What are the signs of dehydration that you shouldn’t ignore? What causes muscle cramps and how can they be treated? Get the answers to these questions and more in our comprehensive guide.

Understanding Muscle Cramps: Causes and Symptoms

A muscle cramp is an uncontrollable and painful spasm of a muscle, which can affect any muscle in the body but is particularly common in the calf and foot. The exact cause of muscle cramps is not fully understood, but there are several risk factors that may contribute to their development.

One of the primary risk factors for muscle cramps is dehydration. Minerals and electrolytes, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, play a crucial role in muscle function. Inadequate intake of these essential nutrients or disruptions in their balance, often due to factors like dehydration, vomiting, or diarrhea, can make muscles more susceptible to cramping.

Other potential risk factors for muscle cramps include poor physical condition, muscle fatigue, muscle injury, poor muscle tone, and wearing high-heeled shoes for extended periods. In some cases, muscle cramps may also be associated with underlying medical conditions, such as atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) or sciatica (nerve pain in the buttock and leg).

Recognizing the Signs of Dehydration

Dehydration is a common contributor to muscle cramps, so it’s important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of dehydration. Some of the key signs of dehydration that you shouldn’t ignore include:

1. Muscle cramps or spasms
2. Fatigue and lethargy
3. Dry mouth and throat
4. Headaches
5. Dizziness or lightheadedness
6. Decreased urine output or dark yellow urine
7. Increased heart rate
8. Dry skin

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to take steps to rehydrate and replenish your body’s fluid and electrolyte levels.

Treating Muscle Cramps: Effective Strategies

Most muscle cramps will resolve on their own within a few seconds or minutes, but there are several treatment options that can help reduce the duration and severity of the cramp:

Stretching and Massage

Gently stretching and massaging the affected muscle can help alleviate the cramp. It’s important to use a gentle, sustained stretch and lightly massage the area until the cramp subsides.

Ice Packs

In cases of severe cramp, applying an ice pack to the affected area for a few minutes can help the muscle relax and reduce the pain.

Medications

Some medications, such as certain muscle relaxants or anti-cramp medications, may be helpful in controlling persistent or recurrent muscle cramps. It’s best to consult with your doctor before taking any medications for muscle cramps.

Seeking Medical Attention

If you experience regular muscle cramping or if cramps last longer than a few minutes, it’s important to see your doctor. They can help determine if there is an underlying medical condition that is contributing to the muscle cramps and provide appropriate treatment.

Preventing Muscle Cramps: Strategies for a Healthier Lifestyle

While it’s not always possible to prevent muscle cramps entirely, there are several lifestyle strategies that can help reduce the likelihood of experiencing them:

• Increasing your level of physical fitness and incorporating regular stretching into your routine
• Warming up and cooling down thoroughly before and after exercise or physical activity
• Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water before, during, and after exercise or physical activity
• Ensuring your diet is nutritionally adequate, with a focus on including plenty of fruits and vegetables
• Considering regular massage to help reduce muscle tension
• Wearing properly fitted shoes and avoiding high heels

Exploring the Link Between Muscle Cramps and Underlying Conditions

While muscle cramps are often harmless and resolve on their own, in some cases, they may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Certain diseases or conditions, such as atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) or sciatica (nerve pain in the buttock and leg), can increase the risk of muscle cramps.

If you experience regular or severe muscle cramps, it’s important to see your doctor. They can help determine if there is an underlying condition contributing to the cramps and provide appropriate treatment.

The Role of Medications in Muscle Cramp Management

In some cases, medications may be helpful in controlling persistent or recurrent muscle cramps. Your doctor may prescribe medications such as muscle relaxants or anti-cramp medications to help manage the symptoms. It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions and report any side effects or concerns.

It’s worth noting that certain medications, such as diuretics (fluid pills), can also contribute to muscle cramps by interfering with the body’s mineral balance. If you’re taking any medications, be sure to discuss the potential side effects with your doctor.

Seeking Professional Guidance for Muscle Cramps

While many muscle cramps can be managed at home, it’s important to seek professional medical advice if you experience regular or severe cramping, or if cramps last longer than a few minutes. Your doctor or other healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists or dietitians, can help identify the underlying causes and provide appropriate treatment recommendations.

By understanding the causes of muscle cramps, recognizing the signs of dehydration, and implementing effective prevention and treatment strategies, you can take steps to manage this common and often painful condition.

