ouch ouch OUCH C.R.A.M.P

Run around a bit? Drink more water. Flex the foot.Throw away the computer [only joking!]

Have you tried curling your toes back upwards? That helps, it stretches the muscles back out.. In me, it's not eating enough salt, but there are loads of things that could be causing it.

www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/article.htm

I drink extra milk.
But I am not sure that that remedy works for absolutely everyone.

I'm glad none of you can see this. Imagine one top heave dumpy 60+ hopping around the room yelling oh arh oh arh. Wobble hop wobble wobble hop hop oh arh not a pretty sight. Oh arrrrrr

I've never heard of milk being a remedy for cramp!

I agree with the stretching exercises - just sitting there, suffering, won't help at all. Walk about, stand on tiptoe and down a few times, see what works for you.

I got it a lot when I was going through the menopause. Maybe you are not quite done with yours? If you start being unreasonable tomorrow and find yourself flinging off the duvet tonight, that'll be why!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/legcrampsunknowncause/pages/introduction.aspx

Something on the link may be of some help?

Works for me and a couple of people I know.
Doesnt work for about 3 other people.
So 50% chance of it working?!

Anything's worth a try.

DH swears that a glass of milk cures his middle of the night cramp. I think it is the long walk with bare feet over the cold kitchen floor that does the trick.

Bananas and or avocados. Cramp can be due to low potassium particularly if you are on a diuretic

Granny23, you can find out which.
You get the milk for him, and see what happens

Kiora

It's ruddy painful and I don't have to imagine a 60+ top heavy woman running about I just need to look in a mirror.

Have you tried stretching your foot on a cold surface. I might be alone but I find hopping up and down on a cold floor helps.

Oh yeh and swearing like a trooper.

I used to have devastating cramp in my feet almost every night until I started wearing warm bed socks. I don't know why this should have worked but it did and I never (touch wood) have a night disturbed by cramp nowadays. The doctor had suggested tonic water for the quinine content but said I couldn't get it on the NHS - .

I agree with the bed socks remedy - seems to work for me.
Also eating enough salt.
Applying magnets as a last resort.

I actually ruptured a tendon in my foot in a fit if cramp. The hallux hallucis longus. It was just off Bermuda on a cruise. I've never had such a pain before! I missed visiting Bermuda. I subsequently had it repaired and it seemed that I'd actually torn it out of its anchoring point on the joint! That was a really bad cramp, not ouch! A muffled scream, so as to not wake the next door cabin.
Childbirth was a doddle comparatively

Hubby gets Quinine sulphate on prescription to prevent cramp, doesn`t always work though.

Ouch Galen, that sounds awful.

Kiora - exercise, stretching helps in my case. Since I restarted a yoga class, cramp at night is less frequent. I do get cramp under my feet when we sit cross legged though.

A friend swears that sleeping with corks inside the bedding at the foot of the bed prevents cramp! I can't see how it works, but you might enjoy emptying the wine bottles!
www.cheap-and-easy-recipes.com/category-tips-easy-remedies/leg-cramps.php

kiora I wondered if you have foot problems- I know when my bunion was particularly painful I used to get cramps in that foot- I don't have a cure except comfortable shoes and a visit to the podiatrist perhaps.

Good point Teetime - I do have foot problems and connective tissue disorders, I'm sure they contribute to cramp

I would say so - they do with me. Not sure what to advise - I just hop about a bit and leave my shoes off. I always have my feet up when resting though - also helps my puffy ankles to go down a bit.

Some of the stuff on here sounds horrid.

re salt. I was always under the impression that we all eat too much salt? All of us?
But I get low blood pressure.
And since lowering salt is supposed to help high blood pressure, I often wonder if I should be having more salt.
But that seems wrong somehow, in this day and age.

Soontobe, I suffer with vasovagal synrrome (low blood pressure at all times but suddenly rrops through the floor and I oass out) it takes 2 days to feel normal again.
my cardiologist said I must take extra salt, which will raise my pressure. I carry a little bag (from a cafe) at all times, if I feel dizzy or get black spots before my eyes I put salt on my tongue and gradually feel much better. If my late husband had not been with me when I was given the information I dont think anyone would have believed me!