What are the common causes of nighttime leg cramps. How can you prevent painful muscle spasms while sleeping. What are effective treatments for nocturnal leg cramps. Why do calf muscles suddenly become tight and painful at night.

Understanding Nighttime Leg Cramps: A Common and Painful Phenomenon

Nighttime leg cramps, also known as nocturnal leg cramps or “charley horses,” are sudden, involuntary contractions of leg muscles that can jolt a person awake. These painful spasms most commonly affect the calf muscles but can also occur in the feet, thighs, and other leg muscles. While they often strike during sleep, these cramps can also happen during daytime activities like running or cycling.

The prevalence of nighttime leg cramps is surprisingly high. Research indicates that approximately 60% of adults and 7% of children have experienced these nocturnal spasms. The likelihood of experiencing leg cramps tends to increase with age, making them a common concern for older adults.

Characteristics of Nighttime Leg Cramps

• Sudden onset of pain
• Involuntary muscle contraction
• Formation of a hard lump in the affected muscle
• Duration ranging from seconds to several minutes
• Potential lingering soreness after the cramp subsides

The Science Behind Muscle Cramps: Unraveling the Mystery

Despite their prevalence, the exact mechanisms behind muscle cramps are not fully understood by the medical community. However, researchers have identified several factors that contribute to their occurrence. One key element appears to be an imbalance in the chemicals responsible for muscle contraction and relaxation.

Dr. Nadya Swedan, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist for sports injuries based in New York City, explains: “Cramping is not fully understood in the medical field, but an imbalance in nutrients including potassium, calcium, and magnesium is associated with cramping.” These electrolytes play crucial roles in the proper functioning of muscle cells, facilitating both contraction and relaxation.

Factors Contributing to Muscle Cramps

1. Electrolyte imbalances
2. Dehydration
3. Excessive sweating
4. Extreme temperatures (hot or cold)
5. Overexertion and fatigue
6. Insufficient stretching
7. Hormonal changes (including pregnancy)
8. Growth spurts

The Visible Nature of Some Leg Cramps: A Fascinating Phenomenon

While many people experience leg cramps as an internal sensation, some individuals may witness their muscles visibly contracting and moving during a cramp. This phenomenon, although unsettling to observe, is not uncommon and can vary from person to person.

Dr. Michele Olson, a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and adjunct professor of sports science at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, notes: “Some calves will ball-up; others will twitch and tick. It changes from person to person.”

The visibility of a muscle cramp depends on several factors:

• The number of muscles cramping simultaneously
• The depth of the cramping muscles
• The amount of fat tissue overlying the muscles
• Individual muscle anatomy and composition

Preventing Nighttime Leg Cramps: Strategies for a Peaceful Sleep

While it may not be possible to eliminate the risk of leg cramps entirely, there are several strategies that can help reduce their frequency and severity:

1. Proper Hydration

Maintaining adequate hydration is crucial for preventing muscle cramps. Ensure you drink enough water throughout the day, especially if you’re physically active or in hot weather.

2. Balanced Nutrition

Consume a diet rich in electrolytes, particularly potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Include foods such as bananas, leafy greens, nuts, and dairy products in your meals.

3. Regular Stretching

Incorporate stretching exercises into your daily routine, focusing on the calf muscles, hamstrings, and quadriceps. Gentle stretching before bed may help prevent nighttime cramps.

4. Proper Footwear

Wear supportive shoes during the day, especially if you’re on your feet for extended periods. Avoid high heels or shoes that put excessive strain on your calf muscles.

5. Gradual Exercise Progression

If you’re starting a new exercise regimen, increase intensity and duration gradually to avoid overexertion and muscle fatigue.

Effective Treatments for Nighttime Leg Cramps: Finding Relief

When a leg cramp strikes, there are several immediate actions you can take to alleviate the pain and relax the affected muscle:

1. Gentle Stretching

Carefully stretch the cramping muscle by pulling your toes towards your shin. This can help relax the contracted muscle fibers.

2. Massage

Gently massage the affected area to promote blood flow and muscle relaxation.

3. Heat Application

Apply a warm compress or take a warm bath to soothe the muscle and increase circulation.

4. Over-the-Counter Pain Relief

If the pain persists, consider taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

5. Stay Hydrated

Drink water or a sports drink containing electrolytes to replenish any lost fluids and minerals.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Leg Cramps

While most nighttime leg cramps are harmless, albeit uncomfortable, there are instances where they may indicate an underlying health condition. It’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional if you experience any of the following:

• Frequent and severe leg cramps that significantly disrupt your sleep
• Cramps accompanied by muscle weakness or atrophy
• Persistent pain or swelling in the affected leg
• Cramps that occur in response to specific activities or medications
• Signs of poor circulation, such as skin discoloration or temperature changes

A medical evaluation can help rule out potential underlying causes such as peripheral artery disease, diabetes, or thyroid disorders.

The Impact of Lifestyle Factors on Nighttime Leg Cramps

Various lifestyle factors can influence the frequency and severity of nighttime leg cramps. Understanding these factors can help individuals make informed choices to reduce their risk:

1. Sleep Position

Sleeping with your toes pointed downward can shorten the calf muscles, making them more prone to cramping. Try sleeping on your back with your toes pointing up or using a pillow to keep your feet in a neutral position.

2. Alcohol Consumption

Excessive alcohol intake can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, potentially triggering leg cramps. Moderate your alcohol consumption and ensure proper hydration.

3. Caffeine Intake

While the relationship between caffeine and leg cramps is not fully established, some individuals may find that reducing caffeine intake, especially in the evening, helps decrease the frequency of nighttime cramps.

4. Physical Activity Levels

Both sedentary lifestyles and intense physical activity can contribute to leg cramps. Aim for a balanced approach to exercise, incorporating regular moderate activity into your routine.

5. Medications

Certain medications, such as diuretics and statins, may increase the risk of leg cramps. If you suspect your medication is contributing to cramps, consult your healthcare provider about potential alternatives or adjustments.

The Role of Supplements in Managing Nighttime Leg Cramps

While a balanced diet should provide most of the necessary nutrients to prevent leg cramps, some individuals may benefit from targeted supplementation. However, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen.

Potential Supplements for Leg Cramp Prevention

• Magnesium: May help relax muscles and regulate nerve function
• Vitamin B Complex: Supports overall muscle and nerve health
• Vitamin D: Important for calcium absorption and muscle function
• Potassium: Crucial for proper muscle contraction and relaxation
• Calcium: Essential for muscle function and bone health

It’s important to note that while these supplements may be beneficial for some individuals, they are not a guaranteed solution for everyone. The effectiveness of supplements can vary based on individual factors and underlying causes of leg cramps.

Understanding the complex nature of nighttime leg cramps empowers individuals to take proactive steps in prevention and management. By addressing potential contributing factors, implementing lifestyle changes, and seeking appropriate medical guidance when necessary, many people can find relief from the discomfort of nocturnal muscle spasms. As research in this area continues to evolve, new insights and treatment options may emerge, offering hope for those who struggle with this common but often underappreciated condition.

This Video of a Calf Cramp in Motion Is Fascinating and Cringeworthy

If you’ve ever had to stop mid-run because of a calf cramp, felt your hamstrings seize up during downward dog, or woke up in the middle of the night with a charley horse, you know how painful it can be to suffer through a cramping muscle. Muscle cramps are not only zero fun, they can be so debilitating that you have to pause your workout until the cramp subsides (a major inconvenience if you’re in the middle of a fitness class or running a race).

Whether or not you experience muscle cramps yourself, you’ll be fascinated by a video of a leg cramp in action posted on Facebook last week. The video, posted by Facebook user Angel Bermudez and reported by Mashable, shows his calf cramping up after his workout. The calf muscle doesn’t just flex, as you might expect—you can actually see the muscle moving involuntarily, as if spiders were crawling underneath his skin. “I’m not doing anything,” Bermudez says in the video in between grunts of pain.

Hard to watch, right? If you’ve never actually seen a leg cramp in action, know that this isn’t entirely uncommon. For example, here’s another video showing a man’s calf cramping up while he’s in the gym:

Some people’s cramps are visible, while others aren’t—it depends on a few different factors.

You’ve probably had a cramp or two that felt incredibly painful but wasn’t visible or moving like the ones in the videos above. So why did Bermudez’s cramp look like that? “Being able to see a cramp is a result of the amount of muscles cramping at once, how deep the cramping muscles are, and whether there is fat over them,” Nadya Swedan, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist for sports injuries based in New York City, tells SELF. “Because cramping is an involuntary, irregular muscle spasm it does not recruit an entire muscle in a normal way,” she adds.

“Some calves will ball-up; others will twitch and tick,” says Michele Olson, Ph.D., a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and adjunct professor of sports science at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. “It changes from person to person,” she tells SELF.

Muscle cramps aren’t fully understood, but they’re most likely caused by an imbalance of the chemicals that make your muscles fire and relax.

There are many factors that may be the culprit for your muscle cramps. “Cramping is not fully understood in the medical field, but an imbalance in nutrients including potassium, calcium, and magnesium is associated with cramping,” explains Dr. Swedan. These chemicals are responsible for causing the muscle cells to contract and release.

Excessive sweating, most often due to hot weather, can make muscle cramps more likley. That’s because the nutrients required for muscle contraction float in the blood’s plasma, and sweating can affect the proper concentrations of plasma and nutrients. “If you sweat too much due to high heat and humidity, you will draw too much fluid from your plasma,” Olson explains. “As you lose more and more plasma to create sweat, you also lose sodium, chloride, and calcium, which have to be in the proper balance to both contract and create the relaxation of the muscle fibers.”

Extreme heat and cold can also lead to dehydration, which predispose cramping. Other risk factors include pregnancy, growth spurts, or hormonal changes, explains Swedan. “Overtraining and fatigue along with insufficient stretching can also lead to cramping,” she adds. Fortunately, there are some ways to prevent muscle cramps that you can try.

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Nighttime Leg Cramps | Novus Spine & Pain Center

Nighttime leg cramps can happen to anyone at any age. And they can occur at any time of the day or night. Calf muscles can suddenly become hard, tight, and painful at any time, such as during a run or when drifting off to sleep.

Almost everyone gets a muscle cramp that comes on without warning. Research finds as many as 60 percent of adults and seven percent of children have experienced nighttime leg cramps. The likelihood an adult will have a leg cramp increases as they age.

In This Article:

What are Nighttime Leg Cramps?

Nighttime leg cramps, nocturnal leg cramps, and a “Charley Horse” are all names for a painful, involuntary contraction or spasm in the muscles of the legs. The hard lump you feel at the point of pain is the contracted muscle. Leg cramps most commonly occur in the calves and hamstrings, though they can occur in the feet, thighs, and just about any other muscle. They tend to jolt a person awake in the middle of the night but can also strike in the daytime during physical exertion such as running and cycling.

The tight, knotted sensation of a leg cramp can last a few seconds to several minutes. Sometimes the pain may linger, and if the cramp is especially severe, the muscle may be sore for days afterward. However, as painful as they feel, leg cramps are harmless.

Sometimes leg cramps seem to come out of nowhere, but they can also be related to movement. Fitness routines can put a strain on the leg muscles, causing a cramp. Some leg muscle cramps may also be the result of a sedentary lifestyle, which is a normal occurrence as long as the pain isn’t prolonged or recurring.

Men and women are equally prone to leg cramps. However, while they can strike people of all ages, those over the age of 50 may get them more often.

What Causes Nighttime Leg Cramps?

The cause of nighttime leg cramps can be the result of many conditions ranging from vigorous exercise to something more serious, like kidney disease. If a person is suffering from a condition like kidney failure or diabetic nerve damage, they will have other symptoms in addition to leg cramps. Generally, nighttime leg cramps are not a sign of an underlying condition.

In most cases, there is no specific underlying cause of leg cramps, but they usually occur for a reason, like trauma to a muscle. Sometimes, the cause can be something as simple as maintaining an awkward leg position for an extended period of time, such as in a movie or in an airplane. Other causes can include medications such as diuretics (often used to help control high blood pressure) and steroids. A lack of minerals like potassium, magnesium, or calcium can also be the underlying cause, as well as cold weather.

Dehydration is often mentioned as a cause because athletes who exercise strenuously in hot weather often experience cramps. However, this theory is disputed as research shows athletes in cooler climates also get cramps.

Some doctors believe muscle fatigue and nerve dysfunction can cause leg cramps. It is suggested that during sleep, the foot is stretched out, and the calf muscles are shortened, which could be a trigger for leg cramps. Some physicians also think the brain may mistakenly tell the leg to move while dreaming, causing them to contract and resulting in nighttime leg cramps. Another theory is that cramps are more likely nowadays because people no longer squat, which is a position that stretches the calf muscles.

Other conditions that may cause cramps include:

• Addison’s disease. A disorder in which the adrenal glands fail to produce enough hormones.
• Alcohol abuse.
• Anemia.
• Blood pressure drugs.
• Cancer treatment.
• Chronic kidney failure.
• Cirrhosis. Late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver.
• Diabetes.
• Dialysis.
• Diarrhea.
• Diuretics (water retention relievers).
• Stressing or using a muscle for a long time may trigger a leg cramp during or after exertion. Cramps often affect anyone if the body is out of condition.
• Flatfeet.
• Gastric bypass surgery.
• Hemodialysis (kidney dialysis).
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
• Hypokalemia (decreased blood potassium levels).
• Inadequate blood flow to a muscle.
• Lead poisoning.
• Motor neuron problems.
• Muscle fatigue.
• Nerve damage, as from cancer treatments.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Parkinson’s disease (a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement).
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD).
• Pregnancy (especially later stages).
• Sarcoidosis. A disease in which small growths or lumps produce tissue inflammation (swelling) in any part of the body.
• Some medications, including oral birth control, intravenous iron sucrose, conjugated estrogens, naproxen, raloxifene, teriparatide, and cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins).
• Spinal stenosis, a spinal cord injury or pinched nerve in the neck or back.
• Vascular disease and venous insufficiency.

Older people are more likely to experience leg cramps. In addition, because of muscle loss, which begins about the mid-40s and increases in people who are less active, the chances are more likely of having night leg cramps.

Some activities can make a person more prone to leg cramps. These include exercises that rely heavily on the leg muscles, such as recreational running, leg weight training, or sports that require a lot of running, resulting in muscle fatigue. It is possible to reduce the chances of activity-related leg cramps by drinking plenty of water and stopping exercise when fatigued.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is sometimes confused with nighttime leg cramps but is a different condition. In general, pain is not a primary feature of RLS, although some people describe their RLS as being painful.

What are the Symptoms of Nighttime Leg Cramps?

Nighttime leg cramps are sudden, painful involuntary contractions of muscles in the feet, calves, and thigh. These leg cramps are quite painful, causing affected muscles to feel tight or knotted. They can occur while a person is sleeping or just resting.

The cramp can last a few seconds to several minutes. The average duration is about 9 minutes. The muscle may remain tender for as long as 24 hours after the episode. The cramps happen mostly in the calf muscles but can also commonly occur in the thighs or feet.

How are Nighttime Leg Cramps Diagnosed?

The occasional nighttime leg cramp doesn’t require an official medical diagnosis. However, it is important to consult a doctor if there are recurrent muscle spasms, especially if they occur more than once a week without an adequate explanation.

A diagnosis is generally obtained by going over the patient’s medical history and a physical examination. The medical history is important to identify the possible cause of leg cramps. During a leg cramp, visible muscle tightening and sudden, intense pain are typical. The patient’s description of the symptoms will help differentiate leg cramps from other common conditions.

In some cases, MRI scans are helpful in determining whether nerve compression is the cause of the leg cramps. An MRI utilizes a magnetic field and radio waves to create a detailed image of the body’s internal structures. Laboratory work may also be necessary to rule out low potassium, calcium, or magnesium levels.

How are Nighttime Leg Cramps Treated?

In most cases, it is possible to take care of a leg cramp at home. Forcefully stretching the contracted muscle will help relieve the pain. However, frequent muscle spasms are often linked to underlying health conditions that need medical treatment.

