Leg cramps! Any remedies?

[Rosered52]

Ugh, pretty much every evening I get at least one round of awful, painful cramps in my lower legs. I'm keeping hydrated, and I eat my bananas, but otherwise, I'm at a loss. Anybody have advice to share?

 

[mammag]

Magnesium is what they say you need when you have these, but my tried and true method is simple and works every time for me, as soon as you feel the cramp starting, not once it's in full swing because by then it's too late, stretch your foot up and point your toes up as high as you can, it stops my cramps every single time, other than that nothing has ever stopped them for me and it's something I've had in every pregnancy.

 

[Rosered52]

I slacked off the magnesium some time ago, I should probably try it again. These cramps are weirdly on the front and sides of my calves, not the backs. I've tried flexing in different ways, relaxing, trying new positions, all with no results. The one time I got them to disappear mid-grip was by walking around, but other times I've tried that and I just wound up dragging my legs around like lead weights.

 

[Mrs Dragonfly]

Magnesium for sure, I'm starting to get leg cramps in bed when I stretch so I'll be picking that back up too. Although Mammag is onto something about stretching the muscle the other direction, when your muscles cramp up make your brain signal the opposite muscle to flex so all its energy goes there instead of the cramping muscle.

 

[jeanyern123]

Heat packs, stretching and bit of exercise, lots of water, stockings and get dh to give you a massage.

 

[unknown87649]

I've been getting cramps lately, I hate them! I've been taking a magnesium supplement every night & also having a bit of tonic water daily (contains quinine which helps with cramps). I read that your potassium and calcium levels have something to do with it too. Dried apricots have lots of potassium.

 

[sbl]

Tonic water!! Cannot recommend it enough. Make sure to not get slimline though as it has very little quinine.

 

[busytulip]

As previous posters said Magnesium, but not just magnesium. Find the supplement that contains Magnesium Calcium and Zinc-they all work together for better absorption.

 

[Rosered52]

Thank you, kind ladies!! I'm putting all of these into effect, and hopefully they subside.

 

[prbetsi75]

ok, this is going to sound crazy but I heard it from another pregnant woman who swears by it. And I've gotten two leg cramps so far first thing in the morning when I stretch my leg so just last night I did this.....so can't report yet on how effective it is. This is an old wives tale - Put a bar of soap at the foot of the bed, under the fitted sheet. Sounds crazy I know.

Read this article: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2012/07/22/why-does-soap-soothe-nighttime-leg-cramps/