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LuckyCharms

(19,227 posts)

9. A medical solution may vary depending on what is causing them, but if they are in your calves...

Mon Nov 25, 2024, 11:01 AM

Nov 25

I get horrible cramps in my calves occasionally. Dreadfully painful. Panic inducing.

If they are in your calves, for immediate relief, try this the moment you feel one coming on. Try to catch it before it gets unbearable.

As soon as you feel it start...think TOES to HEAD.

If laying on your back for example, bend your ankle upwards as far as you can, while keeping your leg straight. Try to get the tips of your toes pointing toward your head. Hold it there like that.

The goal is to stretch out your calf muscle by bending your ankle upwards. If you have to, get out of bed and stand up and do whatever you can to stretch that calf muscle.

This may at least prevent the mind numbing ones temporarily.

I usually panic when I feel a bad one coming on that wakes me up, so I think TOES TO HEAD.

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EverHopeful electric_blue68

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Leg cramps---help or advice beyond what I already do [View all] Jilly_in_VA Nov 25 OP

Try some electrolytes like gatoraide LetMyPeopleVote Nov 25 #1

Are they mainly in your calves? LuckyCharms Nov 25 #2

Nope Jilly_in_VA Nov 25 #14

Have you had bloodwork done? LuckyCharms Nov 25 #17

Yes Jilly_in_VA Nov 25 #31

I too suffer from debilitating leg cramps that attack in the middle of the night. My granddaughter Ninga Nov 25 #3

That is what BigMin28 Nov 25 #30

Yes, our granddaughter was written up in the local Ninga Nov 25 #34

Mustard?............... Lovie777 Nov 25 #54

I was just going to suggest the mustard myself! It works! yellowdogintexas Nov 26 #62

Have you given bananas a try ? magicarpet Nov 25 #4

Water. I wake up occasionally with leg cramps and now I go for water. c-rational Nov 25 #5

Both legs? Calves or thighs? Do you have problems during the day? CrispyQ Nov 25 #6

Physical therapy CTyankee Nov 25 #7

Not really Jilly_in_VA Nov 25 #15

Can your doc give you a referral to Physical Therapy? It might help. CTyankee Nov 25 #26

I take a large UpInArms Nov 25 #8

where do you go to get that? CTyankee Nov 25 #11

Google your area for a country store. I get Emile Nov 25 #21

Any grocery store should have it UpInArms Nov 25 #23

Saunders brothers used to carry it. Keepthesoulalive Nov 25 #27

I got Brer Rabbit at Kroger Marthe48 Nov 25 #40

A medical solution may vary depending on what is causing them, but if they are in your calves... LuckyCharms Nov 25 #9

Yes! I get those and do approximately what you do, reflexively. CTyankee Nov 25 #44

Very, very rare now, but when I got them more often - i usually caught it in time w that motion. electric_blue68 Nov 27 #65

+1 on potassium justaprogressive Nov 25 #10

A 'trick' I learned from my wife, nearly always works for me ... Xoan Nov 25 #12

You might try Vitamin K - New Studies! Mike 03 Nov 25 #13

I wonder if there could be any issues while they are also on a blood thinner? Kali Nov 25 #42

this really works - I do it all the time - I get leg cramps all the time rurallib Nov 25 #16

Have you tried cannabis? Emile Nov 25 #18

This advice can't hurt you gab13by13 Nov 25 #19

Try a spoonful of yellow mustard. Shambala Nov 25 #20

Ask your doctor. surfered Nov 25 #22

Two more cents... quaint Nov 25 #24

Tonic water with quinine jojog Nov 25 #25

You might try Himalayan salt Jarqui Nov 25 #28

Do you take a statin for cholesterol? Mosby Nov 25 #29

I do not Jilly_in_VA Nov 25 #32

You're taking a diuretic. Mosby Nov 25 #35

Drink more water? karin_sj Nov 25 #33

V8 SWinter Nov 25 #36

Drink pickle juice. Meadowoak Nov 25 #37

My husband uses pickle juice too Phentex Nov 25 #47

The home remedy is essentially that Jilly_in_VA Nov 25 #49

Can you do a magnesium cream? Deep State Witch Nov 25 #38

Try a banana or two. Elessar Zappa Nov 25 #39

I don't, which is something else Jilly_in_VA Nov 25 #50

I wear sweat or yoga pants and bed socks to sleep in Marthe48 Nov 25 #41

I get them worse when I am fatigued Kali Nov 25 #43

Walgreens sells leg cramp pills, hubby swears by them questionseverything Nov 25 #45

Calcium supplements. cksmithy Nov 25 #46

Drink more water during the day Sun-Moon Nov 25 #48

Water & bananas! Bluethroughu Nov 25 #51

A hot water bottle at the foot of the bed Karia Nov 25 #52

Magnesium foot cream? Hear me out PuraVidaDreamin Nov 25 #53

I do low sodium V8, water, and Hyland's leg cramp pills. woodsprite Nov 25 #55

I used to suffer from the same, too frequently, although very rare anymore--- Jack Valentino Nov 25 #56

Check your iron levels. Low iron can give you horrible cramps. Pisces Nov 25 #57

Lack of hydration is often the cause of leg cramping WhiteTara Nov 25 #58

Tennis ball on the bottom of you foot AwakeAtLast Nov 25 #59

or a wooden rolling pin. Lay it down and put your weight on it, then roll back and forth yellowdogintexas Nov 26 #63

a cause would be good, but botox works. i have a leg cramping issue. but lasts only 4 months. $$ pansypoo53219 Nov 26 #60

CBD for muscle relaxing works too. pansypoo53219 Nov 26 #61

I've used a massage gun nuxvomica Nov 26 #64

I thot so but checked - Yellow mustard has tumeric AND vinegar electric_blue68 Nov 27 #66