I don't want to seem melodramatic, but damn this is getting old (but I'm old (70) ) . Quick background, high school and college athlete, ski bum, and golfer. I walk at least one par 3 a week. I walk at least 18 holes once a month. I've never, and still don't have any health issues. I am waking up at night with leg and foot cramps that are painful as hell. I can walk them off but damn, I am waking my better half up and that sucks. I am taking potassium supplements and it helps a bit. Anything else that might help?

Hydration on top of the supplements. I'm talking 2 gallons a day plus. I go through similar issues . Augment that with 30 minutes of stretching daily.

How's your salt intake. I'm on a sodium restricted diet and if I go too low, I'll cramp in muscles I didn't know I had.

quote:

Originally posted by Graniteguy:
Hydration.

I don't "think" that's an issue??? I drink water all day long and go to sleep with a glass of water at my bed. Maybe I'll pump a bit more down during the day. Can't hurt to try, thanks Graniteguy.

You and me too. Until 2 cardiology doctors specifically mentioned Magnesium Citrate. This is what we take. Available at Walmart, but more for less at COSTCO.

I've suffered from painful muscle cramps all my life, and not just while sleeping. Supplements like potassium and magnesium have never helped. A couple suggestions:

1. Quinine. Unfortunately, quinine can only be prescribed for malaria in the US, and not muscle cramps (due to FDA). (I was able to get a big bottle of quinine sulfate from an Indian pharmacy.)

2. Check out this thread for a simple rescue technique based on Chinese acupuncture.

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:
How's your salt intake. I'm on a sodium restricted diet and if I go too low, I'll cramp in muscles I didn't know I had.

I hadn't thought of that. Thanks!

Thanks kkina! Checking it out now.

Magnesium supplements are good, but topical Magnesium spray is better. Also when the cramp starts stretch the muscle by pulling your toes/foot upward as much as you can. It ends the cramp in about 1 second.

I used to drink a glass of diet tonic water before bed (contains quinine), and it helped somewhat. Taking magnesium citrate before bed gives much better results.

I'm not a doctor. Take this w/ a grain of salt as I have no evidence, just a belief.

I was active when I was younger as well. Pretty decent sprinter and played a variety of active sports.

I started to suffer frequent cramps in my feet and calf. My leg muscles had reduced tremendously as I aged - plantar, gout, sedentary work, weak knees, etc.

Once I resolved to build back some muscle and lose some fat, the cramps went away. I believe that building muscle resolved the issue. I believe that w/ weak / minimal muscles, when I exerted "too" much, I would suffer cramps. After building back some muscle, even w/ exertion, I no longer suffer cramps.

You may already be sufficiently healthy. This may be false beliefs. But I believe that going from skinny, girlie legs to reasonably muscled helped me. Didn't take much - walking about 8 miles per week and (mtn) biking some moderate slopes.

Thanks Johnny 3eagles, looking into that. I stopped taking a magnesium supplement a few years ago.

Loving this forum!

I take 1 Magnesium Glycinate every night before bed to help get to sleep and for muscle cramps. Works great for me.

If dehydration is a factor I swear by liquid IV. You can buy it at most drug chains. They are measured packets to mix with 12oz (I think) of water. My blood pressure dips when I’m dehydrated. This stuff helps immediately.

Low potassium is one cause but get electrolytes, Gatorade or elsewhere.

I've got the same problem. I walk at least 5 miles a day and just turned 72.
Dill pickle juice.
Really. I had to try it to believe it works.

How are you doing on hydration? When I used to train people (NASM) I would tell them they always need to be drinking water. If you aren’t taking a piss on the reg, I would start there. I drink approximately 120 oz per day (10, 12oz carbonated water cans, and/or propel powder infused tap) + about 1/3 to 1/2 gallon in the gym during my workouts. And that 1/3 gallon is all Gatorade Zero. 1 powder pack per 20 oz of water. Start flooding your body with electrolytes all day as mrvmax said above.

And stretch every day. Stretch your quads, hams, calves. You can get a cheap stretching/yoga mat on Amazon. Get on the ground and stretch them walking sticks completely out. At 70, I would say in the morning and before you go to bed. That + all the water above. High % of that fixing the issue. If it doesn’t, get blood work immediately.

BPC - 157 peptide.

My wife was getting to the point of having to stand for a few minutes before walking after sitting or laying down. After two weeks of taking it she was 50% better and after a month 90% better.

I wish more regular doctors knew more about peptides but I guess they don’t necessarily want to fix you but nurse you along forever it seems. Ask your doctor either way.

If he’s an older guy with old school practices he won’t have a clue if he’s a younger guy and knows quite a bit about peptides he will know exactly what I’m talking about. You can buy it over the counter right now but it’s gotten so popular that of course big pharma had to step in and grease some palms trying to make it a rx.

I asked my wife about it tonight and she said it feels like my legs are 20 again. Worth a try it’s not that expensive. Sure beats hobbling around like she used to do.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 1s1k,

I get those sporadically. The ones that try to pull my toes up into my knees - only on my left leg for some reason, lasting over 10 minutes - are the worst. When I've gotten them, almost every time I was thirsty. Staying hydrated seems to work.