leg cramps in my sleep.. help!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hoping I can get some advice here... Every once in a while after I've been working, I go to sleep, and wake up middle of the night with a severe cramp in my calf, it takes about a minute of me laying there yelling, and trying not to move before it resolves. Has happened maybe 5 times in the last year? Happened last night, and as I'm getting ready to go to sleep now, I can just feel it coming on, I'm sure it will happen again today.

At work, I wear the cheap ted's (they're thin like panty hose). Do the expensive ones make a huge difference? Any brands you recommend? Any other ideas?

Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

Maybe you should get your electrolytes checked as some others have suggested. Hypomagnesia is the culprit with my leg cramps, confirmed by labs. Fixed simply with OTC mag supplementation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

aah -nothing like being in that somewhat awake half asleep state and strecthing the old legs out then to be jarred awake by the feeling of a cramp so acute that it literally takes your breath away. It doesn't happen too often to me but when it does my leg is usually tight for a day of two afterward.

Main reason - dehydration. I try to keep well hydrated and lytes in balance.

By the way -i've heard of the soap thing, but as i don't get them routinely, i've never tried it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I agree to the electrolyte imbalance! I get them too...ouch they hurt (that is putting it mildly!). I do the hyperflexion of the toes to quell the pain till it ends...then I use a trick skiiers use when they suffer these...what my friends call Charley Horses...

You eat a banana or another quick high potassium snack! The sodium increase is good too...but if you are lacking in potassium, which is usually the culprit...you just fueled potassiums nemisis...sodium! So I try the potassium first...and if I make sure I eat potassium ladened foods or take my multivit...I never have the charley horses at night!

Remember when you are having muscle cramps the tie with potassium and sodium. I say it akin to two neighbors in an apartment complex that live nextdoor. Sodium is a bit like Kramer on Seinfield...and comes into potassiums apt (Jerry's) without warning and causes a scene every time...so Jerry should just kick him out (the sodium potassium pump). Well if Jerry isn't fueled, he has no energy to kick him out...but fuel Jerry and boom...out he goes via the same door he came in (sodium potassium pump again!). That way there is just a small contraction you proably won't really feel in your sleep...vs Jerry and Kramer fighting at the door causing a longer disruption (cramp)....

I know..it is basic, but hey...you won't forget about the sodium potassium relationship for muscle contractions now will you? LOL!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Here's an article "Vitamin E and Leg Cramps" by Robert F. Cathcart, III, M.D. The Journal of the American Medical Association, Jan. 10, 1972, Vol. 219, No. 2.

http://www.orthomed.com/vite.htm

Also see:

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/10/77.cfm

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment