Charley Horse - Help!

**TigerGirl1226** · 02-07-2011, 05:17 PM

Plantar Fasciitis Brace

Since you can't take supplements, how about approaching it more mechanically? I have PF in my foot and sleep with a brace that keeps my foot flexed and also keep my calf stretched out.

Maybe it could help!!

**Momto5RN** · 02-07-2011, 05:27 PM

when i use to get them i flexed my foot toes towards my head and then away until it loosed up.

i have tons of diabetic pts that take potassium tablets but they are not pregnant as they are over 65 lol

**cab54** · 02-08-2011, 01:57 PM

Orange juice for Potassium. I was told it was the next best thing to bananas. I know you probably can't drink a lot of it, but maybe a couple of ounces with each meal...space it out.

Muscle cramps can also be related to calcium. Check your prenatal vitamin for % of daily requirement, and maybe get an extra dairy portion in your diet, if it allows.

**SwirlyThing** · 03-11-2011, 09:44 PM

Calcium and/or magnesium deficiency can also be at fault. Milk has good amounts of both minerals.

If I don't get enough calcium and magnesium, I first get wicked muscle cramps at night (in multiple muscles in my legs and feet), that can last for 30 minutes or more. Then if I don't address it at that point by increasing my calcium and magnesium intake, I next get heart palpitations.

So when I start getting cramps, I increase my milk intake and it usually takes care of the problem.

**ladykemma2** · 03-12-2011, 05:47 AM

morton lite salt, or morton salt substitute. i prefer the morton lite salt.

**streamsidegirl** · 03-12-2011, 01:07 PM

Ugh, hate those things. I suffered from calf cramps almost weekly since my teens (and I'm lots older than that now). I've tried everything - soap under the sheet, drinking pickle juice if I got a cramp, drinking vinegar if I got a cramp, potassium supplments, eating bananas, nuts, everything else that is high in potassium, sticking my leg against the refrigerator when I had a cramp (the cold is supposed to help), wearing leg warmers to bed (keeping them warm is supposed to help), prescription muscle relaxers, rolling up a blanket and putting it at the end of the bed to keep my feet straight, magnesium supplements and every combo of herbal/vitamins you can think of - I'm sure there's lots more I've tried but don't remember. The only thing that has helped me is not sleeping in a bed. I sleep in a recliner (has to be a Lazyboy so the foot rest thingy doesn't automatically pop up when you recline) and put my feet on a foot stool so my calves don't have anything touching them. I put a pillow under my feet to keep them comfortable, and I can recline the chair all the way so it's almost like laying down. I put pillows under my arms to kind of keep them elevated to stay comfortable. It's really quite the production! I miss sleeping in bed with my husband but he can finally get some sleep b/c I don't hop out of bed all the time screaming with a cramp. I even bought a big cushy chair just for the bedroom and no leg cramps in a couple of years! If we go on vacation or somewhere where I have to sleep in a bed, it's a guaranteed leg cramp. Anyway, it's a bit extreme to do this but you might want to try it to see if it helps.