Muscle cramp – Better Health Channel

Summary

Read the full fact sheet

• A muscle cramp is an uncontrollable and painful spasm of a muscle.
• The exact cause is unknown, but some of the risk factors may include poor physical condition, dehydration and muscle fatigue.
• You can help reduce the duration and severity of cramp by gently stretching the muscle and massaging the area.
• See your doctor if you experience regular muscle cramping or if cramps last longer than a few minutes.

A muscle cramp is an uncontrollable and painful spasm of a muscle. Any muscle can be affected, but the muscles of the calf and foot are particularly prone. A cramp can last for varying periods of time and generally resolves by itself. The exact cause of cramp is unknown but risk factors may include poor physical condition, mineral and electrolyte imbalances and tight, inflexible muscles.

Cramps are usually harmless but may sometimes be symptomatic of an underlying medical disorder, such as atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries). Regular cramping or severe cramping that lasts longer than a few minutes should always be investigated by your doctor.

Symptoms of muscle cramp

The symptoms of a muscle cramp include:

• Sudden sensation of uncontrollable and painful spasms in the muscle
• Muscle twitching.

Minerals and electrolytes

Muscle tissue relies, in part, on a range of minerals, electrolytes and other chemicals in order to contract and relax. Some of these important substances include calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. Inadequate diet, dehydration, vomiting and diarrhoea are just some of the factors that are thought to disturb the body’s balance of minerals and electrolytes, and make muscles more susceptible to cramping.

Tetany is a special form of cramping – it can be brought on by overbreathing, which results in a low level of carbon dioxide in the blood. It is usually caused by anxiety.

Risk factors for muscle cramp

The exact cause of muscle cramp is not known, but risk factors may include:

• Tight, inflexible muscles
• Poor physical condition
• Poor muscle tone
• Inadequate diet
• Physical overexertion
• Physical exertion of cold muscles
• Muscle injury
• Muscle fatigue
• Excessive perspiration
• Dehydration – caused by, for example, a bout of gastroenteritis
• Reduced blood supply (ischaemia)
• Wearing high-heeled shoes for lengthy periods.

Muscle cramp associated with medical conditions

Certain diseases or conditions may increase the risk of muscle cramp, including:

• Atherosclerosis – a condition characterised by narrowed arteries due to the formation of fatty plaques. Muscles are more likely to cramp if their blood supply is inadequate.
• Sciatica – pain in the buttock and leg caused by pressure on nerves in the lower back. In some cases, the irritated nerve may prompt the associated muscles to contract.
• Medications – some medical conditions require the regular use of fluid pills (diuretics). These drugs can interfere with the body’s mineral balance and contribute to cramping.

Treatment options for muscle cramp

Most muscle cramps resolve after a few seconds or minutes. There has been very little research done to work out which treatment works best but treatment options include:

• Stretch and massage – lengthen the cramping muscle using a gentle, sustained stretch then lightly massage the area until the cramp subsides. If you are unsure how to stretch leg muscles, see your physiotherapist for advice.
• Icepack – in cases of severe cramp, an icepack applied for a few minutes may help the muscle to relax.
• Medication – some medications can be helpful to control muscle cramps. See your doctor for further information.
• Further treatment – see your doctor if you experience regular muscle cramping or if cramps last longer than a few minutes. You may have an undiagnosed medical condition that requires treatment.

Prevention strategies

Suggestions on how to reduce the likelihood of muscle cramp include:

• Increase your level of physical fitness.
• Incorporate regular stretching into your fitness routine.
• Warm up and cool down thoroughly whenever you exercise or play sport.
• Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.
• Make sure your diet is nutritionally adequate, and include plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• A regular massage may help to reduce muscle tension.
• Wear properly fitted shoes and avoid high heels.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• NURSE-ON-CALL Tel. 1300 60 60 24 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• Pharmacist
• Massage therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Dietitians Association of Australia Tel. 1800 812 942
• Australian Physiotherapy Association

Things to remember

• A muscle cramp is an uncontrollable and painful spasm of a muscle.
• The exact cause is unknown, but some of the risk factors may include poor physical condition, dehydration and muscle fatigue.
• You can help reduce the duration and severity of cramp by gently stretching the muscle and massaging the area.
• See your doctor if you experience regular muscle cramping or if cramps last longer than a few minutes.

