Leg Cramps - What do people do to prevent or treat these

This sounds totally mad but a friend of mine ( non diabetic) had been struggling with night cramps to the point she was struggling to sleep, she was told to put a bar of soap in bed with her and has claimed she has now had several good nights sleep...
I know, makes no sense whatsoever but not going to hurt to try, although probably avoid hand soap in a pump!!!!

The idea of using soap for cramps is totally mad and makes no sense so I wasn't going to post about it on this thread until I read @sninge's post.

As a teenager in the 1960's I was prescribed salt tablets for severe cramps - probably caused by my dislike of salt in food. Nowadays I take sea salt in water before I go to bed.

A friend suggested that I try the soap trick. I was very dubious about trying it but did give it a go. However, I found that I could cut down the salt because the soap really worked - which I find is so weird.

We went away this week for a couple of nights. I decided to only take salt with me. The first night I started cramping. Bought some soap (imperial leather seems to work best) and no cramp the second night.

After while the soap stops working and I have to replace it.

AFAIK @Krystyna23040, an Imperial Leather soap bar has no magnesium, but it does contain some sodium chloride.

LivingLightly said:

AFAIK @Krystyna23040, an Imperial Leather soap bar has no magnesium, but it does contain some sodium chloride.

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That's interesting @LivingLightly.
Perhaps it is the sodium chloride that stops the cramps.
I often wondered if it was something to do with the scent. When that fades the soap no longer works for me.
I do use a magnesium spray and take magnesium tablets with only limited success.
I tried potassium tablets but they actually gave me worse cramps which was a huge puzzle as potassium should help to prevent cramp.

Potassium and Sodium are finely balanced by the body, presumably you knocked things out of kilter, by taking Potassium, which would look like you didn't need.

Resurgam said:

I discovered that drinking quite a lot of water was a first aid treatment for the night time camps, severe ones could need two pints, but most needed at least one pint.
These days I add salt to several meals each week - I have no other source of salt as I don't use it in cooking and eat no food with salt in other than cheese, and don't always buy that type - plus the really salty brand I found made me retch, so my dietary salt content can be zero some weeks.
I take a supplement which contains magnesium, and calcium, zinc and various vitamins and although not every day, I doubt I am lacking in those elements.

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I oftenly used to get leg cramps at night. I have been strictly drinking 2 liters of water everyday. Mainly for kidney’s function and to control my BG. I have lost a lot of weight too. Now for a long time I haven't had leg cramps.
Omar

Art Of Flowers said:

I watched a YouTube video today on night symptoms of diabetes and one of these was leg cramps. I occasionally get cramp in the calf muscle my right leg.

I previously assumed that cramp this was due to my leg getting cold, but now I think it may be related to diabetes.

I did a quick search on the forums and saw that some people use a Magnesium Chloride spray to treat cramp. Does this work, or is there a better alternative?

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Magnesium cream works well - I use one called Magnesium Sleep Cream - has some added Lavender in it - prevents restless legs/leg cramps at night if you put a bit on your calves before bed. Also relieves Calf Cramps in the night. I found some creams, sprays and Gels left a sticky or unpleasant residue - so its worth seeing if you can get a sample before you buy one.

PatsyB said:

might just get some of this magnesium today and see if helps , thank you

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Magnesium cream works well - I use one called Magnesium Sleep Cream - has some added Lavender in it - prevents restless legs/leg cramps at night if you put a bit on your calves before bed. Also relieves Calf Cramps in the night. I found some creams, sprays and Gels left a sticky or unpleasant residue - so its worth seeing if you can get a sample before you buy one.

Art Of Flowers said:

I watched a YouTube video today on night symptoms of diabetes and one of these was leg cramps. I occasionally get cramp in the calf muscle my right leg.

I previously assumed that cramp this was due to my leg getting cold, but now I think it may be related to diabetes.

I did a quick search on the forums and saw that some people use a Magnesium Chloride spray to treat cramp. Does this work, or is there a better alternative?

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Magnesium does actually help with Restless Leg Syndrome. I use a balm on mine and (diabetic) husband and it really helps!

flonvic said:

I also have diet tonic water.Haven't had cramp since drinking it.

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Tonic water contains Quinine which, i have just learned, can increase the risk of hypoglycemia.