Currently, there are no medications specifically designed to treat recurring muscle cramps, but if the cramping is a sign of another problem, addressing the underlying issue could provide relief. If leg cramps often occur and for no apparent reason, it is important to see a doctor.

If there is no underlying cause, the leg cramps will probably get better without treatment. Often, self-massage of the affected muscle, followed by the application of ice, is helpful. Other home treatments during and after a leg cramp include:

• Get Moving. When experiencing leg cramps, the best thing to do is walk around. Walking tells the muscle it needs to contract and relax.
• OTC Pain Relief. Analgesic balms or patches, available over-the-counter at most pharmacies, can provide further relief. Painkillers usually are too slow acting to be useful for a leg cramp; however, when a severe cramp leaves a muscle feeling tender, an over-the-counter (OTC) painkiller may help after the cramp has ended. OTC pain relief medications that are formulated to treat menstrual cramps, such a Pamprin and Midol, can be an effective treatment for severe leg cramps.
• Stretching. Stop any activity that may have induced the cramp, and lightly stretch the muscle. Gently hold the stretch for a few seconds while massaging the area.
  • Tip Toes. Stretch the calf muscles by standing and walking on the tips of your toes for a few seconds may help.
  • For a leg cramp in the calf or the back of the thigh (hamstring): Stand arm-distance away from a wall with your feet flat on the ground. Lean forward against the wall with your arms outstretched and your hands flat on the wall. Keep the heels on the ground. Hold for 10 seconds, then gently return to an upright position. Repeat five to ten times. Alternatively, sit or lie with the leg out straight, pull the top of your foot toward the head.
  • For a cramp in the front of the thigh (quadriceps): While holding to a chair for stability, pull the foot back toward the buttocks.
• Massage. If the cramp is exercise-induced, simple stretches and a massage can help relax the muscle and stop it from contracting.
• Hot Soak. Many athletes and physical therapists recommend magnesium in the form of Epsom salts. This old-school remedy can be applied to a wet cloth and pressed onto a cramped muscle. Alternately, add some Epsom salts to hot bath water and soak for a few minutes. Heat provides relief for many people, with or without Epsom salts. The dry heat of a heating pad may also help.
• Ice Pack. While heating pads accelerate the relaxation process, an ice pack will help numb the pain.

Quinine as a treatment for leg cramps is no longer recommended. A 2010 warning by the FDA about quinine detailed the potentially dangerous interactions and side effects of quinine that outweigh the modest benefits.

Is It Possible to Prevent Nighttime Leg Cramps?

There are several things you can do at home to help alleviate nighttime leg cramps. Anyone who regularly suffers leg cramps should work to strengthen their muscles, which will help make leg cramps less frequent. Some other simple things that can help prevent leg cramps include:

• Diet. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and foods high in vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. The advice about eating bananas for leg cramps is correct because the potassium in bananas can help.
• Vitamins and Minerals: Potassium and Magnesium. Increasing magnesium intake can lessen the frequency of nighttime leg cramps, especially for pregnant women. Health experts recommend getting at least 300 milligrams of magnesium each day. Likewise, Potassium is an important electrolyte, a substance that conducts electricity in the body (along with magnesium) for nerve and muscle cell functioning. Potassium plays a key role in smooth muscle contraction, making it important for proper muscle function. A nutritional supplement can help you reach your daily allowance of both. However, the best way to get these nutrients is by eating foods rich in potassium (sweet potatoes, white beans, and bananas) and magnesium (nuts, lentils, and quinoa).
• Hydration. Drink plenty of water. Being properly hydrated can help the body better process the minerals from foods and supplements.
• Stretch properly before exercise. Focus on the calf and foot muscles.
• Exercise. If unable to find a program that is suitable for your age and ability, move around during the day to exercise your feet and legs.
• Footwear. Wear suitable, comfortable, supportive shoes, especially if you have flat feet or other foot problems.
• Stretch before bedtime. Before going to bed, stretch.
• Sleep under loose covers. Loose covers are important for people that sleep on their back. Loose bedding help prevent the feet and toes from pointing downward during sleep.

If you suffer frequent and severe leg cramps, talk to a doctor to make sure there’s not an underlying health problem causing the cramps.

Novus Spine & Pain Center

Novus Spine & Pain Center vein center in Lakeland, Florida, specializes in treating nighttime leg cramps. By using a comprehensive approach and cutting-edge therapies, we work together with patients to restore function and regain an active lifestyle, while minimizing the need for opiates.

For your convenience, you may schedule an appointment online, request a call back, or call our office at 863-583-4445.

Nighttime Leg Cramps Resources

Why is My Leg Cramping? What Can Help? (WebMD)
Leg Cramps (WebMD)
Leg Cramps at Night (Cleveland Clinic)
Causes and Treatment for Leg Cramps (Medical News Today)
Night Leg Cramps (Mayo Clinic)
What Causes Leg Cramps and How Can You Stop Them? (Everyday Health)
How to Stop Leg Muscle Cramps (Healthline)
Charley Horse (Healthline)
What Causes Leg Cramps? (Healthline)
Nocturnal Leg Cramps (American Family Physician)
Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps (PubMed)
Muscle Cramps (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Muscle Cramp (Mayo Clinic)

Why You Should Never Ignore Leg Cramps: Clement Banda, MD: Dermatologist

One minute you’re in your groove during a workout at the gym, finishing a walk around the block, or even sleeping like a baby when suddenly you’re doubled over with intense out-of-the-blue leg pain. Say hello to a leg cramp.

Also called a “charley horse,” a cramp occurs when the muscle involuntarily contracts and can’t relax. The calves and thighs are two of the most common areas affected, although cramps can strike your hands, arms, abdomen, and feet. They typically last from several seconds to a few minutes, and you can often feel a knot when you press the painful area.

Leg cramps can afflict anyone, but they are most common in the very young and old, people who are overweight, and athletes.

The reasons for leg cramps run a wide spectrum ranging from the harmless to things you really should get checked out. Dr. Clement Banda, medical director at MD Vein & Skin Specialists, is highly skilled in diagnosing and treating leg cramps and any underlying condition. Read on to learn about some of the reasons for leg cramps.

Overuse and Dehydration

Overusing or straining the muscle is the most common culprit, with not enough stretching before use often serving as a contributing factor. Becoming dehydrated whether while working out in the heat or other reasons can irritate muscle cells and lead to cramps as well.

You can typically handle these situations with self-treatment, such as more stretching (including before bed with or without light exercise if leg cramps wake you) and making sure to drink enough liquids each day.

Medical Conditions and Medications

Pregnancy and certain medical conditions like diabetes and nerve, thyroid, or liver issues can increase the frequency of leg cramps, as can insufficient levels of electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium, or calcium.

Painful muscle contractions can also be a side effect of dialysis and some medications like diuretics.

A compressed or pinched nerve in the back or neck can feel like a leg cramp with the pain increasing with greater distances walked.

Insufficient Blood Supply

In some cases, leg cramps can be a sign of something more serious such as not enough blood reaching your muscles. Reasons that the free flow of blood might be blocked include:

• A blood clot
• Malformations
• Tumors

Problems can also arise if you have arteriosclerosis. When healthy, arteries are elastic and flexible, but as you age, your arteries can become stiff, thick, and narrow. With less blood able to pass through your arteries, you may experience pain in your legs and feet when exercising. Typically, the cramps ease when you stop your workout.

Fortunately, there are treatments available. When he suspects poor blood flow, Dr. Banda typically does a color duplex ultrasound to evaluate the health of your veins. Noninvasive with no prep or recovery time, this screening test uses sound-wave technology to create images of your legs’ blood flow.

After carefully reviewing the results, Dr. Banda may begin by recommending that you wear compression stockings, lose weight if need be, and exercise to help improve blood flow. If these steps do not provide sufficient relief, he can also perform one of several minimally invasive procedures to remedy the situation.

Leg cramps are common and, therefore, easy to dismiss, but if you experience them frequently and self-care doesn’t seem to be helping, be sure to get checked out. Call or click to book an appointment with Dr. Banda today.

Muscle Cramps – San Francisco Integrative Gynecology

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of a muscle cramp include:

• Sudden and sharp muscle pain (spasm, contraction), often in your legs
• A hard lump of muscle tissue that you can feel or is visible beneath your skin

When to see a doctor
Muscle cramps usually disappear on their own, and are rarely serious enough to require medical care. However, if you experience frequent and severe muscle cramps or if your cramps disturb your sleep, see your doctor.

Causes

Overuse of a muscle, dehydration, muscle strain or simply holding a position for a prolonged period of time may result in a muscle cramp. Athletes who become fatigued and dehydrated while participating in warm-weather sports frequently develop muscle cramps. In many cases, however, the exact cause of a muscle cramp isn’t identified.
Writer’s cramp affects the thumb and first two fingers of your writing hand and results from using the same muscles for long periods. At home, you can develop muscle cramps in your hand or arm after spending long hours gripping a paintbrush or using a garden tool. A common type of muscle cramp — nocturnal cramps — occurs in your calf muscles or toes during sleep.
Muscle cramps in your legs can also result from:

• Inadequate blood supply. Narrowing of the arteries that deliver blood to your legs (arteriosclerosis of the extremities) can produce cramp-like pain in your legs and feet while you’re exercising. These cramps go away soon after you stop exercising and stand still.
• Nerve compression. Compression of nerves in your spine (lumbar stenosis) also can produce cramp-like pain in your legs. The pain usually worsens the longer you walk. Walking in a slightly flexed position — such as you would employ when pushing a shopping cart ahead of you — may improve your symptoms.
• Mineral depletion. Too little potassium, calcium or magnesium in your diet can contribute to leg cramps. Some diuretic medications prescribed for high blood pressure cause loss of potassium.

Muscle cramps are also part of certain conditions such as nerve, kidney, thyroid or hormone disorders, diabetes, hypoglycemia and anemia.

Treatments and drugs

You can usually treat muscle cramps with self-care measures. Your doctor can show you stretching exercises that can help you reduce your chances of getting muscle cramps. Making sure you stay well hydrated also can help. For recurrent cramps that disturb your sleep, your doctor may prescribe a medication to relax your muscles.

Lifestyle and home remedies

If you have a cramp, these actions may provide relief:

• Stretch and massage. Stretch the cramped muscle and gently rub it to help it relax. For a calf cramp, put your weight on your cramped leg and bend your knee slightly. If you’re unable to stand, try pulling the top of your foot on the affected side toward your head while your leg is in a straightened position. This will also help ease a back thigh (hamstring) cramp. For a front thigh (quadriceps) cramp, use a chair to steady yourself and try pulling your foot on the affected side up toward your buttock.
• Apply cold or heat. Use a cold pack to relax tense muscles. Use a warm towel or heating pad later if you have pain or tenderness, or take a hot bath.

Prevention

These steps may help prevent cramps:

• Avoid dehydration. Drink plenty of liquids every day. The exact amount depends on what you eat, your sex, your level of activity, the weather, your health, your age and any medications you may be taking. Fluids help your muscles contract and relax and keep muscle cells hydrated and less irritable. Drink fluids before any exercise activity. During the activity, replenish fluids at regular intervals, and continue drinking water or other fluids after you’re finished.
• Stretch your muscles. Stretch before and after you use any muscle for an extended period. If you tend to have leg cramps at night, stretch before bedtime.

5 Random Reasons Your Muscles Are Cramping

You don’t have to be a marathoner to be painfully familiar with the pangs of muscle cramps. The young, old, active, and sedentary alike are all susceptible to cramps—and they can come when you least expect it—creeping up on you during a sun salutation or disrupting a good night’s sleep.

“Muscle cramping is basically an over-activation or contraction of a muscle,” says Houman Danesh, M.D. and director of Mount Sinai’s Integrative Pain Management. “And although it can happen anywhere, it usually occurs in the calf since that muscle uses the most energy in the body.”

(Hit the reset button—and burn fat like crazy with The Body Clock Diet!)

But while it’s easy to know when you’re having a muscle cramp, it can be harder to figure out why you’re experiencing one. We talked to Danesh about the surprising reasons why you might be cramping.

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“The way muscles are activated involves a balance of electric signals and ions,” Danesh explains. “Dehydration changes the pool of signals. So changing that signal, the body doesn’t know if the signal is coming from the brain or just because there’s an electrical imbalance around the cell.” With all this confusion, your muscles have difficulty processing the right signals. And that overactivity results in pain. Luckily getting rid of this cramp doesn’t have to cramp your style. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Here’s a great hack to ensure you’re drinking enough water:

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There’s nothing more annoying than having a crooked piece of art hanging in your apartment. Well, maybe except for that arm or back cramp you got while trying to hang it just right for an hour. According to Danesh, it’s common to get a muscle strain after holding a position for a prolonged period of time. “Doing something your body isn’t trained to do constantly activates a muscle and breaks it down a little bit,” he says. “That breakdown usually causes a buildup of lactic acid which can trigger to muscle to go into spasms.” Luckily, this kind of cramp typically goes away with time. Give it a few hours, but if it’s interfering to the extent that it won’t let you sleep through the night, you should probably talk to a doctor.

RELATED: 7 Reasons You Can’t Seem To Tone Up Your Muscles

christine frapech

Some also refer to this unpleasant phenomenon as a “pinched nerve.” There’s a series of nerves going all the way from your brain down your spinal cord, and according to Danesh, “anything can cause a nerve to be pinched from a herniated disk to arthritis to putting yourself in a weird position, which will irritate the nerve.” (Don’t push those yoga poses if your body says no!) “Thankfully the body is a miraculous healing system,” he says. Usually a regular dose of anti-inflammatories will relieve the pain. But again, if that first line of defense doesn’t get the job done in a few days, to the doctor you go.

RELATED: This Man’s Gruesome Leg Cramp Looks Like It’s About To Burst Out Of His Skin

christine frapech

“Pregnancy causes a whole slew of changes throughout the body,” says Danesh. And the hormonal shifts can lead to muscle cramps. According to the Mayo Clinic, these cramps usually occur in the calf or foot region, typically flaring up at night during the second and third trimester. It isn’t always clear why this is happening, but you can try to curb the pain by drinking water, stretching, and taking magnesium supplements (just get the go ahead from your doc first).

RELATED: ‘Why I Love Foam Rolling In The Nude’

christine frapech

Another possible reason for muscle cramps is an inadequate blood supply—which literally means you aren’t getting enough blood flow to your legs or arms. “That’s usually due to a buildup of cholesterol in your blood, but it could also be due to a pinched artery by an ovarian mass or tumor,” Danesh says, although he continues that this more serious cramping would probably be noticeable (a.k.a. not just your average cramp). You should be on the lookout if you have high cholesterol and chat with a doctor. Danesh also says that if a runner notices she’s getting a muscle cramp consistently at the same mile marker during training, that could also be a sign of compartment syndrome—which impedes blood flow—and she should see a doctor ASAP.

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Leg Problems, Non-Injury | HealthLink BC

Do you have a leg problem?

This includes symptoms like pain, numbness, and trouble moving the leg normally.

How old are you?

Less than 5 years

Less than 5 years

5 years or older

5 years or older

Are you male or female?

Why do we ask this question?

The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.

• If you are transgender or non-binary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
• If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
• If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as “male” and once as “female”). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.

Have you injured the leg in the past month?

Yes

Leg injury in the past month

No

Leg injury in the past month

Have you had surgery on the leg in the past month?

If a cast, splint, or brace is causing the problem, follow the instructions you got about how to loosen it.

Yes

Leg surgery in the past month

No

Leg surgery in the past month

Has sudden, severe weakness or severe numbness affected the whole leg or the whole foot?

Weakness is being unable to use the leg or foot normally no matter how hard you try. Pain or swelling may make it hard to move, but that is not the same thing as weakness.

Yes

Severe or sudden numbness or weakness in the whole leg or foot

No

Severe or sudden numbness or weakness in the whole leg or foot

When did it start?

Think about when you first noticed the weakness or numbness or when you first noticed a major change in the symptoms.

Less than 4 hours ago

Numbness or weakness began less than 4 hours ago

From 4 hours to 2 days (48 hours) ago

Numbness or weakness began from 4 to less than 48 hours ago

From 2 days to 2 weeks ago

Numbness or weakness began 2 days to 2 weeks ago

More than 2 weeks ago

Numbness or weakness began more than 2 weeks ago

Do you still have any weakness or numbness?

Weakness or numbness that does not go away may be more serious.

Yes

Numbness or weakness is now present

No

Numbness or weakness is now present

Has the weakness or numbness:

Gotten worse?

Numbness or weakness is getting worse

Stayed about the same (not better or worse)?

Numbness or weakness is unchanged

Gotten better?

Numbness or weakness is improving

Is the leg blue, very pale, or cold and different from the other leg?

If the leg is in a cast, splint, or brace, follow the instructions you got about how to loosen it.

Yes

Leg is blue, very pale, or cold and different from other leg

No

Leg is blue, very pale, or cold and different from other leg

Has the pain:

Gotten worse?

Pain is increasing

Stayed about the same (not better or worse)?

Pain is unchanged

Gotten better?

Pain is improving

Do you have any pain in your leg?

How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine?

8 to 10: Severe pain

Severe pain

5 to 7: Moderate pain

Moderate pain

1 to 4: Mild pain

Mild pain

How long has the pain lasted?

Less than 2 full days (48 hours)

Pain less than 2 days

2 days to 2 weeks

Pain 2 days to 2 weeks

More than 2 weeks

Pain more than 2 weeks

Has the pain:

Gotten worse?

Pain is getting worse

Stayed about the same (not better or worse)?

Pain is unchanged

Gotten better?

Pain is getting better

Do you think the problem may be causing a fever?

Some bone and joint problems can cause a fever.

Are there red streaks leading away from the area or pus draining from it?

Do you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, peripheral arterial disease, or any surgical hardware in the area?

“Hardware” includes things like artificial joints, plates or screws, catheters, and medicine pumps.

Yes

Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area

No

Diabetes, immune problems, peripheral arterial disease, or surgical hardware in affected area

Are you having trouble moving the leg?

Pain and swelling can limit movement.

Is it very hard to move or somewhat hard to move?

“Very hard” means you can’t move it at all in any direction without causing severe pain. “Somewhat hard” means you can move it at least a little, though you may have some pain when you do it.

Very hard

Very hard to move

Somewhat hard

Somewhat hard to move

How long have you had trouble moving the leg?

Less than 2 days (48 hours)

Difficulty moving leg for less than 2 days

2 days to 2 weeks

Difficulty moving leg for 2 days to less than 2 weeks

More than 2 weeks

Difficulty moving leg for more than 2 weeks

Has the loss of movement been:

Getting worse?

Difficulty moving is getting worse

Staying about the same (not better or worse)?

Difficulty moving is unchanged

Getting better?

Difficulty moving is improving

Do you have any new shortness of breath or chest pain?

When this occurs with swelling or deep pain in one leg, it can be a symptom of a blood clot that has moved from the leg to the lung.

Yes

Shortness of breath or chest pain

No

Shortness of breath or chest pain

Have you been urinating a lot less than usual lately?

Is the swelling getting worse (over hours or days)?

Yes

Swelling is getting worse

No

Swelling is getting worse

Do you think a medicine could be causing the leg problem?

Yes

Medicine may be causing leg problem

No

Medicine may be causing leg problem

Do you have pain, redness, or bleeding along a varicose vein?

Yes

Pain, redness, or bleeding along a varicose vein

No

Pain, redness, or bleeding along a varicose vein

Have you had leg symptoms for more than 2 weeks?

Yes

Symptoms for more than 2 weeks

No

Symptoms for more than 2 weeks

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

• Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
• Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
• Medicines you take. Certain medicines and natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse.
• Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
• Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

• Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
• Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.

Pain in adults and older children

• Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can’t stand it for more than a few hours, can’t sleep, and can’t do anything else except focus on the pain.
• Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it’s severe when it’s there.
• Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

• Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace.
• Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her.
• Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her.

Pain in children 3 years and older

• Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that the child can’t stand it for more than a few hours, can’t sleep, and can’t do anything else except focus on the pain. No one can tolerate severe pain for more than a few hours.
• Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt the child’s normal activities and sleep, but the child can tolerate it for hours or days.
• Mild pain (1 to 4): The child notices and may complain of the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt his or her sleep or activities.

Symptoms of infection may include:

• Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in or around the area.
• Red streaks leading from the area.
• Pus draining from the area.
• A fever.

When an area turns blue, very pale, or cold, it can mean that there has been a sudden change in the blood supply to the area. This can be serious.

There are other reasons for colour and temperature changes. Bruises often look blue. A limb may turn blue or pale if you leave it in one position for too long, but its normal colour returns after you move it. What you are looking for is a change in how the area looks (it turns blue or pale) and feels (it becomes cold to the touch), and this change does not go away.

Some medicines can cause leg problems. A few examples are:

• Birth control pills and estrogen. These can increase the risk of blood clots in the leg, which may cause pain or swelling.
• Calcium channel blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure. These can cause leg swelling.
• Diuretics. These can cause leg cramps.
• Fluoroquinolones. These can increase the risk for tendinitis or tendon rupture.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

• Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
• Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
• Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
• Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
• Medicines taken after organ transplant.
• Not having a spleen.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

• Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care in the next hour.
• You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
  • You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
  • You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

• Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
• If you cannot reach your doctor or you don’t have one, seek care today.
• If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
• If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.

Make an Appointment

Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.

• Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
• If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
• If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need emergency care.

Call 911 or other emergency services now.

Sometimes people don’t want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren’t serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.

Leg Injuries

Post-Operative Problems

Leg Cramps: Causes & Treatments

Although leg cramps can occur on their own, they are also commonly associated with certain medical conditions, including vein disease such as varicose veins. Understanding why you’re getting cramps can help you determine the best way to cope with them.

Symptoms of Leg Cramps

When you get a cramp in your leg, a muscle, usually a hamstring or calf muscle, contracts. The contraction is involuntary and usually causes a person to feel a sharp pain in the affected muscle. In some cases, the cramp itself is visible, as a small lump can be seen or felt in the effected muscle. Once the muscle relaxes, it can still feel tender and sore for some time afterwards. Depending on the severity of the cramps, the pain felt can last for just a few seconds or can persist for several minutes.

What Causes Leg Cramps

In many cases, leg cramps occur for a simple reason. You might have strained your leg muscles during exercise or your body might be dehydrated. A drop in your electrolytes or a deficiency in certain minerals, such as magnesium, can also cause cramping in the legs. 

You might also get cramps in the legs if you need to sit in one place for a long time, such as on a flight or during a long car ride. Some conditions can also make you more at risk for developing leg cramps. 

For example, vein disease can often be a contributing factor in cramping. When your muscles aren’t able to get an adequate amount of blood, they will seize or cramp up. The cramping often occurs during exercise, as the body isn’t able to send enough blood to the muscles that are working hard.

Varicose veins, which develop when the valves in certain veins become weakened, can also contribute to leg cramps. Although many people consider varicose veins to be a cosmetic issue, the condition can cause a number of physical symptoms, aside from cramps, such as itching, throbbing and burning in the legs. 

Treating Leg Cramps

One of the first things to do if you are experiencing leg cramps is determine the cause of the cramps. If you only get cramps occasionally, you might not need any type of treatment. Some people get adequate relief from gentle stretching or from soaking the leg in a warm bath. But if the cramps are a regular, recurring issue for you, treating the underlying cause is often the best course of action.

In the case of leg cramps associated with vein disease, working with a vein doctor is often the way to go. The doctor can evaluate your legs and veins and help you determine which treatment will best help you.

90,000 Useful and harmful exercises in the fight against varicose veins

Have you noticed your legs get numb quickly? And then you have to knead them for a long time and unpleasantly?

Do your legs often swell and hurt for no apparent reason?

Maybe your skin on your legs is covered with an irritating mesh of blood vessels?

At least one affirmative answer – and you are at risk. Most likely you have varicose veins of the lower extremities. Because of this disease, the veins increase, and this already leads to a violation of blood flow – some of the blood gets from deep vessels into superficial ones.

There are even disappointing statistics on this score. According to it, in developed countries, 30% of women and 10% of men suffer from the disease. And these are only those who have reached the doctors. As you can imagine, in reality the numbers are much higher, especially among people over 50.

Varicose veins begin with slight discomfort and do not cause serious problems. This is how he is insidious. Because of “such nonsense” I do not want to go to the doctor, and the disease, meanwhile, is progressing. The skin gradually darkens, blood vessels swell like ropes and even trophic ulcers appear.Blood clots appear in the affected veins, which subsequently enter other organs and disrupt blood circulation in them. As a result, a lethal outcome is possible.

Have you ever thought that you can die from simple varicose veins?

People don’t think about this. And it would be worth it.

After all, all this is easy to avoid – you just need to consult a phlebologist on time. He will draw up a detailed program of complex treatment and exercise will take an important place in it.

Let’s just say right away that not all types of training are equally useful.Some exercises will ease your vein pain, while others will seriously worsen your condition. Up to urgent hospitalization.

Agree, it is worth distinguishing one from the other.

In this article we will tell you in detail about the effective treatment of varicose veins by gymnastics.

But wait, you may panic early. Maybe you don’t have varicose veins at all. Now let’s compare your situation with the main signs of varicose veins.

How to recognize varicose veins, even if it is just beginning

Some of the signs are visible to the naked eye, others can only be felt.Let’s start with the external manifestation.

Main four:

• Vascular cobwebs appear on the skin, most often red, blue or purple.
• Veins swell up a lot – it looks like a rope stretched under the skin.
• Brown spots appear on the lower legs.
• Legs swell in the evenings.

Another group of symptoms is not visible externally, but causes discomfort:

• Cramps and burning in the legs.
• Feeling of heaviness and pain.
• Itching near a distended vein.
• Severe pain after long standing or sitting.

As you can see for yourself, varicose enlargement manifests itself in different ways. But even if you do not suffer from cramps and pains, this is not a reason to delay the visit to the doctor. The longer you wait, the more the disease progresses. Someday, medical attention will not be a choice, but an urgent need.

Therefore, if you found some of the signs of varicose veins in your legs – immediately contact your phlebologist.

But what to do if in the near future you just can’t get to the doctor? And the consequences of varicose veins scare you. Or cramps, burning, pain and heaviness in your legs got you so much that you already want to climb the wall. We will tell you how to help yourself in such a situation.

Discomfort from varicose veins will decrease if you follow these 7 proven recommendations

Let’s talk about the minus right away – these methods do not give an instant effect. Although we would really like that. But they at least gradually reduce the discomfort from varicose veins.Here are the 7 tips:

1. Do gymnastics as often as possible

Any exercise is good for blood circulation. Except maybe heavy weightlifting and running. But we are getting ahead of ourselves.

2. Wear compression hosiery

It supports the walls of blood vessels and relieves pressure on them. The swelling and tightness subside, the legs relax.

3. Do not sit or stand in one place for a long time – walk every hour

This will put additional stress on the leg veins and prevent blood stagnation.

If you are standing while working, try to sit down regularly for a few minutes. With legs raised.

If you are sitting for a long time, get up and walk for at least a few minutes every hour so that your legs pump blood back to your heart. The same is true for road trips – stop every 45-60 minutes for a short walk.

4. Do not stand near an open fire or near a hot battery

This impairs blood circulation.

5. Eat less salty food

Salt in the body interferes with the circulation of fluid.

6. Take a relaxing bath at the beginning of the day, not at the end

And it is better to do without them altogether.

7. Do not sleep while sitting

In this position, blood circulation is difficult. Place your legs horizontally to reduce the stress on the vessels.

Remember, even strict adherence to our advice will not cure you of varicose veins.Contact a phlebologist – this is the only way to get rid of diseased vessels forever.

The doctor will tell you about the next steps – sometimes it is taking medicine, sometimes a painless and quick operation, but always the treatment is accompanied by a change in lifestyle and exercise. We just talked about lifestyle. Now let’s show you the most effective exercises.

These exercises will alleviate the symptoms of varicose veins, slow down its development and prevent complications

The expansion of blood vessels is largely due to stagnation of blood.Therapeutic leg exercises for varicose veins and edema helps to lower blood pressure and maintain blood circulation. It also improves the tone of the venous walls – so that even with an increase in pressure, the vessels will not expand.

The choice of exercise depends on the stage of the disease. But in any case, follow the motto “it is better to walk and lie down than sit and stand.”

Walking, running, cycling and swimming are all beneficial. The easiest way to walk is to engage the calf muscles, improving blood circulation.Change positions frequently and raise your legs.

If your legs have not yet been entangled with thick varicose veins and only the initial signs of the disease are visible, then the following actions will be useful to you:

In fact, your actions are aimed at improving blood circulation in the lower extremities.

Now let’s look at working with feet – this is an elementary exercise and does not require much effort and much time.

This is how it is done:

1. Lie down or sit with your feet above your knees.
2. Use your fingertips as a brush and draw a circle in the air. Don’t move your entire leg – just your ankle.
3. Pull the sock towards you to the limit. You will feel warmth in your calf muscle.
4. Stretch your toes and lower your heels by moving your calf muscles.
5. Turn your feet – first outward, then towards each other.
6. Repeat the exercise several times.

You do not need special devices for such activities.Take a seat on your favorite couch, lift your legs and exercise your joints. Do not forget to do exercises for varicose veins regularly and then you can easily improve your blood circulation.

We have an even more effective training complex – with it you will stretch the muscles and joints of not only the legs, but also other parts of the body. But this will require additional time to be found. If this is not possible, stop at the previous exercises. If you can carve out extra minutes, do the ones described above and plus this complex.

Still, it stimulates blood circulation throughout the body, and not just in the legs.

Neck and Head Classes:

• We make circular movements with our head – 10 in one direction and 10 in the other. Move slowly, feel your neck muscles working.
• Pull the chin to the chest 3-4 times, then pull the back of the head to the back, the same 3-4 times. Also slowly and carefully.

Shoulder and Arm Lessons:

• Make circular movements with the shoulders forward and then back.We move our shoulders slowly, we pull the muscles.
• We straighten our arms and make circular movements. You don’t have to wave them like a windmill. Maintain a speed of 2 rpm. Don’t hold your breath.

Lumbar Lessons:

• Place your hands on your belt. Rotate the lower back all the way to one side, and then to the other side 10 times.
• Lean back and forth. Keep your feet in one place.

Footwork:

• Do 10 squats slowly. Additional weight cannot be used.

Press Lesson:

• Lie on your back and move your legs like pedaling – exercise a bicycle.
• Perform lying crunches.

We completely forgot to talk about sports. But we are asked about this most often.The most rewarding sport for you is swimming. When immersed in water, the pressure in the circulatory system returns to normal. Swimming is beneficial not only for the heart, but also for the immune and nervous systems. It also strengthens the leg muscles.

What about another sport? Is it possible, for example, to run?

Not all exercises are good for blood vessels. Let’s move on to those that can seriously harm you.

What exercises kill the whole result from the treatment of varicose veins

Let’s say you are the ideal patient.You follow all the doctor’s prescriptions: take medication, wear compression underwear, change your lifestyle. The symptoms of the disease gradually disappear. You rejoice, the doctor rejoices.

And here you are thinking, why not consolidate the result with regular training? And in order to completely forget about varicose veins and train your legs, you decide to squat with a good load.

Bad idea. Now all the work is down the drain. Your blood vessels will expand even more than before.

What’s the matter?

There are a number of exercises that increase the load on the veins and destroy them if the vascular walls are weakened:

• Strength training.
• Load Squat.
• Prolonged use of the exercise bike.
• High and long jumps.
• Running on a hard surface.

No treatment will help if you continue to run or lift regularly in the gym. Therefore, do not tempt fate.

5 powerful accelerators of your recovery from varicose veins

Yes, they are commonplace. We have already spoken about some of them. But believe me, they are really important and worth repeating.

If you have already turned to a phlebologist and started vascular treatment, these 5 tips will help you regain your health faster:

1. Do not sit or stand in the same position for long periods of time. It is especially dangerous to cross your legs – this interferes with blood circulation.
2. Do the recommended exercises regularly, walk more, and wear comfortable shoes.
3. Use a compression hosiery selected by your doctor.
4. Watch your weight. In obese people, the load on the venous system increases.
5. After doing the exercises, lie on your back and rest your feet against the wall so that they are above your head. This will allow blood to drain from the legs.

But this is not a panacea. Again, these recommendations help only in combination with treatment. Without the help of a doctor, you will not be able to cope with the disease.

By the way, remember we talked about the symptoms of varicose veins? Let’s say you found them. But only a phlebologist can make an accurate diagnosis. Remember, treatment starts with a correct diagnosis.

Where to get diagnosed for varicose veins

The accuracy of the diagnosis of varicose veins of the lower extremities depends on the equipment of the clinic. At the Vein Institute, it is one of the most advanced in the world. For example, the premium device Toshuba APLIO XG will help to make an accurate diagnosis even at the earliest stages of varicose veins. During the examination of patients, our doctors perform ultrasound duplex angioscanning. It is a quick and painless method for examining superficial and deep vessels.

The doctor clearly sees the problem area of ​​the veins and obstacles in the path of blood flow.It quickly identifies weakened venous valves.

The study allows the phlebologist to obtain accurate information about the vessels and draw up a detailed treatment plan.

But diagnostics is just the very beginning. Any patient needs treatment first. It is important who will conduct it and on what equipment. Now we will tell you more about this.

Doctors of the Vein Institute will heal your varicose veins in 1 hour or less, without pain and scars

Our doctors have performed over 4,000 successful surgeries over the past 15 years.Very few phlebologists can boast of such experience in Kiev or Kharkov.

However, our specialists are engaged not only in medical, but also in research work. Rustem Osmanov and Oksana Ryabinskaya patented 8 inventions each. Their scientific works are published in the largest medical journals. Our doctors are aware of the latest developments. So if more advanced methods of treatment appear in the world, they are immediately used in our clinic. And sometimes people all over the world are interested in the best practices of our doctors.

Phlebologists from the Vein Institute participate in international conferences. For example, Oksana Ryabinskaya read a report at the phlebological forum in Melbourne in February 2018.She also participated in conferences in Yaremche and Krakow in 2019

You already know about our diagnostic miracle equipment. When it comes to treatment, the doctors are assisted by the General Electric Logiq E. With it, any operation is performed with pinpoint accuracy and not a single healthy vessel will be affected.

You can already see it yourself, we guarantee the professionalism of our employees and the reliability of the equipment.

The next step is yours. Make an appointment right now and forget about varicose veins forever.

Surgeon of the highest category, phlebologist

Experience: 21 years

Surgeon of the highest category, phlebologist

Work experience: 20 years

Phlebologist of the highest category

Work experience: 34 years

Dermatologist higher.cat., director

Work experience: 20 years

First category surgeon

Work experience: 15 years

Surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 17 years

Surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 5 years

First category surgeon

Work experience: 12 years

Vascular surgeon, chief physician

Work experience: 11 years

Vascular surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 10 years

Vascular surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 8 years

Vascular surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 5 years

Vascular surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 8 years

90,000 causes, home treatment, causes of leg cramps during pregnancy

The term “cramps in the legs” in the common people mean excessive in strength and duration and uncontrolled by the will of the contraction of individual muscles, which occurs for no apparent reason at first glance and mainly at night.

Most often, cramps occur in the muscles of the lower extremities (cramps of the calf muscles), less often in the muscles of the back or front of the thigh. The muscles of the chest and abdomen, upper limbs and neck are much less frequently involved in the occurrence of this type of contraction. As a rule, seizures are quite painful, unpleasant and deprive a person of the ability to move independently or perform complex coordinated motor acts.

  Contents: 
Differential diagnosis
Causes of night leg cramps
Mechanisms of toe cramps
When do seizures occur?
Harbingers of seizures
Leg cramps during pregnancy
First aid for cramps of the calf muscles
When should you seek help?
Prevention of leg cramps
 

Differential Diagnostics

Important! Convulsive contractions of the described type are tetanic, that is, strong and prolonged, without periods of relaxation.

For this reason, leg cramps at night should be distinguished from processes similar in appearance but different in nature, which include:

• Epileptic paroxysms – they have a huge variety of manifestations, but with them, in the vast majority of cases, muscle groups of the whole organism are involved in the convulsive process, disorders of consciousness are noted and the period of seizures itself falls out of the memory of the big one.
• Choreoathetoid muscle contractions – most often they are a manifestation of various lesions of the central nervous system, as a rule, they are constantly observed in the patient.Their severity increases significantly when the physical or mental state of the patient changes. Most of all, they resemble a combination of constant grimacing with worm-like movements of the hands, less often of the legs.
• Tiki – manifestations of psychiatric pathology, expressed in the form of stereotypical contractions of facial muscles, sometimes – involuntary pronunciation of sounds or words. Other muscle groups are rarely involved in the contraction process. There is an increase in the severity of tics with excitement and a decrease in rest or sleep.
• Fasciculations – are rhythmic rapid contractions of individual muscle bundles of superficially located muscles. They rarely occur, they do not bring much discomfort, and even more so, they do not bring pain. They most often reflect overexcitation of individual motor neurons.
• Contractures are less similar to convulsions than others and represent a persistent fixation of a limb in an unnatural position in diseases of the musculoskeletal system or the central nervous system.

Pay attention! Night cramps in the legs are one of the manifestations of a fairly wide range of diseases, deviations, functional changes, responses in the body.

Causes of night leg cramps

  Recommended reading: 
Cramping legs: what to do? 

The cause of the convulsive syndrome we are considering and night cramps of the legs can be:

• dehydration of the body;
• ion balance changes;
• physical inactivity;
• excessive physical activity;
• overwork of the muscles;

90,039 clubfoot

• varicose veins;
• vitamin deficiency states;
• endocrine diseases;
• hidden trauma;
• local inflammatory processes.

As a rule, the main cause of leg cramps lies in the lack of micro and macro elements such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are involved in the transport of nerve impulses from the central nervous system directly to the muscle tissue itself. The situation in this case is aggravated by the lack of vitamins D and B.

Mechanisms of toe cramps

All of the above reasons provoke certain changes both in the body itself and in certain parts of it, which contribute to the spontaneous occurrence of seizures.

So, as a result of excessive load and muscle overwork, there is a decrease in energetically important compounds, mainly ATP. At the same time, certain metabolites accumulate in the tissues, first of all – lactic acid. As a result, the process of relaxation of muscle fibers is disrupted, which, against the background of a low threshold of excitability, leads to spontaneous cramps in the legs at night.

Another mechanism for the development of nocturnal leg cramps is a violation of the nervous regulation of muscles, which can occur as a result of general overwork, taking certain drugs, and endocrine disorders.The result of such conditions is a decrease in the threshold of muscle excitability and their reduction in the presence of even weak nerve impulses.

In the presence of varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, diseases of the cardiovascular system, various inflammatory processes and frequent trauma, there is a change in the metabolism of muscle tissue in conditions of lack of oxygen and nutrients. This contributes to the occurrence of spontaneous cramps in the calf muscles.

When do seizures occur?

In the vast majority of cases, cramps of the toes, as well as cramps in the muscles of the lower extremities, appear in a person at night.

The reason for this phenomenon lies in the fact that during this period of the day all processes in the body are slowed down, the body is resting after a busy day. The organs that continue to supply blood at the same level are the non-resting heart, lungs, diaphragm and brain. All the rest, and especially the muscles, are in a relaxed state.

If, for a number of reasons, the local blood supply was initially reduced or there were metabolic disorders, then in conditions of even greater hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the tissues), spontaneous convulsions at night can easily occur.

In addition, the activity of the brain increases during sleep, which is manifested by the rapid phase of sleep with motor activity. Under unfavorable conditions, even mild excitement and activity of nerve cells leads to muscle contraction and spasm.

Harbingers of seizures

In general, nocturnal cramps in the extremities in quite healthy people quite often occur spontaneously and for no apparent reason. This type of seizure does not require special measures, except for the relief of the seizure at the time of its presence.At the same time, a significant number of cases requiring assistance to a person did not appear out of the blue – they were preceded by a certain unfavorable background.

These harbingers include:

• Forced changes in physical activity . For people accustomed to a sedentary or sedentary lifestyle, excessive physical activity becomes a provoking factor. For active and mobile people – prolonged inactivity and lack of movement.
• Excessive psycho-emotional stress .In of some susceptible natures, severe stress, excitement or experiences (both positive and negative) can provoke the onset of night cramps.
• Deterioration of the course of existing diseases . All diseases, ranging from endocrine pathology and ending with thrombophlebitis or varicose veins, may worsen over time. At such moments, the whole body suffers, and the weakest points, in this case, the muscles, suffer especially strongly, which causes spontaneous nocturnal convulsive activity.
• Off-season, long-term stay in unfavorable climatic conditions . They are mainly manifested in a general and relative deficiency of vitamins and essential minerals, which directly and indirectly leads to the appearance of seizures.

Leg cramps during pregnancy

Many women during the period of bearing a child complain of the appearance of painful uncontrolled contractions of certain muscles of the legs. As we said earlier, the main cause of seizures is a lack of magnesium, potassium and calcium.The washing out of these elements from the body of a pregnant woman during the first trimester is due to toxicosis, accompanied by eating disorders and vomiting. Leg cramps in the II and III trimester of pregnancy are most often associated with an increased intake of vital trace elements by the developing fetus.

In addition, in the later stages, the cause of the convulsions of the pregnant woman is the enlarged uterus, which compresses the inferior vena cava, which impedes the outflow of venous blood from the legs. The condition worsens especially when lying down.

Improper diet and increased energy needs of the unborn baby lead to a decrease in glucose levels in the body of a pregnant woman, which can also trigger the development of leg cramps. That is why, as a prevention of convulsive syndrome, the expectant mother must carefully observe the daily regimen and ensure that her diet is complete and balanced.

First aid

for cramps of the calf muscles

Many people ask the question “What to do if the leg cramp is cramping?”Despite the unexpectedness, discomfort or pain caused to you with a convulsion, do not panic, as excitement and anxiety contribute to an increase in the contraction.

As a first aid for cramps in the toes and calf muscles, pull yourself together as early as possible and follow these steps:

1. Slowly place both feet on the floor. If you are lying down, then you need to sit down and sit for a few seconds. After that, gently stand on both legs with all your weight, preferably with support.
2. Massage the affected area. This will provide blood flow to the spasmodic area of ​​muscle tissue and its subsequent relaxation
3. Try to stretch the contracted and tense muscle . If your calf muscle is cramped, stand on your heel and try to lift your toe up. Another option is to swing the leg back with support on the entire foot and gradually load with body weight. The third method of stretching is to stretch your toes with your hand.

If the cramp has affected the front of the thigh, take an upright position, grab the ankle of the leg bent at the knee and pull the foot towards the buttocks. In case of spasm of the muscles of the foot, sit down, straighten your leg, pull your thumbs towards you. In case of muscle cramps in the back of the thigh, take an upright position, put one step forward and put your sore leg on the heel, bend your healthy leg at the knee and lean on it with your hands. Take the pelvis back and gently stretch the patient.Movements should resemble trying to remove a boot from a sore leg.

1. Pinch the spasmodic muscle or prick it with some non-sharp object such as a handle, fork. Knives and needles should not be used at all, but if there is no alternative then try to handle them very carefully.
2. After the seizure is relieved, stroke or lightly massage the muscle . This will allow you to relax it as much as possible and prevent the occurrence of seizures in the future.Some people want to additionally warm their legs by wearing warm leggings or knee-highs.

When should you seek help?

In a healthy person, in most cases, such solitary nocturnal cramps in the legs can occur spontaneously and, apart from their relief, usually nothing needs to be done.

Important to know! If such conditions began to appear in you more than once, then this is a serious reason to consult a doctor for consultation and further examination in order to find out the cause of the seizures.In the process of finding out the cause of your condition, you will have to consult a wide range of specialists, as well as undergo a number of laboratory and instrumental examinations.

If night cramps began to appear after the start of treatment prescribed by a doctor for an existing disease, then it is possible that the night cramps in the legs are associated with the action of one or more drugs taken. In this situation, it is necessary to contact the attending physician as quickly as possible, to explain the situation – it is not excluded that the drug therapy be revised or the dosages and prescribed drugs change.

Prevention of leg cramps

There are a number of guidelines that you can follow to reduce the risk of seizures at night. Basically, preventive measures are aimed at general strengthening and healing of the body and at improving the condition of the muscles of the limbs.

The list of measures to prevent the development of leg cramps includes:

• Normalize the level of physical activity . People with reduced physical activity should avoid excessive fatigue, but do not forget that a certain level of stress on the muscles is simply necessary, since it helps to improve venous outflow, improves nutrition and oxygen supply to muscle tissue.People with increased physical activity are shown to avoid periods of complete rest, but provide periodic rest for the muscles.

• Normalization of the body’s water balance . You should be attentive to the quality and quantity of the liquid you drink, giving preference to pure, artesian water. The amount consumed should be within the normal range in relation to weight, physical activity and ambient temperature. This is necessary in order to avoid both dehydration and the appearance of edema.
• Elimination of vitamin deficiency . Taking vitamin preparations, as well as microelements, helps to normalize metabolic processes in the muscles and leads to a decrease in the severity of existing changes. It is also a great way to avoid cramps during pregnancy.
• Massage of the leg muscles . This type of direct mechanical action improves blood circulation and lymph outflow, helps to increase the tone of the veins. The very massaging of muscle tissue allows its fibers to reflexively contract and relax, that is, in this way, a kind of muscle training takes place.
• Taking sedatives . Natural remedies based on herbs and other maximally harmless and mild in their action drugs help to stop fatigue, fatigue, increased nervous excitability, stress and other factors that directly affect the possibility of leg cramps.
• Sleep in a specific position . Over time, many patients find the optimal body position in bed so that seizures do not occur at all, or their frequency is significantly reduced.For some, this is a prone position with raised shins. Others are better suited to sleep lying on their back with a slight elevation of the legs.

As a rule, the listed measures allow to prevent the appearance of convulsive syndrome. However, if even after that you continue to be bothered by muscle cramps, you should see a doctor as soon as possible for an examination and finding out the exact causes of the disease, as well as choosing the appropriate treatment for calf muscle cramps.

You can get more information on leg cramps by watching this video review:

Physician therapist, Elena Nikolaevna Sovinskaya

37,374 total views, 3 views today

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Our body speaks to us

1. Yawning is a reflex breathing act that occurs with fatigue, deterioration of the heart and blood vessels, lack of muscle activity, being in a stuffy room, and also in a drowsy state.The cause of yawning is oxygen starvation – hypoxia. Thus, the body sends you a signal that the oxygen content in the blood is low. Breathing in large amounts of air while yawning slightly cools your brain, increases the flow of oxygen into your bloodstream and relaxes your muscles. In general, yawning is very beneficial for the body, so try to yawn as often as possible – it is both pleasant and healthy.

2. Sneezing is a protective unconditioned reflex that removes dust, mucus and other irritating particles from the upper respiratory tract.Moreover, sneezing is an important symptom of a number of diseases (acute respiratory and allergic). If you feel like sneezing – do not hold back, sneeze, just do not forget about the rules of respiratory etiquette. If sneezing continues for a long time, it is most likely that there is a strong allergen nearby. In this case, it is necessary to eliminate it. First, change your bedding, especially feather and down pillows, because dust mites can grow in them over time, thereby provoking an allergic reaction.Do a wet mop 2-3 times a week. Use personal respiratory protection when working with highly active substances that have evaporation properties. Otherwise, visit your allergist.

