Is there anyone who has a cure for leg and foot cramps? The doctors don't seem to have a clue about this, have checked it out on the internet and luckily it does not seem to be a serious condition. I have found some who say to eat a teaspoon of mustard, yuk, and that it works for them, also some who say drink pickle juice, yuk, and that works for them. As a prescription item quinidine sulfate is no longer allowed by the FDA. Any help out there, anyone else with this problem? Six to eight times every night jumping out of bed..........I'm really getting very tired!!!!!! Thanks

TripleDee: My husband uses Tonic water because it contains Quinine. As a diabetic, he experiences leg cramps. He drinks 8oz. at bedtimes...does the trick! It is inexpensive and he buys the store brand to save money. It comes in diet also (which is what he uses).

Deloris, thanks so much for the Tonic Water info, I will certainly try it. One question, does he also add Gin to that?????????? lol
Thanks again also how ironic that I would receive a post with someone of the same first name of "Deloris", mine is also like yours only a different spelling "Dolores".

Take in more calcium...my GYN Dr. told me this and it works...as you get older your body needs more calcium...try it...I tae 1200 mg's a day..1 in the am and the other in the pm. Wait a few days and it should stop.

Have you tried a banana a day? I've been told by several people who use this method that it really works. Good luck to you.

You might want to try a teaspoon of yellow mustard. You might want to follow that with a glass of water. This really works!

I have kidney disease, so I am anemic and low in potassium. Bananas will help. But if you keep having a problem with it, you might want to actually have your potassium checked.
When I do have one in the middle of the night, the only thing I can do to stop the incredible pain is to stand up and put all my weight on the foot of the leg that's hurting. It stops as soon as I do that. But sometimes it's hard to get to my feet when I'm having a cramp.

Triple Dee, You can try Vit E, just don't go over the recommend allowance.
Or you can try the soap at the foot of the bed, it is suppose to work.
Good luck.

I get the same thing it always happens at night and usually when I stretch out my leg. VERY painful. I have found that taking calcium and Vitamin D supplements helps a lot. I hope this helps. Let us know.

TripleDee, If possible have your MD run some blood tests checking for: Calcium level and Potassium levels. I take 1000-1200mg of Magnesium at bedtime. Magnesium will help with muscle relaxation as will calcium (500mg in morning and at bedtime.

There is a old trick that many swear by and that is to put an unwrapped bar of soap like Ivory, Dove, etc under the fitted sheet, down by your feet. For those that it works for they claim it works in about 3 days...no one knows why.

The other option is to ask your MD if you could have Restless leg syndrome. There are various medications for this and they start with a very small dose and work up until you get total relief, through the night.9No cramps or even the feeling like you are getting one. My husband has restless leg syndrome (RLS) and has had to change medications as well as dosages, but has found relief with medication.

Most cramps are caused by a lack of a vitamin and/or mineral or a combination. You may want to do some gentle stretching before bedtime to help also.

I hope you find relief soon.
Nancy, Akron, NY

I suffered from leg cramps and restless leg syndrome for years. When I cut back on caffeine and started taking a potassium supplement everyday, the cramps have stopped and the RLS is much much better. Caffeine is the worst for causing leg cramps!

The calcium and Vitamin D are great suggestions but don't forget your B Vitamins. Ever since I started taking a B Complex Vitamin and the two vitamins above, my leg cramps have stopped. Give it a try, hope it works for you.

Triple Dee, I can not belive I found this post! I was actualy looking for info on this myself. My doctors have run blood tests -nothing has come back giveing them a clue as to what I am lacking. I have been told before by my doctor to take Magnesium, Calcium, Vit B (all of them), and my Potassium is in check because of my birth controll pill. BTW my doctor thought birth controll was the cause of my leg/foot cramps.I told her it could not be because I have had cramps since I was about 14 years of age. She believed me after my blood test came back fine. My sister told me our father used to have the same thing, so possibly runs in the family? I have tried all the tricks of soap in the sheets, menthol alcohol rubed on, bananans, mustard....the list goes on. I still would get up too often in the middle of the night running around the house screaming and crying for my poor husband to stop the pain.
The worst pain is when I get it in my shin. Now, this is strange because I don't run, at all. I am 33, 126 lbs and have a desk job. For the life of me I have no idea why it feels like someone is trying to remove the muscle from the front of my leg at 2:am. I have recently added Vitamin E to my routine about a month ago and have had only 1 "episode" so far (so good). Sorry for the details in my story, but I hope it will help someone. I will let you know if it continues to help. If not, I will cut off my legs....

I was plagued with cramps also, especially in my thighs. My aquatic aerobic instructor gave me a tip that sounds strange. Magnesium citrate (sold as a laxative) helps prevent cramps. A daily sip is all you need; drinking the whole bottle brings out the laxative qualities!

I can't thank everyone enough for all of their responses. I actually thought I was about the only person in the world who suffered from leg cramps as a nightly painful event.
I am now in the midst of trying all of the suggestions received, some I had already tried with no relief, the leg stretches, the bar of soap under the bottom sheet, a banana each day. I just cannot bring myself to do the teaspoon of yellow mustard each day, but may in the future force myself to try it.
The suggestions for blood tests, have had these done and everything came back within the normal ranges.
I have begun taking on a daily basis: Calcium with Vitamin D, 1200 mg., Vitamin E-400 IU, with Natural d-Alpha and Selenium 200 mcg., Super B-Complex, and today bought a bottle of Diet Tonic Water. Will surely let everyone know if I have any success, just won't know which one (or combination) would be the one which worked the best. Since I am at the desparate stage I am going at all or nothing!
Another question I have is: Since the leg cramps have become such horrible issue, it seems that now I am plagued with several hot flushes with upper torso sweating, these only last a few minutes and have no pattern of how often they occur, daytime or nightime. They are actual quite like hot flashes which I quit having many years back. Someone suggested that I take Evening Primrose Oil 3000 mg. per day, so far that has not helped them and they do seem to give me some indigestion, but am keeping with it until this bottle is gone. So the question is: Has anyone had these along with the leg cramps?
To the Restless Leg Syndrome, I have never thought of this possiblity before as I did not know that leg cramps also occurred with RLS. I actually do have movement in my calves, you can actually see movement going on just looking at the calf, like I have Mexican Jumping Beans implants! Also have noticed that if I keep moving my legs in bed it does keep the leg cramps at bay, however, I can't move them all night and as soon as I relax and quit moving them the leg cramps crash in once more. If all of the above helps don't work will see if my doctor will test (do they have a test for this) or at least be open to my having RLS.
This is turning into an epic, but wanted all of you to know that your advice is appreciated and is currently being put to use.
Thanks a lot, Dolores