I know this is an education blog, but I sometimes take excursions into other areas of life that interest me.
So from time to time, I will share a few things that I have learned that I want to share.
Today I am going to tell you about the best treatment for leg cramps that I have ever discovered.
After I had a total knee replacement in 2014, I started getting occasional leg cramps that were beyond painful. My thighs would start cramping, then the rest of my leg, and the pain was excruciating. It would always catch me unawares, watching television, or while sleeping at night. There was nothing I could do other than wait it out, as tears rolled down my cheeks.
A couple of years ago, my son told me about a cure for leg cramps. I am always skeptical but it was worth a try. It’s called CrampsAway. It comes as little packets in a small box of 10. I bought a box online to give it a try. There is nothing in it but vitamins. It works. It is amazing. On three occasions since I bought it, I have had leg cramps and immediately opened the packet and swallowed the couple of tablespoons within. Cramps gone.
I am not a doctor or a physical therapist. I have no credentials. This is an over-the-counter product that you can buy without a prescription. It contains no prohibited substances. It worked for me.
In case you are wondering, I wrote this post in late March before my surgery. I’m guessing that at the moment, I am totally sedated on the operating table.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Enjoy your anesthetic sleep. Looking forward to “seeing” you with your shiny new valve when you wake up.
I’m sure magnesium is onr of the ingredients. Modt are deficient. Transdermal Ancient Minerals is the best.🙂
I pray all is going well. 🙏🏼
Calcium anc magnesium dork for leg cramps. I bet both are on those little packets. If theyvdd we ot, keep on.
Hope to see your wisdom back with us soon.
Pat D.
Potassium also works. If your body is low on potassium you can get awful muscle cramps or spasms. I’ve had them & a class of orange juice or a banana helped. I wonder if those little packets are a combination of calcium, magnesium & potassium and other electrolytes.
Thank you for the “Cramps Away” advice. I may need it when I undergo hip surgery. I already know I have a bulging disc in my lower back. I’m not doctor either. However, I view the skeleton as a scaffold. When one element is off-kilter, it causes instability or weakness in another area. I have no idea what this will mean for me with a new hip, but I discussed it with the surgeon. I just read on-line that Cramps Away is widely used by professional athletes so I am willing to give it a try.
I hope when you read this, it will be after an uneventful surgery and that you will be on the mend and on your way to a healthier future. Relax and let your body do its work. Public education needs its global guru. Namaste!
Among others here, I am thinking of the medical challenges you are facing now. I have a few of my own, but nothing comparable to your surgery. May the forces of recovery converge on your anesthetized body.
My second Covid shot rendered me pretty much worthless and I accomplished almost nothing for two days. On the day a major surgery, we see four posts. Some people are more energetic and committed than others.
I get leg cramps only occasionally since taking a daily dose of magnesium.
Supportive thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. May you be stronger than ever very soon!!
Get well dear friend blogger. your words inspired people to be better people Enjoy the rest 💜
I am saying prayers for your surgery and hope all will be well. Thank you for the leg cramp advice. I started having them a couple of years ago and gave up carbs and sugar almost completely and they got worse. My friends in the eating plan group have a lot of methods. (a spray Theraworx gets good reviews from them as does pickle juice daily). I started taking magnesium but lately stopped that because it interfered with important bodily functions. So this sounds intriguing to me. ONE thing I found that has worked for me is to try to relax as much as I can while lying on my back, simultaneously pulling my knees up (this is in bed) and pushing my heels as hard as I can into the bed. OR hanging the bad ie cramping leg or foot or both over the side of the bed as soon as it begins and relax while trying to wake up enough to first push my feet into the floor and then standing (be careful on this if you have any other issues) and then trying to walk in place. has worked great. Your method is one I am going to investigate and try. Thank you. Stay as strong as I know you are.
I hope your surgery is wildly successful. I am a great fan.
Hope you’ve had a successful surgery. Look forward to your posting again.
There’s information online about potassium and what it does and when to take it.
Here’s what Crampsaway says is in it: What are the ingredients in CrampsAWAY? The ingredients in CrampsAWAY Sport are: Organic Agave Nectar, Purified Water, Proprietary CrampsAWAY blend (Natural Food Acids), Ionic Trace Minerals, Natural Orange Flavor, Natural Flavor, and Potassium Sorbate.
If you look up the potassiums in your local pharmacy, they are probably cheaper, if it is indicated for you.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-importance-of-potassium
Diane – Thought about you all day. Please avoid reading about mendacious billionaires and privatizers while you recuperate! Perhaps something more meditative and calming in audiobook format…. Wishing you a speedy and full recovery.
Another over the counter remedy is “Hyland’s Leg Cramps”, and they come Regular or PM.
& a good one for knee pain: before bedtime, use a soft cloth & rub some castor oil on your knee & behind. Next, wrap tightly enough in Saran Wrap, then wrap an Ace bandage around to secure (or use the velcro kind, which you can find in store easily & is, of course, reuseable. I only had to do this for 1-2 nights &–voila!–no pain.
This was 2 years ago, & knees haven’t bothered me since.
Advice came from an O.D. who’s also into herbal/alternative meds: she’s a genius &, as she said, saved me $1,000s for P.T.
Not sure, craps are actually really nice iso metric activity. Lots of people actually go out of their way to find a way to induce cramps by non destructive methods. There was a electrical tensor unit used for this for quite a few years. It has side effects of reduced nerve conductivity tho, neromyopathy.
Strange isnt it how we become attached to people we fight with? Im 200% anti-partisan. Anyone attempting reason by populum is my personal enemy. You’re incessantly biased. The worst type of human in all my where with all to imagine. Still worried about you
That said, youre probably just deficient on arginine. Vegan?
Those might just look like vitamins, but do you know what they’re made from? Rupture farms has a wide product like.
I use to get leg cramps until my doctor told me about tonic water with quinine. That does the trick and I now only need it once every three months. I just add the severity of the cramps has gone down considerably.
Been thinking about you all day. Take care, Diane.
To the person doing these posts for Diane while she is undergoing her procedure: any word? How’s she doing? Anxious to hear.
Thanks for asking, Bob.
Be careful of taking any supplement without checking with the cardiologists if you are on any heart medication. Magnesium interferes with high blood pressure medication and may cause BP to go too low. Also interferes with some other meds, so it is always wise to check with a doctor.
It is worth a try but I have sciatica and HOPE it works for that too.