3. Stretching is a kind of body defense mechanism. And this process is very important for the normal functioning of our body. When you stretch sweetly and heartily, the body destroys lactic acid, which irritates the muscles and causes muscle pain, activates the work of muscles, joints, and awakens the body.At the moment of stretching, the capillaries gradually open, which has a positive effect on the movement of blood in the body. According to scientists, regular stretching increases resistance to stress and stimulates the production of hormones of love and happiness.

4. Hiccups are an involuntary physiological reaction. In healthy people, hiccups occur for no apparent reason and are usually harmless, rapidly resolving. It can occur with general cooling, with overstretching of the stomach.So, small children hiccup when they are cold, when they want to drink, or when they overeat. In adults, this is a signal that there is a disorder in digestion. Most often, hiccups occur when overeating.

5. Goosebumps or “goose bumps” are small bumps at the base of hairs on the skin that involuntarily occur when you are cold or have strong emotions such as fear or feelings of admiration, pride or sexual arousal.
Have you ever had cases when you “sat out” your leg and started to “run shivers” over it? I think this feeling is familiar to everyone.This happens due to the compression of the nerve trunks and there is nothing wrong with that. But if you feel them constantly on your body, there is a reason to consult a dermatologist – perhaps the reason is excessively dry skin or some kind of disease. “Goose bumps” only on the legs indicates circulatory disorders in the extremities, as a result of which the development of diseases such as atherosclerosis or varicose veins is possible. In this case, do not delay the visit to the doctor.

6.Tears. In addition to the protective function of the mucous membrane, when foreign bodies enter the eyes, tears also serve as a tool for the body’s emotional defense. In stressful situations, the body creates a new, very powerful focus of irritation, which is designed to distract a person from the pain he experienced before. When a child is hit or cut, the cerebral cortex enhances a variety of body functions: respiratory, motor, functions of the glands of internal and external secretion. But the main external sign that a person is experiencing physical or emotional pain is, of course, tears.Increased tearing can reduce the excitation of the cerebral cortex caused by a bruise or cut. And this happens because during crying, tears also fall into the nasal cavity, where the mucous membrane is abundantly irrigated, and this membrane is saturated with nerves, which in turn transmit signals directly to the brain, distracting it from the main source of irritation, i.e. pain. So when a person cries, he really dulls some of his pain.

7. Myoclonic convulsions, in simpler terms, is a startle during falling asleep.Everyone knows the feeling when you lie in bed, you begin to fall into a pleasant enveloping sleep, and at this very second your whole body is like an electric shock. All muscles in an instant contract so strongly that you are thrown on the bed, from which you immediately wake up. This phenomenon is also part of the protective complex of our body and it is called “myoclonic seizure”. When you start to fall asleep, your breathing rate drops sharply, your heart rate slows slightly, your muscles are relaxed, and in the aggregate, this state of mind is mistaken for your brain as near-death.That is why he sends out the strongest impulse in order to save you. We can say that the brain is thus trying to reanimate you with the help of the “stun gun” built into your body.

8. Swelling of the skin from moisture. When your skin is in water for a long time (especially hot), the top layer absorbs water, the skin becomes soaked, and the protective surface, the so-called sebum, disappears and the skin wrinkles. Water comes out from the inside to the outside, the membranes in the cells open, the “inner water” covers the surface of the skin of the finger, and the lower layer of the skin folds into folds, as if protecting from too much water, not letting it go further.

9. Redness occurs due to the expansion of blood vessels under the influence of temperatures, as well as when experiencing emotions such as shame, joy, love, etc. No wonder, the vessels just react to emotions in this way. Emotion is a change in the concentration of hormones in the blood (and adrenaline). In response to this change, the vessels of the skin dilate and you blush. Someone is stronger, someone is weaker – it all depends on genes.
The same mechanism works when you turn pale, only in this case the vessels narrow.

10. Sweating is the process of secretion by the sweat glands and its removal to the surface of the skin. This process performs the functions of thermoregulation (to avoid overheating), maintaining the water-salt balance, as well as removing some drugs and harmful substances. In order to cool the skin, the body secretes fluid, it evaporates from the surface of the body and takes excess heat with it.
These are not all the “words” of your body. It has a lot more to say than you think.

Anna Pigulevskaya,
paramedic-valeologist
of the department of public health
of the Gomel regional CGE and OZ

90,000 what is varicose veins: symptoms, stages, methods of treatment and prevention of varicose veins of the lower extremities

What is varicose veins?

Varicose veins or varicose veins are a change in the normal state of the veins of the human body.

In this condition, the veins expand, their wall becomes thinner, so-called “nodes” are formed.These are manifestations of inflammation and changes.

Such changes occur in different veins of our body: lower extremities (veins of the legs), veins of the esophagus, veins of the rectum, retinal veins, veins of the spermatic cord.

More and more often people turn to varicose veins in the legs and veins of the rectum.

Why does varicose veins occur?

There are many reasons for varicose veins.

A weighty reason is a civilization factor (a sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work), a genetic factor (what parents and grandparents had), pregnancy (a trigger that can provoke changes), an increase in blood viscosity (thickened blood) and others.Lifestyle and type of work play a decisive role, 50% depends on this.

Symptoms of varicose veins (varicose veins)

• Severity of the legs, feeling of leg fatigue (the veins of the lower extremities expand, increase and press on the surrounding tissue)
• Visible spider veins, visible veins of the lower extremities, enlarged veins
• Nodules on the veins, enlarged veins.

Stages of varicose veins

The international medical community agreed and made an international classification of varicose veins in the lower extremities.There is an English name CEAP (Clinical Etiology Anatomy Pathology) and 6 stages of varicose veins of the legs:

• 0 stage – the most insidious stage, when nothing is still visible, a person has certain changes, but cannot always associate them with varicose veins of the legs. These are swelling, a feeling of fatigue and pain in the legs, especially during sitting, exertion and in the evening. There may even be leg cramps at night.
• Stage 1 – you can see it. Spider veins, small veins of the legs appear under the skin, the so-called vascular mesh.Plus all complaints from stage 0.
• Stage 2 – this stage can be called the beginning of true varicose veins. A person can independently see nodes and enlarged veins and feel them on their own. Veins can enlarge after wearing high heels in the evening.
• Stage 3 – all manifestations of the second stage are preserved, edema of the lower extremities is added. Inflamed and enlarged veins cause poor circulation and fluid exchange, so edema appears daily.
• Stage 4 – the changes continue and are reflected in the skin.Changes in skin color, redness or whitening, increase or retraction of the skin begin to appear.
• Stage 5 – ulcers appear on the skin, such ulcers heal, are treatable, scars form in their places.
• Stage 6 – skin ulcers do not heal, constantly inflamed and open.

Methods for diagnosing varicose veins

To establish a diagnosis of varicose veins of the legs will help:

• doctor’s consultation, detailed examination, questioning, understanding a person’s lifestyle, changes in rest and work;
• ultrasound diagnostics of the vessels of the lower extremities;
• laboratory tests (complete blood count, coagulogram, biochemical blood test, etc.)NS.).

Prevention is 50% of the key to success and depends only on you

Medicines for the treatment of varicose veins

Let’s talk about medicines. Prescribe tablet forms, ointments, gels. How they all work:

• increase the elasticity of the walls of the veins of the legs;
• improve lymph circulation, improve blood condition (density) and regulate clotting;
• prevent inflammation of the vein inside.

That is, we take all medications to fix the current state and prevent deterioration.

Methods of treating varicose veins

Treatment of varicose veins is possible only surgically.

Medicines and compression garments do not cure, but maintain the current state of the disease and do not allow it to spread out in the future. But they do not cure, the veins will not be the same as they were before.

Treatment of varicose veins of the legs is only surgical. Fortunately, modern medicine allows painless and safe surgical correction of varicose veins.

There are two principal modern methods: sclerotherapy of varicose veins and laser soldering of such veins.When sclerosing a varicose vein, a substance is injected, glues the walls of the vessels together, subsequently such a vein “disappears”. During laser coagulation of varicose veins, a laser diode is inserted into the vessel, which heats the vessel from the inside, the walls of the vessel are glued together in the same way as during sclerosis.

Both procedures are performed on the same day, are painless and safe.

After the procedure, the person immediately returns to the usual way of life.

Prophylactically, after the procedures, the doctor prescribes medicines, compression garments and the like.

Prevention of varicose veins

1. Take a break in sitting (get up, walk, raise your legs, stand on your heels).
2. Drink enough liquid (clean water). Remember that juice, milk, drinks with sugar are not liquid, but food). This is to prevent blood clotting.
3. Consuming enough vegetables at all times (this generally improves metabolism).
4. Wear heels 2-3 hours a day. Have comfortable shoes for constant walking.
5. Walk 10,000 steps during the day.
6. Visit a doctor, learn about your risks, prevent them.
7. Massage your shins yourself.
8. Give yourself a contrast shower daily for your feet.

The doctors of the clinic treat varicose veins diseases of any stage, advise on preventive actions and prevention of varicose veins.

You can sign up for a consultation by calling the clinic, or by leaving a request on the website.

Cramps of limbs – symptoms, causes, treatment, first aid, what to do in case of seizures – Siesta Food delivery

Convulsions of the extremities – symptoms, causes, treatment, first aid, what to do in case of seizures

Seizures are familiar to most people, an unpleasant sensation that is caused by involuntary muscle contraction. As a rule, it does not last long, but it brings a lot of negative emotions.

What are seizures?

This is a sharp muscle contraction that is beyond the control of a simple relaxing effort.The spasm is accompanied by pain, it can last from several seconds to ten minutes. With a strong muscle contraction, a large amount of decay products are released, this is the biological mechanism of convulsions.

What are the causes of seizures

This condition can occur both in sick people and in completely healthy people. Muscle contraction can be localized or generalized when entire muscle groups are affected. In children, such seizures occur at high temperatures, and in adults, a similar condition is a sign of a serious illness of the nervous system.

Among the causes of seizures:

• Deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals, most often calcium or magnesium;
• Sedentary lifestyle or too intense exercise;
• Pregnancy and related changes in the female body;
• Taking certain medications that remove potassium salts from the body;
• Various diseases, including diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, overweight and flat feet.

If you are worried about frequent cramps in the limbs, contact a specialist who will find out the cause of the unpleasant phenomena.

What to do with night cramps?

If a muscle has cramped, it will be impossible to consciously relax it. The only way is to use physical force: straighten the toes with your hands or pull the toe towards you. After the cramp has passed, the limb can be massaged to help restore normal circulation.

How can I prevent seizures?

Prevention of seizures exists if you understand the risk of their occurrence and the cause that may lead to it. For example, with flat feet, it is important to choose the right shoes and use orthopedic insoles. With varicose veins – avoid excessive physical exertion. During pregnancy, observe the regimen and take the necessary vitamins. In any case, if you want to avoid night cramps, you need to adjust your diet to include foods rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium.Instead of sweets, give preference to dried apricots and dates.

Diagnosis of the cause of seizures

In case of an unpleasant condition, it is first of all recommended to contact a therapist who will prescribe a number of tests and carry out the necessary diagnostics. These are blood and urine tests, which will show the presence of concomitant pathologies, as well as ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities. After the cause of the seizures is found, the patient is recommended to be examined by a specialized narrow specialist or to take vitamins and a diet that can help with a banal lack of trace elements.

Treatment of night cramps

Seizures can be a sign of the development of serious diseases, it is extremely important to diagnose them in a timely manner. Depending on the cause, appropriate treatment is also selected. In any case, you can reduce the risk of painful leg cramps by practicing a daily contrast shower. It is also important to change your diet. Include foods rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium, and reduce the amount of carbohydrates and fats that interfere with the absorption of beneficial micronutrients.

In most cases, frequent calf cramps subside if you balance your diet and begin to engage in moderate physical activity.

You can consult about the causes of seizures and make an appointment with a specialist by calling our clinic or through the form on the website.

CHECK PRICES

Why does calf shaking in the morning – the main causes of seizures and prevention

An involuntary muscle contraction occurs during a spasm. This pathological condition may not last long, or it may be a rather lengthy process, it may be episodic and constant, while the appearance of a pulling severe pain, accompanied by limited mobility, is possible.

Usually such a phenomenon as convulsions occurs more often in the evening and in the morning. All spasms of the calf muscles are:

• primary, appearing with the use of caffeine and nicotine, with hypothermia, with muscle strain and lack of fluid in the body;
• secondary, arising from flat feet, tetanus, thyroid pathologies, varicose veins.

Convulsion, causes of its occurrence

There are many prerequisites for the occurrence of involuntary muscle contraction and convulsions occur against the background of the individual characteristics of the organism.Let’s list the most common causes of spasm.

• Uncomfortable posture of the legs and body during sleep, leading to poor circulation.
• Incorrectly fitted casual shoes.
• Lack of Mg, Ca, vitamin D3 and other microelements and vitamins.
• Inappropriate behavior when playing sports: poor warm-up, repetitive exercises, heavy load on the muscles.
• Stress and nervous excitement.
• Varicose veins and other venous diseases.
• Excess or lack of clean water.

How to get rid of seizures

1. Stretch the gastrocnemius muscle. Sitting on a flat surface, bend the limb at the knee, clasp your toes and pull slightly towards yourself.
2. Massage: Light tapping and stroking helps to relieve tension in the leg muscles.
3. Warming compress with gentle warmth from a towel, which should be kept on the calf until the pain disappears.

Prevention

To get rid of such an unpleasant phenomenon as muscle convulsive contractions forever, one must actively engage in prevention.To prevent seizures, the following recommendations should be followed.

• Monitor your health, undergo preventive examinations on time, identify hidden pathologies of internal organs and heal them in time.
• End all bad habits.
• Load the lower limb evenly, without overloading, rest fully after work.
• Organize a healthy diet: introduce dairy products, a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits into the diet, do not eat spicy and salty foods, limit the intake of coffee and carbonated drinks, and you also need to drink enough clean water throughout the day.
• Go in for sports, physical education, maintain physical activity.
• Try not to get into stressful situations, show sufficient concern for your psychological and mental health and well-being.
• Get enough sleep and not overexert yourself in terms of mental and emotional stress.
• Take a relaxing and soothing contrast bath on a regular basis in the evening.

If you still have convulsive conditions, you should definitely consult a doctor, undergo an appropriate examination and get the recommendations of a specialist who will tell you what methods of getting rid of these conditions are right for you.

My leg cramped: is it true that the lack of salt in the body is to blame?

• Claudia Hammond
• BBC Future

28 September 2017

Photo by iStock

When your leg is cramping, and your muscles are constrained by unbearable pain, the best remedy is not salt, the columnist BBC Future is convinced. Why are there convulsions?

You wake up in the middle of the night and writhe in pain. Your calf muscle seems to be living its own life.She was so brought together that the back of her leg ached unbearably.

You try to find a comfortable, more relaxed position for your leg, hoping it will ease the pain, but to no avail. This is a seizure and this type is very common – for example, in the later stages of pregnancy.

The older you get, the more you run into this. Those overweight are also susceptible to seizures. But in principle, this can happen to anyone – either after training or in the middle of the night.

Low salt levels in the body, or more specifically, low sodium levels, are often cited as the cause of seizures.

In such cases, it is suggested to eat a little salt to relieve pain. However, as I will discuss later, there is an easier, salt-free way.

What’s the salt?

Cramps most commonly occur in the calf muscle in the back of the leg below the knee, in the hamstring, or in the quadriceps in the front of the thigh.

They are sometimes associated with more serious health problems, such as lameness resulting from a lack of oxygen in the muscles.Or, in rare cases, seizures are due to low calcium levels due to malfunctioning of the parathyroid gland.

Photo by iStock

Photo caption,

My leg cramped. Very painful!

But as Raymond Playford, professor at the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, points out, most seizures are not related to your body’s need for salt or a lack of salt in your diet.

Stoker’s Convulsions

What is the cause of these seizures? This is still a mystery.More than 100 years ago, it was noticed that those who supported the fire in the stoves of steamers often suffered from them, the phenomenon was even called that – the stoker’s convulsions.

