The past week I have been awakened in the middle of the night with really painful leg cramps.....can anyone suggest any remedies or if they have had this same problem and what they did?
by 
MIA
ANSWERS: 4
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eat bananas, drink water could be lack of potassium or dehydration
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Yep. I used to get the worst charley horses in my legs while I was pregnant. You need more calcium. Any over-the-counter calcium supplement should help releive those pesky cramps. Edit: A good way to relieve the pain while your legs are cramping up is to flex your feet up toward your shins.
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my most common cause for leg/feet cramps is dehydration. (by the time you are thirsty, you're already dehydraded!) if that isn't the case, you could be lacking in vitamins and minerals. calcium and potassium are two that come to mind off hand. also, i find it to be soothing to use a topical cream (?) such as icy-hot or something like that to try and relax the muscles, even if i can't get them to stop cramping. taking a hot bath might be helpful as well.
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Like most answers already - dehydration can cause them - so try drinking enough water a day that your pee is clear or very light coloured. Sodium and/or Potassium shortage can cause them - bananas a good, but also a little salt on things (if you normally have a very low salt diet). Consider a multi-vitamin that has plenty of potassium. Another is magnesium. Many friends of mine have taken magnesium to help alleviate cramping and it has been very successful for them.
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