Help!!! Help!!! Getting Extremely painful cramps in my leg!!!

HappySad

I on occasions on the last few months get cramp in my calves. However tonight I have has really terrible cranes as if I am getting contractions in them. I cried out in the pain.

Partner thinks it could be due to me being low in salt. So I have just drank a glass if very salty water.

I think it could be linked to me using the cross trainer and may be not stretching my muscels afterwards.

What is causing it? What can I do to prevent it? What is best to do while I am having the cramps??????

Please MSErs can you help me?

ms.prong

I used to get this all the time, went to the doctors and it was because I was dehydrated as I was taking Yasmin and that has something in it that makes you get rid of water.

Bananabelly

There are a lot of reasons why people get cramps, but most people get more than enough salt from their daily diet (usually too much!). I agree with the above poster, it may be due to dehydration - especially if you have increased your exercise but not your water intake - remember the 2 litres a day rule. There are lots of possibilities though, and if it continues or gets worse you need to see your doctor. They can prescribe quinine which helps too.

There is no scientific evidence that stretching makes a difference, however it does seem to on a case-by-case basis, and is worth the 2 minutes it takes. Stretching does help when you actually have the cramps - when sitting, get your partner to push your toes up towards your face with your knee straight (does that explain it?). Heat also eases it a bit at the time (to get rid of the cramp if it is continuing), but is not good in the long run.
I am a physio BTW!

foreign_correspondent

I seem to remember potassium helps - I think it is in bananas...

yup, here ya go...

Potassium can help prevent cramps
You can also increase your intake of potassium to help prevent muscle cramps. Things like bananas are great sources of potassium and can help you stay cramp free. However, using potassium supplements is not advised as your potassium balance can be easily upset and cause problems.

http://www.24hrfitness.co.uk/fitness%20tips/muscle-cramps.html

HappySad

Thanks everyone sooooo much. I do not add any salt to my food do I thought I was low in salt.

I do not drink enough. I always drink water but drink very little in the day. As I am usually out during the day I try to drink less to reduce toilet visits and when I get home I forget to drink. I am now drinking muchore from today.

Thanks again everyone. Great MSErs!!!!!

belfastgirl23

it might be worth having some dioralyte in the house - it rehydrates you after illness. Probably not good to use it all the time but might help when you have cramps. and def better tasting than salty water

Kaz2904

For anyone who decides to up their potassium intake, please be careful. If it's too high (or low) it can cause life threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
It might seem like a great idea to eat loads of bananas and tomatoes but please be careful!

anguk

Something else that helps with leg cramps is a glass of tonic water, it has a small amount of quinine in it (quinine is used by doctors to treat severe cramps). Check the bottle to make sure it has quinine in as some don't, I know Schweppes does and I think Tesco's own brand does too.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_the_doctor/legcramp.shtml
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/musclesjoints/201653.html

The gin is optional.

Bitsy_Beans

Go for Quinine in tonic water (which is vile) but if you want to add a spirit of your choice go for it.
My dad is on quinine tablets for his cramp as it drops his blood pressure really low in the night and he faints! His dad is the same so am hoping it skips a generation or is only a male thing!!!!

far2812

I thought cramps was caused by too much salt???

Bananabelly

far2812 wrote: »

I thought cramps was caused by too much salt???

This is where it gets tricky....it is sodium that is the problem, not salt, it is used to help muscles contract. Basically an imbalance of electrolytes (eg sodium) can cause cramps. It is very very rare for people to get too little salt in their diet, but yes, sometimes too much can definitely cause a problem (I had a patient once who got cramps every time he ate a particularly salty sausage!). The message is - don't drink salty water when you have cramps. ANd anyone who has ongoing or unexplained cramps, see your GP and don't rely on health info from a MSE forum!