Night cramps

I have heard it can be low levels of iron and or magnesium. Might be worth asking for GP advice especially as it's every night. Horrible for you as excruciating pain and makes you scared to go to sleep. GP might do a blood test to check for possible anaemia.

My Dh got similar cramps. The GP prescribed quinine 300mg tablets for him and that worked. The GP said they don’t work for everyone and they don’t know why they work for others, but it’s good when they do!

MrJ uses magnesium spray, he says it’s brilliant.

Taking a magnesium glycinate tablet half an hour before going to bed works for me.

Magnesium as the others have said, also check you are not dehydrated, a full glass of water before bed may have you up in the night but so will cramp and I know which I prefer!

My FiL used to find tonic water helpful because it does contain a small amount of quinine.

Magnesium didn’t help my dh hence the quinine.

I agree re Tonic Water
When I was going through a period of night cramps , I took a glass of tonic water at bedtime, for 6 months . It disappeared completely.
However a few early-mornings recently I felt it was coming back. Must pick up a bottle or two when I go shopping on Thursday

My oh swears by bananas!

What poor advice from the nurse .
By drinking more water it's possible tò flush more electrolytes from the body and not the solution .

I occasionally get cramps.
When I do - I massage my legs after exercising them before I go to bed .
I then make sure that they are covered.

A glass of tonic water will only give you the tenth of a quinine tablet.
Quinine certainly helps;,but will need to be prescribed.

If an acute attacks hits, for me what really works is just breath as deep and as often as you can for 20 or 30 seconds till you feel it subsiding.

Add more salt to your diet, especially in hot weather.

I know that not everyone can, as a lot of people hate it, but I get a lot of cramps, day and night, because of menopause. Last night I was literally screaming and crying with cramps again, so I always keep a jar of Colman's Mustard on my bedside table.

I eat a 1/4 teaspoon, then use my tongue to rub it on the roof of my mouth, then swallow, and within a couple of minutes the cramps ease; it's because of the turmeric in it.

I refuse point blank to stuff my bed with spuds and soap or anything; drinking more water does nothing for me.... I already guzzle over 4 litres a day as it is ..... and things like bananas do nothing for me either, nor do any type of painkillers, but the mustard is a big help!

I only drink water throughout the day so have some with added magnesium. The cramp attacks are certainly less frequenr but not disappeared. Hope you find a solution Exdancer it is really painful I know.

Thats a lot to think about!
I must confess, over the years I have reduced the amount of salt we use to the bare minimum, mainly to keep DH alive .
Can I ask, Weirdo do you mean dry mustard powder or the ready mixed in a jar?
A whole teaspoon?
I think I'll risk asking for a doctor's appointment and ask for a blood test, but I fear I'll be fobbed off with a phone call as usual.

Thank you for posting this. I’m woken once or twice a night with cramp in one or both legs, sometimes from one calf to the toes, sometimes from both groins to both feet, worst night (a few years ago) was severe cramp from my armpit to my toes all on one side. I must have squealed because the dogs started barking and I could t get my breath to call them to be quiet, I headed downstairs to them but fainted on the landing, woke and slid down on my backside, dogs going mad, o crawled to the french door and as I stood to open it for them I fainted again and fell out onto the patio, where the door swung back and bashed me.

I take magnesium glycinate twice a day and have been doubling the bedtime dose. I found magnesium spray did nothing. I’ve tried a bar of soap at the bottom of the bed, and corks under the pillow, increasing salt intake with crisps in the evening, decreasing salt intake, I drink mainly tap water, eat a varied diet.

About 20 years ago I did have quinine sulphate on prescription and even that was not a cure-all, but I stopped it during chemotherapy and never restarted.

I’ll ask my GP if I can take it along with my raft of pain meds and amitriptyline.

Magnesium tablets a couple of hours before bedtime works for me. I take H and B magnesium Bisglycinate 375 mg.

Make sure getting both enough fluids and sufficient salt in the course of the day.

And don't be afraid to move if you waken with cramp. Flex and stretch your legs, or better, get out of bed, if you feel you can safely rise to your feet, and walk about for a bit.

I used to get horrendous cramps. Starting taking magnesium and popping just one flavoured electrolyte tablets into my water. Serena to have worked as they have stopped b

Lots of "old wives tales" about cures for cramp! I often get it, in any and every muscle possible it seems. Calf cramp is easy, out of bed, foot flat on the floor - gone. The absolute worst is the adductor (inner thigh) so very hard to stretch out. I once had cramp in both adductors and fainted from the extreme pain. Even in one it is excruciating. I'm currently trying to make sure I stay well hydrated, and as I sweat loads in the heat, I'm having electrolyte drinks too.

Electrolytes are a good solution, I recommend Keto Pro and Redmonds. Also you may need more salt, possibly more water and a magnesium cream is handy by the bed side.

Footballers drink pickle juice to recover from cramp.

I was getting horrendous cramps in my thighs night after night until I stopped taking a statin tablet. Cramps stopped almost immediately.

You have to ger out of bed and move, it releases the tension.