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Q. What can I do to halt or prevent leg cramps? I get them regularly at night and even during the day. They occur only in the inner thigh of my left leg and occasionally in the left groin area. My friends have suggested eating more bananas. How many bananas a day would I need? What else can I do to prevent them? I'm becoming sleep deprived and need any advice you can offer.
A. Leg cramps can be excruciating and frequently interfere with sleep. We have collected dozens of remedies over the years to prevent or stop such cramps. They include low-sodium V-8 juice for extra potassium (an alternative to eating more bananas), a glass of tonic water at bedtime, a teaspoon of yellow mustard, vitamin and mineral supplements or a bar of soap under the bottom sheet.
We offer details on these and many other approaches, including instructions on how to stretch leg muscles before bed in our Guide to Leg Pain.
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Because of the location of your cramps, you may want to research the psoas muscle. There are ways to stretch and relax this muscle, which runs on both sides of the body and empties into the groin area. A tight (shortened) psoas can cause pain which runs down the inner thigh. Good luck!
Been using the small bar of soap under my bottom sheet and I haven't had leg cramps in over 9 months. Crazy? You bet it is, but it worked so I don't question it.
Magnesium did it for me. I take 250 mg twice a day.
If that's too much for you, you can adjust the dose downward--you'll know it's too much if you get loose stools.
I too suffered from cramps for many many years. My cramps however were all over my body, my fingers would cramp eating dinner holding a fork and going to bed was always a nightmare. I would ask my doctors to look into this every year at my annual physical and always nothing out of the ordinary would show. This year I insisted on a deeper look. After many tests that showed nothing unusual I was sent to a Rhumatologist. He asked for a test to show my level of vitamiine D.
I was low and was given a prescription for vit D in far greater amounts than are available normally. I take two tablets a week due to the amount as I was advised by my physician and pharmacist that high levels of vit D can be dangerous. I am happy to state that I have not had a single cramp since beginning this regimen 4 weeks ago.
I used to get terrible leg cramps until someone told me to drink milk. I drank mild every day and I didn't have any more leg cramps. I missed several days without drinking milk and the cramps returned. Now, I drink milk every day and I haven't had leg cramps for several years.
A heating pad will relieve a muscle cramp. I have shoes that seem to set me up for repeated cramping in the evening and night. I find that if I leave the heating pad on the affected muscle for 10 or 15 minutes, it will not cramp again later.
The yellow mustard works so well I keep packets in my vehicle as part of my first aid kit. I have never had it fail to stop a Charlie Horse in a minute or two. Occasionally I need to consume a second teaspoon. ~ C
I didn't mention it, but you are right; I found that using a heating pad, particularly during the winter months, was a tremendous help with cramps. I could feel the tension ebb away when I put the pad in the bed. I stumbled upon this I think in February and was very very pleased that I came across this discovery.
I never tried the mustard, but will add it to my list of things to try. I have tried the pickle juice, had to get up in the middle of the night and drink the stuff and eat pickles, before I started using a heating pad. The heating pad for me has been a tremendous help.
I was having multiple leg cramps during the night and occurring mainly on the lateral side of the shine bone. Went to the doctor, told me to decrease my diuretic and after two weeks noticed no difference, and then heard about the soap! For the first week, I had none! Now I have occasional cramps, but have started yoga and the muscles may be reacting to that stretching.
I have been having excruciating leg cramps at night in my inner thigh on my right leg for about 2 years now = and they started out after having knee surgery = I'm not connecting the 2, but it seems strange that I only have the cramps in my inner thigh on the right leg = they have been so bad = I have had to get my husband to get up to get me a hot wet washcloth and change it 3 or 4 times in a 2 minute period = then when it subsides, the next day my leg is so sore I can hardly walk.
I take Vitamin d, Calcium and drink a glass of milk EVERY night- I've tried the mustard, pickle juice, is it possible that it may be associated with a blood clot, or poor circulation in that leg? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated =
Really - try the heating pad. Go ahead and use it in the evening before you get a cramp. Then have it set up to use in bed.
Can identify with everyone out there who is shocked out of sleep or anything else I may be doing with excruciating pain in inner thigh or outer lower leg. Pain so severe that it is almost impossible to describe. A charley horse in the calf doesn't come close to the pain of these, maybe because these are much harder to stetch against when they occur.
I too had blood tests run, thinking electrolytes were out of whack. Nothing showed up. First time it happened, six years ago, I'm sure dehydration was a factor, but not anymore. Doesn't happen often, but just did this evening and the fear that it may at any time is very disconcerting; that little twinge that sometimes occurs gives warning that I need to get up immediately and try to work it out. I don't always get that warning.
Like many of you, I have been in tears screaming out with the pain, when the muscle seems to fight against the bone wanting to flex and curl up, but the bone won't let it do so. I too have drank pickle juice with some success and hot water bottle against the muscle helps after the spasm has passed. Sure wish anyone would have some answers; doctors don't seem to know. Something's not right but don't know what.