I don’t have calf cramps, but sometimes I’ll be flexing my toes and I’ll feel one start to fire up a cramp, and it’s a fast-paced high-stakes game of Operation, where I keep moving my toe around trying to find the magic relaxation spot, while it sends off more and more alarming pre-cramp warning buzzes. (That may not be a perfect metaphor but I got tired of thinking of board games. I also considered Battleship.)
A high stakes game of “Oh fuck oh shit oh fuck”
That’s when you stretch it out more and face your fears
i’ve dove into the cramp saying fuck you to the universe, and i’ve tried to ignore it, and i’ve tried to hyperventilate through it, nothing makes it go away any quicker
Tonic water. The sharp bitter tricks your brain. Added benefit if you find a brand that still has quinine, as quinine is proven to have a preventative effect on cramps over time.
Note that doctors consider quinine dangerous due to other issues
Friend came limping over one day. Our other friend watched him rolling around in agony for almost 20 minutes.
“Dude! You can stretch it and it goes away instantly!”
That’s for a normal cramp. There are cramps that stretching does not help and you’re just going to be in pain for the next 3 to 5 days.
Those are the fucking worst.
Yeah for the unlucky some of us when a cramp hits, nothing helped. Fuck I’ve even tried running up and down stairs at 3am. Doing full stretches etc. Turns out good chance you’re low on magnesium or potassium or maybe Manganese? I don’t remember but the wife shoves one of the 3 in my mouth when she’s had enough of my whining and I’m good for a while with no cramps at night.
Just shove all 3 in your ass before bed each night and you’ll be good to go my guy
Uhm, no, sorry, I’d prefer being able to move my legs during the day.
What works for me is immediately pulling my foot back in an L shape as hard as I can.
Yeah this. Nowadays I can usually stop it or at least make it way lighter by just moving my foot in the right position again. It has almost become a reflex at this point
Yeah but to do that I have to stand up or have something to force my foot against to actually bend it.
From what I’ve read, you should avoid using external influences to fix cramps, as they could easily damage your tendons.
Very much not an expert, though.
I can just pull my foot back by itself. Must be really bad cramps if you can’t do that!
I didn’t know this was common for other people. I’ve always viewed my capacity to cause what should be a sporting injury from lying in bed as a uniquely personally shameful indictment.
Someone explained to me that all you have to do is get out of the bed and immediately stand on it and the cramp generally won’t happen or will be much milder. Tested and it works like a charm.
This is the correct answer. The first time it cramped, my wife was begginge to stand on it as I massaged it while screaming in agony. The second time it happened she wasn’t home, so I decided to just try what she had told me to do a d poof the pain disappeared.
Take magnesium supplements every now and then to stop cramps from happening.
If you feel your calf cramping up you should sit up in bed, straighten the troublesome leg, then grab your toes. I think it’s called the seated toe touch.
I like to jump out of bed and put weight on the leg.
That is if my blanket doesn’t trip me.
My roommate told me about this strat and it has saved my life.
Yep, as soon as you feel the leg cramp coming, just stand up. Also works for foot cramps.
Drink water. Fix your shitty diet. Eat bananas or sweet potatoes or other sources of potassium. Take dietary magnesium supplements or use the topical magnesium stuff (like Theraworx foam) on your affected muscle groups before bed.
By doing the above, I went from frequently having calf cramps to never having calf cramps.
The long term solution is to increase the amount of potassium you consume.
Yep, most people are deficient.
Started drinking 500mL–1L of coconut water every day. Cramps are gone forever now. Learn to like the taste if you don’t. It’ll extend your life.
Bananas should also work. And magnesium, which is easy to supplement.
I was sure my chocolate chip banana bread is healthy because all those bananas! Now I’m positive it’s great!
Ignore the butter. And sugar.
I was going to suggest banana milk for the extra calcium but sure, you do you. 😉
Also regular exercise reduces cramps.
And then there’s me, intentionally causing foot cramps to revel in the feeling.
c/unpopularopinion
Brother, I’ve found my tribe at last
Hmm, I uh wish to understand your tribe’s idealogy before forming my opinion on this matter.
Embrace the cramp, let it be the focus of your mind and let all thoughts fall away, and you will find bliss in the cramp.
A Cenobite wrote this.
My dudes finding mindfulness in a cramp the same way folks do during a tattoo or while running lmao
Oh man, tattoo sessions are my jam!
I say we kill them all and let God sort them out.
ooooo you’re about to have a nasty couple minutes where you wonder why got hates you so much
A couple of minutes of eternity.
I got these almost every morning when I was pregnant. Thankfully they only lasted a few minutes (besides a soreness for the rest of the day), but they sucked. I had to train myself to not move my legs in my sleep.
I don’t get the calf cramps, but foot or ribs. Ribs are the fucking worst because hiw the fuck do you stretch that out?! I can only reach up so high! It’s not fair!
Bend to the sides. Like, bend your trunk left and reach your right arm over your head to the left, then do the reverse. Stretches all those side muscles around the ribs and stomach.
Take a deep breath and hold it couple of seconds.
I get the rib cramps sometimes. Hanging down from a door frame sometimes helps. Just dont rip the door frame off.
One of the previous owners of my house believed in rolling dice for how many Brad nails to use. It could contain anywhere from 1 to 100 in the casing.
or thigh. thighs are bigger. badder.
The best feeling. Sometimes I induce it just a bit to feel that sexy ahh tightness in my calves, there’s really nothing like it.
Hello? Police? Yes, this comment here.
I am perplexed by you, but I am glad that you have something that makes you happy.
