Free Leg Cramps
Wednesday January 14, 2009
If that were literal I would want no part of it. I just woke up this morning with a nasty leg cramp. Fortunately, I don't get them often, but when I do they are whoppers.
Hyland's has several offers on their consumer promotions page. These folks sure have a strange way of naming their products.
Comments
All you need to do is have a glass of orange juice. Works every time for cramps.
I find that making sure I have enough calcium really stopped my leg cramps. I use to get them four or five times a week. No more. Don’t forget a little potassium to kick start the calcium!
For calf cramps the only thing that works for me (and this is VERY difficult) is to relax, try to think of something else don’t fight it. Slowly the pain goes away.
For toe cramps, my toes point down when cramping so I have to put pressure on them by standing on them, and making them point the opposite way. This also takes the pain away.
Also, if you get cramps when you are stretching, remember to keep your foot up (walking position– not toes pointing straight). My doctor told me this and it does help. Potassium as mentioned above helps.
P.S. When I said stretching, I meant when you are stretching your legs in bed.
A banana a day keeps those cramps away, with lots of potassium. Kiwi fruit works too, and actually has more potassium than the banana.
In my case, leg crasmps are cuasd by poor circulation, occur generally at night, during sleep. Cure is to stand up and apply wight to affected leg, slowly force muscles to stretch. I have found that walking every day virtually keeps them from occurring, and hopefully will over time add other benefits. I am convinced that even a short walk every day helps in so many ways, it should be a requirement.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of all non-approved brands of quinine because of the risk of serious side effects or death. As of December 2006, Qualaquin is the only brand of quinine that is approved by the FDA.
Quinine can cause serious or life-threatening side effects, and is approved for use only in treating malaria. Some people have used quinine to treat leg cramps, but this is not an FDA-approved use. Do not use quinine to treat any medical condition if your doctor did not prescribe quinine for that condition. Do not purchase quinine on the Internet or from vendors outside of the United States. Using this medication improperly or without the advice of a doctor can result in serious side effects or death.
there is a great deal of back and forth with this one, but i am a long time veteran of leg cramps and will tell you the best thing i have found is to put several bars of soap under the sheet and a small piece of soap in a sock worn on the foot. Or rub the soap on the cramp. it gives instant relief. There is a whole session on google about this. I don’t care what anyone says about it, it works for me.
Just heard a new one — works extremely well for the diabetic who recently learned it and passed it on to me. A dash of salt on your palm, lick it and then drink a glass of water. Works almost immediately!
I get shin splints when travelling and look forward to giving this a try. (We leave for Hawaii in a week)
Lee: I often have leg cramps, severe enough to choke a water buffalo. Over the years I’ve learned a few homeopathic remedies I’d like to share with you. 1- when you have a cramp, take your index finger and thumb, and pinch the divet of your upper lip. Sounds silly but it works (This also works for hiccoughs) 2- If cramps are more frequent, try taking a Cod Liver Oil capsule daily–this takes a few weeks to kick in, but well worth the effort. 3- Again, if you have leg cramps frequently, try this method- each night, just before retiring, take a shot glass full of pickle juice. I use the Kosher Dill juice, and it works wonders. Also, if you’re plagued by cramps, try doing a google search for Reflexology, and see what pressure points can be used. Reflexology or accupressure (No needles, thankfully!) is great for relieving all sorts of simple ailments. I hope this might be of help to you and your readers.
You’re so cool Lee. When you get leg cramps do you scream? LOL The moment I get one I get out of bed and stand up. Walk around a bit then it’s gone.
I have leg cramps and usually cure them by getting out of bed and standing so as to put pressure on the leg…….however, I know I am low in calcium and potassium both. I cannot take potassium pills as they burn my stomach. I like bananas but not daily. Is there some potassium pill I can take that will be very mild?
My parents used to be prescribed quinine for leg cramps. Last year the doctor said she couldn’t do that anymore due to the FDA…if you prescribe it, you must state a diagnosis. She said that the Hyland quinine tablets are fine to use, but use your own judgment. She also suggested drinking TONIC WATER (the drink mixer), because that contains quinine. So she has been doing that, with very good results. Tonic water is still legal! For myself, I occasionally get them. The worst ones are the inner thigh cramps. They are crippling; and then the muscles are sore for days afterward. I think I get them when I am dehydrated. The “pinching the skin under the nose” trick has not helped me so far.
Sorry…I should have made clear that it is my Mom who is drinking the tonic water…not the doctor!
I find like another commenter that standing up as soon as it starts immediately stops mine in seconds. Additionally, I find walking a little (length of 2 rooms, twice) will either greatly ease or completely take away the pain when you next try to stand. I get them in my sleep so after I walk, I go right back to sleep. These are caused by a build up of lactic acid in the muscle. You can also do stretching of those muscles before bed which is supposed to get rid of the lactic acid.
My husband woke up with crippling cramps in both feet. I ran hotish water in the tub, feet in and cramps instantly disappeared. I have concluded that heat applied to the area relaxes the muscles.
Leg cramps can have many causes, but some of them are serious - mine were a side effect of deep venous thrombosis (dangerous venous blood clots). Anyone who gets them and doesn’t know what is causing them should get a doctor checkup.
I also find sleeping on a too-hard surface can trigger leg cramps of a different sort, and I have to be sure not to get either too much or too little calcium.
It don’t work if you are allergic to orange juice!
To Rob,
You are full of BS. There will never been a study for the use of Quinine on cramps because there is not enough PROFIT in it and that is why you get studies; PROFIT! Many older proven remedies are being ripped away from people because they have been used for years before there was an FDA.
The FDA sticking their noses in the use of Quinine is another example of the agency gone wild and supporting the, already over rich drug companies! People have been using Quinine for ages for many different things. I’ve been under a doctor’s treatment with PRESCRIBED quinine for over four years. This left me almost cramp free after years of pain. If they could get away with it the FDA would make asprin illegal today!
I don’t know where you get your statements on Quinine but any drug abused will harm you. You take Quinine under the supervision of a doctor experienced with it and your as safe, if not more than any d*** FDA money driven approval.
I’ve not only discussed this with many doctors but researched my self on the internet. I have severe leg, foot, arm, neck and body cramps! I’d like to give them to everyone like you and the idiots in the FDA.
As for Quinine Water, you have to drink a gallon or so a day to get much effect! Yuck! No other source of potassium had ever been much help.
Agree with Kitty, the FDA is in the pharmecuetical corps pockets and it’s all about the money. They can’t turn quinine into a $100+ per scrip product, so they want you to suffer until you’re willing to pay through the nose for it.