Is This A Magical Cure For Calf Cramps?

[garyt]

I guess I'm not the only one who gets these. Standing has been the only solution that's worked for me.

I'll give your method a try next time.

I've also heard bananas (potassium) help. I think there's something to it; I do seem to get a lot fewer of these cramps if I have one with breakfast every day. Unfortunately bananas are bad luck and not allowed on a boat, so when I'm underway for any length of time I tend to get more cramps.

EDIT: Ken beat me to it on the banana thing. I'm not on any meds.

There's not enough potassium in bananas to make a difference. You'd have to eat a lot of them. They're not like oranges where one orange supplies about 100% of your daily needs. A banana supplies about 10%. So if you're deficient enough in potassium to be getting cramps, 10% isn't likely going to matter

 

[garyt]

I don't get calf cramps very often but I do get shin cramps and cramps in my feet. Heat makes them go away. I use one of those microwavable wraps.

 

[RonBoyd]

Magnesium citrate

cheap, and works well

Have not had leg cramps in years

Used to get them often, sometimes quite bad ones

bananas or other potassium sources were recommended, but never helped me

This is my experience exactly. However, I found Magnesium to be a very effective laxative for me (the main ingredient in Milk of Magnesia or ExLax) if taken orally. I found that magnesium is easily absorbed through the skin so now I periodically mix magnesium flakes (dissolved) and hand lotion and slather it all over my arms. (I seem to remember reading that potassium should be kept in balance with magnesium although I have never followed up on it.)

One other thing, FWIW, many years ago while watching a football game, I saw a player go down with a leg cramp. The medical guy came onto the field and grabbed the player's upper lip. What! So the next time I was awakened with a "Charlie horse," I squeezed my upper lip between my thumb and bent pointer finger (the knuckle). The pain stopped instantly. I don't know how or why it works but it does. I duplicated it many times before I discovered magnesium.

 

[omni550]

One other thing, FWIW, many years ago while watching a football game, I saw a player go down with a leg cramp. The medical guy came onto the field and grabbed the player's upper lip. What! So the next time I was awakened with a "Charlie horse," I squeezed my upper lip between my thumb and bent pointer finger (the knuckle). The pain stopped instantly. I don't know how or why it works but it does. I duplicated it many times before I discovered magnesium.

Might be the same as the pickle juice or mustard "cure" where you're stimulating a different set of nerves which causes the misfiring ones (causing the leg cramp) to relax.

(Just before I read your post, I was wondering if hitting one's finger with a hammer (a bit extreme, but I was looking for a large nerve effect) would do the same trick? Squeezing the upper lip is easier and less painful.)

omni

 

[RonBoyd]

Might be the same as the pickle juice or mustard "cure" where you're stimulating a different set of nerves which causes the misfiring ones (causing the leg cramp) to relax.

(Just before I read your post, I was wondering if hitting one's finger with a hammer (a bit extreme, but I was looking for a large nerve effect) would do the same trick? Squeezing the upper lip is easier and less painful.)

omni

 

[Whisper66]

Try 4 oz of Canada Dry Tonic water with quinine. Something about the quinine works wonders for me. I used to cramp during night time after a day of exertion. Now 4 oz of this before bed and no cramps. Can see others talking about it on internet so apparently it works for at least some of us. Good luck.

 

[Gulfbeach]

When DH gets these, he takes one of my calcium tablet (600 mg) and it helps right away. I never get the calf cramp so maybe the calcium works for both of us. YMMV

 

[JoeWras]

Might be the same as the pickle juice or mustard "cure" where you're stimulating a different set of nerves which causes the misfiring ones (causing the leg cramp) to relax.

(Just before I read your post, I was wondering if hitting one's finger with a hammer (a bit extreme, but I was looking for a large nerve effect) would do the same trick? Squeezing the upper lip is easier and less painful.)

omni

Isn't this the basic premise of acupuncture?

Sounds like there is something to it.

 

[Telly]

Flexing your toes toward your head works without having to stand up (like when you're tucked in tightly and need a fast remedy)..

I used to get leg cramps at night something terrible when I was a kid. Had one two nights in a row a month ago. This time I tried something different... no massaging, etc., but the opposite. Stretch the offending muscle out length-wise, against its strong contraction, via the Achilles tendon. Worked great! Which is what your method does.

