Wellness

[PilatesLover]

Foot cramps here.  Everyone says eat bananas and take magnesium, both of which I do every day in addition to staying well-hydrated.  It doesn't help at all.

Even though they're in my feet I get relief from Hyland's Leg Cramps, and if they're accompanied by restless legs I use Hyland's Restful Legs.

W-M carries both.

[colliemom4]

Our doctor told my husband the most common cause of leg cramps is muscle fatigue.

[novamc1]

Agree with the theory that leg cramps can be due to muscle fatigue.

I sometimes get horrible cramps in my calves at night.   It always happens  after I've spent 60 minutes on a treadmill at the gym, briskly walking three miles.

Not so sure about probability of a potassium deficiency  in my case. 

I take a combo of two drugs for my periodic  high blood pressure readings.  One of those drugs is labeled  in capital letters on the manufacturer's information as being potassium.  

When the doctor first  prescribed them, he specifically advised me NOT to take any additional potassium,  as well as to not drink so much water and  definitely NOT restrict salt intake.  I've been a little low in sodium on every blood test I've had yearly for about 10 years.

[Shelbelle]

Low sodium V8 Juice is loaded with potassium

[hckynutjohn]

Hi there @ECBG 

Have had my share of leg cramps(spasms), a few at night. I generally knew the causes of them, very seldom were they caused by a mineral deficiency. Mine had more to do with muscles being overworked, or failure to take time after a workout/run or skating, to get rid of, or lower the build up lactic acid levels, in the muscles. They were what I consider "self induced".

Does that make them less painful? Nope! Knowing how to break the spasms is important to know. Most lower body cramps cause them to be more painful while releasing the spasm. If there is a way around that, I haven't found it. I am talking immediate relief, not some time later.

The longer a muscle stays in spasm, the more muscle tissue involved, the longer it takes to heal. In addition it also takes less movement to cause another spasm.

If a person keeps themselves well hydrated and keeps their mineral levels where necessary. For me it comes down to the flexibility of the muscle groups and connecting tissue. Stretch them beyond what is "their normal range", and they will react, and not pleasantly.

Think there are a couple other threads on this forum about cramps. If not, maybe "Among Friends or Community Chat".

hckynut   🇺🇸  🇺🇦

[ECBG]

@hckynutjohn 

Thank you for your input John.

You exercise enough for 10 ladies, lol!  I admire your energy.  I can't begin to match what you do!  Although, I run all over the store, it amounts to speed walking, and no one can be full time any longer without being a mgr., which my back can't take.

I think my issue is I just "fell off" my vitamin pkgs when Nature's Own dropped off.  I know I do need a good multivitamin.  Gone are the days when the "basic 4 food groups" provided all we need.  We've learned a lot more.

Many thanks.

[BalletBabe]

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@ECBG wrote:

I'm not the age I used to be but still eat a lot of non starchy vegetables.  I guess the only thing I stopped were those vitamin pkgs.  

Is anyone having leg cramps?  Many Thanks!

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@ECBG   Do you take Statins?  Satains did that to me and I will NEVER take them again.

[ECBG]

@BalletBabe 

No, I don't but thank you.

[Sooner]

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@BalletBabe wrote:

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@ECBG wrote:

I'm not the age I used to be but still eat a lot of non starchy vegetables.  I guess the only thing I stopped were those vitamin pkgs.  

Is anyone having leg cramps?  Many Thanks!

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@ECBG   Do you take Statins?  Satains did that to me and I will NEVER take them again.

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@BalletBabe My husband went through a number of statins and they all give him awful muscle cramps.  He finally quit them and his doctor was in agreement.

He went to a specialist for another matter and that doc gave him

a very old one and it has worked great!  Did what it was supposed to go, no muscle cramps either.