How to Treat Leg Cramps

Leg cramps may not be an emergency health problem but they can be very painful. Here are several easy ways to stop leg cramps or avoid having them.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Keep hydrated to avoid leg cramps. Drink plenty of water during the day, especially when exercising or working and developing a sweat, as sweating can lead to dehydration from the resulting water loss.

2. Drink tonic water to ease leg cramps. There is quinine in tonic water which seems to help the constricting leg muscles relax, thus easing the leg cramps.

3. Bend the toes toward the knee when leg cramps occur to extend the calf muscle, thus keeping it from coiling up like a spring and causing the cramp.

4. Stand barefooted on a cold floor such as concrete or tile. The cold will ease the muscle spasms that cause leg cramps.

5. Eat a teaspoonful of yellow mustard to ease leg cramps. Since this is a rather bitter medicine, putting the mustard on a cracker makes it taste a bit better.

6. Sleep with a bar of soap in the bed. Some proponents of this method of relieving leg cramps also say to place the soap directly on the area that is cramping.

7. Take Vitamin E and/or potassium per a doctor's instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• See your doctor if leg cramps are a regular occurrence, and especially if none of the above remedies seem to be working. Prescription medicines and other medical conditions can cause cramps so it is best to make sure there isn't some underlying cause for recurring leg cramps.

[divaonline]

on 11/21/2009 Terrific and helpful ideas for treating leg cramps. I've also heard taking calcium supplements works for some people. 5*

[sbarry77]

on 10/16/2009 Great tips on relieving leg cramps! 5* and recommended

[goldiec]

on 10/16/2009 Thanks for the great tips on How to Treat Leg Cramps! 5*

[debstips]

on 10/9/2009 Thank you,these are great tips and some I've never heard of.I will give them a try.5*and recommendation.

[Susanh]

on 9/9/2009 My daughters both experience the pain of leg cramps. I've not heard of the tonic water, mustard, or soap idea. Thank you!