leg cramp

[eddy26]

does anyone have a cure for leg cramp please? i leapt off the sofa every 10 minutes last night and screamed at DH to not dare touch me when he offered me a leg massage (feel a bit guilty about that now but good preparation for labour maybe?)but being woken up by it is far worse. i am simply not able not to scream and shout when it wakes me up and am starting to worry that the neighbours think i am a victim of domestic violence. any tips on how to avoid it would be most welcome.

Bananas help think its the potassium

I have suffered some nights and feel like I have run a marathon the next day as mucsles in calf so tight.

I eat about 3 bananas a day and seems to help.

Try turning your toes up towards your knee instead of pointing them down like a ballet dancer! It is so sore, and I hate the kind of shadowy pain next day.

I know, it's awful! Woke up shrieking with cramps in both legs then fell out of bed twice this week.... And then the pain the next day..... I think it's worse for me when I get dehydrated, so it might help to make sure you're drinking enough, including in the evenings before bed (even though this means you have to get up more often to go for a wee). And keep your salt levels up too - agree about the potassium from bananas. Maybe one of those isotonic sports drinks would help? Only just thought of that - might nip out to the shops and give it a go tonight....

I think Cardamomginger is right - it's dehydration. When it happens with me in the middle of the night I need my dh to pull my foot upwards as Stleger suggests.

I have also noticed that it happens with me when I've walked more than usual. Excuse to be lazy?

The best way to get rid of one when you have it is to plant your foot flat on the floor then stretch your calf by leaning forwards (like against a wall) Stretching the cramping muscle will be uncomfortable, but if you don't, it will just get worse, so as soon as you feel it coming on, get stretching. I get them as I am waking, I have trained myself now to stretch with my heel down rather than pointing my toe which will bring it on. My aqua natal teacher swears that tiring out the muscles will help it, so she makes us do lots of calf exercises (like standing on tiptoes then back down repeatedly)

excellent - bananas, potassium (must get more pregnacare), calf exercises, stretching and lots of water - got it. i am limping today and very keen not to have another night like that again for a while so will happily do all of the above. thank you!

ooh bananas. i woke up literally screaming 'Ow ow ow' DH woke up thinking I had gone into early labour. I was screaming rub my calf rub my calf. he then said is that it??? IS THAT IT?? The buggar. hehe