Berkleying leg cramps!

I have developed a tendency to have vicious leg cramps in the middle of the night.  What's strange is that I usually have a dream in which I'm doing something (walking, running) and then wake up with the cramp.  I had the problem years ago and realized I was under-hydrated.  Drinking more water made the problem go away.  Since I returned to a foodservice job 8 weeks ago, the cramps have returned even though I'm drinking water all day.

Would daily stretching help, or am I likely deficient in some vitamin or mineral?

Dehydrated?

Potassium deficiency. Eat a banana.

Try adding a small bit of electrolytes to your fluid intake. It doesn't have to be much. Not even an 8 oz Gatorade, etc. is needed. If that doesn't do it, try a potassium tablet (or eat a banana)  before bed.

Stretching will always help.

914Driver said:

Dehydrated?

Shadeux (Forum Supporter) said:

Potassium deficiency. Eat a banana.

Both of these are primary causes.

Agree.  Water.  Bananas.

Water potassium and magnesium. Get a tube of Biofreeze too. When I do get a cramp slathering that on usually stops them pretty quickly.

Milk is another thing to try.  My brother needs to drink a certain amount of milk  or he winds up cramping.

Any possibility of a pinched nerve in your lower back?   I struggle with similar due to past herniation/surgery on my L5-S1 disc.   Any sciatica?  

Hydration and stretching are the biggies. 

You say you're drinking water all day long. What is your diet? Is it super high in protein? Low in fruits and veggies? 

I'd start simple:

1. Take a multivitamin daily if you're not already. Add in a banana or an orange for dessert after dinner
2. If the banana/orange isn't working, try a smoothie. 
   1. Raw oatmeal, blended to a fine powder (protein and fiber)
   2. a cup of a dark green leafy (arugula, chard, spinach, kale) (Protein, fiber, iron, potassium). I like to freeze them before blending
   3. Berries! for flavor and antioxidants, vitamins, etc. Vary them in your smoothies. Freeze them before blending
   4. Apples, Banana, Oranges - mostly for taste and texture, nutritionally they pale compared to berries
   5. Pineapple, because it is delicious and works extremely well at neutralizing the green leafy taste
   6. Water, for viscosity
3. Gatorade and Pedialyte will accomplish the same thing as the above in terms of your goal, but the smoothie will be healthier (although likely higher in calories) and cheaper. 

If that doesn't do it, consult your phsyician. 

Shadeux (Forum Supporter) said:

Potassium deficiency. Eat a banana.

This ^^^^

mtn (Forum Supporter) said:

You say you're drinking water all day long. What is your diet? Is it super high in protein? Low in fruits and veggies? 

 

I'd start simple:

1. Take a multivitamin daily if you're not already. Add in a banana or an orange for dessert after dinner
2. If the banana/orange isn't working, try a smoothie. 
   1. Raw oatmeal, blended to a fine powder (protein and fiber)
   2. a cup of a dark green leafy (arugula, chard, spinach, kale) (Protein, fiber, iron, potassium). I like to freeze them before blending
   3. Berries! for flavor and antioxidants, vitamins, etc. Vary them in your smoothies. Freeze them before blending
   4. Apples, Banana, Oranges - mostly for taste and texture, nutritionally they pale compared to berries
   5. Pineapple, because it is delicious and works extremely well at neutralizing the green leafy taste
   6. Water, for viscosity
3. Gatorade and Pedialyte will accomplish the same thing as the above in terms of your goal, but the smoothie will be healthier (although likely higher in calories) and cheaper. 

If that doesn't do it, consult your phsyician. 

I'm diabetic so I'm trying to get away from carbs but I don't think anyone could seriously call my diet "protein intensive", though.   I take a multi-vitamin daily and have done so for decades.  Unfortunately, I really do not care for bananas much.  I'll try choking down the smoothie for a couple of weeks and see if that helps.   Thanks for the suggestion!

In my experience it was magnesium that fixed it. Seems that stress depleted magnesium and I was stressed at the time.

If it happens, there is a quick remedy that works for me.  I would be pushing against the towel at the same time.  I use my other leg for resistance rather than the towel.

3-4 bananas a week stops the cramps for me.

In reply to stroker :

I'm not a banana fan either. I take potassium and magnesium pills. 

stroker said:

mtn (Forum Supporter) said:

You say you're drinking water all day long. What is your diet? Is it super high in protein? Low in fruits and veggies? 

 

I'd start simple:

1. Take a multivitamin daily if you're not already. Add in a banana or an orange for dessert after dinner
2. If the banana/orange isn't working, try a smoothie. 
   1. Raw oatmeal, blended to a fine powder (protein and fiber)
   2. a cup of a dark green leafy (arugula, chard, spinach, kale) (Protein, fiber, iron, potassium). I like to freeze them before blending
   3. Berries! for flavor and antioxidants, vitamins, etc. Vary them in your smoothies. Freeze them before blending
   4. Apples, Banana, Oranges - mostly for taste and texture, nutritionally they pale compared to berries
   5. Pineapple, because it is delicious and works extremely well at neutralizing the green leafy taste
   6. Water, for viscosity
3. Gatorade and Pedialyte will accomplish the same thing as the above in terms of your goal, but the smoothie will be healthier (although likely higher in calories) and cheaper. 

If that doesn't do it, consult your phsyician. 

I'm diabetic so I'm trying to get away from carbs but I don't think anyone could seriously call my diet "protein intensive", though.   I take a multi-vitamin daily and have done so for decades.  Unfortunately, I really do not care for bananas much.  I'll try choking down the smoothie for a couple of weeks and see if that helps.   Thanks for the suggestion!

Doesn't have to be bananas. Hell, potato skins have a ton of potassium. You probably don't need much, try just adding a salad with dark green leafys, and an orange instead of banana. Or if you're an avacado fan, they're a decent substitute where you would otherwise use Banana - and they have more potassium. 

And obviously supplements will work too, I just think that getting your nutrients from food is more beneficial.

I don't know how old your are ..nor does it matter....my last session with a lower leg cramp sent me to the emergency room ,with ultimately a BLOOD CLOT in my left lung...DVT is no laughing matter.....GET IT CHECKED OUT NOW!!!.....peace late

Mines caused by a pinched nerve in my back 

Good advice here.  I'm so glad to see that no one is suggesting  Hylands leg cramp "medicine" or other homeopathic junk.

Another thing that can help is salt. With all the water you're drinking now, you may be diluting your salt balance. I was eating bananas and drinking a ton of water and was still getting cramps. Added some more salt to my diet, and the leg cramps stopped.

Might sound off the wall but maybe try Pedialyte packets.

dj06482 (Forum Supporter) said:

Another thing that can help is salt. With all the water you're drinking now, you may be diluting your salt balance. I was eating bananas and drinking a ton of water and was still getting cramps. Added some more salt to my diet, and the leg cramps stopped.

This.

There's a reason why I carry around salt tablets at work and really.....you body is basically salt water. Most people are on a reduced salt diet and if you are sweating a lot you need salt

I suffered calf cramps for years. After ruining my ankle at basketball, I went to PT and the therapist identified mild forefoot equinnus. Put a heel insert in all my footwear and problem disappeared overnight.