The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Ms Peggy (Sacramento, Ky) on 10/03/2013
★★★★★
I don't know why it works, but read some where about using peroxide for muscle spasms. After suffering from them nearly every night for many years, I decided to try it. Rubbed a small amount of peroxide on the area of the charlie horse, and praise be it worked. They didn't come back the rest of the night. While pickle juice, and mustard do tend to help, I have to repeat fairly often. Now I keep the peroxide close by.
Tonic Water with Quinine
Posted by Bob A (Tucson, Az, Usa) on 09/22/2013
★★★★★
My mother (now 90 yo) said that HER mother told her that night-time muscle cramps are easily dealt with by an 8-oz glass of Quinine Water (also known as Tonic Water at the grocery or liquor store) just before bed. I do this whenever I have leg muscle aches and I sleep like a baby. Works much better than aspirin or ibuprophen. Tonic water contains a small amount of quinine, which is incidentally the main worldwide treatment for malaria for the past 100+ years.
Calcium
Posted by Luvdplanet (Gainesville, Fl) on 09/11/2013
Hello Kathy, I hope you're doing well. I was wondering how many milligrams of the calcium were you taking. My leg cramps at night are really killing me ;o( Thanks! Good Life :o))
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Palaminolady (The Woodlands,texas) on 08/21/2013
You don't have to swallow it, rub it where the cramp is and it will go away. Also any kind of vinegar will work.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ellensue (Denver, Colorado U.s.) on 08/20/2013
★★★★★
Leg cramps getting worse over the last week, and very painful aching yesterday. So, I ended up here and with great hope and some skepticism I drank 2 Tblsp ACV with Mother in a cup of hot water and the relief was immediate! Aching was in both legs... I'm guessing it was drinking more coffee than usual? The pain is not worth it! ACV does hurt my teeth... I sprinkled in some baking soda this morning and that helped to buffer it. I brushed my teeth right after as well. Any other suggestions appreciated. I encourage you to try this if you feel even a twinge. I wish I had looked for it and implemented it a week ago. Many blessings to all!
Hydrocortisone Cream
Posted by Anna (Philadelphia) on 08/06/2013
★★★★★
Hydrocortisone Cream for sufficient temporary relief of spasms and overworked joints/muscles
I was rear ended in a car accident when I was 24. Since then I have been dealing with sharp stabbing burning pains in my neck. After 2 years of pain management my doctor has exhausted all techniques. Until one day he put his finger in the dip in my shoulder. INCREDIBLE PAIN surged, I felt like I lost the ability to stand or sit upright. After finding this out there isn't much that is able to be done about the horrible sensations that start in my shoulder and shoot to my neck. No prescribed external topical applications have been successful.
One day I was in so much pain I just started throwing different creams on myself. Surprisingly, I found that hydrocortisone cream temporarily relieves these neck spasms long enough to "forget" about it and move on to something else. I would say it's an aid to help me relax.
At first I had to apply frequently because I was so stressed from the pain itself. But used less eventually. Keep in mind that a hot shower stream of water beating on my neck caused "white light" ten out of ten pain that took me to the ER because I freaked out.
So I suggest applying this to a very sensitive painful area of the body due to deep debilitating muscle spasms. It really helped me get past the pain long enough to distract myself with normal activities.
Prunes
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 07/27/2013
★★★★★
My husband was on a long drive under stressful driving conditions (dark, windy roads, towing a trailer, etc. ) He got a cramp in his hamstring and couldn't drive anymore. (My son was able to take a turn at the wheel. ) He would normally take blackstrap molasses for a cramp, but we didn't have any in the vehicle. We did have prunes, which are high in potassium. He ate 5 of them and his cramp went away! He did take blackstrap when he got home, before bed and woke up feeling fine! Don't eat too many prunes at once or you will end up with stomach cramps, though.
