Leg cramp at night but can't take magnesium tablets - does magnesium spray help?

[namechangeaaargh]

I'm waking up with agonising leg cramp quite a lot at the moment. It seems I am half asleep and my sleepy brain thinks it would be nice to flex my calf and my sensible brain isn't awake enough to stop it so I flex and then it's agony and I have to grab my toes and pull them up towards my face to get rid of it.

Unfortunately I cannot tolerate any sort of magnesium supplement. I've tried about 5 different types (including bisglycinate) when trying to prevent migraines and they all gave me bad stomach pains and diarrhoea even with food. So am looking for alternative solutions.

Would a magnesium spray or ointment help? I'm a bit skeptical about it working if it's just on the skin but I assume it's not likely to upset my stomach.

My dh uses a magnesium gel from H&B. Magnesium butter is supposed to be good to but it’s a lot more expensive.

Have you tried having electrolytes? They are supposed to help. I suffer too and don’t get them as often when I remember to take electrolytes.

I used a spray and a cream in pregnancy. Preferred the cream as the spray made me itch! It's fast absorbing though. If you like a bath you can get magnesium flakes to soak in beforehand too.

The spray made me itch so much it was horrible

You could try Epsom salts in the bath or a foot bath

I was trying it for sleep, though not for the issues you're having

It didn't work for sleep, so I hope you find something that works for you.

I haven't tried but am interested - which ones do you use?

Epsom salts is a good shout actually. I did have some but ran out and I think it's got worse since then. I think they're a bit cheaper than sprays.

Yes some reviews of spray say it makes your legs itch unless you wash it off after 15 minutes, which I am not going to want to do if I am in bed.

My mum had serious leg cramps at night and it turned out to be her asthma inhaler causing them. She. Is now fine on a different one👍

I used to get awful cramp at night but one glass of Lucozade Energy zero sugar a day and I never get cramp now

It might sound mad but bananas help, along with plenty of water. Have a banana and a pint of water in the evening.

I suffer really badly too and find the thing that works the best is a hot water bottle. GP recommended.

I use the Holland and Barrett own spray on my feet every night. Stopped the cramps and doesn’t itch or need washing off or anything.

And I always wear long thick socks

Epsom salts in a warm bath and just pat dry. Does dry the skin a bit but cheaper than the spray.

I bulk buy Epsom Salts for my little boy who suffers from dystonia, I also use a magnesium butter on his skin before bed. I think they help him, especially at night.

maybe have a chat with your GP about quinine

Eating a banana a day can help.

The itching goes away after a couple of weeks of using it. My FIL swears by a glass of milk before bed for cramp but I can’t tell you if there’s any science behind that!

I found stretching before bed stopped the cramps in my calves. A physio showed me the two stretches to do.

I step one leg back with my foot flat on the floor, heel in contact with the floor. I bend the knee of my forward leg as deeply as I can manage, and hold it for 20 seconds. Swap legs and repeat.

Then I put one leg forward, raise my toes to the sky and just the heel in contact with the floor. Keeping that leg straight, I bend the back knee a little and tilt forward at the waist to stretch up the back of my leg. Again, swap legs and repeat.

Just doing those two stretches every night before bed has stopped my cramps entirely. They are really tight the first times you do them but they get progressively easier and I am never woken with cramp anymore.

Came here to suggest electrolytes. My legs are much less painful at night when I have them. I use Liquid IV brand but they’re all similar.

Regarding magnesium spray- spray it on a piece of kitchen towel then wipe it on your feet and legs with that. You wont need to wash it off if you apply it like that.

For immediate relief in bed, lay on your back and flex your feet towards you for a few minutes. The pain will subside, if not disappear completely. This is the best tip I ever read on the internet.

Bit left field but Omega 3. I use flaxseed ones as I can't tolerate the fix ones. I do not understandn why, but the leg jerking etc goes away when I'm using them.