The most excruciating pain?

I get this when I'm dehydrated . It's terrifying , isn't it ? Drink a pint of water before bed .

Nice idea, but I'm up and down to the loo enough times as it is. I'd never get any sleep if I had a pint of water sloshing around inside!

I get this too, often both legs. I drink bottled water with added magnesium all day and this reduces attacks. I notice a difference if I have not had the water. Apart from the odd glass of wine or G&T this is all I drink throughout the day. You could also try magnesium in tablet form.
Good luck I know how painful it is.

After I suffered a recurrent bout of cramp, a friend suggested drinking tonic water. I think it might contain quinine? Anyway, it worked for me.

My GP also suggested tonic but confirmed that is wasn't available on prescription . I had cramp most nights in my feet and calves which woke me up in agony. By some miracle I hit upon the idea of bedsocks - nice fluffy ones - and I have never looked back. I have never since lost a night's sleep to cramp. But I realise that this wouldn't be a solution for cramp in the thighs.

I already take a magnesium supplement and have tried tonic water with quinine to no effect but will try the bedsocks. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

There was a similar thread a few months ago and someone (sorry can't remember who) suggested applying pressure with your fingers to the area between your nose and upper lip.
Much to my amazement this worked for me - almost instant relief.

I too suffered with cramp in my feet at night, but since wearing socks like annodomini i no longer suffer.

I suddenly started experiencing excruciating cramp at night and during the day in my calves and feet. It would stop me in my tracks at work. Docs could find no reason for it. At first it was thought to be caused by my RA medication, but it wasn't that. I was also asked if I was taking statins, as that could be a cause. It just suddenly stopped, and I have had no symptoms for a few years. However in the last week it has started again, much to my horror.

JaneaI saw that post about applying pressure below the nose and tried it the next morning when I was woken with horrendous cramp in both calves. I was sceptical but lo and behold I got instant relief, nothing short of magic.
I can empathise with the thigh cramp, I get it if I get down on all fours and then try to get up again

When I started getting a lot of night cramp in my legs it coincided with my salt levels going down - the doctor had told me to start taking some salt - I was off the bottom of the scale - and also the magnesium water and it soon all stopped