For me, I found instant relief by hobbling over to a countertop, put both hands on countertop edge, then move feet backwards inch by inch, keeping feet flat on floor, so body is tilting forward from vertical. Can feel that offending muscle get pulled back out to proper position!

Wish I knew the solution was that simple 60 years or so ago!

 

[CaptTom]

This is turning out to be one of the most interesting and helpful threads yet, thanks everyone!!

Last night I stretched my legs repeatedly, in a way which would often induce cramps in the past. This time, I kept my toes pointed "up" (toward me.) No cramps. Standing up, leaning forward a little, has always relieved the cramp once I got it, similar to Telly's experience, above. So that whole "point your toes" thing is the key.

And thanks to y'all, I've now got a bunch of preventive things to try, too!

 

[TromboneAl]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned dehydration. I used to have them in the morning, just after waking up. I've been drinking more water, and that may have contributed to them going away.

 

[Amethyst]

When I get a Charley horse, I get up and walk around on it. Sounds masochistic, but the pain ceases almost at once.

 

[JoeWras]

Stay well hydrated.

Maybe it is just the hydration from the dilution helping.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned dehydration.

It was mentioned. You are right, needs more emphasis.

 

[Kwirk]

I used to have frequent calf and foot cramps. The cramping stopped after I quit taking Lipitor (for other reasons).

 

[audreyh1]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned dehydration. I used to have them in the morning, just after waking up. I've been drinking more water, and that may have contributed to them going away.

I suspect that is my problem.

 

[mckittri2000]

Pressure points. Next time you get a cramp. Push down on the spot between your nose and upper lip. It works for me every time.

 

[donheff]

Op’s drawing looks like what I do when I get hit with a calf cramp in bed. I stretch my foot toward my head which stretches the calf muscle relieving the cramp. If I can get on my feet doing the same stretch - bad leg straight with the toes pressed toward my head, lots of pressure stretching the calf straight is even better. Like others have mentioned, magnesium is the ticket to avoid them in the first place.

 

[cyber888]

My nighttime calf cramps completely disappeared when I bought a Massage/Stretching chair with calf compression using air bags. The chair also completely cured my lower back pain. However, it is deemed expensive for some. I don't, because health is important.

But I found this at Amazon.com to help calf compression. It's much cheaper than my Inada Flex 3S massage chair.

https://www.amazon.com/Massager-Com...ocphy=9009649&hvtargid=pla-602956204242&psc=1

 

[Anna J]

DW wears compression sleeves and swears by them....not necessarily for bed but for the airplane, hiking, ect. You can wear them on your calves or forearms (if you suffer from tendinitis). Also more H2O

 

[RandomPJ]

Mine are positional too. I think it's because when I sleep, my low back goes into more of an arch, which stretches the nerves across the hips, and then I get the cramps. So I do what you do, or I sleep with a little rolled up towel under my back above my waist to flatten out the curve a little.

 

[eroscott]

Flexing your toes toward your head works without having to stand up (like when you're tucked in tightly and need a fast remedy).

Pointing my feet down when I stretch in bed, awake or asleep, is usually what brings on the calf cramp.

This ^^^

Much research on this and you need to use the opposing muscles.

https://www.google.com/search?q=stop+cramp+use+opposite+muscles

 

[The HalfBreed]

Lying on my back with the bad leg bent as shown in the crude picture below
..............bent
..............bad leg

foot of _/\___o head
bad leg

Almost "instantly" the pain disappeared........and it happened twice in separate incidents.

I get those cramps in my calf maybe once a year, and I've had probably half a dozen over the past 10 yrs or so.
I do EXACTLY the same thing. After a couple of minutes, pain and cramp gone. Works extremely well for me, glad it works for you !

 

[cranberryjoe]

In my case, hydration seems to be the major factor in preventing calf and foot cramps.

 

[Dash man]

Magnesium and potassium

I added magnesium and potassium tablets that I pick up at Costco to my daily medication and haven’t had a leg cramp since.

 

[rick55]

Hydration is key. In the summer its easy to become dehydrated, and chronic dehydration can cause a lot of issues. Theres a reason why people suffer kidney stones during the winter months.

I also try to take magnesium daily, especially when Im sweating like a duck working outside in the heat.

Rick