This led to the following theory: the lack of salt is to blame. It was explained as follows: the heat of the stove and hard work make a person sweat profusely and thus lose sodium.

So, it was concluded then, eat more salty, and you will not have seizures.

Photo by iStock

Photo caption,

Fireman’s work – hard work

A biological explanation might be that a lack of salt, together with dehydration, causes the space between muscle cells to shrink.This, in turn, increases the pressure on the nerve endings, which gives rise to pain.

However, bad luck, there is no reliable evidence of this.

Light electric shock

In all fairness, it must be said that this is not an easy topic to study, since seizures are unpredictable. And if you collect test subjects in the laboratory in the hope that some of them will lose their legs, you will have to wait a long time.

The only thing that remains is to watch for cramps in real life – as in the study that found that American football players tend to bend their legs more often during hot weather.Which would seem to support the theory of sweating and salt loss.

The only problem is that athletes living in countries with cold climates also suffer from seizures.

And when the sodium level was measured in athletes who took part in the Super Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa, it turned out that the difference between those who experienced convulsions and those who did not (with a similar sodium loss) is so small that it can be neglected.

Another experiment attempted to artificially induce convulsions by subjecting volunteers to mild electric shock.

The reasoning was that if the problem is really a lack of sodium, then a weaker discharge will be needed to induce convulsions in a person whose body is partially dehydrated (and, accordingly, desalinated).

Photo by iStock

Photo caption,

On the football field, this happens in almost every match

However, Kevin Miller and colleagues from the University of North Dakota (USA) did not find any effect of sodium loss on the onset of seizures.However, they noted, it is not known whether more severe fluid loss will bring the “seizure threshold” closer.

Follow the example of football players

So, if you are looking for a method that will quickly help you in a situation with a flattened leg, then see how, for example, football players deal with it ( see photo above ). After all, they do not run across the field with a salt shaker in store just in case.

When this unbearable pain comes to you, the best remedy is not salt, but stretching the muscles.

Grab your toes firmly and slowly pull your foot toward you. The muscle contracted by the spasm will stretch, and the pain should gradually go away.

And you don’t need to swallow the salt.

Legal information. This article is for general information only and should not be construed as a substitute for the advice of a physician or other healthcare professional. The BBC is not responsible for any diagnosis made by the reader based on the materials of the site.The BBC is not responsible for the content of other sites, links to which are present on this page, and also does not recommend commercial products or services mentioned on these sites. If you are concerned about your health condition, see your doctor.

To read the original of this article in English, visit BBC Future .

Leg cramps: what to do, how to treat

What is a cramp?

A cramp is a sudden contraction of a muscle that a person cannot relax.It can be long or short, but it is always painful. It is caused by a large amount of breakdown products that are released during strong muscle contraction.

What are the causes of leg cramps at night with varicose veins?

There may be several of them. The root cause of seizures in varicose veins is stagnation of blood in the veins, which is inevitable in this disease. The blood stagnates, the pressure in the veins rises, and water is released into the surrounding tissues. But along with it, microelements are released that are needed for normal muscle contraction – potassium, calcium and sodium.As a result, the muscles begin to contract spontaneously, and this is the cramps. It is impossible to get rid of this at home: only a doctor can cure varicose veins. That is why, if you are concerned about leg cramps at night, we recommend that you seek advice from a phlebologist.

Secondly, with varicose veins, blood flow in the veins is difficult, and at night it becomes especially slow. Muscles can begin to contract with impulses to “push” blood through the vessels.

And thirdly, there is one more, slightly more complex mechanism.It’s not only that the muscle contracts, but also that it doesn’t relax. Relaxation of muscles is also an energy-consuming process, therefore ATP molecules, the universal “fuel” of a living cell, are needed for it. When the blood in the veins stagnates, the production of ATP decreases, and the mechanism that “relaxes” the muscle fails.

What are the causes of leg cramps during pregnancy?

Waiting for a baby is certainly a happy, but at the same time, difficult time. It was during this period that, as a result of weight gain, hormonal changes, and decreased activity, many expectant mothers develop varicose veins.Which becomes one of the causes of night cramps.

Please note: cramps, swelling of the legs during pregnancy is an alarming symptom. It may indicate a lack of trace elements, it may be the result of large fluid losses (for example, during toxicosis), seizures occur if the growing uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, etc. The expectant mother should certainly consult a doctor who will accurately determine the causes of seizures.

How to get rid of night leg cramps?

If you woke up at night from a sudden convulsion, then your first desire is to rub your sore leg.Unfortunately, this does not always help relieve pain.

While lying down, you can do the following: pull on the foot of the sore leg, while simultaneously squeezing and unclenching the calf muscle with your palms (after all, it is usually it that reduces). This will help to quickly relieve the attack. After that, work with the feet of both legs, make circular movements or alternately pull them towards you. This will activate blood circulation and the pain will go away.

Some people advise, in case of very intense cramping, to try to remove it by pricking the leg with a pin or needle.We doubt that you will have it at your fingertips during your night’s sleep. But it is possible to pinch yourself on the lower leg several times, although it can be difficult if the cramp is very strong.

Also, if your leg is bent, you can stand on the bare cool floor (but not on the carpet, the effect will not be the same) and try to walk. And when the muscle relaxes, still standing on the floor, shift from toe to heel for a minute. This simple exercise will help improve blood circulation.

I would not like to face pains at night.Is there any kind of prevention in case of leg cramps with varicose veins?

Prevention of seizures with varicose veins helps:

• Choosing the right footwear – preferably with low heels and ankle-tight fit.
• lack of excessive physical activity.
• dietary adjustment. Include foods rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium in your daily menu. Eat more dairy products, legumes, cereals, give preference not to chocolate, but to dates, prunes and dried apricots.And do not forget that smoking, as well as drinking a lot of coffee and strong tea, can provoke seizures.

The editors would like to thank the Phlebology Center for help in preparing the material.

How to deal with spring cramps – Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Doctors estimate that 75% of people on the planet suffer from seizures on a regular basis.

Usually these involuntary muscle contractions occur at night in a warm bed. And, waking up in the morning, people try to forget about the night’s torment.But in vain. Firstly, because they can serve as a harbinger or signal of a serious illness. And secondly, if the reason lies not in the disease, then there is no reason at all to endure. It is quite possible to get rid of seizures arising from other reasons.

Why do they exist

1 Convulsions can occur in practically healthy people. This is usually due to muscle strain. For example, in the legs during prolonged squatting in the garden, in the so-called standing professions, when it is practically impossible to sit down for the whole day – a salesman, a hairdresser.Muscle cramps can threaten people after heavy physical exertion, overweight, stress, a sedentary lifestyle, or smoking.

2 Seizures are often observed with a lack of minerals in the body, primarily potassium, calcium and magnesium, as well as a number of vitamins: E, D, A, group B. Therefore, in the spring, when the body lacks vitamins, seizures become more frequent. This condition is also typical for pregnant women.

3 Another common cause of seizures is a sudden increase (or decrease) in body temperature (hyperthermic seizures), as well as heat or sunstroke.Therefore, seizures often affect swimmers in the water or people in the cold.

4 Convulsions can be symptoms of diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, varicose veins, liver cirrhosis, thyroid damage and others. Frequently recurring seizures can also occur with severe anemia – a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin, an incipient stroke or during the recovery period after it, flu and other viral infections, osteochondrosis of the spine. Cramps in the calf muscles appear with varicose veins.

5 Taking certain medications can cause seizures. For example, frequent use of diuretics or overdose of antidiabetic drugs in patients with diabetes mellitus.

“Convulsive” diet

Very often, cramps are solely due to improper nutrition, when the diet lacks certain substances.

What food should be rich in to avoid cramps?

Magnesium . It contains nuts, sunflower seeds, all legumes, vegetables, carrots, green onions.Alcohol, caffeine, and some diuretics enhance the excretion of magnesium by the kidneys.

Potassium . To compensate for its deficit, dried apricots (dried apricots and apricots), melons, bananas, beans, potatoes, broccoli, beef liver, and milk are introduced into the diet.

Calcium . It is abundant in sesame seeds, sardines in oil, as well as in green-leafed vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, turnip leaves, asparagus), black bread, liver, nuts, figs. But dairy products, considered a traditional source of calcium, are not particularly indicated for cramps, since they also contain large quantities of phosphorus, which can disrupt the mineral balance and provoke muscle spasms.But vitamin D and magnesium are needed – without them, the calcium that has entered the body becomes useless!

Vitamin D . It is rarely found in foods. It is found in the greatest quantity in the liver of cod and halibut, herring, mackerel, tuna, mackerel. There is also vitamin D in raw egg yolk, fermented milk products, cheese (cottage cheese), butter. However, its richest “source” is the sun, but only in combination with clean air, when the morning ultraviolet rays act.

Vitamin B6 . Its deficiency does not in itself cause seizures, but the vitamin promotes the absorption of magnesium. Vitamin is found in poultry, beef liver and kidneys, salmon, bananas, brewer’s yeast, walnuts.

Vitamin E . It is contained only in plants, and almost never occurs in animal products – in small quantities it is found only in the liver, egg yolks and milk. Its main source is fresh vegetables, frozen ones contain half as much vitamin E, and canned ones simply do not.There is a lot of vitamin E in vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, seeds, spinach.

First aid

Here’s what doctors advise to do with calf cramps:

Taking an upright position – this simple measure will surely alleviate the condition.

Tug the calf with an elastic bandage (not very tight). This will help relieve pain.

With force, even through pain, slowly pull the fingers (best of all – the big toe) of the clamped leg towards you.

Rub the stiff muscle, pinch it, scratch it, etc.p.

Massage the leg, squeezing and straightening the toes (all movements at the time of massage should be sliding and stroking in nature, their direction should be directed towards the heart).

Put a mustard plaster on the hardened muscle or mix 2 teaspoons of mustard and 1 teaspoon of olive oil and spread this gruel over the spasmodic muscles.

Take any pain reliever, preferably aspirin, as it further improves microcirculation in the vessels of the legs.(But only if there are no contraindications – the danger of bleeding.)

Place your foot under a hot shower (as your skin can tolerate).

As soon as the acute pain passes, you need to walk (preferably on a cold floor) to improve blood circulation.

And for prevention, you should try to avoid muscle fatigue, regularly massage your feet, drink at least three glasses of water a day (the last one at night), avoiding carbonated sugary drinks.

Exercises

For frequent seizures, the following exercises are recommended:

• Stretch in bed in the morning.Stretch your legs, strongly tensing the muscles, pull the socks towards you.
• Stand on your toes, reach up and fall sharply on your heels. Perform the exercise 1-2 times a day for a minute, try to make 60 movements during this time.
• Stand facing the wall one step away from it. Put your hands on the wall. Walk away from the wall with small steps, without lifting the soles from the floor, and your palms from the wall.
• If severe convulsions began to bother you often, and you do not see obvious reasons, a serious examination is necessary.

Leg cramps in the elderly

Such manifestations can occur suddenly and be episodic or recur regularly. Let’s try to figure out why leg cramps occur and how to avoid this pathology.

Reasons

The appearance of leg cramps can be both the first symptom and a sign of an existing ailment. Most often, the pathology is caused by the following reasons:

• Varicose veins.
• Diseases and disorders of the nervous system.
• Atherosclerosis.
• Hypertensive crisis.
• Dehydration.
• Endocrinological disorders.
• Infectious diseases.
• Metabolic disorders.
• Intoxication of the body.
• Diseases of the liver and kidneys.
• Long-term use of certain medications.
• Pregnancy.
• Past diseases.
• Muscle fatigue due to long walking, exercise or swimming.

Thus, involuntary muscle contraction is only a symptom indicating the presence of pathology. It is possible to eliminate seizures only if it is possible to determine the exact cause of their occurrence.

Are seizures dangerous?

As a rule, seizures in older people are not a serious threat. However, there are a number of conditions in which involuntary muscle contraction is dangerous and requires medical intervention.

Specialist help is needed when seizures are caused by the following conditions:

• Epilepsy accompanied by severe headache, irritability, insomnia.
• Meningitis.
• Damage to the central nervous system, lack of oxygen.
• Micronutrient deficiency (magnesium, potassium).
• Violation of water and electrolyte metabolism due to the presence of infectious diseases.
• Hypoglycemia (a sharp decrease in blood glucose levels).
• Discoloration of the skin, edema, redness.
• Muscle contraction accompanied by dizziness and high body temperature.

In addition, severe muscle pain with spasms for several days is an alarming symptom.If an elderly person has such manifestations, it is necessary to immediately seek medical help.

First aid

In most cases, seizures occur at night. What to do if an unpleasant condition causes discomfort?

Experts recommend the following measures aimed at relaxing the spasmodic muscle:

• Massage the leg with rubbing movements.
• Pat the muscle with a piece of ice.
• Place your feet in warm water.
• Grasp the spasmodic sore spot with your fingers and pull it towards you.
• Use a sterile needle to prick the muscle.

Important! Using these simple techniques, you can prevent involuntary muscle contraction if it is of an episodic nature. For seizures caused by serious pathologies, specialist help is required.

When urgent medical attention is needed

Most often, the contraction of the leg muscles lasts no more than a few minutes.However, in some cases, seizures indicate a serious medical condition that requires intensive treatment.

A medical emergency is required when leg cramps are accompanied by the following conditions:

• Strong twitching of the legs.
• Sudden squint or other visual disturbances.
• The appearance of foam on the lips, profuse salivation.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Sudden muscle hypertonia.

These symptoms are typical for such dangerous diseases as stroke and epilepsy. Timely seeking medical help will help prevent these pathologies and avoid complications caused by their presence.

Diagnostics

With the timely treatment of the patient to the doctor, seizures are successfully treated. Before the specialist prescribes the correct therapy, a complete examination of the elderly person is carried out using modern techniques. The course of treatment is prescribed only after determining the cause of the symptom.

Diagnosis of pathology includes the following activities:

• Consultation of a therapist, phlebologist.
• Delivery of blood tests (general, biochemical) and urine tests.
• MRI.
• EEG.

After the research carried out, the exact cause of the pathology is established and complex treatment is prescribed.

Treatment

It is possible to get rid of leg cramps only when the cause of their occurrence is eliminated. After the diagnosis, the attending physician prescribes treatment.In most cases, involuntary muscle contraction occurs against a background of mineral deficiencies, neurological disorders, and a history of chronic disease. Therefore, therapy includes taking medications of the muscle relaxant group, performing gymnastics, adhering to a diet and using effective folk remedies.

Medicines

For the treatment of involuntary contraction of the leg muscles, anticonvulsants are prescribed, which help to weaken the excitation of nerve fibers and stimulate processes in the central nervous system.

Treatment of seizures is accompanied by the intake of the following drugs:

• “Magnerot”, “Magne B6”, “Magnelis B6” – magnesium preparations.
• “Amantadine”, “Carbamazepine”, “Dopamine”, “Diphenin” are effective anticonvulsants.
• Panangin, Potassium Chloride, Asparkam – preparations with a high potassium content.
• “Sirdalud”, “Mivacurium”, “Midocalm”, “Pancuronium”, “Tolperisone-OBL” – drugs that reduce neuromuscular transmission.
• Vitamin and mineral complexes.

Important! All anticonvulsants are prescribed by a specialist. The use of drugs of the muscle relaxant group without a prescription from the attending physician can lead to muscle atony and immobilization of a person.

Power mode

The diet of an elderly person should be complete and include trace elements and vitamins necessary for the body. Low protein diets should be avoided and the following foods should be consumed regularly:

• Fish (mackerel, salmon, trout, cod).
• Meat (chicken, turkey).
• Cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, milk, kefir.
• Nuts.
• Porridge.
• Vegetables, fruits.
• Cabbage, dill, parsley.

In addition, the water balance must be observed. Elderly people are advised to drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day.

Gymnastic exercises

Physical activity is one of the auxiliary methods of treating leg cramps, since moderate exertion has a beneficial effect on blood circulation in the lower extremities and promotes the conduction of nerve impulses to the muscles.