• Blyton F, Chuter V,Walter KEL, Burns J. Non-drug therapies for lower limb muscle cramps. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD008496. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008496.pub2.

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10 Causes of Leg Cramps

Leg cramps are a pain, literally! It may not always obvious what causes them, but the pain associated with leg cramps makes them nearly impossible to ignore. The Orthopedic Institute team has compiled a list of 10 common causes of leg cramps to help you understand and avoid this pesky problem.

1. Dehydration

Have you been drinking enough water? Dehydration is one of the most common causes of leg cramps. A cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle. The fluids in your body allow your muscles to relax, but—when those muscles are dehydrated—they get irritable and prone to cramping. Staying hydrated, especially during physical activity, is an excellent way to avoid leg cramps.

2. Overuse

In addition to dehydration, leg muscles can also cramp from overuse. When doing particularly intense physical activity, the nerves in your spine can become overexcited and fire involuntarily, contracting your muscles and causing a cramp. Those with more sedentary lifestyles may experience muscle overuse from more mild activities such as walking, hiking, gardening. Resting your legs and stretching often will help you avoid cramps from overuse.

3. Fatigue

Your muscles need time to recover. If you use them for extended periods of time without proper rest, the potential for leg cramps is greatly increased. As the muscles in your leg become tired, they become less efficient and require more nutrients than they would if they were rested. Avoid muscle cramps from fatigue by giving your muscles proper rest and conditioning them for any prolonged use.

4. Excessive Sitting or Standing

Bodies are meant to move, so staying in one position, regardless of whether you’re sitting or standing, puts you at greater risk for muscle cramps. Standing for too long can cause your muscles to fatigue, which will increase the likelihood of a cramp. Sitting can leave muscles in the same position for an extended period of time, which can lead them to spasm and cramp. If you sit or stand all day for work, try to alternate between sitting and standing so your body is not in one position for too long.

5. Medications

Certain medications prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s, high cholesterol, asthma, Parkinson’s and osteoporosis have a tendency to cause muscle cramps. If you’re experiencing leg cramps due to medication, talk to your doctor about your pain and possible medication alternatives.

6. Potassium Deficiency

Potassium in the cells of your leg muscles helps the brain tell the muscles when to start and stop contracting. When you have a potassium deficiency, these signals are not relayed properly, and muscle contractions may be prolonged, causing a cramp. Bananas are high in potassium, so adding them to your diet will help maintain proper potassium levels and avoid cramps.

7. Poor Circulation

Poor circulation in your legs can prevent your leg muscles from getting all the oxygen they need to function. This can lead to leg pain, muscle spasms and cramps. Walking, stretching, and wearing compression stockings can all help manage poor circulation in your legs and prevent cramping.

8. Excessive Alcohol Use

The nerves in your leg can be damaged by alcohol abuse. Excessive drinking can alter the levels of thiamine, folate and vitamins B6, B12, and E, which are all needed for your nerves to function properly. This is called alcoholic Neuropathy and can be the cause of leg cramps. Avoiding alcohol can restore the nutritional health of your muscles and stop your legs from cramping.

9. Pregnancy

Women in the third trimester of pregnancy often experience leg cramps, especially in the evening hours. In this case, cramps can be caused by the additional weight of the baby, changes in circulation, and pressure from the baby placed on the nerves in your legs. Regular exercise, leg and or foot massages, and stretching are all ways to prevent leg cramps.

10. Multiple Sclerosis

One of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis is spasticity, a condition which causes certain muscles to be continuously contracted. Multiple sclerosis causes damage to the central nervous system, which can cause spasticity and lead to cramping in the legs. You can manage leg cramping caused by multiple sclerosis through maintaining a healthy diet, stretching and massaging your legs and treating them with hot and cold therapy.

Cramps in the leg with cramps in the calf: causes, treatment and prevention

“Cramps in the legs” is a household description of painful muscle spasms and cramps in the lower extremities. In some cases, spasms are not accompanied by pain, but only rapid rhythmic muscle contractions are observed. Muscles twitch chaotically, either contracting or relaxing.

Leg cramps develop as a result of various diseases and conditions, from electrolyte disorders to neurological disorders and hormonal imbalances. Therapists, neurologists, endocrinologists, phlebologists, etc. are engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of the causes of leg cramps (spasms themselves are not a disease), etc. It all depends on the nature of the problem.

