Tell me about horrible muscle cramps

[Hazel]

I know this sounds really strange, but lately I've been getting these awful cramps in my feet and legs. I'll wake up at night and the muscle at the back of my lower leg will be in excruciating pain. Last night it was worse than ever. Also, the cramps I get on the bottom of my feet (of all places!) are getting worse. Yesterday I got a really bad one, and when I pulled my sock off I noticed that my toes were bent downwards at a very odd angle and I couldn't get them to come back up! I was really freaked, but after the cramp went away my toes went back to their proper positions. But what I want to know is, is this like really abnormal? Should I see a doctor?

[Man of Steel]

I used to get these all the time when I was younger, they're called charley horses. At least, that's what my mother called them. She would always have me eat a little salt while she massaged the cramping leg, then when it was loose enough, have me walk around a bit. The best thing to do is to try and stretch the muscle out as much as possible. It will hurt at first, but after a minute the pain should ease up as the muscle starts to relax. Try stretching out your leg, pushing your heel downward, and curling your toes back toward your head. Standing up with most of your weight on the ball of your cramping foot will stretch the muscle too, which should ease the pain. If you feel it coming on, get the muscle stretched as quick as you can and it should nip it in the bud before it can really start to hurt.

[Merlock]

Well, I wouldn't recommend eating bare salt...ever. And I wouldn't recommend using the muscles that are in pain either. Instead, use your hands to massage/stretch/ease them with a good amount of pressure and fortitude. I would see a doctor only if it continues for a long while and gets to occuring often.

[ThePhobiaViewed]

I get these sometimes at night, I just try not to freak out and just try to relax my leg rather than force against it. That usually gets it gone the quickest.

[Daeva]

I used to get these all the time when I was younger, they're called charley horses. At least, that's what my mother called them. She would always have me eat a little salt while she massaged the cramping leg Are you serious? Sodium makes muscles cramps worse... If you are having serious cramps and such, eat a few banana's sometime during the day or anything else with Potassium in it. The potassium has the opposite effect of sodium on your muscles; it relaxes them.

[Merlock]

If you are having serious cramps and such, eat a few banana's sometime during the day or anything else with Potassium in it. The potassium has the opposite effect of sodium on your muscles; it relaxes them. Good to know. And on top of that, bananas are a good dream recall fortifier, heh.

[ninja9578]

Your electrolytes are out of balance. Drink Gatorade or eat a banana or something. Charley horses come from either not enough sodium or not enough potassium. The latter is much more likely. Eating salt will make it worse.

[Replicon]

It might also be dehydration. I remember I used to get these all the time. I still get them sometimes, but not quite as often. I have a friend who gets really bad ones (like, she has to call her mom into the room to massage it for her). When I do get the foot/calf ones, I tend to just stretch it out, and it goes away without much pain. Or just massage it. It seems it lasts the same amount of time no matter what, but massaging gives you the impression you're in control, which makes it feel better.

[Spartiate]

I used to get these all the time when I was younger, they're called charley horses. Charlie horses are painful bruises left from a hit to the thigh (like getting hit by a knee)... Anyways, I get those sometimes, they're painful but not really dangerous. Just massage it for a few seconds then get up and walk it off, that usually sets the muscle again. Stretch it a lot afterwards, because it will be more prone to cramping up again.

[Oneironaut Zero]

I get them a lot when I work out or swim. The best way I prevent them is by making sure I've drank at least 2 bottles of water before exercising my calves/ankles/toes, and I stretch before and after my work out. If I don't do this, it's basically 100% guaranteed that I'll get cramps/charlie-horses. But when I do, I never get them. I used to have them late a night, too, so I can't say it sounds too abnormal. Make sure you drink lots of water during the day, and if they are really bad, it wouldn't hurt to do a few leg/foot stretches, before bed.

[Goldney]

They may also be linked to growing. If you're during a growth spurt then you can get cramps. Although Oneironaut has hit the nail on the head, exercising without drinking enough water/replacing salts. The best treatment for the cramps your getting is to try and touch your toes with straight legs. I remember getting them after sports a couple weeks ago and I agree, it was agony. I did the stretch and they went away.