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For me it was magnesium. 2 per week. Any more and I got palpitations. Listen to your body. For other people it may be another supplement that does the trick.
I don't have leg cramps as frequently as I have toe cramps, but I will second taking a good swig of pickle juice. Every time I empty a jar of dill pickles, I keep the jar with the juice. For freshness, when the next batch of pickles have been eaten, that becomes the current jar of "medicinal" juice.
I don't know why it works – and it works pretty quickly – whether it's electrolytes or a placebo effect, but so far, pickle juice hasn't let me down. Next time cramps happen, I'll be limping my way to the refrigerator pronto.
If it's not magnesium or potassium, it is probably zinc. My husband uses zinc--zinc oxide tablets from the drug store work ok but zinc picolinate works better if you can find some, usually in a health food store.
There is a good video about leg cramps and the studies that have been done. The video is called "The Stopacramp story quoted medical studies" a lot of useful information there, it was the answer to my leg cramps problem.
If it's not magnesium or potassium, it is probably zinc. My husband uses zinc--zinc oxide tablets from the drug store work ok but zinc picolinate works better if you can find some, usually in a health food store.
I've read research about potassium and magnesium researchers found a placebo worked just as well. When any of you try these things does it keep your cramps away 100% of the time or do you still get the odd cramp? I think the best one I heard was this woman said her Grandfather put a cork under his pillow to keep cramps away. I've had total relief from severe leg cramps for the last six years and it has nothing to do with anything missing in my system, it's actually caused from our bodies sensors for balance and footing. I wear this strap that lines up my toes. This thing stops a cramp within thirty seconds of when it starts or if you do like I do and wear it full time a leg or foot cramp never develops.
I am 47, and in pretty good shape. I work out, walk, do cardio work, etc.
Recently (maybe in the past year) I have had bouts of leg cramps at night. They are in my lower leg - calf and/or muscle that runs down the outside of the calf. I cannot shake them. If I flex one way, the main calf muscle hurts. If I flex back the other way, the side muscle locks up.
The only way I have been able to get rid of them is to stand up and bear weight on my leg. Most of the cramps are in the leg that I had ACL surgery on in 2001. I have had no residual issue with my knee since the surgery, and I never had these cramps before they began off and on this year.
Any insight? All I have ever heard is "Eat bananas!" (for potassium)
Help!
I am 72, I have diabetic neuropathy. I have a lot of problems with my feet and legs it seems to me. I have a lot of night time cramps in my legs. I am a former runner. Many years ago. I had a recent episode of plantar fasciitis recently. I started with the night splints again. I read your post and started thinking and it dawned on me that I have had no cramps since I began. Maybe 3 weeks. They are supposed to help for achilles tendonitis also. This is a banana free post. Yes, we have no bananas.
I am 72, I have diabetic neuropathy. I have a lot of problems with my feet and legs it seems to me. I have a lot of night time cramps in my legs. I am a former runner. Many years ago. I had a recent episode of plantar fasciitis recently. I started with the night splints again. I read your post and started thinking and it dawned on me that I have had no cramps since I began. Maybe 3 weeks. They are supposed to help for achilles tendonitis also. This is a banana free post. Yes, we have no bananas.
Dusty Road check out the video "The Stopacramp Story Quoted Medical Studies" you have the answer there. This device has worked on everyone including a fellow that suffered from constant leg cramps since 1974. As soon as he got this device he hasn't had a cramp since.
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