MOTN Leg Cramps

bumpuser9353653

I woke up twice last night due to my calves cramping after I lightly stretched my legs. Seriously the suckiest feeling in the world.  There's nothing that helps and it's like a slowly increasing torture session.  Happened to my left calf first, then later on to my right one. WTF?!  So now both calves and Achilles tendons are super stiff and sore today.

Anyone have this happen and want to give my misery some company?

MissLadyTay

Yes, happened again to me last night. I told my doctor about it and she said to drink Gatorade. It has definitely helped but I didn't have any yesterday. Will have some this evening for sure!

Peaceb0ne

Yes, this has been happening to me! I wake up in the middle of the night with so much pain/tension in my calf it brings tears to my eyes. Then, after stretching out my calf I have a hard time falling back asleep. Yay, pregnancy. 

Storrmys

I'll keep you company. I had one Tuesday when I woke up for the day and my calf stil hurrs to walk.
I have since bought bananas in hopes not to repeat that any time soon

mileswithmyles

I used to get these all the time pre pregnancy. Stay hydrated. Gatorade and banana are a good idea to help also!

If you feel one coming on, slowly flex your foot. Sometimes that helps too.

SurprisePartySue

OMG I was just telling DH about the one I had early this morning. I cried it hurt so bad and it's still hurting!

awknyc

Omg yes! When I'm sleeping I can actually feel it starting seconds before it hits and just brace myself for the sharp pain. It's usually my right leg too, I swear all the bad stuff is happening to only the right side of my body.

manderdoll

I've

manderdoll

Crazy phone! Anyway, I was going to say I've only had one so far this pregnancy but has them with my first two as well, so bad that I have to wake DH up to pull my foot in a flexed position, the foot just keeps wanting to point on it's own. I drink lots of water, should probably grab some Gatorade, but I hate bananas

ErikaLynn75

I had this happen for the first time last night! It was excruciating! And it was still so sore this morning that I almost collapsed when I first got out of bed and put weight on it. I've been trying to walk around as much as possible today, and it seems to be getting less sore with use.

The advice I got from other women in the teacher's lounge today is the same as PPs said -  Bananas and Gatorade. 

ThereBeDragons

awknyc said:

Omg yes! When I'm sleeping I can actually feel it starting seconds before it hits and just brace myself for the sharp pain. It's usually my right leg too, I swear all the bad stuff is happening to only the right side of my body.

I've found that if I can feel it coming on and apply significant pressure before it morphs into a full cramp- I can stop it before it gets bad most of the time. But I have to sit straight up in bed and immediately grab the affected muscle and squeeze the crap out of it with both hands for it to work. And even then I have to be careful stretching that muscle for a bit afterwards or it'll start to cramp up again.

But I'd rather do that than suffer through the actual cramp and after effects (always so sore). 

The ones that kill me are the ones that start without any warning when I'm in the middle of stretching.

Soupy84

Am I ever glad to see this post this morning. I have been having them all week and it was really bad last night. I am getting them in both legs, but definitely more intense and more often in my right leg. I will pick up some Gatorade for work and will bring home bananas tonight. Thanks for the suggestions ladies!

bumpuser9353653

I already scarfed down a banana this morning. Got my 28wk appt. later today so I will definitely be swinging by the store to grab some Gatorade on my way home.

Thanks ladies!

haylo33

Yep I get them in the middle of the night. I also got them before I was pregnant but not as bad. My calf will be sore for 2 days after a cramp. I also find I get them after days of spending more time than usual on my feet.

ArmyMedic7588

I get that too! I've had the random few surprise ones but I usually get them after I wake up to pee in MOTN and stretch my legs and then BAM!! Self induced torture session! I know it's gonna happen but in my half sleepiness I forget and stretch 

tbiscuit18

Not all the time, but frequent enough! Like PP's gatorade, banana, water...along with magnesium. I take magnesium anyway, but it was the first thing my OB asked if I was taking. Magnesium will also help prevent constipation. 

Tkburke

Yes! It happened a few nights last week and I swear I limped from the residual pain for dayyyys. Thank you pregnancy. DH massaged it for me, and I think that seemed to help. Good luck, rest and get lots of fluids!! And just know you aren't alone. It sucks, but we know how you feel!

ksyknelvr73

Yep, this is happening to me on almost a nightly basis. It keeps happening when I first stand up (as I am getting up on one of my 8,000 trips to pee) but luckily I have been able to "walk it off" for the most part.

bumpuser9353653

Update: Just got back from my OB and she recommended bananas and slow-release magnesium for leg cramps.  So I picked up a bottle of SLOW-MAG from the store today (along with a big bottle of Gatorade).

Good luck ladies!

Jerzeygrl329

The leg cramps are miserable! Word of advice, if you ask your husband to help you rub the muscle make sure he understands that "rub" does not mean shake your leg. Ouch, don't really know what he was thinking on that one! :-?

spinsoffresonance

Yeah I used to get them once in a while. Usually they wake me up in the MOTN and I jump up screaming. First time DH told me to point my foot, made it way worse then he said no point your toes towards your nose. So I yelled at him that's flex your foot not point your foot. Doesnt he know ballet terms!

I don't get them as much since I started taking my prenatals before bed with a big glass of water. I also have more water every time I get up to pee. No more cramps but now I wake up to pee a lot.

