Cramp

[sumar]

Please please please! Can anyone tell me what I can do to prevent cramp? As I'm sitting here I can feel it in the background, constantly waiting to pounce! Each night I wake up about 3 times and the pain is so bad I really want to scream. I've tried sleeping with a cushion under my legs and that sometimes helps slightly but I just have to sit during the day and decide to put my feet up for 5 minutes and it's back. It's usually in the back of my legs but sometimes in the feet. Any suggestions would be truly appreciated. Thank you.

[patsyann]

I am a fellow sufferer. I was told to drink a glass of tonic water every day as it contains Quinine and it works for me. If i forget it comes back after a day or two. You can also buy Quinine tablets at the chemist.When I was in Hospital after a hip replacement that is what they gave us if we had a problem too.I like my tonic water that comes flavoured with a hint of lemon or loime.Tastes nicer. Good luck worth a try.
Pat.

[patsyann]

oops Lime.

[sumar]

Thank you so much, I'm off to buy some now! I know it used to taste revolting to me, but I'll try anything I'm so desperate. Thanks again.

[Sqad]

Make sure that you drink plenty of water and I agree with patsyann, Quinine Sulphate tablets are effective, as is Tonic water.

[jno]

salt tablets may help; though we get so much salt in our food these days that you may not need any more.

[mollykins]

My friend has special, prescribed painkillers she takes when she needs them as she gets really bad cramp.

[mollykins]

Although it's lady cramp so she only takes a few a month . . .

[Sqad]

Salt tablets will dehydrate you further and make the cramps worse.

[4getmenot]

molly I think its more in sumars legs x

[Sqad]

jno......perhaps i was a bit hasty with my reply to your post.

If sumar was salt deficient and if the salt deficiency was causing her cramps then indeed taking salt tablets would help. We cannot assume that she is sal deficient without blood tests.

[sumar]

Thank you all for bothering to answer. I am at present forcing some tonic water down me. Ugh, it's as horrid as I remember! It's definitely a little better with the lime though. I'm a bit old for 'lady' pains and I really want to avoid going to the Drs if possible. I have recently been trying to lose a bit of weight and I'm wondering if it's the change of diet that's brought it on so bad. I thought losing weight was good, but if this is what I have to suffer for it I think I'll stay fat! Thanks again, very much!

[Sqad]

sumar........I don't suppose that you are taking diuretics for a medical condition are you?
Water tablets.

[sumar]

No I'm not taking any medication except rhumalgan and omeprazole, one for arthtitus and the other to protect the stomach from the first.

[Clanad]

Here, in the U.S. several recent studies found that 400 IU of Vitamin E along with 300 IU of magnesium had significantly demonstrable affect on night leg cramps... Caution on the magnesium... too much can cause diahrrea...

[sumar]

Thank you Clanad for your advice, I will keep it in mind for the future but last night I slept through without waking once with cramp! I can't yet believe that a simple glass of tonic water can prevent so much pain but a few more nights like last night and I will. I thank you all for trying to help but special thanks to PATSYANN, only you can know how truly grateful I am.

[patsyann]

Sumar I am delighted to hear that you slept well. I do hope that you continue with the tonic water horrible as it is if it will stop the cramp.

[bpjcf]

Hi
I was once told to tense the muscles in the opposite leg, and then slowly release them again. It has worke dfor me in the past, and although i have since been told that tensing the muscles in both legs will work just as well, I have not tried it.
I believe that this works by initially decreasing the blood supply to the muscles, and the body responds by dilating the arteries to compensate, thus increasing the blood flow and oxygenation to the tissues, helping them to get rid of the lactic acid responsible for causing cramps.
Give it a try, i really hope it works for you too.

[lucca]

Sumar, I agree with the tonic water idea (nice with gin, of course). My GP suggested this and I am 90 % free of cramp now. Had been plagued by it 10times a day and it drove me crazy. I find it helps to keep moving/stretching, especially if I've been sitting down a while.

[Greedyfly]

I take paracetamol when I feel it about to happen. I get it very often. I just put it down to poor circulation.