Getting Rid Of Leg Cramps

I have had leg cramps off and on for many years. For most of those years Hylands Homeopathic LEG CRAMPS formula with quinine worked for me. They are tiny tablets that dissolve instantly under the tongue. I keep a box by my bed. I also keep a bar of soap under my bottom sheet. I don't get cramps too often anymore, but when I do, if the Hylands formula doesn't work, as quickly as I can get to the kitchen, I swallow either a Magnesium or Calcium capsule, which stops the cramps immediately.

I have suffered horribly from leg cramps also, and the remedy that helps me is taking calcium with magnesium and zinc.

My hubby tried everything, and finally I gave him some of my Jigsaw magnesium and it worked. I got it for my blood pressure. Yes, we'd tried about four kinds of magnesium before trying the Jigsaw Health brand.

It works!

Two each about 1/2 hour before bedtime.

I used to get leg cramps a lot. They would wake me up at night. Now that I take enough Cal/Mag I don't. I take it at night an hour before bed.

If I drink gatoraid during the day that seems to help. The doctor has also given me a prescription of cyclobenzaprine that helps. I don't take it every night, but when I do I don't get the leg cramps.

I too suffered with excruciating leg cramps at night in bed. I was taking calcium tablets when someone told me to take liquid calcium. Well it worked. I take a tablespoonful AM and one in the evening. Mine comes with magnesium and vitamin D. The cramps stopped.

Tonic water has quinine in it, and has helped me a lot, as a quick aid. I keep it at my bedside. I also found out that I had celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and, since I stopped absorbing iron properly and became anemic, maybe calcium/magnesium absorbtion was affected also. The change in diet has helped a lot, but the tonic water, or maybe a spoonful of mustard, will be a quick relief.

I learned about Hyland's Homeopathic Magnesium Phosphate from a doctor in Australia. I carry it with me always and keep it beside my bed. The little tablets are dissolved under the tongue and give relief within a few minutes. These pills contain no quinine, which can be harmful to some.

I, too, used to have excrutiating bouts of leg cramps. Someone touted to me the benefits of a cocktail comprised of three parts red grape juice, two parts apple juice (I substitute cranberry-apple) and one part raw "mothers" vinegar. I drink 4-6 oz. twice a day, diluted with water. No more cramps.

Leg cramps were awakening me every half hour at night. My orthopedist recommended pilates exercises... specifically, the ones involving twisting the feet and lower abdominals. When I forget to do them, the pain returns almost immediately. I am 70 years old but the pilates work plus making me feel great. Sue D.

I had bad leg cramps for years and they were finally tracked down to Fosamax and Boniva. What is a person to do when treating one condition causes another?

I suffered from foot and leg cramps, and the doctor put me on quinine, which helped some. Then the FDA pulled it from the market. He suggested quinine water, which I don't like, so he put me on Neurotin (Gabapentin) and I also put myself on Magnesium and Potassium. I am doing better, but it has not eliminated them. I only drink a glass of water once or twice a day. Any suggestions?

Some years ago when I was under extreme stress for an extended period, I started getting surreal and unstoppable leg cramps at night, often in the front of the legs--curling my big toe right up towards my knee. I tried the homeopathic "quinine", which helped a bit. But what seemed to help most was taking a good dose of vitamin B6, which I have always seemed to have a high requirement for.

I have may have sent this before but....quinine...via tonic water. Four ounces at bedtime. For me it works very noticeably and after a few days doesn't seem to be necessary every night. We opt for the Diet version. It was recommended by my doctor.

I quite often used to stretch when I first woke up in the morning and would often get a terrible leg cramp. I even started getting them without stretching. About 3 or 4 years ago my sister suggested putting a bar of soap under my bottom sheet and laying my lower legs on it. I did that and have seldom had any cramps since. It's magic!!

I've had varicose veins for 25 years, which never caused me pain or cramping. However, after menopause, I started experiencing horrible night-time "charlie horses" and general cramping as well as restless legs. I too tried many of the solutions cited above, but nothing worked. My regular doctor suggested I see a vascular doctor, who suggested I take Horse Chestnut Seed Extract (HCSE). He told me it is regularly prescribed in Germany for the "side effects" of varicose veins. I purchased it at a local GNC ($11.99/bottle) and take one 2x a day--12 hours apart. In addition, I started a walking routine--30 minutes a day 5 days a week. I have been doing this since February, and have not had a leg cramp since. I did a bit of research on the internet on HCSE and research has proven its efficacy as well.

I haven't had leg cramps since I started taking 2 capsules of wheat germ oil every day. It's not easy to find, I have have to order it online.

