anyone experiencing charley horses in your legs at night? mine have started up again and i know they should 'eventually' go away, but it's been about 3 nights now and my left leg is sometimes unbearable.

any hints or tricks you can suggest?

my work out usually consists of elliptical / stretch legs / bike / stretch legs

do i need to spend more time stretching? i usually do about a minute per leg if that.

thanks

Pickle juice is good a great stuff in my book. If you look at ingredients there is calcium chloride as well as vinegar the cacium is in the liquid allowing it to react quickly. The vinegar among other things helps neutralize lactic acid. At least that is how it was explained to me. It really seems to help.

When I was pregnant, my doctor told me it was from a lack of calcium. Try taking a suppliment, see what happens.

I'm allergic to dairy, so this has always been an issue for me.

Potassium works well for midnight charley horses. Also, i I have found that when I am bending at the knees where my buttocks nearly touches the floor when I am cleaning (for example) that very night, 9 times out of 10...I get the charley horses. If I am cutting off some circulation in the back of my legs by performing squats, I get the charley horses that same night so check that out and see if you're doing that.

Squats

I agree with the calcium answer. Happened with me during each pregnancy...skim milk and cottage cheese and yogurt should do the trick.

Tonic Water works perfectly! If you can't get past the taste try diluting it and/or flavoring it. It works so good I took it all the way to Africa with me in '05.

My doc said you would have to eat a truck load of bananas to get the amount of potassium your body needs, so I don't think one bananna is going to make to much of a difference in leg cramps.

Different doctors have different opinions. It's always good to get a 2nd opinion if you are trying to troubleshoot what's really going on. According to my doctor, potassium was the answer for the charley horses as I consume plenty of Calcium already.

Calcium deficiency was not the answer for me.

I have just noticed lately that I'm "almost" getting foot cramps at night. I'll stretch my toes or move my foot in a certain way and feel the cramp begin and have to stop whatever movement/position I'm holding quick smart or there'd be a full blown cramp.

So not severe, but still, unusual for me. I had leg cramps during my first pregnancy but not the other two and it hasnt bothered me since I've been banded, just in the last few weeks.

I've been beyond stressed and busy for the past few weeks and have eaten really badly - hardly any food and what there has been of it less than perfect. I'd say that's the explanation for me.

Aloha

Try some bananas, and drink lot's of water, sometime that happens to me when I don't drink enough water. Also try a multi-vitamin that helps me also.

Aloha

BWD

unfortunately, bananas arent low carb ... i am upping my water and really stretching before bed to see if that does it

You are right, one of the causes is low potassium. Taking potassium supplements in excess can effect your heart and could lead very easily to fatality. Eatting foods high in potassium would definetly be beneficial.

A couple of years ago, my DH was in the hospital, and had such severe cramps, they tested him, everything was within normal ranges...the Dr.'s suggestion was orthotics for his shoes....ka-ching!!!! $350.00 not covered by insurance!!!

Sounds ridiculous, and I have no idea why it works, but we are one of the ones who swear by the bar of soap in the bed. My DH was up hopping minimally 5 nights a week, from either charlie horses in his calves, or in the arch of his foot. So we figured what the heck, if it does no good, we put the soap in the shower...nothing ventured, nothing gained. OMG the difference in the first few days was unbelievable!!! Now about every 5 months or so, he cramps, and we change the bar of soap...and no problems!!!

Since it is him getting them, I put the bar of soap (anything but Dial or Dove) between the fitted sheet and the mattress pad, in the foot area on his side of the bed.

Try it----a bar of soap is cheap!!! If it doesn't work, toss it in the shower.

Kat