Leg Cramps

I used to get leg cramps really bad and especially during the night. My doctor told me it was due to low potassium and adviced me to drink gatorade every day as well as eat banannas. Gatorade is full of potassium. It worked for me. I don't much care for gatorade but I get it really cold and just drink it down. It is easier than dealing with leg cramps! let me know if it works for you.

There are some reasons why we get leg cramps. This is likely due to heavy exercise or overfatigue and dehydration. Sometimes, it is likely due to electrolyte imbalance in our body, like potassium as what you are taking currently. However, since you are already taking potassium supplement, and still you are not experiencing good relief, then maybe we can rule out this one factor. I advised you to drink plenty of water at least 8 to 10 glasses of water everyday so that your body will be hydrated. One of the main causes of muscle cramps is dehydration. If you are exercising regularly, you ought to drink a full glass of water so that the water that was lost in your body will be replenished again. Doing some massage during muscle cramps may also help and stretching every morning would be a nice start. Heat application like placing your legs in warm water is also a great advantage of reducing muscle cramps. Most people experienced muscle cramps especially if they are overweight or obese. I advised you to exercise regularly but in a moderate manner; not heavy exercise like weight lifting, as this may cause some muscle cramps if it was exaggerated. If still it persists and constantly occurring every night or in the morning, then I might suggest that you refer to your primary care physician for proper recommendation and prescription purposes. God speed!

My husband used to have them a lot. He said if he ate two bananas a day he had a lot fewer. We have only been married nine years. Since being together, I have him take a multi, plus a calcium with magnesium ( calcium citrate is the best form of calcium, I am told). We have also found that those drinks that replace electrolytes--sports drinks, like gatorade, help. Electrolytes are your minerals and salts, like potassium and magnesium.Getting enough magnesium also helps prevent or lessen the severity of headaches. I hope some of our advice will be helpful to you. I see that potassium, banana, water, and magnesium are recommended. I believe good sources of dietary magnesium are seafood, nuts, and beans.

I walk them out can't do banana so i have to just live with them i don't have to many of them but when i do they are bad

I have also had a lot of problems with leg cramps, and often nothing seems to help much. I take a potassium supplement, drink plenty of water, and walk it off. That probably helps more than anything else. I wish that I could be of more help, but it sounds like you are already doing just about everything that I can suggest, and everything that the doctor has recommended to me. The only other thing that you didn't mention was to maybe increase your fluid intake, depending on how much you are already drinking. I know that I have a much worse problem with the cramps during the summer or when I have exercised a lot. I assume it could be related to dehydration because increasing my fluid intake does seem to help a bit.

I suffer from leg cramps in my right leg only. My chicopractor told me its from many injuries to my L5 disc over the years. I also have nerve damage in that leg from it as well. Not only does my leg cramp, my toes on my right foot will cramp as well. That really sucks! lol I have to get up and walk them out. I try rubbing them, but it just makes them feel tighter. I have my spells with them, sometimes they are frequent, sometimes not so frequent. My Dr gave me a magnesium tablet to take, helped a little bit, but I still have them. Ive also read where this is a sign that our lacking potassium and to eat a banana like you do. Bay xx

My brother and I would get those as well. We just had to get up and walk them off, there really is no other way.

Hi I suffer from leg cramps a lot and have found that if i do not drink a lot of water every day, I will get them I know they are caused by my medication that I take, and have sorted it out to if I do not pass water I build up my medications and become a bit toxic, so I drink lots of water and generally that keeps them away.

I had alot of problems with leg cramps though (knock on wood) I haven't lately. I've been following a more high protein diet (b/c of diabetes) and it seems to be helping not only with my sugar but my leg cramps and swelling in my lower legs and feet. !!HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~

I have problems off and on with leg cramps. It seems to bother me mostly at night when I'm in bed. And I've noticed I have more problems when I've been doing at lot during the day. I work as a home care provider and on days that I have to help the woman I'm working for alot it bothers me more. I also lately have been having a weird problem. I don't know if it is a toe cramp or what. But two of my twos will get stuck in a weird position. And I will have to rub them to get them to move again. It hurts!

i once suffered legs cramps in the middle of the night, and its really painful. Trying taking more bananas on a daily basis, it really helps. Do take lots of fluid since bananas can cause constipation. Also you can try drinking gatorade since it has potasium. Also try evening streches before you sleep. And exercises on a regular basis.

Hi. I am suffering that as well. Well, besides bananas, there are some sayings that we should stop eating something like nuts and beans. I don't know it's standing on which theory but maybe you can give a try. Well, if my leg cramps at night, I will wake up and massage for sure, I am not sure whether do it help but psychologically I am doing that. Haha. Apply some medicine with the massage usually make me feel better, such as Counterpain.

Hi, Are you drinking plenty of water daily? That's one way of reducing cramps. Can you try this home remedy for just this night and find out tomorrow how you feel... Believe me, this is a very good remedy, and completely harmless... In fact, it will prove much beneficial too! The "remedy" is: take about 2 teaspoonful coconut oil and apply it to the leg and calf muscles, and as you do that squeeze about 1/2 a fresh lime (juice) on the affected part. Keep massaging with medium pressure for about 10 minutes to let the mixture soak completely in your muscles. Within 5 minutes you will see the effect taking place! This is absolutely true. The only thing to "worry" is about your clothes because the oil can stain them :) So use appropriate clothes while the "oiling" is going on! Just 5 minutes to feel the soothing effect! Do that every night, and 1/2 hour before your bath. Remember also that the fresh lime juice is the best active ingredient in this therapy, so always have it handy. For all my friends reading this, use this therapy before and after your walking exercise and feel the strength growing. Also, any muscular pain can be handled this way... of course do take the professional medical advice also... by the way, I am a medico myself! LOL