Night leg cramps

[Badbessie]

As a number of you know I tend to do a fair bit of exercise. Normally I have no problems but over the last 10 days I have had cramp in my left leg in the middle of the night on three occasions.

I have looked into possible causes and have made sure I am well hydrated etc. I am not on statins or medications that could cause it. I am just wondering if anyone in the group also as this problem?

[mrsmummy]

Hi, have you tried tonic water? It has worked for other members on here who had cramp.

[Badbessie in reply to mrsmummy]

Not as yet just added to shopping list. thank you.

[HampshireLass in reply to Badbessie]

Bitter Lemon has quinnine in it too and tastes nicer.

[Hidden]

Have you checked your legs for varicose veins. Iv had the same not cramp but tingly in specific areas of lower limbs calf areas. Feel it's down to the heat and venous pooling maybe xxx

[Badbessie in reply to Hidden]

Not seen any but I have had nerve type pains which were put down to fibromyalgia. But never had cramps.

[Hidden in reply to Badbessie]

Have you got new trainers or shoes . It could be restless legs Andrew has them and it drives me insane at night the way he jumps around lol xx

[Badbessie in reply to Hidden]

No, nothing as changed except the weather so I was thinking could it be heat related.

[Hidden in reply to Badbessie]

That's what I'm putting mine down to as it's only recently started with me also ...your heels are too high on your stilletos 😁😁😉😉

[Badbessie in reply to Hidden]

Have not wore them since the wife caught me wearing hers...lol

[mrsmummy in reply to Badbessie]

[sassy59]

If l drink alcohol or my feet get cold, l tend to get cramp in my feet. Don't really get leg cramps often though. Xxxxx

[Badbessie in reply to sassy59]

Over the last 10 days I have perhaps been too warn that's why I thought it may be dehydration.

[Nottobad]

I get a lot of cramp in my legs I have arthritis just last night I had to get up due to the cramp and pain in my left ankle. And the pain seemed to becoming from the bone. So I will have to mention this to my rheumy consultant when I see him in August.

[Badbessie in reply to Nottobad]

I too have arthritis but have not experienced this before but it is perhaps worth a mention to the rheumy.

[2greys in reply to Badbessie]

I take statins and was prone to leg cramps before I started taking them. I managed to narrow down a major cause, 50%, for me was Ventolin. I still get them but only occasionally now since eating bananas or apricots and drinking tonic water before bed, I add some Ribena to it and some cold water (to help kill most of the fizz which can give me reflux, not good when lying down). Bonus for me it tastes like grapefruit and I have to take "no more grapefruit" tablets to control my hypertension, so a fair trade.

[Badbessie in reply to 2greys]

Don't take all that much ventolin. But I will give the tonic water a go.

[jimmyg23]

Yes I used to get cramp on my legs during the night back about two years ago and started taking Indian tonic water a small glass every time before bedtime now I very seldom get cramp now it was someone on this site I heard about it glad I did best move every you can buy two litre bottles for alpine out of the co op

[Magpuss]

My doc prescribed quinine tablets but they made my tinnitus very bad so I replaced them with a magnesium supplement and increased my fluids. I'm not getting cramp anymore but I had my inhaler changed as well so I'm not sure if it was the magnesium and extra fluids that worked, or if it was being caused by the inhaler that I was using (Seretide).

[Roessner541]

Try magnisium.

[Elizabethk]

And calcium.

[Badbessie]

Thanks for the comments I take multivitamins every day. I have had may blood checked recently and no deficiency was seen.

[thewheezyone]

Hi! Have a look at your trainers/shoes.... if they are quite old they might need changing.... they might not be giving your feet the support they need through the day x

[Maximonkey]

Hi Bessie, I too used to suffer terribly with cramps at night. The doc prescribed tablets with quinine, I had side effects so he told me to try drinking tonic water with quinine. I did and it worked. I have told numerous friends who have this symptom and they too find it works. You do not need to buy the expensive Sch stuff either I buy mine for 39p a bottle (just read the ingredients and make sure quinine is included). I began by drinking a pint over time each day but now I only need to drink it twice a week. Good luck, hope it works. Maximonkey

[Dragonmum]

Ventolin is notorious for causing leg cramps - loads of people who are on it get this reaction. Calcium seems to help.

[Hidden]

G'day Badbessie..i feel for you..having had severe leg cramps for years..nearly every night in the wee small hours..out of bed doing the one leg polka down the hall. This always occurred after an abnormal days work.

Tried everything ...the only remedy that worked was to take 2 x 600mg Magnesium tablets before bed....never had a problem since, albeit I decided to give them a rest and within one week...up doing the Polka....most cramps were in the calf muscle...but later were in the hammys and quads...a real nasty SOB...the only way I could free the muscle was to grab a packet of frozen peas, beans or whatever I could find in the freezer, apply them directly to the affected area and the cramp would free up in a few minutes......there have been many good suggestions here..but you need to find something that works for you trial and error. If you decide to try the magnesium.. go to your local supermarket...most stock the 600mg tablets and are far cheaper than purchasing in a pharmacy.....I wish you luck with this one....