Causes of cramps

Involuntary muscle contractions (cramps in the legs) are a symptom of various diseases and pathological conditions. In healthy people, painful spasms occur against the background of excessive physical exertion, uncomfortable body position, unsuccessful movement, but in such cases, convulsions do not recur. With diseases, repetition of episodes is possible, as well as an increase in symptoms.

Crampy syndrome

Crampy develops against the background of a number of diseases (avitaminosis, liver cirrhosis, neurological disorders, etc.), hypothermia, intense physical exertion. The exact reasons are unknown.

The disease is accompanied by short-term muscle spasms in the calves. The intensity of convulsions in the lower extremities is different, the pain syndrome is pronounced. Most of the attacks occur at night.

Treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause of the pathology, as well as stopping the symptom. Doctors prescribe vitamins, minerals, anti-inflammatory drugs.

Flat feet

In flat feet, spasms of the lower extremities develop in response to uneven load distribution. Legs cramp during activity, less often at rest.

Spasms develop suddenly. Muscle contractions last from a few seconds to several minutes. After the attack, severe discomfort persists.

Treatment – orthopedic. The task is to achieve the correct distribution of the load on the lower limbs. Rarely resort to surgical correction.

Vascular diseases

Spasms (painful contractions) affecting the calf muscles occur in response to hypoxia and impaired energy metabolism in tissues. Seizures also develop as a result of such pathologies:

• varicose disease;
• endarteritis;
• atherosclerosis;
• thrombosis.

The clinical picture is complemented by sensations of heaviness and pressure in the legs. The phlebologist is engaged in the treatment of such conditions. Its task is to restore blood flow, venous-lymphatic outflow, eliminate inflammation, etc.

Endocrine diseases

Leg cramps are typical for thyroid pathologies (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus). An indirect cause may be diabetes insipidus, since the patient loses a lot of fluid, and with it, electrolytes.

The clinical presentation depends on the cause of the seizures. Treatment is the task of the endocrinologist. It is carried out with the help of medications, replacement therapy is also indicated. According to the situation, surgical treatment is carried out (tumors, tissue injuries).

Fluid and electrolyte disorders

Cramps (painful contractions in the legs) may be a symptom of a deficiency or excess of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium. Seizures occur spontaneously and often recur. Seizures develop at night and last up to several minutes.

Treatment is the work of a therapist or other specialist (depending on the cause of the disorder). Restoration of electrolyte balance is carried out with the help of drugs, a therapeutic diet.

Hypovitaminosis

Most often, leg cramps develop in response to a lack of vitamins B1, B2, B6, D. Hypovitaminosis is accompanied by additional symptoms: decreased sensitivity of the lower extremities, burning in the legs, insomnia, dry skin, decreased vision, immunity. It all depends on the specific pathology.

Treatment is the work of the therapist. It is necessary to eliminate the primary disease, restore the level of vitamins and minerals in the body.

Intoxication

Convulsions are possible in case of poisoning with salts of heavy metals, vapors of volatile substances. Most often suffer laboratory workers, employees of hazardous enterprises. Intoxication occurs when using poisonous plants: belladonna, fly agaric, ergot. However, drugs are more often to blame. Painful muscle spasms develop as a side effect of certain medications.

Spasms occur after the influence of a substance on the body. Muscle contractions can be persistent – it can be difficult to remove them even in a hospital setting. Treatment – detoxification with drugs, observation. Many poisonings are life-threatening.

Pathologies of pregnancy

Muscle cramps may occur in pregnant women. Often cramps of the calf muscles develop as a result of hypovitaminosis, electrolyte imbalance. There are more threatening conditions: inferior vena cava syndrome, eclampsia.

Patients with recurrent muscle spasms are managed by OB/GYNs. They figure out why the problem has developed, prescribe treatment.

Other causes

There are other factors that cause cramps in the legs. Other causes of calf spasms include:

• alcohol intoxication;
• high body temperature;
• tumors of the central nervous system and endocrine system;
• jumps in blood pressure;
• traumatic brain injury;
• infections;
• dehydration;
• heat stroke.

This also includes leg injuries. Less commonly, the symptom occurs due to anemia.

