad. My Dr. told me it was lack of potassium and dehydration. So eating a banana everyday and drinking alot more water has helped. Try it!

 

[Rex Rules]

I got them - when I was doing Atkins. Someone told me to eat bananas because it was due to a lack of something they contain, can't remember now what it was.
No more Atkins and no more leg cramps! Although still need to lose some pounds, however, will have to do something different, because no carbs was making me a lunatic!

 

[Fairy Dust]

Lack of salt in your diet. It worked for me and I rarely get them now.

 

[Parkhopper]

I got them when I was pregnant and ate bananas to help. Recently I started getting them again (NOT pregnant!) and was diagnosed with low Thyroid. Now on thyroid medication and the charley horses have stopped.

Suzi

 

[sweet angel]

I get them usually when I drink milk before bed. They're so bad sometimes that when I flex my toes, the cramp moves to the shin area. I've also had them on the sides of my calves. DBF always tells me to eat more bananas.

 

[shortbun]

DR told DH to take Vitamin E daily. I think its 1000 iu or ie. Vitamin E is not in milligrams like regular vitamins.

Yep, Vitamin E deficiency IS one of the causes, just as is Potassium. Most folks don't get enough of either.

 

[cristit14]

My grandmother was telling me that she was getting them really bad and her doctor has her drink a 6 oz glass of gatorade every day. SHe doesn't have them anymore.

 

[Micca]

My cure is a variation on Feralpeg's. Straighten your legs out and draw your toes up toward your shins.