I have used a bar of soap for a long time...but for restless legs. Any kind has worked for me. Unwrapped...under the fitted sheet, so it doesn't move.

She should try adding potassium to her regimen. That helped with the leg cramps for me.

My heart goes out to her. That is miserable.

Soap mostly works for wrestless leg syndrom....I agree with the potassium. I was getting very severe leg cramps and almost every night. Started eating at least one banana every day (broccoli is also very good but bananas taste better)I haven't had leg cramps in uite awhile. Also, a lot of water helps.

What I have used...is a pinch of baking soda on the back of the tongue and let it dissolve.. It works great..so I just keep a little container on the night table for that purpose.

If she can't get enough potassium in her diet, there are also tablets, which is what I take.

I use the soap, but I also drink about 4 oz. of tonic water in the evening. The latter contains quinine, which helps keep the cramps away.

We heard on a local radio program about drinking dill pickle juice for leg cramps. My husband has had problems with terrible leg cramps for years......The pickle juice really does work!! I think because it's liquid and gets into his system really fast.
Our pharmisist suggested an over the counter med by Hyland's simply called Leg Cramps,(it has quinine in it) it did help a bit, but not like the pickle juice!

Calcium with magnesium at bedtime is what I use, in case she hasn't tried that, and the potassium others have mentioned can also help.

Friend told me to take a pinch of salt and swallow it for leg cramps.

I have never experienced leg cramps until I flew to Italy. Had them the first nite on ship. That hurt.

I know what to do now.

If a person has any kidney problems be careful of excess potassium.

My mom gets them badly in the night and has tried everything. She read about one unusual thing along the line of marry's suggestion, and it works. It's mustard! She puts some on a spoon and downs it.

She also has rls and I don't know if she's heard of the soap in bed-- what's that all about? What's the science behind it?

When my doc gave me water pills to deal with some retention in lower legs he said that I'd need extra potassium, so said to eat bananas or orange ... and I'm not sure whether he said oranges or whether the juice alone is O.K.

Good wishes for getting the jumpy extremities to behave themselves.

ole joyful

I have 2 friends who get leg cramps and I'm going to tell them what you all have said. Unless I've missed it, where in the bed do you put the soap?

Marcy

I don't get the cramps but I get the restless legs...going to try the soap myself tonight...Stacy

I have used it for leg cramps for over five years - I use Irish spring cause that's what I use at home - I put it under the bottom sheet at the very end of the bed - Have leg cramps sometimes during the day but never at night any more - I used to wake up with them in my toes, the front of the leg (where the bone is) and in the arch of my feet - Never when I am asleep - unless I fall asleep on the couch - it works - I use unwrapped and one bar is enough for me... I swear by them - doesn't work for everyone, but it does for me!

Well, I have to question the placebo effect.

My DH has terrible restless leg syndrome, and often leg cramps at night.

I didn't tell him, but I put the bar of soap -Irish Spring- under the fitted sheet. It had no effect at all. I tested this, as we were keeping a journal for the doctor, for two months. We were keeping track of the cramps and symptoms nightly. Soap or no soap, no difference.

Bars of soap in the sheets can't hurt you in any way, but belief is a powerful medication, so if you believe, maybe it will help. It didn't help my DH at all. And that's why I didn't tell him to start with. I wanted to know without the placebo effect.

Potassium has worked wonders, in the form of a banana a day.

At the foot of the bed for soap placement.

Well, I asked Mom about the soap and she has tried it, to no avail. Really, the only thing that works for her rls is sinimet(sp?) and mirapex. And even those don't always work. Am hoping it's not hereditary, though I do wonder about youngest dd whose legs started moving constantly in utero and haven't stopped yet!

I am 64 years old. I have used the soap between the sheets trick now for about 3 years, but not for leg cramps. I use it for stiffness in the lower back and back pain. During the night, I used to get so stiff I would have to move slowly for a few minutes after arising in the mornings. And it hurt! Not anymore. It really has worked for me. Also, my son had arthritis really really bad and it removed his pain from his hands and back. And this is 2011!!. I use Dial.