Night cramps in the legs

Spasms at night develop with varicose veins, lack of trace elements, vitamins. They also occur with intense physical exertion, wearing uncomfortable shoes. There are more serious causes of night cramps. For example, epilepsy. To put an end to the question, you need to undergo an examination.

Why does the calf cramps – doctors should understand. The reasons are not always obvious. It is possible to understand why a symptom developed only after a thorough diagnosis. Diagnosis is by sighting or exclusion.

First aid for cramps in the legs

First aid is aimed at relieving an attack. To get rid of cramps, you need to:

• raise your legs above the level of your head;
• pull the toe up;
• if it doesn’t help, do a light massage of the calves and feet.

Actions to be repeated until improvement. After stabilization of the condition, it is worth taking a warm bath and moving around a little.

Diagnostics

The doctor evaluates complaints, collects anamnesis, prescribes general and biochemical blood and urine tests, if necessary, performs a toxicological test. An important role is played by instrumental research methods for establishing the cause of spasms: electromyography, EEG, ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities, MRI of the brain, organs of the endocrine system, etc.

Treatment

Treatment can be conservative or surgical. Surgical methods are used in rare cases.

Conservative therapy

Conservative treatment includes medication, physiotherapy, massage, exercise therapy. Relieve an attack, there is little tension in the muscles during convulsions. If nothing is done about the cause of the symptom, a relapse is likely. Attacks can be repeated and become more frequent. Medicines are selected individually.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment is possible with flat feet, varicose veins, vascular diseases, tumors. Surgical care is an extreme measure that is needed to restore the normal functioning of the body.

Prevention

There is no single approach to prevention, it all depends on the underlying disease. General recommendations might be:

• eat right;
• avoid hypothermia;
• avoid dehydration;
• give the body moderate physical activity, do not sit in one place;
• wear comfortable shoes;
• do not take drugs without a doctor’s prescription (especially diuretics, cardiac, hormonal).

Regular preventive examinations play an important role. They allow early detection of health problems.

What to do if you experience cramps: a summary

Painful muscle contractions (cramps in the legs) develop for dozens of reasons, and the clinical picture can be similar. Symptoms are not a reliable diagnostic sign. Better see a doctor.

Publication date: 07/19/2022 |
Date modified: 07/19/2022

Leg cramps | Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Almost everyone has had an uncontrollable muscle contraction attack at least once in their life. When the muscle contracts, then the person experiences twitching, unpleasant contraction and pain. Painful muscle spasm continues for several minutes.

Single seizures usually go away without special medical treatment. If such episodes are often repeated, then this is evidence of health problems, which is why the help of a doctor is so important.
The most common cramps are in the calf muscles and thighs, as well as the feet and hands. Spasmodic activity in the facial and respiratory muscles leads to stuttering. When a person sleeps at night in a relaxed state, he can simultaneously reduce one or more muscles. Due to sharp pain, sleep is disturbed, and a person waking up cannot rest during the night.

Approximately 75% of people over 60 experience leg cramps during sleep. Many people think that cramps at night are just unpleasant and harmless phenomena that are associated with age. But convulsions also occur in children and young people. Women often complain about sharp nocturnal and painful cramps during pregnancy.

Contents

• Why leg cramps occur
• Causes
• Which doctor to contact
• Diagnostics
• Treatment
• Conservative therapy
• Surgical treatment
• Why does it bring legs together in older men and women
• Night cramps in pregnant women

Why leg cramps occur

Cramps are sudden muscle contractions that are involuntary in nature and are diagnosed on the basis of a medical survey and during an external examination of a doctor, according to the results of analyzes and hardware research methods. Treatment includes antispasmodics and muscle relaxants, antiepileptic and anticonvulsants, physiotherapy and surgical interventions.

Causes

Seizures occur due to peculiarities and various disorders in the body:

• stagnation of blood in the legs;
• vitamin deficiency;
• endocrine disorders;
• kidney disease;
• dehydration;
• sudden change in temperature;
• taking diuretics, anti-inflammatory drugs;
• tight footwear, clothing;
• physical and emotional overload.

Cramping in the calves is a symptom of varicose veins. It is necessary to consult a doctor if there is swelling and heaviness in the legs, which appear due to stagnation of blood. With the help of convulsions, the muscles contract, so the body activates blood circulation in the veins. There are no visible manifestations at this stage of the disease. If you start treatment in time, then protruding, swollen veins and spider veins will not appear, and muscle spasms will stop bothering you at night.

