Anyone get these, and what is good to relieve them? I got a bad one this morning like 4am.....Woke up Danielle it hurt so bad, and now the back of my leg feels wierd... Scott
David'sbride
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
Is it a sudden sharp pain that makes you jump out of bed?
I get that too. I actually inherited it from my mother. Yes, it makes you jump out of bed from a deep sleep then you have to walk around the house, very painfully, until the cramp relaxes.
A doctor told me it'd due to a potassium deficiency in one's diet (can be temporary). Potassium rushes in after a msucle relaxes and helps in the contraction. Keep some salty pretzels and bananas in the house. Now when I get it I walk but also eat a handful of pretzels or a banana and it usually doesn't come back. Actually I try to eat a banana every morning for this reason and they think it helps in stroke prevention (my Dad had one at 57).
They can be somewhat stress related. I was getting them when we were packing to move.
Danielle&Scott
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
I cannot have bananas I am on low carb and one banana has about 22 grams of carbs....
I wonder if I could take Potassium pills or if there is another way to get the potassium I need
I have periods where I will get foot/leg cramps everyday. It is caused partly because I genetically have horrible blood circulation. Generally if I am stressed at work and am not eating right, I will get more cramps (worse cramps).
I've heard that potassium, Vitamin E and calcium all help, as well as making sure you have enough water in your system (also smoking supposedly makes cramping worse, but I don't smoke so I'm not sure).
Danielle&Scott
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
I dont smoke and I drink 80 to 120 ounces of water a day
I am thinking about taking potassium and calcium pills
Scott
Blu-ize
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
You are probably flushing out potassium. Easiest way to get the potassium is bananas, oranges/juice/potatoes. You are on low carb but your body is telling you it needs nutrients. Potassium pills are very hard on your stomach and will not get absorbed the way food will.
sarahbelle
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
I used to get those when I was in high school. To get rid of it right away, all I would do is slowly flex my foot toward the ceiling. It hurt also, but the cramp went away - and I never had pain in the morning.
Danielle&Scott
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
thanks....
I have been thinking about just eating healthy from now on, I think all this dieting has really freaked out my metabolism, and also this leg cramp thing is just another problem with low carbing...I gotta go food shopping today anyway, so I am just going to change my food list a little bit
tanielle5k
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
Do you take a multivitamin? If you are on a restrictive diet of any kind you should at least be taking a multi.
Danielle&Scott
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nope - I am going to start taking them tomorrow though
ShortBride
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
I get those, even though I eat bananas frequently. My friend told me to stand up really hard when I get them, and it actually worked!
stephanief
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
Posted by David'sbride
Is it a sudden sharp pain that makes you jump out of bed?
I get that too. I actually inherited it from my mother. Yes, it makes you jump out of bed from a deep sleep then you have to walk around the house, very painfully, until the cramp relaxes.
A doctor told me it'd due to a potassium deficiency in one's diet (can be temporary). Potassium rushes in after a msucle relaxes and helps in the contraction. Keep some salty pretzels and bananas in the house. Now when I get it I walk but also eat a handful of pretzels or a banana and it usually doesn't come back. Actually I try to eat a banana every morning for this reason and they think it helps in stroke prevention (my Dad had one at 57).
They can be somewhat stress related. I was getting them when we were packing to move.
OMG, I get those every so often and Yes it does make you jump out of bed. I woke my FH up with my cries last time I had one, He tried to rub it but it hurt even worse so I yelled at him to not touch it (poor guy was trying to help, it just hurt SOOOO bad)
angelicw
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
I used to get leg cramps in the middle of the night, waking me out of a deep sleep. My doctor told me to this (after an examination showed no medical reasons for the cramps)... open a bar of soap, anything BUT Ivory, put it under your fitted sheet down near your legs and just leave it there. I haven't had leg cramps since.
Danielle&Scott
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
What is the deal with putting a bar of soap under your fitted sheet? I dont get that
What soap do you use and why cant you use ivory? Scott
Summer05
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
You can also get cramps from being dehydrated.
Jackie&Justin
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
It is called a 'charlie horse'...I get them when I excersize. I sceam so hard I wake up everyone in the house.....I hear that you need: 1. More water 2. More potasium 3. More calcuim
Try and catch it before it creeps up on you. Usually I can feel it coming and move my foot or leg to get it to stop. I swear it's the most pain ever!
Blu-ize
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
Caffeine is also a culprit
Pmpkn087
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
Posted by Danielle&Scott
I cannot have bananas I am on low carb and one banana has about 22 grams of carbs....
I wonder if I could take Potassium pills or if there is another way to get the potassium I need
Scott
I get it too. I was told I was lacking potassium for a long time...and I can't eat bananas because they make my belly hurt
I also get cramps in my hands and feet, as well as in my legs and back. So I went to the rheumatologist because all the signs were pointing to rheumatoid arthritis (I had other symptoms in addition to the cramps) and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It is not extrememly uncommon, and that is where the muscle cramps come from, as well as joint aches. They can perscribe pain killers or muscle relaxers, but you don't want to take that too much.
I find that Advil works great! Sorry so long. OH and the worse part is that I am only 24 and I have worse symptoms that my 77 year old grandma.
divabride
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Re: Leg Cramps - Muscle Cramps
I used to get them too. When you do get one, see if you can get to the bathroom. It usually has the coldest floor. Once you put your foot on the cold floor it instantly relaxes the muscle. Sometimes the pain was so bad for me I couldnt walk, so I had no choice but to turn on my bed and prop my foot on the wall. Not a cure, but more for instant relief. HTH
