Night leg cramps: What causes them?

I've been getting some nasty leg cramps at night for the last 2 weeks. Anyone else out there? This is kind of an interesting article from the Mayo clinic I found.  Boner

Q.	What causes night leg cramps? What can you do about them?

A.

 

A muscle cramp is an involuntary, sustained tightening (contraction) of one or more of your muscles. It can result in intense pain and an inability to use the affected muscles. Night leg cramps are contractions of the leg muscles, usually in the back of the lower leg (calf). They often occur just as you're falling asleep or just as you're waking up.

The exact cause of night leg cramps isn't known. Some experts believe they may be due to abnormal processing of electrolytes — essential elements and chemical substances your body needs for basic functions — by muscles. Almost everyone has occasional leg cramps. But they occur most often in older adults. Common causes of night leg cramps include (my personal situation Yes or No after cause) :

• Muscle overexertion  - Yes
• Prolonged sitting  -No
• Dehydration - Probably, I'll crank up the water
• Pregnancy - See TunaTown
• Diabetes  - Hope Not
• Decreased potassium levels - No, eat a Banana every day
• Neuromuscular disorders, such as Parkinson's disease - Hope not
• Certain medications, such as albuterol, niacin, diuretics, and some calcium channel blockers and antipsychotic medications - No
• Alcohol use -No

If you do get a leg cramp, you may be able to make it go away by:

• Walking on the affected leg
• Massaging the affected muscle
• Straightening your leg and flexing your foot toward your knee until you feel the calf muscles stretch
• Applying a cold pack to the affected muscle
• Taking a hot bath

To help prevent night leg cramps:

• Drink plenty of fluids during the day. - Will do
• Stretch your leg muscles before bedtime. - Will do
• Get adequate potassium in your diet.  - Already do

If you have frequent and severe leg cramps at night, talk to your doctor. Treatment results vary. But the most effective treatments based on current research are:

• Vitamin B-12 - This is interesting since I've been taking just regular B-12 vitamins for the last 6 months or so. Before that, I was taking sublingual so back to sublingual 
• Gabapentin - Gabapentin is used to treat some types of seizures - NA

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Dehydration can sure cause intense leg cramps. I would suggest cranking up the water. 

Vitalady recommends adding magnesium citrate pills  to your suppliment regime, she swears by them. I  haven't had this issue since I was a preop, but I always seemed to get them when I went on atkins and/or I was dehydrated. Scott

Boner, my PCP says leg cramps are usually caused from inadequate hydration and/or potassium deficiency.  One thing he suggested was to drink a 16 oz. 1/2 Gatorade and 1/2 water mix  a couple of times a day to help replace some of the electrolytes too. I tried it and it worked pretty well for me.

< what Applebutterdude said > 

Thanks fellas. I did 3 things yesterday and didn't get leg cramps last night for the first time in a couple of weeks. First of all, I went and bought some sublinquel B-12 and took 1000mg. Doubt if that helped since it takes a couple weeks for the impact to take hold. Secondly, I amped my water to about a gallon yesterday but sweated most of it out on a long, hot bike ride. Finally, as Bama suggested, I got me some gatorade (or the generic version cause I'm a cheap bastage) and chugged it after the ride. Cool, no leg cramps during the night and a long, peaceful sleep. I've been waking up a couple times a night with my calves friggin' screaming so nice not to have to deal with it.  So, thanks for the suggestions, they worked.  Boner

Hi Boner,

I've rigged up a computer in the garage, so I'm trying to type to you while on an Indo balance board, but I've noticed severe cramps during late stage dumping. I carb load as part of my diet and certain carb heavy foods will set them off.

Not sure if this is from the sugar directly or from the extra movement that comes from more liquid in the small bowel from the carbs, which could be messing up the electrolyte balance. 

Best Wishes,

Dave

Hello B- Sorry for the nasty legs craps...{{{Huggggzzz}}} I hope that helped.... Ok sorry...wrong board... hey dude..you know we are all over our nutrition and hydration...I have had those craps...and for me both times...I changed my shoes, and it helped...