Does anybody else get cramps in their calf muscles at night?

[nativetxn]

I do this sometimes but fortunately for me, not very often. I don't know what causes it.

 

[becka]

I have always heard that Potassium will help "cure" them but I found in my case it is almost always a case of dehydration so I really try to make sure I am well hydrated especially if I am walking around a lot (like at WDW). I once got a cramp on the first night of our trip and it hurt really bad for days. I vowed to never let myself get another one on a trip so I drink enough water to float myself away.

 

[Jeanny]

I agree with what Doc ... are you stretching properly before and after excercising? If you're not cooling down and stretching out, your muscle will cramp up...

 

[vernon]

I have a habit of getting these after a serious drinking session , which I'll guess is a result of dehydration. I also used to get them when I did a lot of exercise (playing rugby in 100+ degrees) in the heat. I found a proper stretching regime did help some( not just after exercise but pretty much a daily calf stretching regime). Trying to keep hydrated helped some.

I like the idea of 4 oz of tonic before bed, although I'm likely to stick a large gin in it, which I'm not sure is the idea of the exercise

 

[Saffron]

Yeah Jeanny, I'm warming up/cooling down and stretching, but it still happens. It didn't happen last night though! I drank a lot more water and ate 3 bananas yesterday, so I guess it all helped.

Vernon. You and Micca can start a "Drink to cure my calf cramps" club!

Thanks again everyone!

 

[bigbabyblues]

I got them a couple times when I was pregnant, the would come in the middle of the night, and I screamed so loud DH thought I was in labor! Nothing like waking up to that out of a sound sleep at 2 am!

My OB said it could be that I needed more potassium....suggested I eat more bananas, the thought of that was enough to make me sick, but that's another problem altogether.

Hope you find out what's causing them so you can fix it!