Bad cramp

[Mistopheles]

I often get cramp in my leg at night. However, just lately it has gone from being painful and annoying to being so bad I wake up screaming. I rub the muscles and gently stretch it out, but the after-pain lingers for up to 3 days. It happened again last night, and today I can't put any weight on my leg as it's still too painful.

I've been told help could be salt, potassium (e.g. bananas), calcium, etc. but so far, nothing is working. Is there any way to at least stop it lingering so long? Anything I can do today to lessen the ache? I've got a very busy day today, but I can hardly move!

[Headless Rat]

Hi mistopheles, i feel your pain! i get them frequently too and i dont think its a lack of potassium or salt either as i am very consious of what i eat.i usually get them after i exercise vigourously and then dont cool down properly or when i stand still for a few minutes straight after briskly walking/exercising.i think the cramp is caused by the muscles tightening up so i usually find that massaging the foot helps a lot and just trying to relax in general and taking your mind of the pain by reading a book or watching TV.If you find a proper cure that really works or even prevents them, please let me know!

[Hermia]

If anyone can suggest a cure tell me about it too! It's sooo painful. I wake up in the middle of the night and go straight into silent scream mode. It always hurts for a few days afterwards and I end up having to put Ibuleve on it.

[morg_monster]

Firstly prevention:  It is said that quinine helps prevent cramp: tonic water is a good source.  My dad has bad cramp and tries to go for a 10 or 20 minute leisurely walk an hour or so before bed, if he is going through a bad patch. 

Then cure: Heat helps ease cramp - that is why rubbing the affected area helps.  To get more heat on it when you need it, before you go to bed, do yourself a hot water bottle. Obviously you won't want it in the bed at this time of year but wrap it in a towel and just leave it by your bed.  Then when you wake up in agony putting a hot water bottle on your leg should be easier and more effective than rubbing it.  Keep the hot water bottle on it as long as you can without burning yourself, as you gently stretch it out.  Even the next day, a hot water bottle on it every now and then might help speed recovery.

I rarely get cramp in my leg - but often when I wake up on my stomach and twist awkwardly i get it along a shoulder and up my neck, sometimes I can even feel it in my tongue!  It is so horrible.  I hope you find a cure that works for you.

[georgit79]

Another piece of advice is to make sure you drink loads and loads of water- this always helped me when I got bad cramp. I used to get it all the time, but it seems to have eased of late.

[auldyin]

Hi Mistopheles. I remember the feeling well and the dread of wondering if it will come back. My Dr put me on quinine and it helped a lot. In my case smoking was a major factor, the more I smoked, the more frequent the cramp. .stopped smoking and the cramps virtually disappeared.

[Robinia]

Hi Mistopheles I know how painful it is!  I had it a lot at one time & oddly enough I had a terrible cramp in my calf & foot last night for the first time in ages.  (is it not a part of you HMS?)  Sorry I'm good as a sympathetic ear but lousy for a cure but I know that having cold feet & legs doesn't help.  Get your woolly socks on - yep I know it's July but it's chilly here in Derbyshire at the moment.

Hope it eases soon!

[smudge]

When I get painful cramp in my feet, I have to go outside in the garage & stand on the cold floor until it passes!

Hope you feel better soon Mistopheles.

[grannyg]

Sleep with a cork in your bed it works for me and also my son.

To stop it rolling out of the bed put it between the sheets down the side or the foot of the bed.

I actually used a cork from a bottle garden when I had no other and my son was suffering regularly.

I hope you try this and it works for you. Sleep tight-especially if you get the cork from a bottle of wine this evening!

[smouse]

I'm on quinine too and highly recommend it. Having shot out of bed so many times and then fainting thorugh getting up too quickly I finely got through to the doc how bad it was. Before the tablets I was told tonic water

[nfn]

tonic water is good, it's a natural source of the quinnine your gp will prescribe

[lindapinda]

All my sympathies to a fellow sufferer! Unless you,ve experienced agonising leg cramp,you don,t understand how painful and scary it can be.I find standing too long can bring cramps on,Also,too much caffeine in coffee,tea,chocolate cola etc.Possibly also too many tomatoes and mayonnaise seem to cause a problem.The cork thing did work for a while,but it seems to be hit and miss for me.In case of those really agonising cramps,I keep about a glass of wine beside the bed.If you can manage to drink it quickly,when the cramp hits(difficult I know)it relaxes the muscles quicker.Also,when you do rub the area,try rubbing in one direction,towards the heart,as it is more effective than just rubbing up and down.

[Mistopheles]

Sorry I haven't replied sooner - very busy! Thanks for all the answers - I'll try the lot!