Get Relief from Leg Cramps with these Simple Solutions

If you're over 40, you've likely experienced your fair share of aches and pains. But being woken up during the night, tossing and turning, with joint pain and aches is especially frustrating. Restful sleep at this stage of your life starts to become harder to come by, and nighttime leg aches, cramps, and muscle spasms are often partially to blame.

There can be many causes of leg cramps, and you should always discuss any bouts of recurring leg pain with your doctor. But if you've ruled out any of the possible more serious causes, you may be one of the thousands that have leg cramps caused by insufficient nutrients or nutrient absorption. This issue started plaguing me more often lately when I've worked out and haven't replenished my electrolytes sufficiently.

While I am very good about constantly refilling my 64 ounce Yeti with water, and drinking throughout the day, as well as post-workout, it turns out replenishing lost fluids with only water, just wasn't enough for me. I'm going to share a few of the over the counter solutions I've used to combat irritating nighttime and daytime leg cramps, that have been effective, and one that has been especially life-changing for me.

If you have read any of my other articles on this site, you know that I am very focused on natural healing and solutions. Since my fibromyalgia diagnosis over 20 years ago, I've been continually on the hunt for ways to naturally heal my body. So without further ado, here are a few solutions to prevent and alleviate leg cramps and pains that have worked effectively for me over the years.

• Eating a banana at night -

Bananas are high in potassium, which is one of those nutrients that runs at low levels for much of the population. Eating a banana at night has been a "quick fix" for me for both Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) as well as for other aches and pains.

• Taking magnesium glycinate (with calcium, if possible) at night -

Magnesium is another nutrient that many people are deficient in and is critical for muscle repair and optimal muscle and nerve function. In fact, scientists estimate that over 50% of the population is deficient in magnesium and some sources claim that number is much higher. (Side note, magnesium is also critical for Vitamin D absorption, so this is another reason to consider supplementing). And taking magnesium with calcium helps with absorption. This solution is another that has dual purpose - helping alleviate Restless Leg symptoms as well as those of random leg pains.

• Adding Iron at night -

When I'm having an especially difficult time with leg movement, cramping and pain, I often head downstairs to take a 1/2 to a whole iron pill, depending on dosage. I recommend taking it at night, especially if you are already supplementing, because it can greatly assist in getting you restful, quality sleep.

• Rubbing Muscle Cream on your Legs before bed -

I have used different brands that have had various level of effectiveness, Some options that might work for you: Bengay or the generic equivalents, Fibro cream, and other muscle creams designed to alleviate leg cramps and pains. These often have topical analgesics (pain killers) in them that can be absorbed into the muscles. These often work to help you fall asleep, but need to be reapplied when the effectiveness wears off, in my experience.

• Replenishing your Electrolytes - (my favorite)

This has been my most recently discovered solution for stubborn leg cramps, pains, and RLS symptoms. Swimming laps has been my go to for workouts for decades now. I am good about drinking lots of water afterwards, but still had been having issues with foot, leg, and toe cramps from time to time. When you're in the water while you're working out, you don't realize how much you're sweating, or how many nutrients your body is losing; it just isn't as obvious.

Recently, I've gotten into dance cardio, and since dancing is one of my favorite activities, I hit it pretty hard and work up a good and disgusting sweat! While on vacation in the southern US in the peak of summer, we had the need to purchase some Rapid Restore Gatorades, as one of my children ended up suffering from heat exhaustion. She ended up recovering before we used all of those bottles up, so we still had a few sitting in the pantry. After a particularly vigorous exercising session, I felt a bit dizzy and so grabbed one of the Gatorade bottles and greedily consumed it. Immediately I felt better and later that night, experienced one of the best sleeps I'd had in quite some time - free of leg cramps and pains! So as an experiment I began drinking a Gatorade or Vitamin water every night after working out to restore all of those missing electrolytes and nutrients that had been depleted by my body.

Although there is a cost to these solutions, most of them are natural, don't require a prescription and help to restore missing electrolytes and nutrients that your body naturally needs. And if using one or more of them means that you no longer suffer from painful, disruptive leg cramps and pain, then it seems very worth it to me!

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. These are my opinions and what has worked for me. Be sure to check with your doctor before adding any supplements of any kind to your daily health plan.