In case of involuntary muscle contraction, simple gymnastic exercises should be performed for 10 minutes. Daily morning exercises and gymnastics are the prevention of leg cramps in the elderly.

Folk remedies

Proven folk remedies in combination with pharmacotherapy with relieve pain and help to eliminate leg cramps. The following recipes are most effective:

• Compressor. Mix 1 tsp. mustard powder and 2 tbsp.l. warm vegetable oil. Apply the prepared product in a thin layer on the legs every day half an hour before bedtime.
• Ointment. Mix celandine juice with cosmetic petroleum jelly in proportions 1: 2. Apply the prepared mass to the area of ​​painful muscles one hour before bedtime.
• Linden blossom decoction. Pour 1.5 tbsp. l. dry raw materials 200 ml of boiling water. Boil over a fire for 2-3 minutes, strain, take 50 ml 4 times a day before meals.

Important! Healing compresses and infusions of some medicinal herbs have contraindications, so they can be used only after consulting a doctor.

Prevention of seizures

With age, the human body has a hard time coping with various pathologies, so the best way to prevent them is to take preventive measures.

To avoid involuntary muscle contraction, you need to follow some rules:

• Eat a balanced diet.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Perform exercises to improve blood circulation in the legs.
• Avoid excess body weight.
• Perform a daily light massage of the calf muscles and feet.
• Give up bad habits.
• Drink at least 1.5–2 liters of liquid per day.
• Replenish the deficiency of minerals with the help of special vitamin and mineral complexes.
• Follow the daily routine.

Leg cramps are not an independent disease, but a symptom of some pathology. Therefore, with repeated involuntary muscle contractions, you need to consult a specialist for diagnosis, establishment of the cause and purpose of complex treatment.

What to do if your legs are cramped during pregnancy

Sharp pain wakes up in the middle of the night.

The muscles of the leg are tense and cannot relax in any way.

Many people face this problem, and especially often pregnant women. Sometimes even during the day.

Convulsions trouble them in the second and third trimester. Mostly they occur in the calves, but sometimes they spread to the foot. Occasionally the whole leg hurts.

Convulsions last from a couple of seconds to several minutes, and muscle sensitivity persists for almost a day.

Is it dangerous if it cracks the calves during pregnancy?

No. Seizures cause pain and interfere with proper sleep, but they do not threaten the health of the mother and child.

However, this does not mean that they should be ignored. Sometimes this symptom indicates a more serious pathology that needs to be treated.

Consult a doctor if:

• Leg swollen and reddened
• Pain does not go away
• It is difficult for you to walk

Fortunately, only very rare cases of medical attention are required.

Usually the seizures are unpleasant, but they pass quickly.

But what if they are repeated?

In this case, you need to eliminate the cause of this problem, and therefore we will talk further about why seizures occur.

The main causes of leg cramps in pregnant women

Unfortunately, it is difficult to quickly determine the source of the problem. The fact is that the legs during pregnancy reduce for various reasons, so some tests may be required to obtain a diagnosis.

A few words about muscle contractions.

A signal comes along the nerves to the muscular system, in response to which a chemical reaction begins.

Muscle fibers are reorganized. This is what we call muscle contraction.

When the signal from the brain disappears, the muscle fibers return to their original state, that is, they relax.

This is how the system operates normally.

For various reasons, sometimes the muscles contract too much and are held in this position for some time.Anyone can have seizures. Expectant mothers are more susceptible to this problem due to the numerous changes in their bodies.

Quite often they suffer from a lack of minerals.

Micronutrient deficiency

We have already mentioned the chemical reaction in the muscles that occurs before muscle contraction. Microelements play an important role in this process.

Convulsions appear when there is not enough:

• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Vitamin B6

The lack of these trace elements is largely associated with pregnancy.The expectant mother should consume much more of such substances, because she supplies her child with them.

Another problem is nausea.

During vomiting, a woman loses many trace elements – both from food and from digestive enzymes.

Also, pregnant women often do not eat certain foods. Therefore, important trace elements do not enter the body in the required amount.

Now let’s talk about each of them separately

Lack of this substance causes many problems: insomnia, irritability, bleeding gums, high blood pressure.

Pregnant women need a lot of calcium. For the kid. And also because of stress.

A lot of calcium is found in dairy products, and also in vegetables: cabbage, turnips, broccoli, asparagus.

Both a deficiency and an overabundance of this element are harmful to people. High concentration causes drowsiness, thirst, and low blood pressure. Due to the lack of magnesium, hands become numb. People are worried about the feeling of anxiety. Most importantly, magnesium deficiency increases muscle excitability, that is, it provokes cramps, back pain, and sometimes miscarriages.

Pregnant women should consume up to three times more magnesium than usual. Due to the pregnancy itself and the increased neuropsychic stress.

There is a lot of magnesium in sunflower seeds. They are also rich in green onions, spinach, nuts and carrots.

Expectant mothers often lose a lot of potassium due to vomiting and diarrhea. As a result, problems appear: dry skin, thirst, constipation, depression, high cholesterol, severe muscle fatigue and cramps.

Apricots, bananas and potatoes will help to replenish the supply of this mineral.There is also a lot of it in milk and beans.

It does not cause seizures by itself. However, this vitamin helps in the absorption of other trace minerals, such as magnesium. Without B6, minerals are not retained inside cells and are quickly eliminated from the body. That is, the benefit from them decreases.

Another lack of this vitamin causes anemia, nausea, depression and hair loss.

B6 is found in meat: chicken, beef, pork. They are also rich in salmon and tuna. Unfortunately, up to 70% of the vitamin in meat is lost during cooking.

Its shortage is often associated with smoking and alcohol consumption.

As you can see, an improper diet during pregnancy can easily cause cramps, and therefore an optimal diet can solve this problem.

Trace elements are found not only in food.

You can use mineral complexes. But first, consult with your doctor about what and in what doses you can take.

And we turn to the next cause of seizures.

Anemia

Pregnant women need not only a lot of potassium and calcium. The need for iron also increases. The baby consumes a large amount of this trace element – by birth, up to 300 mg of iron accumulates in his body.

But the woman herself may miss him.

What does this lead to?

Iron helps the blood to carry the required amount of oxygen to the organs.

Its deficiency causes symptoms:

• Increased fatigue
• Dry skin
• Pallor
• Taste disturbance
• Convulsions

Due to the lack of microelements, the legs cramp at any time of the day.So this problem worries women not only at night.

Seizures are not the only danger of anemia. Lack of oxygen causes people to faint and feel dizzy, which can be life-threatening.

To fight anemia, eat foods that contain a lot of iron:

• Eggs
• Liver
• Meat

In severe forms of iron deficiency, special medications are required. We’ll have to see a doctor.

The next cause of seizures has more to do with lifestyle than diet.

Stagnation of blood circulation

Due to poor blood circulation, some people have legs that are cramped.

Sometimes blood circulation is impaired due to a static position of the body. That is, from a long immobility.

When a person lies or sits motionless for several hours in a row, the blood in the vessels moves more slowly. Working leg muscles help pump blood. The veins do not do this well alone.

Abrupt movements after immobility increase the load on the walls of blood vessels, can cause pain and convulsions.

A similar problem occurs with varicose veins. With this pathology, blood circulation is also impaired.

Varicose veins

Bloated blood vessels ruin the lives of millions of people, and women are attacked about twice as often as men. The disease is known for its external symptoms – twisted thick veins. She has other symptoms as well.

One of the manifestations of varicose veins – sometimes in patients the leg is reduced.

Most often, this problem occurs in the late afternoon or at night, when people move a little.

Poor circulation with distended veins is associated not only with prolonged immobility. The vessels dilate too much. Some of the blood accumulates and presses on the venous walls.

As a result, blood circulation is impaired, which impairs the nutrition of tissues and muscles near the diseased veins. The risk of thrombosis is also increased. If blood clots grow on the walls of blood vessels, they can block blood flow in this area.Then, in addition to seizures, the patient is threatened with other unpleasant symptoms.

Varicose veins is a serious disease that will not disappear by itself. A doctor’s help is needed.

Contact a phlebologist if, along with convulsions, you are worried about:

• Skin discoloration
• Edema
• Fatigue in the legs
• Spider veins

These are the first signs of swollen veins. It is necessary to go to the doctor not only with such a pathology.The help of a specialist will also be needed when lowering sugar levels.

Decrease in blood glucose

To obtain energy from food, the body needs glucose.

When it is not enough, symptoms occur:

• Sweating
• Weakness
• Disorientation
• Dizziness
• Severe mood swings
• Headache

And this is just the beginning. Gradually, the problem gets worse, and leg cramps may appear.Some patients lose consciousness. Or even fall into a coma.

For pregnant women, the danger of a lack of energy is especially important, because they must provide everything necessary for both their body and the child.

Convulsions due to lack of glucose usually appear at night. Or early in the morning. At this time, the body has already spent the sugar reserves of the previous day and now attracts the patient’s attention with characteristic symptoms.

But the next reason for seizures occurs due to the fault of the baby.

Syndrome of the inferior vena cava

The larger the fetus, the more it presses on the tissues and blood vessels next to it.Meanwhile, the vena cava runs near the uterus, an important pathway for blood to travel from the legs to the heart.

Sometimes a growing baby squeezes this vessel. The lumen of the vein is reduced and blood hardly flows through it. There should be enough blood in the lower areas to build up strong pressure and push it up. As a result, the load on the venous walls increases.

They are expanding. Blood stagnation begins, which is expressed in edema, and sometimes in convulsions. These symptoms appear when pregnant women are lying on their back or on their right side.

The problem is easily solved. If the leg cramping due to pressure on the vena cava, then you need to lie on your left side. Then the load on the vessels will decrease.

Hypothermia

As the temperature decreases, the veins narrow. As a result, cramps may occur in the calves.

Due to hypothermia, blood circulation slows down, and the muscles soon react to a lack of oxygen and other essential substances.

This problem often occurs during swimming. Sometimes people swim in water that is too cold, and from a strong temperature drop, their legs cramp.In such a situation, you need to get ashore as soon as possible. Otherwise, a person may drown.

But the next reason for seizures appears already from a lack of fluid.

Dehydration

Yes, many women complain of edema during pregnancy. But the accumulation of fluid in the tissues is a natural reaction, which does not have to be fought with radical means.

Some people use diuretics.

And the swelling really does decrease.

Unfortunately, together with edema, trace elements dissolved in water disappear from the body.That is, one cause of seizures replaces another.

If your legs are cramping, restore the fluid balance in the body. When there is too much of it, swelling appears, too little – the metabolism is disturbed. So look for a middle ground.

So, we have listed the main causes of seizures and how to deal with them. Now let’s talk about first aid for legs with tense muscles.

What should I do if my legs come together during pregnancy?

Here are six simple tips to help you if your leg cramped during pregnancy.

1. Slowly place your foot on a pillow or other high ground. Pull on your sore toe or your entire foot.
2. Warm up the calf muscle with a gentle massage to relieve tension.
3. Prick the muscle with a needle or pin. This will reduce pain.
4. Take a warm shower or place a heating pad on your leg.
5. Warm up leggings or knee-highs on the battery, and then put them on to relax your muscles as soon as possible.
6. Walk barefoot on the floor slowly.This will improve blood circulation, and pain will decrease.

If you are constantly suffering from convulsions, go to the doctor for an examination. We need to find out the cause of the problem. Depending on the nature of the symptom, the doctor will choose an appropriate treatment.

In case of convulsions from varicose veins, we recommend contacting the clinic “Institute of Veins”. We treat swollen veins and other vascular diseases. No pain, no scars and long recovery time.

We employ phlebologists with experience of 20 years and more.For 15 years, we have cured over 4,000 patients with low-traumatic methods, and thousands of others without surgery at all.

Come to the “Institute of Veins” and get rid of sick blood vessels, as well as cramps, pain and other symptoms of varicose veins.

Doctors of the clinic “Institute of Vienna”

Surgeon of the highest category, phlebologist

Experience: 21 years

Surgeon of the highest category, phlebologist

Work experience: 20 years

Phlebologist of the highest category

Work experience: 34 years

Dermatologist higher.cat., director

Work experience: 20 years

First category surgeon

Work experience: 15 years

Surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 17 years

Surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 5 years

First category surgeon

Work experience: 12 years

Vascular surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 10 years

Vascular surgeon, chief physician

Work experience: 11 years

Vascular surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 8 years

Vascular surgeon, phlebologist

Work experience: 5 years

Muscle cramps – Diagnosis and treatment

Treatment

Usually, muscle cramps can be treated with self-medication.Your doctor may show you stretching exercises that can help reduce the chances of muscle cramps. Make sure you are well hydrated. If you have recurring seizures that disturb your sleep, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to relax your muscles.

Lifestyle & Home Remedies

If you have a spasm, the following may help:

• Stretching and massage. Stretch the spastic muscle and rub it gently to help relax.If you have a calf cramp, place your weight on the spastic leg and bend your knee slightly. If you are unable to stand, sit on the floor or in a chair with the affected leg extended.

  Try pulling the top of the foot on the affected side towards the head while the leg remains in a straight position. It will also help relieve cramping in the hip (hamstring). If you have a cramp in your front thigh (quadriceps), take a chair and try to pull your leg on the affected side toward your buttock.

• Apply heat or cold. Use a warm towel or heating pad on tense or tense muscles. Taking a warm bath or directing a hot shower onto spasmodic muscles can also help. Alternatively, you can relieve pain by massaging the spasmodic muscle with ice.

Alternative medicine

Some suggest taking a vitamin B complex supplement to relieve leg cramps. However, more research is needed to confirm this benefit.

Preparing to receive

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have severe, frequent muscle cramps that persist after self-care.

Here is some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What can you do

When you make an appointment, ask if there is anything you need to do in advance. List out:

• Your symptoms, including those that seem unrelated to the reason for your intake
• Key personal information, , including severe stress, recent life changes and family history
• All medicines, vitamins and supplements you take, including doses
• Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If possible, bring a family member or friend with you to help you remember the information.

In case of muscle spasm, the doctor should ask the following basic questions:

• What is probably causing my cramps?
• Are there any other possible reasons?
• What tests do I need?
• Is my condition temporary or chronic?
• What’s the best way to proceed?
• What are the alternatives to your proposed approach?

Feel free to ask other questions.

What to expect from a doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, including:

• When did you get the seizures?
• How frequent and severe are your seizures?
• Anything that usually precedes your seizure, such as light or vigorous exercise?
• Have you had any seizures while resting?
• Does stretching relieve cramps?
• Do you have other symptoms such as muscle weakness or numbness?
• Did you notice any changes in urine after exercise?

03 March 2021

Show references

1. Muscle Cramps American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00200. As of 18 November 2015 90,040
2. Winkelman JW. Night cramps in the legs. http://www.uptodate.com/home. As of 18 November 2015 90,040
3. Muscle cramps. Merck Professional Version Manual. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/approach-to-the-neurologic-patient/muscle-cramps. As of 18 November 2015

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How to get rid of muscle cramps in the legs

The leg muscles are made up of bundles of fibers that alternately contract and expand, causing movement. A cramp is the sudden involuntary contraction (squeezing) of one of these muscles, usually in the calf. The seizures can last from a few seconds to several minutes. They can be mild or intense enough to wake you up from a sound sleep.The sudden painful muscle spasm in the leg is called Charlie’s horse, according to legend, after baseball player Charlie “Hoss” Redbourne, who reportedly suffered from frequent seizures as early as the 1880s.

Sometimes there is no obvious cause for seizures. Exercise is a common trigger, especially after exercising for a long period of time or in hot weather. Tired or dehydrated muscles become irritated and more likely to develop cramps.Deficiencies in electrolytes such as magnesium or potassium in your diet can lead to more cramps, preventing your muscles from relaxing completely. The risk of seizures increases during pregnancy, possibly due to changes in blood circulation and the increased stress on muscles due to a growing belly. Another factor is age, with cramps becoming more frequent in middle age and older. Old muscles tire faster and become more sensitive to less fluid in the body. Seizures can also be a side effect of medications such as statins, which are used to treat high cholesterol levels.

