Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My age is 65 years, I have been a sports man and athlete my whole life. I regularly used to drink alcohol. I was a regular victim of cramps, sometimes in the back while reversing the car, at times in my tummy while laughing and many a time due to any body movement in any place of my body. Now that I have controlled my intake of alcohol, I still get cramps in my legs especially my calves and feet while I am fast asleep and have to jump out of bed and try different postures to rid the cramps. Please guide me as to how control these painful cramps.
By Sheryar from Quetta, Pakistan
You probably have a magnesium shortage. This can cause severe leg cramps and also block your body from absorbing calcium which can then cause Osteoporosis. Go to your doctor and ask him to run a blood test to see if it's the problem. Also, have him check to see if you are dumping calcium in your blood. You can also go to Walgreens & buy leg cramp pills-forget the quinine pills they work for about 15 mins. and then stop working.
I was having intense cramping in my legs at night. The dr. checked my blood and it was low magnesium.
Leg cramps can be caused by a pinched nerve in the low back. Have yourself checked by a chiropractor. They can help without medication or surgery in many cases.
If you are drinking a lot of either tea or coffee daily that contains caffein which are diuretics, then you need to drink more water and less of the caffeinated drinks. In a few days, the leg cramping should cease and you'll sleep better.
My legs are so sore from leg cramps at night and my hands also. There are not many meds I can take as I have a very bad stomach, and tons of allergies. I tried Biofreeze rub, ice pack, and heat with no results. I need help. I can't take meds that cause blurred vision as I only have one eye.
By Kay A
What has seemed to help rid of legs of cramps is riding my recumbent bike.
There are literally thousands of people who swear by vinegar.
Try drinking Tonic Water. Regular tonic water or diet, they work equally well. Take about 1/2 cup before going to bed, or you can take a sip when the leg cramps start.
Try taking a calcium supplement with magnesium at night. And for a quick remedy for the cramps is drink dill pickle vinegar. It will stop the cramp in less than 3 mins. But the calcium is your best bet for long term.
If you suffer from leg cramps, it could be due to a lack of vitamins and minerals. This is a page about using vinegar, garlic, and ginger for leg cramps.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
For aches, cramps and pains in the legs, take off the wrapper from a bar of soap (any brand) and place it near the bottom of your bed between the top and bottom sheets.
If you have leg cramps at nighttime, while trying to sleep, keep a salt shaker on your nightstand.
I would love a home remedy or supplement suggestion for toe, foot, and leg cramps. I have been getting all of these with increased frequency.
I get leg cramps at night, even though I take calcium. I read that if you put a bar of soap, preferably Dial, under your top sheet near your feet the cramps will go away.
My husband has experienced some bad leg cramps at night during the past couple of months. Somewhere in the deep recesses of my senior brain I had "filed" this homegrown remedy.
