I have suffered from severe nocturnal leg cramps for over thirty five years. Often four or five nights a week and usually lasting off and on for three to four hours. I have been to many doctors, had many tests done and tried many medications. The only medication that seems to help is quinine, but even with that, I often get severe cramps two or three nights a week. I do try to never go to bed with cold feet or cold legs and often sleep with a heating pad as this too seems to help.
Recently it occurred to me to elevate the head of my bed as I never get cramps when standing. I raised the head of the bed three and a half inches. It looks like I might slide out but it actually feels level when I lie down! I have tried this for thirty days now and have had only two nights of severe cramping and two other nights with one severe cramp and then no others for the rest of the night. I hope I am on to something!!!
I am going to continue to sleep with the head of my bed raised and would be very interested to hear if anyone else out there has tried this ... or would try this ... and let me know if they have felt an improvement of their cramping symptoms.
You may be on to something here. I get terrible night leg cramps. Had to jump out of bed at least 6 times the other night. So I raised the head of my bed 6 inches. The last 2 nights I've had no cramps. Not even a twinge. I'll keep you posted if it continues.
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