Does anyone else ever get ight cramps in their legs?
I have gotten them and they hurt. I have to actually get out of bed and step down in order to relieve the pain. I do not like “Charlie Horses”. They say you need potassium when that happens. Eat a banana. That is what I have always been told. Here is the explanation from MayoClinic: Answer 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: Muscle o
There are a lot of theories out there. You have nocturnal leg cramps. Nocturnal leg cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions of the calf muscles that occur during the night or while at rest. Sometimes the cramps are caused by overexertion of the muscles, standing on concrete, prolonged sitting, inappropriate leg positions while sedentary, or dehydration. People who are more muscular seem to have more leg cramps. Less common causes include diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, hypoglycemia, anemia, thyroid and endocrine disorders and use of some medications. Some researchers think that people who have nocturnal leg cramps have them at the time of dreaming. They think that these cramps result from a subtle malfunction in the control system that normally separates our brain from the body movements we make in our dreams. Or you can have an electrolyte imbalance – low levels of magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium have long been linked to leg cramps.
Yep cramp!! My sister and I actually had them the same night once!!! I haven’t had them in years but they are NOT a plesant experience. I always thought it was a lack of salts, but I guess cramp in general is set off by muscle tensing….I now get cramps on my flanks due to me not breathing deeply enough due to asthma (shallow breathin) and the muscles are not used properly and I do them at night occasionally but more often when I am lying on the couch or in a funny position. I would be interested in knowing how to prevent night cramps!