Because quinine, which always worked for me, is not allowed as a prescription anymore, I do 10 deep knee bends each night before I go to bed. I also do 10 seconds of stretching for each leg. My doctor said this breaks down the lactic acid that builds up naturally in my legs. So far so good.

When leg cramps occur, I take 2-3 capsules of 400 IU Vit E. These usually work in 4-5 minutes. If I am in extreme pain, I chew them. The brand I find most effective is Nature's Life. These Vit E capsules are 100% natural d-alpha tocopherol plus 5mg. mixed tocopherols.

Homeopathic remedies Zincum met and Cuprum met are effective also.

Hyland's Leg Cramps homeopathic remedy with quinine is still available.

I have been taking Fosamax since it was first approved by the FDA and was part of a study by Merck. Over the past 2 years I have been having excruciating foot and leg cramps during the night and piercing stabs near my ankles during the day. I can stop taking the Fosamax and the symptoms disappear, but when I resume the medication, it all starts again. This is not listed as a side effect, but it seems pretty common from all that I've been reading on the internet. Are all Osteoporous meds the same?

I was told that Turmeric-a spice used to make pickles-is the cure. I sprinkle it on food or eat a tablespoon of mustard. It took my cramps away. cheap and worth a try.
Elaine

I have leg cramps too and discovered it was from Lyrica. They were severe leg cramps too. I stopped the Lyrica and the leg cramps stopped immediately. Then the diabetic neuropathy pain came back in my legs with a vengance so now I am back on the Lyrica and eating bananas. If the bananas don't work I am getting some quinine from my dr.

I have suffered with severe cramps day and night in my legs and feet and toes, and recent years they have worsened to the muscles in the front of my legs, and even in my thighs and sometimes around my ribs. The only thing which I have found to help me is the Hylands leg cramps with quinine, but the caplets are the ones which help me. The others don't seem to do as well. I might add that I had the doctor prescribe quinine for me before and it didn't work half so well as the Hylands caplets.

My MD prescribed quinine for leg cramps. A year or two later my platelets dropped to 6000. I was diagnosed with ITP. The hemotogiost told me to stop taking quinine, immediately. I underwent treatment with gammaglobulin IV, then, reducing dosages of steroids for 2 or 3 months. That was 5 years ago; platelets are low end of normal now.

Until I read some of the info in your column, I never knew there was a connection. Has there been any proof positive? When did the FDA take quinine off the market?
Now I've started stretching before bedtime again; recently took some pickle juice before bedtime. Both seem to work.

I routinely eat 3/4 cup of plain yogurt on my cooked oatmeal/almond meal/ground flaxseed cereal. I've been out of yogurt for 3 days and realize I haven't had the leg cramps since!

I have restless legs a lot during the day and at night. I'm back on neurontin on a higher dosage. But I do want to try this soap trick. Sounds fascinating and if it works then I would be so grateful.

So far the only thing that works for me is to lie on my side, on the side that the restless leg is affecting. As soon as I'm on my side, the restlessness in my leg dies down. I usually stay on my side for about 20 minutes just to make sure it has quit. And I can't stay longer than that on my side because I have pain on both sides that makes it uncomfortable to lie like that. So, I'm eager to try the bar of soap trick.

Although my leg cramps during the night are infrequent, they are no picnic.
I find that a teaspoon of mustard (any variety) helps instantly. Also, even though doctors no longer prescribe quinine, there must be SOME in quinine water. I find that a couple of sips help also; since I don't always have that on hand, I do rely on the mustard.

The other night, for the first time, I experienced severe cramps in my thighs. I could barely walk to the kitchen to get to my mustard. I haven't had a chance to ask my doctor yet -- has anyone else had "thigh cramps"?

Yes, Jaybee, I get thigh cramps frequently. I think those are so much worse than the ones I get in my lower legs or toes. The pain is so intense that there is no way to get out to the kitchen for any relief. I have never heard of using mustard before until I read about it here. I keep a box of baking soda in my bathroom, which is about 6 feet from my side of the bed. I just dump some in a small glass of water and sip it. Within a minute or two the relief will start and be completely gone in a few minutes.

I read somewhere to put 1/4 tsp. of soda in water, but again, when the pain is so intense, I'm not going to bother to measure out what I need. It seems like the stronger the water is with the soda, the faster it works, and the least amount it takes for relief. I never have figured out why I get them, so this is my quick solution. Hope it helps.

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: BAKING SODA IS HIGH IN SODIUM, SO THIS REMEDY IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR PEOPLE WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR OTHERS WHO NEED TO LIMIT SODIUM INTAKE.