Leg Cramps. WHY?

You could be low in potassium. Potassium is part of the team of electrolytes that cause muscle cells to relax.

Most of the time it is lack of potassium, you can eat a banana a day and it should help. Or take a potassium supplement. It can also be cause by dehydration and/or low blood flow.
Try bananas and drink more water and see it that relieves it, if not call the Dr.

Hi Grandma T---Other excellent sources of electrolytes are coconut water and potatoes. I use coconut water in my smoothies in the morning. It is best to get your nutrients from food as pills lack the co-factors necessary for optimal absorption.

So eat a broad range of fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes/beans, nuts and seeds. An optimal diet consists of 85-90% of calories from plants.

As others have said, stretching is good. Do you exercise? I'm sure that would help as well. If I can be of any additional help, let me know. I've got a whole bunch of great info acquired from classes I took, taught by a Naturopath who has her PhD in Nutrition. Good Luck! D.

My mother had terrible pains in her legs at night. She took magnesium and it was instantly better.

A lot of us have issues with night leg cramps as we age...(I am right there with you Grandma!!) you could try upping your water intake as dehydration can be an issue, also be sure you are getting plenty of pottassium and calcium. You used to be able to buy quinine tablets which are an old treatment for it but that is no longer available...I have heard people say that they have been told to drink quinine water, I am not sure how much you would need to drink on a daily basis to help with the situation.
I Have also heard the old "put a bar of soap under the covers at your feet" I truly think that the reason that works is that you don't lay in just one position all night long...the soap makes you a bit uncomfortable so you move more..and your muscles don't have a chance to get all knotted up!!

As others have said, potassium deficiency may be the problem. One of the best sources is "No-Salt" salt substitute. Sprinkle it on everything you eat, or drink. It actually enhances the flavor of oj and coffee. Low-sodium V-8 is an excellent source of potassium, 570 mg for a 5.5 oz can. You may also be deficient in magnisum and calcium. Even though I use "No-Salt" on a daily basis, I still occassionally get leg cramps. When I am in that cycle, I take Hyland's Leg Cramp tablets. You can find them in the vitamin and supplement isle at Walmart. They contain quinine. Tonic water is another source of quinine...IF you can stand the taste.

Lack of potassium, you can drink a glass of orange juice when this happens. It can also be due to dehydration, even in non-summer months. Coffee, tea, and soda all dehydrate, drink an equal or larger amount of water to offset them.

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This could be caused by dehydration or an iron deficiency.
When I'm low on iron, my legs cramp up quite a bit.
Try elevating your legs, make sure you are getting plenty of fluids.
You may need a test to check your iron levels.

Massage can also help to an extent.
Try a heating pad to see if the heat relaxes the muscles.
If it continues, check with your doctor.

Best wishes.

Lack of potassium causes leg cramps,eat some bananas,worth a try

B. k

I was told, when I was pregnant (not suggesting that this is your problem, by any means!), that to stretch HEEL FIRST.... not pointing your toes.

I don't know if they are happening when you stretch, but when I was pregnant, you know the way you stretch when you start waking up? I would have horrendous cramps in my calves when I would start stretching.. I had to train myself to stretch heel first.. that is actually stretching the calf muscle, instead of contracting it (the way the muscle works when you stretch by pointing your toes.)

Good luck! I've also heard the mineral supplements (as others have suggested) work well, too.

Usually it's a potassium deficency. Banana fix!

Can also, however, be signs of deep vein thrombosis, 1 of about a gazillion injuries (foot, leg, hip, back), edema, inflamation... loads and loads of things. If the banana doesn't fix, ring up your doc to rule out a more serious cause.

I would think about magnesium too.

In addition to the electrolyte balancing try a simple exercise that helped me.
Just lay face down in bed with your feet hanging off the end. Use the mattress as resistance to moving your toes up. Do a few and rest and then a few more, adding more days later. It helps make certain muscles hold you in that "not cramp" position. I found that if I do that I don't get the cramp!

I get horrid leg cramps sometimes, started when i wa prego for the 1st time 6 yrs ago.. anyways for me it is a calcium thing, I eat 2-3 tums and a glass of milk and the discomfort is gone in 20-30 mins... you prob have both of those things in your house, give it a try... but def bring it up to your md, have labs run, or maybe it is R.L.S.
GL :)

Stretch! Yes it could be a need for calcium or magnesium or more water, but also doing leg stretches at the end of the day helps too, good luck!

Hi, I get leg, toes & finger cramps all the time. I'm told that a lack of potassium or lack of calcium . I could eat a 1/2 dozen bananas or take 1250mg. of calcium and I still get them . What does work for me is quinine tablets or Tonic water ,it has quinine in it.Or Emergen-C. Good luck I know they don't feel good at all. K.

Many times leg cramps are because you're not getting enough potassium in your diet. You can have a blood test taken at your local clinic that will tell you if your potassium level is too low.

You can also try your own simply remedy by eating a banana or a potato (both high in potassium) a day. If the leg cramps go away, you'll know that's the reason.

You need potassium. That will help will leg cramps.