crampy calves and restless legs - any tips?

[Tutter]

(am already guzzling tonic water each evening but to no avail)

crampy calves - are they hot to touch and swollen? Only ask because crampy calves are a possible sign of DVT ... i would speak to your MW to be on the safe side

if you find an answer, please let me know.
sorry to bring a downer, but I've had this for about 8 weeks now, and now that I'm more than a week over I know it can't go on too much longer!

I've tried cutting our caffiene totally, swimming, massage, horlicks, and I can't say I've found anything that works - yet!

hope someone else comes along with proper advice that works..........and soon!

a tip would be to elevate legs BTW

Try drinking milk (if you can stomach it) just before bedtime, and eating bananas - increasing calcium and potassium intake is thought to be beneficial. I find I really suffer badly if I don't have a bowl of cereal last thing (with milk, obviously!). ALso try stretching your calves before going to bed - stretch your heels downwards, wriggle your toes and flex your ankles - and do that throughout the evening. And don't cross your legs as it can reduce blood flow!

Low potassium can be a reason -best way to get it is bananas which are really high in it. Used to get this before I was preggas when run down or dehydrated and lots of water and bananas really worked. Worth a try....

I get this too - as others say calcium, potassium and iron. Derhydrationa dn low salts can also induce it.

I was on holiday a couple of weeks ago in Barzil and it was really painful at night. Interestingly I have not had a prolem since returning. It was really hot in Brazil and I was prbably a little dehydrated much of the time, also drinking elss milk than I would here.

thanks all

will stock up on bananas and try to drink more fluids

(don't think it's dvt-related btw but thanks for the warning)

yes, isn't that funny miaou, I also found the bowl of cereal before bed (with banana on top) did wonders for this.

Also, get dh (or you can do it) to massage your calves when you sit down (and put your feet up!).

am going to have to find an interesting sitting position - knees lower than hips (as already suffering from lower back pain) but feet elevated

sounds tricky...!

My friend was ttold to have a couple of brazil nuts each day as the selenium they contain help with restless legs. It worked very well for her.

oooh top tip goingfor3 - will definitely try that! Keep kicking dh in the middle of the night