• Micronutrient deficiency

Blood electrolytes are needed to deliver nutrients and oxygen. If few microelements, such as calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium enter the cells, then the water balance is disturbed. There are uncontrolled processes that cause the muscles to contract. You need to donate blood for a biochemical analysis to check its electrolyte composition. Minerals can be poorly absorbed with a lack of vitamins, or in the diet due to a large amount of protein, since when it is broken down, calcium is rapidly removed from the body.

• Endocrine disorders

If your leg muscles cramp at night, you get tired quickly, irritability appears, then it is advisable to check the endocrine system. In case of thyroid disease or when diabetes mellitus occurs, magnesium, sodium, calcium are poorly absorbed and metabolism is disturbed. In diabetes mellitus, due to false impulses from the nervous system, the muscles of the legs contract and they feel sipping or short-term severe pain.

• Kidney disease

There are many diseases. In kidney disease, the content of potassium and calcium decreases, and sodium, on the contrary, increases. The water balance is disturbed and muscle cramps occur.

• Dehydration

Due to the lack of fluid in the body, most often there is a water-salt disorder. Due to alcohol abuse, excessive consumption of salt and coffee, also against the background of diarrhea or vomiting. Low Blood Electrolytes (Calcium, Magnesium): Low blood levels of calcium or magnesium directly increase the excitability of nerve endings that innervate muscles.

• Extreme temperature change

If the temperature drops sharply in the bedroom at night, the muscles may also cramp. The problem is solved with the help of warm clothes, blankets, electric sheets.

• Taking diuretics, anti-inflammatory drugs

Diuretics accelerate the excretion of minerals from the body, which leads to a violation of the water-salt and electrolyte balance. When the muscles are relaxed, a contraction occurs, which is strongly felt during rest, disturbing sleep.

Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs can have an undesirable side effect – muscle spasms, which manufacturers warn about in the instructions. When a person stops taking the drug, they stop bothering him.

• Tight shoes, clothing

Tight, tight clothing, dress shoes that squeeze the foot, high heeled shoes interfere with the blood circulation of the muscles, due to their contraction to increase blood flow.

• Physical and emotional overload

Leg cramps occur when working while standing or walking frequently and for a long time. Muscle stretching exercises can help relieve tension. Also, muscle contractions can provoke severe unrest and stress.

Cramps in the muscles of the thighs and calves are due to an electrolyte imbalance due to decreased absorption of calcium, and not due to problems in the nervous system. Therefore, sedatives will not help.

Which doctor to contact

If it’s not the first time you’ve been cramping your legs, you need to see a therapist to understand why cramps occur. The doctor will send you for general and biochemical blood tests, which will identify problems and check the amount of microelements in the body.

Depending on their results, the therapist will prescribe treatment or give a referral to a surgeon or phlebologist if there are problems in the vessels, to an ophthalmologist if the eyelid tremors torment you, to an endocrinologist if there are malfunctions in the endocrine system.

Diagnosis

When determining the causes of seizures, the doctor conducts an examination and history taking, instrumental and laboratory tests: general and biochemical blood tests, blood tests for hemoglobin.

According to the testimony of a neurologist, patients can be referred to an orthopedist, phlebologist, gynecologist, and other medical specialists.

• Poll. Finds out the patient’s lifestyle, as well as when the spasms first appeared, how often they recur, and what can provoke seizures. Asks about existing illnesses and medications that the patient is taking to determine the causes.
• Physical examination. During the examination, the doctor reveals signs of flat feet in the legs, hypertrophy and decreased muscle tone, dilated veins and edema. Assesses sensitivity, pulsation, explores reflexes.
• Electrophysiological studies. Electroneurography and electromyography help to determine the state of muscle transmission, the speed of passage of nerve impulses, the presence of spontaneous muscle activity, due to which convulsions often occur.
• Laboratory tests. Screening examination includes complete blood and urine tests, blood sugar and protein tests, liver enzymes, creatinine, urea. In case of violations of the water-electrolyte balance, the level of electrolytes is assessed, in case of hypovitaminosis, the content of vitamins is examined, in case of endocrine pathologies, an analysis is made for hormones. In case of poisoning of the body, toxicological tests are taken.
• Hardware methods. For vascular disease, dopplerography and duplex scanning of the lower extremities are indicated. With flat feet, X-rays are performed with a load. In endocrine diseases and kidney pathology, an ultrasound examination of the glands of the lesion is performed. In case of neurological diseases, an MRI of the brain is recommended.

