Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night with the most painful leg cramps? What about having restless leg syndrome (RLS), right before you fall asleep your leg feels like worms are moving around and you can’t let your legs be still?
I have been there many times. It took a few trials and errors, but I was able to learn to cope with my RLS and hope my home remedies will come in handy for you.
Go to the doctor and get a check-up! It is important!
I know going to the doctor is not a home remedy but when you have unbearable leg cramps, go to the doctor. I had the unfortunate event of not taking my leg pain seriously and continuing doing my home remedies, I needed serious medical attention. You can read more in my Get To Know Me.
Word to the wise, when you have done all the home remedies you can and nothing helps, GO TO THE DOCTOR.
Take your vitamins
I will always say this. You would be surprised by the number of nutrients you can be low on that can affect your overall health and your legs. Just get a great vitamin that has Iron, Vitamin D, and Magnesium. It will work wonders.
Stretch and exercise
Make it a habit to stretch when you get out of bed in the morning, and before you go to bed at night. It’s the movement and the stretching of the limbs that give you relief. I don’t know if my limbs tighten up from not moving at night but, just a few simple legs stretches work wonders.
You will even notice doing leg exercises will help with your leg pain throughout the day as well.
This is the last thing you want to hear is someone saying exercise, but walking or moving really helps. Before going to bed try and get in a workout. I noticed walking on the treadmill with an incline of 5.0 was very helpful at night with my RLS. You do not have to have the incline so high, I just did what I could handle for nighttime relief, I didn’t want to overexert myself but I did want my legs to feel tired so I can get a good night’s rest.
GINKGO BILOBA TEA or Gingo Biloba
Before you drink this, check with your doctor. It may interfere with the medicines you take. DO NOT TAKE IF you are pregnant, have kidney disease, or bleed or bruise easily.
This is an amazing herb for restless leg syndrome and leg cramps that helps with circulation. Remember, this is a natural remedy, and it may take several months to start seeing benefits.
Take 2/40 mg tablets three times a day. Drink 1 to 2 cups of tea a day.
Warm Baths
This remedy is a wonder drug for me. I have experienced RLS before bedtime at times. I learned to take a warm bath with Epsom salt helps relax and relieve those tingly achy legs.
The trick is to get into the tub as the tub is filling up, and turn the water as hot as you can handle it. You will feel the tingling begin to subside. Just lay back and relax and let the water take care of you.
Massages
There is something amazing about a nice massage, but something extraordinary when you really need it. Leg massages work wonders for leg cramps and RLS. I know for a fact, I had to often ask my sweetie to help me with her amazing massages just to give me relief from my RLS.
I learned to just try and relax and allow the massage to work. Your legs will automatically start to relax, and you will feel this calm feeling take over. Enjoy it.
If you don’t have anyone at night to massage those achy legs, invest in a leg massager. It may aid in the relief you so desperately need.
Hot water bottle or heated blanket
Heat is an amazing tool, especially with RLS. Just get a hot water bottle or heated blanket and curl up for a wonderful night’s sleep. The heat helps relax those overactive muscles and gives you relief.
In my experience, it takes about 10 minutes for you to start feeling relief. It is best to already have your hot water bottle or heated blanket already warm, so when you lay down, you are already set.
Stomp it out.
Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night with the worse Charlie Horse or leg cramp you ever had?
Get out the bed and stomp your feet. March in place, but make sure you are impacting the floor hard. It stops the cramp RIGHT THEN.
I have awoken to some blood-curdling screams due to my leg cramps being so unbearable, you could see the muscle spasming. By accident, one night I jumped out the bed and STOMPED my foot, and out of nowhere, the pain started to subside. SO I did it again, and the pain began to lessen down even quicker. I honestly thought it was a fluke.
Well, it wasn’t, my sweetie woke up with a horrendous Charlie Horse, and I told her to stomp the foot of the leg down as hard as she could., and she did. She yelled and laughed, she said it felt like a quick shot of electricity went down her leg and then the pain started to wane. She marched in around the room for a minute or so and the pain was completely gone.
quinine
Quinine is used to treat leg cramps and malaria. I found out that tonic water actually has quinine in it. Tonic water has a bitter taste to it, so I have mixed in pineapple juice and apple juice to cut the taste.
Do not use if you have heart issues, kidney issues, or are pregnant.
I hope these home remedies will come in handy for you.
Enjoy!