Cramps on the night...

[Redmist]

.. so anyone else get those bleeding horrible calf cramps in the middle of a lovely sleep?

The ones where you wake up in a world of pain and it takes you a few seconds to realise its your calf, then another 20 seconds whilst you scream like a girl just to make sure your wife is awake and sharing your deprivation of sleep. All before somehow rolling out of bed in order to get some stretch into your muscle and ending the sweaty nightmare!

Just me?

It happens to me every few months or so and leaves me hobbling for a few days, any proven cures?

[NTECUK]

Don't know were my mum got this from But she puts a cork in her bed.Honest!
Oh and Calcium Magnesium & Zinc vitamins( more likely why the cork works ;)

[DarrenSV650S]

Get some more exercise, or less. You're doing the wrong amount of exercise

[minimorecambe]

I had awful cramp in my calf a couple of weeks ago.
I think the reason for it was I wore 3 inch heels for around 15 hours that day and was walking around nearly the whole time.

I nearly got WB to ring an ambulance as I thought my leg was going to fall off. I have never had cramp like it.

I went to stand up out of bed once it had subsided and nearly collapsed in a heap as my leg couldn't hold my weight.
The pain lasted about a week after and I was limping about as it hurt when I put weigh on it.

[Specialone]

I used to get them when I used to play football a lot, Sunday's and midweek training, the muscle pain after a night cramp could still be felt data after.

[Dave20046]

.. so anyone else get those bleeding horrible calf cramps in the middle of a lovely sleep?

The ones where you wake up in a world of pain and it takes you a few seconds to realise its your calf, then another 20 seconds whilst you scream like a girl just to make sure your wife is awake and sharing your deprivation of sleep. All before somehow rolling out of bed in order to get some stretch into your muscle and ending the sweaty nightmare!

Just me?

It happens to me every few months or so and leaves me hobbling for a few days, any proven cures?
I do, unbelievably badly- all strained so much I can barely walk the next day. Arches of my feet too , especially after drinking think that's because more 'things' are depleted when drunk

A google says electrolytes or potassium, taurine or bananas is supposed to help

Dehydration is one cause but I drink 4l of water as an absolute minimum a day so not sure that's my issue

[chris8886]

cramp is caused by a lack salt in your bloodstream as far as I know. I know exactly what you mean as I do get it every now and then, can't say what I do to try n prevent it. maybe a bag of salty chips from a decent chippy every once in a while?

[Littlepeahead]

It's not salt when it's the cramp you get at night. And most of us get plenty of salt but it can be caused by something related to calcium not being absorbed properly. Crampex tablets work really well for night cramp. You can get them over the counter.

[Redmist]

Get some more exercise, or less. You're doing the wrong amount of exercise

Well it happened when I cycled regularly AND now that I do nowt!

I had awful cramp in my calf a couple of weeks ago.
I think the reason for it was I wore 3 inch heels for around 15 hours that day and was walking around nearly the whole time.


Yeah I should stop wearing the heels, not just for the cramps tho

[DarrenSV650S]

Well it happened when I cycled regularly AND now that I do nowt!

See. You need to cycle irregularly. I used to be a doctor :pig:

[Dave20046]

It's not salt when it's the cramp you get at night. And most of us get plenty of salt but it can be caused by something related to calcium not being absorbed properly. Crampex tablets work really well for night cramp. You can get them over the counter.

Your body needs lots of nutrients , salt is one , calcium is another ,being hydrated properly gets them round the body. I'm under the impression it could be one of a number of things.

As for exercise I got it years ago when I did none, now I exercise pretty regularly I still get it..

[timwilky]

Occasionally get them, bloody painful, feels like someone has just taken a slice into the muscle.

If you find a cure, let us know.

[BanannaMan]

Same here but I usually get them just as I'm falling asleep.

[Littlepeahead]

When I say it's not salt what I meant was simply eating a bag of ready salted crisps in bed is unlikely to help but will leave your bed full of crisp crumbs. The crampex do seem to work.

[dizzyblonde]

Peggyleg gets it every night, every day and any given random moment.

Poor sod don't sleep well. However, his calf is collapsed, as is what's not attached to shin and knee. Nerve endings none existent, so where the cramps are might not be his calf at all !!The rod down his femur likes to pull against the bone its driven down, so generally sleeping is not a good experience.

I'm used to night time wakings, although it would be better if we had a bigger bed ;)

[nikon70]

yup I get that from time to time.... it sucks, what causes it - no idea, what helps, getting out of bed and stretching it *sucks*

[granty92]

i get them quite alot but always jump out of bed so fast!! we think we have it bad, watch this!! makes me cringe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbk-9lHrJ9k

[nikon70]

I think mine is due to my multiple back injuries..
Excruciating pain!!!

[ethariel]

Quinine Hydrchloride, get it off the doc for cramp (as long as i use them sparingly as they can effect your eyesight if taken regularly) once the cramp hits, pop one and in 10 min's it's gone. Great to take before a day out on the bike too. However the cramps are not 'salt' related, i had them for year before my low sodium diet kicked in due to high BP.

[Kenzie]

I had a bad one a few months back. It woke me up and I felt like someone had stabbed me in the leg. Couldn't hold any weight on it either.