What causes cramp?

[human_male]

Howz it. I've been getting cramp in my legs every night for the past week, until now I'd never really got it at all. What causes it and how can you get rid of it? Is it true low salt can cause it?

Ta.

 

[only_more_so]

Howz it. I've been getting cramp in my legs every night for the past week, until now I'd never really got it at all. What causes it and how can you get rid of it? Is it true low salt can cause it?

Ta.

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, I believe, are the primary causes. I have found eating a banana (potassium source) and drinking plenty of water usually helps.

 

[INeedLove]

Hi HM!
Yes, electrolyte imbalance-I concur. An old family trick is to drink tonic water with quinine in it. It will relieve the cramps very quickly. Uh, you might want to mix a juice in it-I hate the taste of tonic water straight up. OJ works well.

In addition to a banana you could drink some gatorade.


Best wishes!!

 

[wysiwygdd]

My uncle swore that taking a benadryl or other OTC antihistimine worked for leg cramps. He never had any at night once he started taking one before he went to bed.

 

[SweetErika]

A lack of certain nutrients can also cause cramps. My doctor said to make sure I was taking a good Calcium-Magnesium-Zinc supplement daily, and sure enough the calf and foot cramps went away and haven't come back.

 

[kiwichyck]

I concur with Erika

My Dad used to get leg cramps, says that once he started taking a zinc supplement, no more cramps.

I think the electrolyte and salt thing is related to dehydration. If you are sure that you are getting enough fluids and you're still cramping, listen to Erika.

 

[human_male]

Thanks everyone. Hi INeedLove. The bananna and water is one I can try right away so I'll see how I go with that.

Thanks again.

 

[Vixandra]

A good daily vitamin can't hurt either.

 

[Private_Label]

Yeah, water and potassium (banana) are the first suggestion. If you take medication that causes you to lose potassium (diuretics, steroids, etc.) then you might need to take a potassium pill to help put back what is missing.

 

[jakersnake]

Much much potassium and there will be no cramps

 

[abbeyroad12]

If your drinking each night that can cause your legs to cramp. Drinking alcohol I mean. AKA, your body is dehydrated and needs water and everything else the others have been saying. I am just trying to help you find the cause.

 

[independent1]

Everyone's been right on about the magnesium and mineral deficiency. And the lack of water in your diet. If you have been using creatine, you especially need to drink more water. A rule of thumb is to drink as many ounces as your body weight a day. More if you exercise and sweat on a regular basis. Also depends on climate and geographical location. Also wouldn't hurt to get into stretching to loosen up the muscles if you spend long periods of inactivity, like sitting at a desk all day long.

 

[RagingWillard]

Are you exercising at all? Because if you are the build up of lactic acid always causes cramps and the such. I suggest stretching. If you're not exercising, then I suggest exercise.

 

[Tasha_Tuk]

Too much pop

I used to be a swimmer (synchro, always pointing our toes) and I would get cramps in my feet and legs. My coach said to eat a banana and that drinking too much pop can cause them. The carbonation strips the nutrients out of your system.
I would eat the banana and I would be fine.

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, I believe, are the primary causes. I have found eating a banana (potassium source) and drinking plenty of water usually helps.

 

[human_male]

Thank you everybody. From your posts I've managed to gleen the probably culprit. I've had a week off work so I haven't been getting any exercise. Instead I've been sat playing Oblivion for eight hours a day. I don't drink water before I go to bed coz I hate getting up for a wizz.

I seem to be back to normal now. Thanks for the bananna tip. My mum gets them quite a bit, now I'll be able to help her.

 

[glynndah]

My sister in law is a registered dietician and recommends a magnesium supplement taken about a half-hour before bedtime. I used to suffer from terrible bouts of "restless leg" syndrome which kept me up for hours. She has recommended this to several other health care professionals and now has a couple of doctors who tell their patients to try it. After taking it for a few days, I haven't had any more problems. It might be just the placebo effect, but who cares?

 

[human_male]

My sister in law is a registered dietician and recommends a magnesium supplement taken about a half-hour before bedtime. I used to suffer from terrible bouts of "restless leg" syndrome which kept me up for hours. She has recommended this to several other health care professionals and now has a couple of doctors who tell their patients to try it. After taking it for a few days, I haven't had any more problems. It might be just the placebo effect, but who cares?

Is that where you feel twinges, almost like shocks, shooting down your legs? I sometimes get that. It doesn't hurt, but it's uncomfortable.

Would you know what kind of foods are high in magnesium?

Ta.

 

[only_more_so]

Is that where you feel twinges, almost like shocks, shooting down your legs? I sometimes get that. It doesn't hurt, but it's uncomfortable.

Would you know what kind of foods are high in magnesium?

Ta.

It varies person to person, but that could definately be it. Anyway, the descriptions might vary, but the result is that you feel the urge to move your legs and feel uncomfortable sitting still.

googled this page. Bananas are on the list and fish and nuts and beans.
http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/food/magnesium-foods.htm