I am in the same boat, I've dealt with the severe leg cramps most of the summer. I've tried Olive leaf extract, calcium/magnesium supplements and black strap molasses. Right now the combination of supplements and black strap molasses is working for me. Most of my cramping is front and back of the lower leg-at the same time. Upper thigh is the most severe. I do find that when I have them for a couple of days in a row, I swell. More me though, hands down it is the black strap molasses that helps. I find when I miss a day or two, the cramps come back.

I have a bad knee. It sometimes gets fluid in it and I have horrible spasms around my calf and back of the knee.
xrays showed that my meniscus is worn down and my bones are rubbing on each other.
Ice is VERY important. Ice your knee several times a day.
The doc says I need a knee replacement, but I'm going to try physical therapy first, to strengthen the muscles around the knee.
Please do an internet search on how to strengthen the knee, and do those exercises faithfully.
Can you take something like ibuprofen or Aleve?
I was unable to even walk on my leg for about a week and a half. I'm doing better, but still can't do everything.
I'm doing the exercises and icing my knee.
Look up "The Arthritis Foundation" online and they give lots of good info on how to handle osteoarthritis.

I'll put this succinctly:
Gluciosamine-plumps up the cartiledge that is there
Chondroitin--builds new cartiledge
Celadrin--Lubricates the joint

These are all available at your pharmacy.

I was diagnosed with arthritis of the knee, but had to wait 6 months for my plan to cover physio. I made the appointment for then. I had heard about Glucosamine so I headed for the pharmacy--sceptical but willing to try anything to stop the pain. The pharmacist recommended Glucosamine with Chondroitin. I started taking the recommended 3 pills a day. By the time my physio appointment rolled around I was completely pain free.

I told my friend who has bad arthritis about it and she started taking it too--the full dosage. She can now move joints she hasn't been able to move in years.

I told a lady on this site and she tried Glucosamine and celedrin. She posted back a week later that it was helping.

You will see lots of things on the internet that says things like it is only a placebo affect. All I know is that I started taking these pills with an attitude that it probably wouldn't work but I was willing to try it and it did work for me and others.

Glucosamine and Condroitin really messes up my GI tract, so I can't take that, unfortunatley. Hopefully it will work for you all.