Leg cramps, anything other than quinine?

[rockingchaircandle]

My dad will be 80 next year and has been getting really bad cramps once or twice a night for quite a few years now.

He had a bit of an improvement with quinine but his doctor has made him take a break. He's desperate to get a better night's sleep.

Can anyone recommend anything other than quinine?

If we were to get him some sort of massager to use at night, would that work? Sometimes he can't get out of bed when it hits both legs at once.

Thanks!

My dad had a lot of relief from using a magnesium spray

I second magnesium spray. My dp used to suffer from awful cramps. He used the spray every day for 3 months and now only needs to use it every so often.

I take magnesium supplements, mag spray works too but whichever is easier for him

Magnesium spray here too!

We have one with lavender in and it’s brill.

If possible, get him to try stretching his calf muscles before bed. This works for me if I've been standing still for a long time or sitting in a slightly stressed position.
Bananas can help, as can eating something salty, like a packet of plain crisps.
Also add my vote for magnesium spray.

I came to ask have you ruled out magnesium deficiency, in my experience a good naturopath is sometimes good at finding the root cause of things like this if a GP visit hasn’t .
I’d also recommend he supplements vitamin D3 (which is absorbed better with K2 I believe) .

our DC had leg cramps which improved with soaking in magnesium salts, they found the spray itchy

Try reducing salt. (I get it if I eat crisps at night.)

He could try eating bananas and taking magnesium too. (Frozen, chopped bananas are rather like ice cream and could make a nice dessert.)

I get this sometimes. Bananas work for me. I also get them in my feet if they are cold and I find putting socks on helps this.

I realise this thread is a few months old now, but just in case- may be an old wives tale, but a highly educated elderly couple I used to know swore but stitching a magnet in the end of the bed sheets for cramp! Could be worth a try…

I don't know about cutting out salt, but a lack of salt can cause cramp. He probably needs to increase it just a little and that will have a benficial effect.