~Mama to Many~
Point Toes To Nose
Posted by Peter (Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff) on 05/05/2013
When we used to get these leg cramps we would instantly start streching the leg by pointing the toes away from the body, this would never work because you're not doing anything, try it now and point your toes hard to your nose, feel that, well I do that every now and then and I have not had leg cramps in over 10 years, taking meds for it is insane.
Point Toes To Nose
Posted by Merrin (Mundaring, Western Australia) on 04/30/2013
Interesting! I started getting leg cramps when pregnant. Local goat dairy owner and midwife gave me raw goats milk throughout two pregnancies. This cured my leg cramps. She told of her 90 year old aunt who experienced leg cramps when on holiday as only cows milk was available. On returning to the goat dairy and beautiful raw goats milk, her leg cramps ceased. Pointing toes to nose seems so much easier.
Point Toes To Nose
Posted by Peter (Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff) on 04/29/2013
★★★★★
Instant leg cramp relief:
Point your toes to your nose as hard as you can, standing up or lying down all ways work.
Myself and my partner both sufferd with this for many years, total agony, I forget who told me this but it works every time instantly. I was swimming in the freazing cold sea once and got a leg cramp some way out, toes to nose and it went, if I had not known that then I don't think I'd be typing this now.
Oh, and no long lasting after pains :)
Potassium
Posted by Wenjoy (Winter Springs, Florida) on 04/22/2013
★★★★★
Potassium for leg cramps or other cramps: Two potassium supplement tablets, with water, when muscle feels like it will cramp will eases my symptoms within 15 minutes. It is even faster if I chew them first. They taste a little like salt but not as strong. Each of the usually available tablets are only 3% of the RDA so I used to take eight a day when I worked out in the sun on my construction job, as I sweated a lot. If I started to feel my fingers start to cramp I would take another two to prevent leg cramps. I am now 62 and retired.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ky Mama (Clinton, Ky) on 02/21/2013
★★★★★
My husband gets leg cramps at night sometimes. Usually he takes Blackstrap molasses and that helps immediately. (1 T. ) Well, he was out of town and dind't have any Blackstrap. He woke up with a cramp. He thought... "Well, my wife would tell me to take Apple Cider Vinegar." So, her drank a glass of water with a T. or so of Apple Cider Vinegar in it. It worked! He wasn't surprised as he has seen how well it works for so many things.
Quinine Water
Posted by Linda (Roscommon, Mi) on 02/12/2013
My Mom had bad leg cramping at night and her doctor told her to drink quinine water before bed.
Bar of Soap
Posted by Judy Mc (Springfield, Oregon) on 02/04/2013
★★★★★
I use a bar of soap to help from getting woken up by leg cramps, works great for that. Put it directly under bottom sheet and change every month or so. I am still looking for something for my constant RLS. Will be trying a couple of things from this site.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ruthes (Holland, Ma USA) on 02/01/2013
★★★★★
Actually there is no need for drinking cider vinegar to stop acute muscle cramps. You can simly rub the vinegar on the affected muscle and in 5 minutes the cramping stops. I have used it for years and it works. severe calf cramps repsond well and there is no residual pain or achiness in the calf.
Potassium
Posted by Vera (Beulah, Co) on 01/03/2013
★★★★★
I suffered Charley horse something awful. It would wake me at night, screaming. Getting out of bed and putting weight on the foot/leg in question would help break the spasm. But I did not discover a cure until I was at a holistic clinic. I asked them if it's lack of calcium. They tested me, and said I had plenty.
