How To Stop A Leg Or Foot Cramp

How to stop a leg or foot cramp is knowledge of an urgent nature when you get one. There is nothing more devastating than to get that sudden horrible cramp, especially when it awakens you in the middle of the night or as you try to get out of bed the first thing in the morning. These "charley horses" or "nocturnal leg cramps" are sudden and involuntary contractions of the muscles that cause a piercing sensation that brings tears to our eyes.

What can you do about them?

1. Using your forefinger and thumb, massage and pinch the area between your lips and nose for a minute or two. This accupressure may bring instant relief.
2. Keep a tube of pain relieving cream (such as IcyHot) by your bedside and massage the cramp area with it. Lavender oil is also recommended to massage into the cramp. Also, If going on a sightseeing trip or taking any long walks, carry a medicated cream in your suitcase to massage any cramps that you get.
3. Flex your foot or grab your toes, pointing your toes toward  your knee, then massage the calf.
4. Once the pain has subsided to a reasonable point, walk around the house.
5. Drink tonic water (which contains a small amount of quinine), but don't drink it if you are on an anticoagulant medication. 
6. Do not tuck in the sheets and blankets on your bed. They constrict your feet and toes and make them point downward, which contributes to the cramp.
7. Since such cramps can be caused by dehydration, drink six to eight glasses of water during the day. 
8. Alleviate the common cause of calcium deficiency by consuming skim milk, calcium-fortified orange juice, nonfat  yogurt, low-fat dairy products, sardines with bones, dark leafy vegetables, or taking a calcium supplement at bedtime. The normal recommended amount of calcium is 1,200 mg daily. If you do not get enough calcium you are vulnerable to developing foot or leg cramps. This particularly applies to those who are trying to lose weight and are not careful to get calcium in their diets. 
9. Check with your doctor if you need supplements of other vitamins such as E, A, potassium, or magnesium. In one study, those who took a vitamin E supplement realized nearly complete relief from nocturnal foot and leg cramps.
10. Potassium-rich foods include bananas, potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, oranges, grapefruit, and cantaloupe. Excellent sources of magnesium are whole grains, beans, and nuts.

Knowing how to stop a leg or foot cramp when it happens, and also some of the things that can be done on a regular basis to hopefully prevent such cramps, can prove to be invaluable information.

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