Those horrible calf cramps you get in middle of the night, from not enough h2o, or need for certain vitamins?
485738
Call me when it happens again and I will massage them away.
1187345
One of my sons had a problem with his leg muscles cramping and hurting at night (I think it was because he is so active). He found that sleeping with a hot water bottle for his legs helped considerably.
84769
Leg cramps are muscle spasms anywhere in the leg. They usually occur at night and can result in sudden, painful spasms. \nIf you are frequently bothered by leg cramps, check with your doctor to rule out medical conditions that may be causing the problem. Many different factors can promote cramping, including low blood levels of calcium, magnesium, or vitamin E. Circulation disorders, anemia (a low level of blood cells), and improper functioning of the thyroid gland can also cause leg cramps. Other causes include dehydration, heat stroke, inactivity, and strenuous exercise. Cramps can also occur for no apparent reason. \n\nHere are a few tips that may help prevent leg cramps:\n\n\nDrink plenty of water throughout the day. Doctors recommend six to eight glasses everyday.\nMassage your muscles before going to bed.\nStretch daily, before and after exercise.\nMaintain a well-balanced diet and eat foods high in calcium (such as milk and cheese), potassium (bananas and dates), and Vitamin E (spinach and sweet potatoes).\nIf you have a leg cramp, gently stretch and massage the muscle. You can apply a warm heating pad to the area to help calm the cramping muscle and reduce discomfort.
62298
Ever try a heating pad? Those work well.\n\n Also try exersising, and avoid salty foods. Take some ibuprofin. \n\nIf you have really bad cramps all the time, you should see a doctor.
1118965
There are many different reasons for this.  One reason can be from low potassium.  Potassium is important for muscle function and a low level of potassium can cause leg cramps.  Sometimes eating banannas help because banannas are high in potassium.  There are a lot of reasons though for Charlie Horses.  If you have a problem with them, you should see the doctor so he can figure out if there is something wrong.
1095777
Vitamin E, plenty of water, and quit smoking if you do. The E is good for circulation, the water will help with the cramps, the smoking is obvious.
169675
A heating pad works wonders. Something warm will help ease your muscle cramping.
232567
I also have had leg cramps, my doctor told me I needed more potassium in my diet i.e. bananas and such.  Hope this helps!
1015551
If your leggs are cramping you might need to get your potassium checked..low potassium causes cramps in the leggs.
429459
It's cramps due to lack of electrolytes.  You can get rid of them by replenishing your electrolytes when you are drinking water.  Sometimes drink something that has some sodium or potassium in it.  Otherwise your body will be in electrolyte imbalance.
229703
Cramping while swimming is common because in most strokes you are pointing your toes. This requires you to tense up your calves. Most common way to prevent cramping is to be properly hydrated. Drink water throughout the day and keep a water bottle at the edge of the pool. Drinking some sports drinks prior to practice will help. Warm-up then stretch before entering the pool, then again in the pool. I was told that by pressing the small, left cleft under your nose will quicken the relief of leg cramps. It's supposedly a pressure point.
153249
I would try a magnesium supplement at night.  Magnesium is a relaxant - it stops muscle spasms and tossing and turning.  It has helped me a great deal.  It's also very low in our normal diets and so it helps to balance other major blood minerals, including calcium and potassium.
971647
You may have a potassium deficiency. I used to get Charlie horses all of the time and I was told this was the reason why. Banana's are high in potassium so you can eat those or get a good vitamin and take daily. Also as soon as you feel one coming on get up and walk immediately and it will keep it from hitting you so hard but you have to get up before the muscle tightens so tight that you can't walk so be quick. Walk through the tightness, don't tip toe through it or it will cramp all the up just as bad as it would have if you didn't get up at all.
264023
I had the same problem for years and years, it's horrible and I was unable to point my toes or curl them , but I would awaken every one or two hours with cramps in my left calf. Prozac 20 milligrams has helped me to be able to do what I couldn't and I used Ambien (expensive though) to sleep. The Prozac might give you headaches when you're awake as well as nausea but for me it was worth it in order to stop the spasm/ cramps in my legs and be able to sleep a whole night through.
690351
I used to get those all the time, and when I looked into it, I was told that it was due to dehydration. Your body sweats when you jog, and if you're like most people, you aren't properly hydrated to begin with, so when you start to sweat, then you lose that much more water, thus cramping. What also helped for me was to take deeper breaths, and breath through your mouth; your body is starving for oxygen when you exert yourself, so breathing through your nose doesn't help. That just worsens the problem; so breath through your mouth. The best way to tell if your taking deep breaths is if you feel your belly move out. If breathing is part of the problem, then keep in mind once the cramping starts, it won't go away just like that; it'll take time for your body to get used to more oxygen and recover from the lack thereof.
470972
I kinda feel this could depend on your age. My daughter had bad leg cramps when she was younger and the doctor said it was growing pains. Of course, I thought she was in the first stages of some disease. Moms way of thinking!!\n\nIf you've seen a doctor and he has checked you out and said it's nothing, then don't get worried about it but instead try some of the following....\n\nFor muscle cramps, gently massage the legs stretching it to help relieve the painful contractions. Relax the muscle by using a hot water bottle or heating pad, or by soaking in a warm bath. \n\nIt could be a varicose vein problem developing. In this case you should try preventing it by several times a day, lie on your back for a few minutes with legs slightly raised, soak legs in warm water, exercise regular and wear a support hose to support your legs.\n\nBecause of meds I have to take, my potassium can fall low. If this happens my legs cramp really bad. So, this could really be your problem because if you are not eating the right foods or if you are on medication yours could be below normal. Eat bananas, drink oj, you can even buy a potassium supplement at WalMart for less than $2.00. \n\nAlso, be sure to drink plenty of water and excerise regularly.\n\nHope something helps those cramps to go away!! :)
301209
I had a hard time with my legs and feet swelling during my pregnancy,  but is seemed to help if I increased my water intake and went for a little walk.  You must take your prenatal vitamins too.   I hated the cramps, but pregnancy effects women differently.  Just have to stick it out and make sure you are following your doctors advice on proper nutrition and excercise.