Nikkidoll15

I was having them EVERY night. I finally emailed my doctor and he told me I'm not drinking enough water. I was drinking atleast 80oz of water a day probably even more than that. I told him this and he said that even though I think that's enough, the leg cramps are my bodies way of saying it still isn't enough so now I know I am drinking about 120oz. I have gotten one since increasing the water intake.

Happypost

Having the same issue the last few nights... I'm pretty sure I just need more water. I feel like I'm dying of thirst all the time!

whitneymarie003

Yes! I am having the same problem. It's not every night, thankfully, but when it happens it hurts the entire day. They're miserable!

NorthernGal248

I've been having them like crazy lately! DH went out and bought me an electric heating pad, so now whenever they start I just wrap my calves in it and go back to sleep. It soothes them away!

Mr. & Mrs. Woodtick

I am so glad to see this post. I will definitely be getting some gatorade tomorrow.

gutsysneakers

Someone in my prenatal yoga class said her OB recommended magnesium supplements. She said she hasn't had a cramp since taking them. Obviously, check with your doctor first.

princesscays

Yes me!!! All last night. Stand up on that leg and it goes away.

bumpuser10194737

Like lica007 mentioned, flexing my toes up towards my knees really helps. Pointing does the opposite for sure!  

eghulse

I used to get them all the time in high school during marching band season.  Potassium and hydrate!  I hate bananas, so I avoid those, but I've found that as long as I stay hydrated it doesn't happen.

ho11yday

Careful of falling asleep with the heating pad; I have burned myself on it twice, the last time getting infected. Nasty looking scab is still there from that one.

I was drinking 64oz+ water daily (I know for a fact it was 64 oz plus additional that I didn't count), still was getting leg cramps. I realized that switching from water to Gatorade has helped out a lot.  So now I get 64oz of Gatorade plus whatever else I drink throughout the day.

NorthernGal248

ho11yday said:

Careful of falling asleep with the heating pad; I have burned myself on it twice, the last time getting infected. Nasty looking scab is still there from that one.

I was drinking 64oz+ water daily (I know for a fact it was 64 oz plus additional that I didn't count), still was getting leg cramps. I realized that switching from water to Gatorade has helped out a lot.  So now I get 64oz of Gatorade plus whatever else I drink throughout the day.

I have one that has an optional automatic shut off - def saved my butt calves from being burned

Soupy84

My calves are still sore from the cramping I was having all week. However, the Gatorade and bananas I had yesterday allowed me to sleep in relative peace last night. Looks like I will need to start buying these items in bulk

momthatlifts

Wow are we sharing lives? First time was last night and I woke up, Was about to go do my usual bathroom break and did a small stretch. I could feel it coming so I tried to rub my calf with my foot but no luck. I just gripped my pillow while it cramped and even had trouble putting weight on it.

Susiepoo04

Coconut water has a bunch of potassium in it too.

Anyone have twitchy eyelids? I just started getting them last week. Totally weird. I'm thinking it could be electrolyte imbalance as well

GouldenGirl

This has happened to me 3 times when I'm fast asleep, waking me up in a panic from the pain! My Dr day bananas or dried apricots should help or that I can go to a chiropractor because it could be that my hips are out of line( something I felt was up for awhile now. I can't sleep more than maybe an hour and a half on one side without that hip and leg going numb so I don't get very restful sleep) causing a nerve to be pinched. From what ie been told by some of the chiropractors out here is that a lot if times they don't actually have to pop any bones, it's more about putting pressure on those nerves and releasing tension! I haven't gone yet but have seriously been considering it!

ErikaLynn75

I just came home from the grocery store with my bananas and gatorade, and my recent purchase from Motherhood Maternity was on the doorstep. In the package, there was a packet of coupons and free samples, and one of them was for "Hyland's Leg Cramps Ointment" It's supposed to provide relief and a warming sensation if you put it on when your legs/feet cramp up. 

No idea if it works or not, but I thought I'd mention it, because I would have never thought such a thing existed. It says it's available at Walgreens!

mishi09

Happened to me a few nights ago. I flew out of bed!!! Such an awful feeling! I stretched my calf out by pushing my foot against a wall, toes pointing up against the wall with the heel away from the wall and then lean your body into the wall. This helped. Still sore in the am, but it got rid of the immediate tightness

wertzie83

You have my company, I don't get them every night, but maybe once or twice a week.  They wake me out of a dead sleep in the middle of the night.  Last night I was thrashing around and moaning and dear hubby snored right through it.  Naturally.  I will not be sad to see that part of pregnancy go.

I've been eating more bananas but this is the first I've heard of Gatorade helping.  May have to try that!

wertzie83

You have my company, I don't get them every night, but maybe once or twice a week.  They wake me out of a dead sleep in the middle of the night.  Last night I was thrashing around and moaning and dear hubby snored right through it.  Naturally.  I will not be sad to see that part of pregnancy go.

I've been eating more bananas but this is the first I've heard of Gatorade helping.  May have to try that!

Jdub489

Ouch! Reading through these makes my leg want to cramp up. I hope you all find some relief soon!!

A few weeks ago, I had one leg cramp for several hours. If I stopped rubbing it, it would cramp right back up. I think I drank a gallon of water the next day and it seemed to help.