Muscle Cramps

This thread made me think of a question I've been meaning to ask for awhile.

Does anyone wake up in the middle of the night due to intense muscle cramps?

I get them in my calf muscles, only unilaterally. The cramp is so painful that it jolts me out of sleep and leaves me clutching my leg in intense pain for at least 30 agonizing seconds. The muscle is completely hard and contracted. I cannot move my foot or massage out the cramp because it only causes more pain - I have to just wait until it subsides on its own.

I've heard some people say that eating more potassium will help, but I'm wondering what causes these cramps and if anyone else gets them.

Wow this brought back painful memories :P . I used to get these horrible cramps down one side of my neck, I couldn't do anything as it hurt so much. I had to wait for it to go away like you do, usually for 20 seconds but it seemed a lot longer :|

Sometimes when I wake up my back or my armpits hurt (haha). It hasn't happened for a long time though, probably like 5 months ago.

This happens a lot, and it's always in my calves as well. Cramps are a result of not moving for too long, aren't they? I've never been able to do anything about mine, I just put up with it.

my twin gets exactly that. I've also heard more potassium helps...from like banana's and kiwis.

ive had it a few times...not fun. i have no idea what causes this.

Actaully, I used have very painful leg cramps nearly each night. But now its died down to maybe a couple times a year, but i do have a lot of body parts that go to sleep and get numb when i wake up.

Charlie horses suck! I think there are many causes; including dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which I think was the cause for me. I have found that the best thing to do is jump up out of bed immediately and put weight on the leg; that usually gets rid of it right away. I take a mixed mineral supplement (calcium, magnesium, potassium I think) before bed that says it is for leg cramps and that seems to help.

Lord, yes, I've had those cramps. Horrible.

What helped me was colloidal minerals and magnesium.

Taking colloidal minerals helped a great deal and even rubbing them directly on the cramping muscle helped. At other times, magnesium helped more than anything. I found this product called natural calm that really worked great.

Shit, and here I thought it was just me. o.O

Yeah, I've had some of the most painful experiences, waking up in the middle of the night with charlie horses in my calves. Usually they would be only one at a time, but one night stands out, in particular, where it happened in both legs at once. Talk about f'ckin pain.

I think my problem, for the most part, was dehydration. I get cramps in my toes often if I've been running or swimming a lot, without having drunk a lot of water during the day, beforehand. Since I've been drinking a lot more water on a regular basis, though, I haven't woken up with one in my legs for years...thank god.

Yeah come to think of it, I bet dehydration has a lot to do with it. I had been working a lot and neglecting a good diet and probably not drinking enough water. I'll have to keep that in mind.

I had those usually once a month, exactly how you discribed them, though the first 3 were in the day so I wasnt half asleep. I havent had one in a long time though which is great :content:

I also bellieve its because of dehydration.

WOW.........I just had one this morning.....I guess Im just not very lucky....

Ouch. I seriously hate those. I had it quite often on the back part of my left leg, just a little above the foot, and damn it hurts. Like if it wasn't annoying enough to wake up because of it but having to wait until it's over and trying not to yell because of it (probably waking the whole neighbourhood in the process)

^^ Yup, that's exactly what I mean.

not during the middle of the night, but when i stay over my friends house i get constant, horrible foot cramps! ughhh!

>_< ouch...I used to get them right underneath my feet. One time I actually watched my feet curl on it&#39;s own while the muscles contracted in pain. I usually stay absolutly still and breath deep but really slow while trying to make my leg limp as possible....and then I watch my feet uncurl...i don&#39;t get them as much. It&#39;s once is a blue moon for me.

I&#39;ve heard that you need to eat more potassium such as bannanas and spinich....but if you are eating it regulary, you may need to take supplements for potassium instead due to hypokalemia, my brother has this problem...maybe you might have it? Here&#39;s an article about it...

( http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/low-potassium/AN01143 )

I have NEVER had cramp, and i hope i never do.

(ive probably just jinxed myself :()

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Originally Posted by miss_eri

>_< ouch...I used to get them right underneath my feet. One time I actually watched my feet curl on it&#39;s own while the muscles contracted in pain. I usually stay absolutly still and breath deep but really slow while trying to make my leg limp as possible....and then I watch my feet uncurl...i don&#39;t get them as much. It&#39;s once is a blue moon for me.

I&#39;ve heard that you need to eat more potassium such as bannanas and spinich....but if you are eating it regulary, you may need to take supplements for potassium instead due to hypokalemia, my brother has this problem...maybe you might have it? Here&#39;s an article about it...

( http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/low-potassium/AN01143 )[/b]

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Yeah, I know what you mean about watching your muscle contract - it happens with my calf muscle getting a hard and cramped. It&#39;s strange to see because you have no voluntary control over it.

Good article about hypokalemia - I know I&#39;m not hypokalemic though. The cramps have to happend for some other reason. And I haven&#39;t had a cramp since I started this thread, so it&#39;s not like it&#39;s very often. It&#39;s just weird how they seem to happen out of nowhere... :?

It&#39;s probably dehydration. Cramps happen to pro athletes frequently, and it&#39;s usually a result of lack of water. Try gatorade too, as it will replenish electrolytes and some carbs. If this condition persists for too long, say another week or two, go see a doctor. It could also be vitamin deficiency, but diagnosing something like that is beyond my scope of practice. Oh yeah, regular massage might help, especially for the next little while. Hope you get better.

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Originally Posted by Nightmare

It&#39;s probably dehydration.[/b]

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Hmm, yeah, that was my other thought oo.

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Originally Posted by Nightmare

Oh yeah, regular massage might help, especially for the next little while.[/b]

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oh yeah, I could go for a massage&#33; Especially if it&#39;s for my health ;)

Fortunately, I haven&#39;t had one of those leg cramps in forever. They usually just pop up at me out of nowhere and I&#39;m left with a limp for the next two days (that&#39;s how painful they are&#33;). Once I was just laying in bed and then all of a sudden, BAM&#33;, and I&#39;m clutching there yelling as loud as I can, "FUCKKKKKKKK&#33;"

This has probably happened five or six times in my life.

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Originally Posted by miss_eri

>_< ouch...I used to get them right underneath my feet. One time I actually watched my feet curl on it&#39;s own while the muscles contracted in pain.[/b]

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I get that, very painful :blue:.

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Originally Posted by miss_eri

It&#39;s probably dehydration. [/b]

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That makes sense, when I was younger I hardly drank anything but used to get horrible cramps in my neck, now I drink alot and never really get cramps while I sleep.

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Originally Posted by miss_eri

oh yeah, I could go for a massage&#33; Especially if it&#39;s for my health ;)
[/b]

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Well if its for your health, I guess you will have to go get a massage. Wouldn&#39;t want you suffering now would we ;).

I get them very rarely, maybe once or twice a year for no apparent reason. Bloody painful they are, and my legs ache all the next day.

I usually get dehydrated- I always forget to eat/drink, and have to be reminded (either by stomache/mouth or people&#33;)

I get them rarely though. Right now I have a cold so I am not feeling too great

You can also take a lite salt which contains potassium and magnesium usually..