aching legs

[lucinda]

i keep getting cramps in my calves during the night, and the next day they are aching and sore to walk on, it is bothering me as I am due to fly in a couple of days... any advice

[paulz]

Antistax is supposed to be good, failing that try compression tights/socks, put your feet up - lay on floor, put feet on chair so that they are higher than your head, for 10mins in every hour. Go swimming, drink plenty of fluid and on the aircraft get an aisle seat and have a walk round every so often

[katejess]

This may sound a little silly, but have you lost a lot of salt (through sweating at the gym or slaving over hot stoves etc)? I know from personal experience that if I start getting cramp a lot it means I am low on salt. It might be worth mixing a little salt into a glass of water....be warned though, too much salt and you will be very sick. It is also worth bearing in mind that if you are travelling to a hot country that you are likely to sweat more than usual and lose even more salt.....so watch out in the heat too. Enjoy your holiday though and I hope that the cramps stop soon.

[sylvday]

I sometimes get cramp in my calves, and I agree with katejess that it is usually attributable to lack of salt. However, I'm not sure you need worry too much about losing salt through perspiration. I've just returned from a month in Rome, where the average temperature (day & night) was about 80; and I only got cramp on those occasions when we ate in, and forgot to add salt to our food - like many other people we try to cut down on our salt intake.

[Janetex]

Quinine, in the short term (not if you are pregnant) and, in the long term, vitamin C. Give up salt, too.

[woofgang]

lucinda, this sounds like it might be related to your hormonal cycle. If you are on the pill or other hormone treatment, just check eith the GP in case this is a warning sign. If you are going to fly, this is really important.

[Jo984]

I get that as well. One of my calves gets cramp in it and I wake up and it hurts all through the day. My partner said it could be lack of salt?