A Banana daily for the magnesium in it used to ward off the nighttime leg cramps. Now a Magnesium and Calcium combined supplement seems to help. When it doesn't; one, Ibuprofen (400mg) helps. This has been an intermittent problem from my 40 to 70's and each time it returns it is more severe and covers larger areas of the arms and leg muscles. Particularly in wet or humid weather. Published: July 31 ::

I was getting very severe muscle cramps in my legs and above my knees. They would tighten up and hurt so bad I couldn't do anything but scream and rub my leg. I had it so bad one night, if I could have gotten up to get my gun, I would have used it! [I think] After I stopped using ALL sweeteners [not real sugar] my leg cramps stopped. However, recently I have been getting them again due to my lack of Potassium. I was put on 40 MG of Lasix. There is something one can take that is guaranteed for milder leg cramps or “Charlie Horse" as I've heard it referred too. Quinine really works!! One of my problems is I don't drink enough liquids! Hope this helps someone, because I can't think of anything more painful then muscle cramps in the keg or thigh-at least the kind I was getting! Published: May 29 ::

I began having leg cramps as a teenager, especially in the thigh muscles. I could get no help from doctors, but I asked a naturopathic doctor about it. His research turned up the idea that it is a result of a deficiency of Vitamin E. At that time, Vitamin E was not available, but he recommended a spoonful of wheat germ oil each day. That helped immensely. After Vitamin E became available, I found that I need at least 800 I.U. per day. Others will have to experiment to find their best dosage. I am now 82 and this has been my experience. Published: August 21 ::

Magnesium taken twice a day seems to help my muscle cramps. Statins seem to increase the cramps. Published: August 21 ::

I have cramps almost every night in my feet and sometimes in my calves. I try sleeping with socks on to keep my feet warm, which seems to help some, but the only way I get rid of the cramps when they start is to get up and drink dill pickle juice. Published: August 07 ::

I am a 73 year old female. I had leg cramps really bad for years. They now penetrate up my thigh clear up to my crotch. The only thing that will relieve them is a heating pad. I keep one handy. I take quinine. It is available and your doctor can get it for you. I take calcium, potassium and many other vitamins and minerals. I had not had a cramp in more than four years and about a week ago I had a really bad one. I can only scream and hop to get the heating pad. I can’t even sit on the toilet. I had skipped a couple of my quinine, trying to stretch them out and hadn’t realized how many times I had skipped. It works for me. Published: July 17 ::

Some nights leg cramps appear out of nowhere, waking me up. I get leg muscle spasms where my toes curl and hurt like the dickens. I find immediate relief from two flexible ice packs handy at all times. I place them where the cramps are hurting the most, underneath the calf of the legs, underneath my feet, and within a few minutes they relax and disappear. Then I follow up with taking potassium, magnesium and calcium pills. Published: July 11 ::

I stretch the muscles if possible and sometimes take a pinch of table salt under my tongue for leg cramps if they are severe and recurring. My hand cramps only occur with repetitive use and stop when stretched. I am 62 years old and believe this is a part of aging. Published: July 09 ::

For years, my night cramps were generally controlled with quinine pills taken before going to bed. But since they are no longer available, I have been taking a glass of tonic water -- minus the gin -- about an hour before bedtime. This has worked pretty well for me. I still have occasional nights of walking the floors, but it has greatly improved. Published: July 07 ::

I am currently very overweight and have Type 2 diabetes. (I had the following problems even when I was 160 lbs. thinner than I am now.) I get very severe cramps in my thighs at night. The pain feels like calf leg cramps (or a "charlie horse") but it’s so very, very severe. It feels worse than any leg cramp I have ever experienced. The pain is so bad and no amount of stretching or bending or walking on my leg seems to help. It goes away after about 10 minutes, and the next day the muscles in my leg still hurt. I have never had a heart attack before but to me the pain feels like it would be comparable to that because it is so severe. I have had gallbladder disease and had my gallbladder removed, and a gallbladder attack feels like this kind of pain. I have told my doctor about this pain and had tests done to rule out blood-clots, and they cannot figure out what it is or what causes the pain. From time to time, I also get this same type of muscle pain in other parts of my body such as my lower legs, feet, torso and back. I do not know what to do about it or what is causing it or how to stop it. My doctor does not seem to take it seriously since the previous tests do not show anything conclusive. Published: June 18 ::