Leg Cramps Remedy
How To Find A Leg Cramps Remedy That Works For You
Finding a leg cramps remedy that works seems like a daunting task. It can seem like an ongoing struggle to find an easy cure for this chronic problem.
You know there are a few things more annoying than waking up from a sound sleep with leg cramps. You have to climb out of your warm bed and walk the floor until the pain subsides. Then you carefully get back in bed hoping that it won’t start again. After a few nights of this your sleep starts to suffer. Are there any home remedies that really work?
Part of the solution is knowing the cause of the problem. There are numerous reasons why you might be experiencing leg cramps including:
- Dehydration
- Strenuous exercise
- Pregnancy
- Menstrual cycle
- Diabetes
- Mineral deficiency of calcium, magnesium or potassium.
But knowing the cause isn’t enough. Here are some preventive measures to stop the cramps before they happen.
Drink more water. Since dehydration is a big cause of muscle cramps, making sure you drink plenty of water will cut down on muscle cramps. This is especially true if you’re exercising or doing a lot of walking. Sweating will cause you to lose water so you need to replace it before your body starts to dehydrate.
Always do stretches before you start to exercise or run. It can also help if you stretch right before you go to bed. If you sit at a desk all day, try to take a break every hour or so and walk around and stretch your muscles. This can help relieve a sore back and reduce neck pain as well as reduce muscle cramps. It also help your knees not to stiffen from sitting in the same position too long.
Since diabetes causes circulation problems, stretching can also help keep the blood flowing and improve circulation.
Take a warm bath or hot shower to relax and loosen your muscles. During the day we all tend to tighten our muscles when we feel stressed or worried. Put on some soft music, take deep breaths, and try to focus on positive things while you soak in the warm water. This can go a long way to relieve muscle cramps and other stress related problems.
Eating foods rich in potassium and calcium can help if your cramps are caused by a deficiency of these vitamins or minerals. If you aren’t able to consume enough of them in your regular diet, consider taking daily supplements. Try them for six weeks and see if your leg cramps lessen or go away.
Once a leg cramp starts there are a few things you can do to stop the pain and loosen the muscle. If you’re in bed, point your toes back towards your head and hold your foot that way for a few seconds. If that doesn’t work, get out of bed and put your heel firmly on the floor and bend your toes upward. Hold this position for a few seconds then release. Repeat as often as necessary until the calf muscles loosen.
Tonic water is another leg cramps remedy that can work to relieve leg cramps. Some people claim dill pickle juice works, too.
The next time you have a muscle cramp, try pressing on the upper lip, right under the nose. This area is the meridian that connects to your feet and legs. Though it might sound strange, you should give it a try and see if it helps.
There are numerous leg cramps remedy ideas, but only you can decide what works best for you.