They put me on liquid potassium, drink slowly with food. There is a prescription for it. Now, if I experience just a smidgen of it again, I take some potassium for a few days, and I am blessedly free of the agony. Never again. My neighbor tried it too, and she's not had a problem since. :-)
Acupressure
Posted by Bill (Calgary, Alberta, canada) on 12/19/2012
Another acupressure technique is to gently bite your lower lip.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sleepless Sac (Sacramento, Ca) on 09/24/2012
I get arch cramps in my feet, wondering if doing the ACV just before bedtime is effective vs. waiting for the nocturnal cramp to occur and THEN doing the ACV.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Frances (Los Angeles, California) on 08/27/2012
hello mama with 5yr old with LS. Ive done all of the above, steroid creams havent helped me either and they ultimately thin the skin. I too have thyroid and hormone problems which are autoimmune diseases that some think are associated. I find that sugar is inflammatory so avoiding that helps, also eating less carbs and more plants as part of a good diet. Also I take gabapentin which has been a godsent for the itching. It works on a neurological level and works way better than any antihistamines ive tried. Just ask your doctor if its ok for kids. As for the flare ups and redness, I still have that battle. The cold compresses and cold baths with baking soda, epson salt sometimes helps. I often just put cold water on the area periodically as well. Calmoseptine helps on the anal area too and acts as a good barrier. For the vaginal area zinc oxide and aquafor are excellent. Try not to use underwear when you can. And always cotton underwear. I also use lidocaine on the area to numb it for periods of time. Hopefully you are seeing a dermatologist as well fo more options. Im a rare young case as well, not as young as your daughter, I pray she is one of the children that grows out of this. Ive also seen some promising research with regard to stem cells and regenerating the skin in the area. Ive heard great results, ill keep you posted. Having it done next month. I hope my suggestions help, your daughters story really touched my heart.
Magnesium
Posted by Ian (Oldham, United Kingdom) on 08/07/2012
★★★★★
i have recently been experimenting with magnesium chloride liquid which I rub in my legs after and during long bicycle rides, it seems to be working well. I put in a spray bottle, its cheap and effective and is absorbed well into the body as a good source of magnesium. Yesterday I did a cycle route with 15miles uphill, in the past ive had to stop due to debiliating cramps, yesterday did it no cramps, took the bottle with me and occasionally stopped and sprayed some on the legs.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Stevebb1 (Stilwell, Usa) on 08/06/2012
You won't see common sense cures made known by doctors because they go by what the pharmacies tell them and they will never support a cure that can't be patented so they can make more money.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 07/27/2012 2043 posts
Ky Mama, I use one spoon Blackstrap M in my coffee as a sweetener, and as we all know it is a sweetener and beyond. Any form of Magnesium is best for cramps. In your husband's severe case, try him w/ an Epsom Salt warm footbath when he gets home and plunks down on the couch. Both the Magnesium and the Sulphur of the E-salt will do wonders on the body and also helps one to sleep.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Ky Mama (Clinton, Ky) on 07/26/2012
★★★★★
My husband does construction work. In the heat of the summer when he works outside, no matter how much water he drinks, he still ends the day somewhat dehydrated and missing minerals. One night he woke up with a cramp in his leg. He took a tablespoon of Blackstrap molasses. (It has to be Blackstrap! ) It helped within minutes and he had no trouble the rest of the night. Now whenever his leg feels twitchy, like it is getting ready to cramp, he takes 1-2 tablespoons of blackstrap. (He is a 230lb man. A smaller person could take less. I take 1 Tablespoon when I need it and I am half his size.) When my children have had fevers they have had leg cramps, probably from dehydration. In the future, I will try Blackstrap. However, many find it unpalatable, in which case a banana might be better. (But my husband has done bananas for cramps and, though they help, he doesn't think they help as much or as fast as the blackstrap.)
Magnesium Phosphate
Posted by Val (Pittsburg, Pa) on 06/02/2012
★★★★★
The mag phos cell salt also helps me with the spasms I have. The muscles can cramp at anytime of the day. I learned about mag phos from a naturalist. I also use the Apple Cider Vinegar and honey for severe cramps using both has helped greatly.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ben (Albany, New York, Usa) on 05/26/2012
★☆☆☆☆
I've been having a pretty nasty back spasm for the past 10 hours, so I figured I would try some ACV. I diluted it with a glass of water and drank it, but nothing happened... Does this just not work for a back spasm, or am I doing something wrong?
