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Q. I suffer from leg cramps. Recently while attending a basketball game, I had to leave my seat and try to walk off a severe inner thigh cramp.
A security guard, seeing that I was grimacing in pain, approached me to see if I needed First Aid. When I said it was only leg cramps, he took me to the concession stand and suggested I try yellow mustard. I asked if I was supposed to eat it or apply it. He said it was an old-time remedy his grandmother used.
I ate the mustard. By the time I walked to the end of the concession stand and to the surprise of all who were watching me eat plain mustard, my leg cramp was gone!
I have since used this remedy repeatedly, especially in the middle of the night when my cramps seem to most often occur. It works. I don't know why, but I sure am glad it does.
A. You are not the first to share the secret of yellow mustard. Some readers keep little packets of this condiment on their nightstand to ease leg cramps.
Others have complained that mustard gives them indigestion. For those, we offer our Guide to Leg Pain with remedies such as B vitamins, magnesium, pickle juice or soap under the bottom sheet. It can be downloaded for $2 from the Website: www.peoplespharmacy.com.
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I have severe toe and calf cramps severel times weekly, I have to get off my bed quickly to bend my toes forward before it finally ceases. I have tried cold water on the cramp even in winter time, I have a cake of ivory soap under my sheets. I also take 250 Mg Magnesium daily and if it helps I am glad it does.
MY HUSBAND ALSO SUFFERED FROM LEG CRAMPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, HE STARTED DRINKING TONIC WATER WITH QUININE AND IT HAS BEEN A BLESSING!
I have found if you have leg cramps that curl your toes, just squeeze your lip under your nose with your fore finger and thumb......This actually helps.....It also helps Charlie Horse...
Years ago I heard of a remedy for leg cramps that involved a silver spoon. I think the spoon had to be tapped on the bottom of the foot--or something to that effect. Does anyone recall this remedy, and how the spoon is to be used?
I HAVE TRIED ALMOST EVERYTHING TO STOP CRAMPS. WHAT WORKS BEST FOR ME IS APPLYING "VERY HOT" WET TOWELS TO CRAMP AREA AND THEY GO AWAY WITHIN MINUTES. TRY IT. IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO HELP YOU, IT EVEN BETTER.
While casted to recover from surgery, I got leg cramps. A friend recommended quinine water. BINGO! My husband gets night leg cramps occasionally. We keep a bottle beside the bed and it works within seconds.
I have had severe leg cramps for years. I found relief through Quinine Sulfate obtained through the V.A. Military Medical System. This drug has been in use since the Civil War, or prior, but never approved by the FDA, simply "Grandfathered in ". It is Inexpensive to purchase. No profit in it for drug manufacturing dompanies. They are trying to get it banned due to this. The V.A. recently stopped dispensing this drug. The "exercises" they recommend, basically stretching & walking during attacks DO NOT WORK FOR ME! They offer NO OTHER SOLUTION. Thank you & your site for offering alternative information. This type of information is extremely important to those of us in need of assistance.
About a month after I started Alpha Lipoic Acid I started getting horrendous leg cramps, both day & night. After several months of this, it came to my attention that Alpha Lipoic Acid can disrupt biotin, also know as Vitamin H.
So I got a high dose biotin supplement. Amazingly the cramps vanished from the day I started taking 5 milligram capsules of biotin.
I've never seen muscle cramps ever listed under biotin deficiency symptoms, but some of the authorities do mention that aching muscles are associated with biotin deficiency.
I have found that I get leg cramps at night if I have caffeine. Coffee and soft drinks have to be caffeine free.
I recently participated on a charity bicycle ride in Orlando, FL. At mile 75 of 104, my right hamstring locked up pretty hard. I pulled over and stretched it a bit and ate two packets of French's plain yellow mustard. Within minutes, it felt as if I never had the cramp and finished the ride strong. I can say that I am sold on mustard!!!
The yellow mustard has helped me with my leg and foot cramps within a couple of minutes, however, I experience the most horrific inner thigh pain at times and the yellow mustard does not help. I have thought all these years that it was cramps but since the mustard doesn't help I'm wondering if it really is a cramp. It will run down from near the groin to right before my knees and will be one or both at the same time. This has been happening for 11 years now and no doctor has taken me serious about how bad the pain is.
My husband has wanted to take me to the emergency room because of my agony. The pain is so bad that it makes my forehead feel as if it will explode. Please tell me if you know what this could be and what I can do to alleviate the pain. My doctor has me on magnesium and it has helped my cramps also.
I am so relieved to hear that I am not the only one that gets these horrifying cramps. I get hot and sweaty, feel like I am going to pass out. Usually I get short twinges on and off during the day and then I know that I will have one soon. I worry that if I get one while driving or walking I will fall or cause a accident. I will try the yellow mustard next time and ANYTHING ELSE that may help. I take biotin daily for hair and nails.
RE: the comment dated 11/3/08 from a woman with thigh cramps. I wish I had her address so I could tell her she is NOT crazy. I live in AZ and I have a sister in PA and we both have these debilitating upper leg pains. Sometimes they seem to start from the femoral artery, sometimes in the muscle. The pain is worse than childbirth and these episodes can last from 5 sec. to 8 mins. None of our doctors has answers nor can duplicate the symptoms in office. They occur during sleep. Neither of us exercises. We drink 6-8 glasses of water daily. I am 52, my sister is 48. We have been having these leg pains for 4 yrs unbeknownst to each other until a year ago.