What is good for leg cramps?
Marie From Petersburg, VA
You're not going to believe this, but don't be too skeptical 'cause it works! Place a bar of soap underneath the fitted sheet at the foot of your mattress. Believe me, I was skeptical until I tried it and it worked!
After a while, this will stop working. When it does, just replace the bar of soap with a new one and put the "old" one in the shower.
No one knows why this works, but it does! (10/25/2006)
By Tammy
I have had leg and toe cramps in the past, but I have increased my potassium intake and haven't had any problems. I just take the supplement for a few days and stop when I no longer have problems. I hope this helps. (10/25/2006)
I can't believe this question came up now. 2 weeks ago at bowling, my team mate who is 80 was telling all of us about putting a bar of soap under your fitted sheets and it'll stop leg cramps. She said her niece from California, who works at a hospital , told her about it. Guess I'll have to try this. I'm 50 and get leg cramps in the middle of the night. (10/25/2006)
By Penny Stoehr
I used to have leg cramps until I started taking Vitamin E. (10/25/2006)
By Ruth Wiebe
Be sure that your calcium, selenium, magnesium and potassium levels are where they should be by eating your fruits and veggies, or taking supplements. Also, MagniLife has a product called Restless Legs Relief that does wonders for any muscle cramps. It should be found in any good health food store or, can be ordered online. (10/25/2006)
By nancy80501
This one has always worked for me (and for one of my children who was prone to leg cramps) and it's virtually free. Salt water. That is, stir some salt into a glass of warm water and drink it. Not too much, or it's undrinkable. and too much salt is really bad for you. Try just a little salt, wait to see if it works.. I can't give specific amounts of salt because over the years I've just got used to my own 'pinches'. If the cramps don't ease in a short time, drink a little more. it woks for me 100% percent.
By ellie
Try Vitamin E, it has always worked for our family (10/25/2006)
By LEONA LABINE
Be sure to tell your doctor if you have cramps in your feet or legs! It could be a sign of poor circulation or deep vein thrombosis. It could be life threatening.
I used to get cramps in my legs before my doctor put me on Potassium supplements. I take medicine for my high blood pressure. That makes your body low in potassium. I see others here have posted about potassium and other minerals as well.
Don't drink salt water if you have high blood pressure, please. BTW, salt substitutes (aka "low" salt) are potassium chloride which if used would help your potassium shortage. Regular salt, sodium chloride wont help you IMHO. (10/25/2006)
By Carol in PA
Before going to bed, drink a couple ounces of orange juice. Works for me. If you have leg cramps at other times, drink orange juice with a tsp. of sugar. (10/25/2006)
By Lollie
My mother drinks a little tonic water before bedtime and it helps her and my husband takes magnesium to help him. But a bar of soap is much more thrifty than either of these options. Thanks! (10/25/2006)
By HJ
For leg cramps, eat a banana each day. It's the potassium that helps. My son told me this is what the coach gave the football players when they got cramps at high school football. Works great for us. Also helped my granddaughter when she was pregnant. (10/25/2006)
By Rosemary
I've always been told by the doctor or leader at Weight Watchers that you're not getting enough water or potassium which you can get from eating a banana. So, the easiest thing for me has always been drink and eat a banana daily. (10/25/2006)
By Nanc
We have the bar of soap under the sheets and it has worked for my husband for 2 years now. He used to get leg cramps nearly every night that wakened him. Not once since we put the soap in place. He still does get cramps occasionally if he sits too long at the computer. He has our Dr. write a prescription for Quinine Capsules. They work to alleviate the cramps. Quinine tablets are also available in some Health Food stores. (10/25/2006)
By Harlean
Not sure if they're during the day or when you are drifting off to sleep. If it's at night-time and your leg is jerking/cramping, then you are not getting enough salt in your diet. Worked a treat for me. (10/26/2006)
By Cathy
What kind of soap is best? (10/26/2006)
By Julie
This sounded pretty far fetched when my hubby told me, but some how it works. His cousins wife has used this remedy for years. She places a bar of SOAP under the bottom sheet near her feet, and she said it works.. My hubby and I tried her remedy.
We use COAST SOAP (2) bars, one for each of us. IT WORKED, no more leg cramps at night. Our sheets Are Scented With Coast. Try to keep your feet touching the soap. We were told that IVORY does not work!
If this fails to help you, then seek a doctor's help.
(10/26/2006)
By Sherry
My doctor prescribed Quinine tablets for me and it works wonders - no more cramps! (10/27/2006)
By Pat Giles
I get leg cramps at night, and for years I have done this to stop them. it works for me.
Pinch the skin under your nose tight till you feel the pain go away. hope it works for you. (08/05/2007)
By Alice
I have had a real problem with leg cramps since childhood. Sometimes when I was a pre-teen I would wake up screaming with Charlie Horses and my mom would come in and rub my legs until the muscles finally let loose and quit cramping. When I was about ten someone told my mom to have me drink salt water as soon as they started and it works 100% of the time.
My son was cursed with the same problem and every time he started cramping I would give him salt water. Within thirty seconds to a minute the cramps would go away and wouldn't come back the rest of the night.
I am almost forty now and I still use the salt method. It may not be a good idea for someone with high blood pressure but I am telling you, IT WORKS!
Just yesterday I woke up with a cramp right beside my shin bone, so I immediately went to the kitchen, grabbed the salt, poured about a teaspoon in my hand, tossed the salt straight into my mouth and washed it down with a few drinks of soda. Fifteen second later - NO CRAMPS! (06/09/2008)
By rindyrue
Tried the soap, and my God, it worked last night. Thought this was a "crazy" idea but when you have those cramps at night, you'll try anything.
I always use liquid body wash so I went nuts looking in the closet last night. Lo and behold, found one.
Thanks, finally got a good night's sleep.
(07/21/2008)
By Sue
A bar of soap under the sheets really does work! At least it has for me. I didn't get leg cramps/charlie horses until I became pregnant and my grandpa told me about a week ago to put a bar of soap under my sheet. I laughed at first but decided to try it, why not? The bananas and water weren't working very well so I did and I've gone 5 nights without them. It's amazing! (10/01/2008)
By kassie
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