Leg/calf cramp?!
Question: about 3 months ago i was getting really bad cramps in the middle of the night that would feel like my musscle tightened up very quickly. and it would hurt to walk around on it for about a day. and about a week ago i got a really really bad oneand the pain afterwards has yet to go away
Answers: about 3 months ago i was getting really bad cramps in the middle of the night that would feel like my musscle tightened up very quickly. and it would hurt to walk around on it for about a day. and about a week ago i got a really really bad oneand the pain afterwards has yet to go away
i used to get these a lot in high school. it is part of growing i think. i still get them as an adult, when i stretch in my sleep and point my toe by accident (which knots up the calf muscle and can cause this muscle spasm.) it's nothing much to worry about. You can stretch the backs of your calves, that will help (stand on a stair,ball of your feet on stairs, Gently hang or press your heels downward toward the lower stair. this will stretch out the calf, do not overdo the stretch, just gently stretch out the back of your calf. Or do a runner's warmup stretch).
**Here's what to do next time you feel your leg beginning to cramp in your sleep: RIGHT AWAY, flex your foot so that the heel is pointing down and the toes are pulled up towards your kneecap. If you do this before the calf completely knots and seizes up, the pain will ease, the cramping will subside, and you will not be sore the next day.
Have you been doing different exercises lately? You could have been using different muscles.
Could you be dehydrated? I get EXTREMELY painful leg cramps when I am dehydrated.
Try drinking a lot of water but not too much or you'll die.
Try to eat a banana a day or maybe even two. Bananas help reduce muscle cramps.
You could also try to massage any muscles tha may be sore prior to sleeping to prevent a cramp in the middle of the night.
Try drinking more water - that does not include coffee.
Dehydration can cause muscle cramps.
Take in as much potassium as possible (bananas, etc.) and start stretching often. You can stand on the edge of a step with just the balls of your feet touching. Then push your heels toward the floor slowly until you feel the burn, hold for a count of 8, and come back up. If it continues to hurt for too long, though, it's always worth a doctor's opinion.
yeeah, this has happened to me before. there's nothing worse than being in a deep sleep, and then suddenly waking up with an intense pain in your calf, as if there is some little creature inside trying to rip your calf muscle apart. haha, well make sure your taking in enough potassium and sodium, drink plenty of water, and stretch more often. that's about all you can really do. if that doesn't help, may want to ask the doc
When getting a cramp, stretch your leg straight and horizontal. Gently shake the cramped muscle sideways and massage it. Stretch it too and continue until it stops. I heard from a reliable source that eating scorpions (gross) help with cramps.
Your body is lacking magnesium. Magnesium is essential for muscle relaxation and without adequate amounts you will experience anything from muscle twitches to frequent cramps. Go get some magnesium tablets and start taking them. You will lose the problem within a couple of weeks.
You should stretch more before and after sleep. For now, put ice on it, then after, use icy hot or a heating pad.
Dehydration, low potassium , and over exercising can all be causes for bad cramps. Make sure you are staying hydrated, bananas are a good source of potassium and make sure you stretch well before and after exercising.
I have seen here the mention of lack of magnesium and potassium but there has been a failure to mention calcium. The three mentioned minerals or electrolytes are all esential to keeping muscles from cramping. You also want to keep yourself in shape when football season is out. Keep doing similar exercises that the coaches give you and maybe go running. Your legs are used to it and when you stop they triggar a response. But try eating bananas, drinking milk or eating cheese and maybe get a magnisum supplement like "Mag -Ox" or "slo- mag" These are things that can help replace these electrolytes that you may be missing. Also you can eat dried apricots they contain far more potassium then bananas. Try drinking a sports drink during the day. If this doesn't work then go and see a sports medicine doctor for some help.