Treatment

It is necessary to treat leg cramps in a complex: eat right, take vitamins, drink up to 2 liters of water a day, do not drink alcoholic beverages, do not overwork.

Conservative therapy

Treatment depends on the particular cause of the leg cramps. Taking into account the pathology, methods are applied:

• Crampy syndrome. Treatment of the disease is indicated for convulsive symptoms. Calcium channel blockers, antiepileptic drugs, quinine are used to eliminate seizures. To stop the activity, muscle relaxants are prescribed. In case of pain syndrome, NSAIDs are included for the treatment of seizures, in case of sleep disorders, sleeping pills.
• Flat feet. The leading role is given to non-drug therapy. Patients usually need to bring their weight back to normal, choose comfortable or orthopedic shoes, and avoid static prolonged loads. Walking, special massages and exercises, magnetic therapy, sinusoidal modulated current therapy and other physiotherapy procedures are useful for strengthening the foot.
• Vascular diseases. In the elderly, atherosclerosis obliterans is often diagnosed with painful burning sensations, numbness of the feet, increased sensitivity to cold and cramps in the calves. After a short time, lameness may join. Young men often suffer from obliterating endarteritis, the symptoms of which are numbness and chilliness, paresthesias and spasms, sometimes accompanied by lameness and resemble atherosclerosis. But with this disease, trophic disorders develop rapidly.
• Bilateral thromboangiitis obliterans. Simultaneously with increased painful sensitivity of the legs, hemorrhages and convulsions in the fingers, thrombophlebitis of the legs and Raynaud’s syndrome with severe trophic disorders are detected. Treatment of varicose veins in order to reduce the load on the legs is carried out with the help of venotonics, physical exercises, compression agents, sclerotherapy methods. As part of the medical treatment of arteries, thrombolytics, antispasmodics, analgesics, anticoagulants are taken. With non-drug therapy, ozone therapy, intravenous laser blood irradiation, oxygenation, as well as balneological and physiotherapy are prescribed.
• Endocrine diseases. Hypoparathyroidism is treated with diet, calcium and vitamin D, sedatives, and anticonvulsants. Useful ultraviolet radiation. Hypothyroidism is corrected with hormone replacement therapy, patients undergo thyreostatic therapy. In diabetes with macroangiopathy, it is necessary to take antiplatelet agents in combination with insulin therapy.
• Fluid disturbances are treated with intravenous electrolyte solutions. Patients with hypovitaminosis recommend vitamin complexes. With intoxication of the body, detoxification therapy is required. Pregnant women with Parhon’s syndrome are advised by doctors to sleep on their left side and moderate physical therapy exercises. Eclampsia during pregnancy is a disease for a complex of resuscitation measures.

Surgical treatment

Surgery for pain with convulsions:

• Flat feet: foot deformity correction, tendon grafting, bone removal.
• Varicose disease: phlebectomy, miniphlebectomy, adhesive obliteration, laser and radiofrequency coagulation, cryophlebectomy.
• Obliterating vascular diseases: endarterectomy, stenting, dilatation or prosthesis of arteries, bypass interventions, arterialization of the veins of the foot, profundoplasty, thromboembolectomy.
• Endocrine pathologies: removal of the thyroid gland in hyperthyroidism, endarterectomy and plasty of trophic ulcers in diabetes.

Why does the legs cramp in older men and women?

With age, the ability to absorb vitamins and trace elements decreases. In the elderly, muscle cramps due to a lack of calcium, dilated veins, and taking certain medications, such as diuretics, cause muscle spasms. A sedentary image leads to overwork, cramps several times a night can interrupt sleep.

What should I do if my child’s legs are cramping?

Children grow up fast. For a growing body, tight shoes and clothes are more harmful than adults.

The cause of cramps can especially be a lack of vitamin D and minerals due to an unbalanced diet and lack of water in the body. Seizures often occur and greatly disturb a child who plays sports, so it is necessary to reduce the load, take more time to rest and avoid stress.

Night cramps in pregnant women

During pregnancy, the amount of trace elements is consumed more.