Symptoms of muscle cramps

These may include:

• Sudden muscle pain and tension, usually in the calf
• Temporary firm induration or twitching under the skin

Diagnosis of muscle cramps

You can treat seizures yourself, but see your doctor if you have severe seizures, frequent seizures, or other symptoms (such as numbness or weakness) In rare cases, seizures can signal problems with the spine, blood vessels, or liver.

Treatment of muscle cramps

Most spasms go away on their own within a few minutes. Massaging or stretching the muscle slightly will help it relax. Heat soothes tense muscles. Use a heating pad or warm, damp washcloth to loosen your muscles.

To avoid future leg cramps, drink plenty of fluids before and during your workout. Muscles need fluid to contract and relax properly. Prevent tightness by warming up your leg muscles before exercising by walking in place or jogging slowly.Stretch your leg muscles for a few minutes after each workout. Take another set of stretches before bed if you have a tendency to cramps during sleep.

For more information on muscle spasms, see “ Healing Leg Pain ” Harvard Medical School Special Health Report.

Image: photocheaper / Getty Images

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As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.Note the date when all articles were last reviewed or updated. Any content on this site, regardless of date, should never be used as a substitute for the direct medical advice of your physician or other qualified clinician.

Causes, pain relief and prevention

Overview

Leg cramps at night

What is leg cramps?

Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, severe muscle pains, usually in the calf, foot, or thigh.You may also know them as “Charlie the Horse”. Sometimes a cramp can cause a leg spasm – uncontrolled tension. Although cramps are painful, they are usually harmless.

What does a leg cramp look like?

A cramp in the leg is felt as a constricted, tense muscle pulled into a knot. It can be very uncomfortable, painful, or even unbearable. Your muscles in this area may ache for several hours after the spasm has subsided.

How do I stop my leg cramps?

Try to stretch the affected muscle vigorously (for example, stretch the calf muscle by bending the foot up).Swing your leg, massage it, or force yourself to walk. Applying ice or heat can also help – use a heating pad or take a warm bath. (See the Management and Treatment section for additional advice.)

Unfortunately, there are no pills or injections that instantly relieve leg cramps when they occur. However, there are ways that can prevent cramping in the first place (see the Prevention section).

Can I get leg cramps at night?

Leg cramps at night happen when you are not very active or asleep.They can wake you up, make it difficult to fall asleep again, and leave you sore all night. Annually, monthly, weekly, every night – the frequency of leg cramps varies from person to person. Nocturnal leg cramps can happen to anyone at any age, but they are more common in older people. In 33% of people over 60 years of age, leg cramps occur at night at least once every two months. Almost every adult age 50 and older will have them at least once. 7% of children do too. 40% of pregnant women will experience leg cramps at night.It is believed that the reason for this is that excess weight during pregnancy strains the muscles.

75% of all reported leg cramps occur at night.

How long do leg cramps last?

A leg spasm can last from a few seconds to several minutes.

Who has leg cramps?

The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissue that connect muscles to bones) naturally shorten as you age.You are also more likely to get them if you are a woman. Up to 60% of adults suffer from leg cramps at night, as well as up to 40% of children and adolescents.

Are leg cramps a sign of something serious?

Leg cramps can sometimes be a sign of a serious health condition. (See the Symptoms and Causes section.) If you are concerned about a serious medical condition, do not hesitate to see your doctor and report your symptoms, including leg cramps.

How common are leg cramps?

Leg cramps are very common and normal, especially at night.

What is the difference between leg cramps and restless legs syndrome (RLS)?

Although both nocturnal leg cramps (leg cramps at night) and restless legs syndrome tend to happen to you at night or at rest, restless legs syndrome does not cause severe pain. Restless legs syndrome is uncomfortable but not excruciating. It is a crawling sensation that makes you want to move your legs. When you do move, the anxiety stops, but the discomfort still remains.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes leg cramps?

Some leg cramps have an unknown cause and are called “idiopathic” leg cramps. “Secondary” leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious medical condition. The underlying cause of idiopathic leg cramps is debated. Possible causes include:

• Involuntary nerve discharges.
• Restriction of blood supply.
• Stress.
• Too much high intensity exercise.

Pregnant women often experience leg cramps day and night.

Possible causes of night-time leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) include:

• Sitting for a long time.
• Excessive use of muscles.
• Stand or work on concrete floors.
• Sits incorrectly.

Does not cause leg cramps:

• Broken bones.
• Fainting.
• Nausea.
• Numbness.

What medications can cause leg cramps?

Medicines have side effects. It is possible that leg cramps may be caused by a prescription you are taking. In this case, work closely with your healthcare provider to determine the pros and cons of the medication versus its side effects. Your doctor may be able to prescribe you another medicine that does not cause leg cramps as a side effect.Medicines that have leg cramps as a side effect include:

• Albuterol / ipratropium (Combivent®)
• Conjugated estrogens
• Clonazepam (Klonopin®).
• Conjugated estrogens.
• Diuretics.
• Gabapentin (Neurontin®).
• Naproxen (Naprosyn®).
• Pregabalin (Lyrica®)
• Statins.
• Zolpidem (Ambien®).

Others may include: amoxicillin, bromocriptine (Parlodel), bupropion (Wellbutrin), celecoxib (Celebrex®), cetirizine (Zyrtec), chromium, cinacalcet (Sensipar), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), citalexiloplexilopram ), fluoxetine (Prozac), intravenous iron sucrose, lansoprazole (Prevacid), levalbuterol, levothyroxine, metformin, nikonitic acid, nifedipine, rivastigmine (Exelon), sertraline (Zoloft) (teriptisdeartandeartan) (teripartisifartisifaris) (Evista®).

What health problems can cause leg cramps?

Sometimes you have leg cramps for no reason, but other times they can be a sign or symptom of a health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, it is possible that leg cramps are a result of this condition. Also keep in mind that if you don’t already know if you have any of these conditions, leg cramps could be a sign of it. Always consult your doctor if you think leg cramps are a symptom of a more serious medical condition.

Leg cramps can be a sign of a chosen lifestyle, for example:

• Alcoholism: Addiction to alcohol.
• Pregnancy.
• Dehydration: lack of water in the body. (This mark is under discussion among experts.)

Leg cramps can also be a sign of serious medical conditions, including:

• ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / Lou Gehrig’s disease): progressive neuromuscular disease.
• Cardiovascular disease: Heart disease caused by blood clots or damaged blood vessels.Also coronary artery disease: narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries.
• Liver cirrhosis: scarring of the liver.
• Diabetes: A medical condition in which your body is unable to properly use the energy from the food you eat.
• Flat feet: Lack of a supporting arch of the foot.
• Hypokalemia: Low level of potassium in the blood.
• Renal failure (hemodialysis): A condition in which one or both kidneys stop working properly.
• Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease): Corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Also stenosis of the lumbar canal: narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back.
• Parkinson’s disease: a neurological movement disorder.
• Peripheral arterial disease: narrowing of the arteries. Also peripheral neuropathy: damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves.

Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can damage nerves, which can cause leg cramps.

It is rumored that leg cramps can also be a symptom of the following diseases. Fortunately, this is not the case. Leg cramps are unlikely to be a symptom:

• Childbirth (childbirth).
• Lung cancer.
• Menopause.
• Multiple sclerosis.

Leg cramps may not be a sign of a deficiency:

• Alanine transaminase.
• Albumin.
• Bilirubin.
• Calcium.
• Creatinine.
• Glucose.
• Magnesium.
• Zinc, vitamin B12 or vitamin D.

What warning signs of approaching leg cramps?

Unfortunately, leg cramps occur very suddenly. There are no warning signs. However, there are risk factors such as pregnancy and medication that have leg cramps as a side effect.

Diagnostics and tests

How is leg cramps diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will need to know your medical history, medications, and a description of what you are experiencing.Be specific. Tell your doctor about your symptoms and include the following information:

• When the leg cramps started.
• What is your pain.
• When seizures occur (eg, at night or after intense exercise).
• How long does the seizure last.
• Any other symptoms you are experiencing.

Your healthcare professional will need to tell the difference between leg cramps and other conditions that may resemble them:

• Lameness.
• Peripheral neuropathy.
• Myositis.
• Restless legs syndrome.

To distinguish between these differences, your healthcare provider can:

• Check the heartbeat.
• Evaluate a physical sensation such as a pin prick.
• Check deep tendon reflexes.
• Test the strength of your leg.

Do I need any tests to diagnose leg cramps?

Blood, urine, and other routine tests do not help diagnose leg cramps, but they can help identify previously undiagnosed conditions that are symptomatic of leg cramps.For example, your healthcare provider will likely perform typical tests, such as blood pressure measurements, that can reveal heart and vascular risks.

What questions might my doctor ask about my leg cramps?

To help your healthcare provider diagnose you, they may ask the following questions about leg cramps:

• When do you have leg cramps?
• How often do leg cramps occur?
• How would you describe leg cramps?
• How long do leg cramps last?
• What medications are you currently taking?
• What are your known diseases?
• Are you concerned about medical conditions that can cause leg cramps?
• Do you have symptoms of another medical condition?

Management and treatment

What can I do to get rid of leg cramps if they happen?

You want to get rid of leg cramps at the moment of their onset.You may be finishing your workout or waking up in the middle of the night. In such moments, unfortunately, there are no magic shots that can instantly relieve your pain. However, there are eight steps you need to take to get rid of your leg cramps:

1. Stretch. Straighten your leg and then bend it, pulling your toes towards your lower leg to stretch the muscles.
2. Massage. Massage the muscles with your hands or a roller.
3. Booth .Get up. Press your feet to the floor.
4. Walk . While you are walking, swing your leg.
5. Apply heat . Use a heating pad or take a warm bath.
6. Apply cold . Wrap the ice pack with a towel and apply to the affected area.
7. Pain Relief . Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief.
8. Rise . Support your leg after the spasm gets better.

What types of stretching help relieve leg cramps?

Try this if you have a cramp in your calf muscle: while standing (or sitting with your leg extended in front of you), straighten your leg and lift your foot until your toes point to your shin. Stretch your toes if you can reach them. You can also try walking in heels.

What medications can help with leg cramps?

There are currently no recommended drugs that can prevent leg cramps in 100% of cases.However, there are some prescription drugs that show little evidence that they prevent leg cramps. Under the supervision of your healthcare professional, you can try the following:

• Carisoprodol (Soma®): muscle relaxant.
• Diltiazem (Cartia XT®): Calcium channel blocker.
• Orphenadrine (Norflex®): Relieves muscle spasms and relieves pain and stiffness in muscles.
• Verapamil: Calcium channel blocker.

Which vitamins can help with leg cramps?

No vitamin will help 100% of cases with leg cramps.However, some experts recommend taking a vitamin B12 complex.

Does quinine help with leg cramps?

Quinine was thought to have some benefits in the treatment of leg cramps but is no longer recommended. There are potentially life-threatening side effects: arrhythmias, thrombocytopenia, and hypersensitivity reactions.

When should I get leg cramps treated in the emergency room?

Go to the emergency room if leg cramps last more than 10 minutes or become unbearably painful.Also go if your leg cramps after touching a substance that may be poisonous or infectious. For example, if you have a cut on your skin that touches dirt, you could get a bacterial infection such as tetanus. Exposure to mercury, lead, or other toxic substances should also be a reason for going to the emergency room.

Is there an operation that can help my leg cramps?

Surgery is not currently recommended for the treatment of leg cramps.

Prevention

How to reduce the risk of leg cramps?

The experts can’t promise you’ll never have leg cramps again, but there are a few steps you can take to reduce your risk!

• Make sure you are not dehydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day. Do not drink as much alcohol and caffeine.
• Adjust how you sleep. Use pillows with your toes pointing upward if you sleep on your back.If you’re lying in front, try hanging your legs over the edge of the bed. Both positions can keep you relaxed.
• Gently stretch your leg muscles before bed.
• Keep blankets and sheets loose around your feet to avoid deforming your toes.
• Wear shoes that fit and support your feet.
• Do leg exercises frequently.
• Stretch your muscles before and after your workout.
• Experiment with light exercise right before bed.Walk on the treadmill or bike for a few minutes.

What types of stretching help prevent leg cramps?

Try the following to prevent leg cramps in the calves: Stand one meter from a wall. Lean forward. Touch the wall with outstretched arms, keeping your feet straight, count to five before stopping, and repeat this over and over for at least five minutes. Repeat three times a day.

Outlook / Forecast

Can leg cramps be cured?

Leg cramps are currently incurable. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent leg cramps (see the Prevention section) and manage leg cramps (see the Management and Treatment section).

Can leg cramps get worse?

The severity of leg cramps is difficult, if not impossible, to predict. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others find it difficult.Your cramps may get worse and more frequent as you get older.

Live with

How can I take care of myself?

Work with your doctor to create a treatment plan that includes your prevention plan and your current treatment plan Ideas for a prevention plan include several things you might want to do every day:

• Exercise : Do leg exercises throughout the day and light short walking or cycling just before bed.
• Hydration: Drink eight glasses of water every day and avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
• Medications and Vitamins: Take all vitamins and medications (including muscle relaxants) exactly as prescribed by your healthcare professional.
• Prepare your bed: Keep a heating pad and massage roller next to your bed.
• Shoes: Purchase support shoes.
• Sleeping Position: Experiment with different positions to make sure one works better than the other.Keep your toes up if you are lying on your back and hang your legs over the edge of the bed if you are lying in front.
• Stretching: Stretch your legs before and after your workout and right before bed.

Your current treatment plan may have eight steps outlined in the Management and Treatment section:

1. Stretch. Straighten your leg and then bend it, pulling your toes towards your lower leg to stretch the muscles (a towel may help).
2. Massage. Massage the muscles with your hands or a roller.
3. Booth . Get up. Press your feet to the floor.
4. Walk While you are walking, swing your leg.
5. Apply heat . Use a heating pad or take a warm bath.
6. Apply cold . Wrap the ice pack with a towel and apply to the affected area.
7. Pain Relief . Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief.
8. Rise . Support your leg after the spasm gets better.

When should I see a doctor for leg cramps?

See your doctor if leg cramps are unbearably painful, occur frequently, or persist for a long time. Also, talk to your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms other than leg cramps:

• Muscle cramps in other parts of the body.
• Severe pain.
• Swelling or numbness of the leg.
• Changes in the skin of the legs.
• Waking up again and again with cramps in the legs.
• If leg cramps make it difficult to get enough sleep.
• if you have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances.
• Seek medical attention immediately if you are concerned that leg cramps are a sign of a serious medical condition.

What questions should I ask my doctor about leg cramps?

• Do you think leg cramps are a symptom of an underlying medical condition?
• Can you show me the best exercises I can do to stretch my muscles?
• Can you show me the best massage techniques I can use to relieve leg cramps?
• Is it safe for me to take medications for leg cramps? What medications should I take?
• Would you recommend that I see a physical therapist, sleep therapist, massage therapist, or other therapist?
• How can I help my child if they have a leg cramps?
• Should I watch for symptoms other than leg cramps, which may indicate a more serious condition?
• How often should I come back to you for leg cramps?

Note from the Cleveland Clinic

Leg cramps can be unpredictable and excruciating.They can affect your sleep, exercise regimen, and overall quality of life. They are common – very normal – and thankfully temporary, and there are steps you can take to deal with them. Do your best to avoid risk factors, avoid medications for leg cramps as a side effect, and take the recommended preventive measures.

If you are concerned about the severity and duration of leg cramps, or if you think they may be caused by a serious medical condition, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.Ask questions and voice your concerns. You don’t just have to “live with” leg cramps.

Causes and Treatment of Leg Cramps – Diseases and Conditions

Leg cramps are a common and usually harmless condition in which the leg muscles suddenly become tense and painful.

Usually occurs in the calf muscles, although it can affect any part of the leg, including the feet and thighs.

After the cramps have subsided, you may feel pain and soreness in your leg for several hours.

Three out of four cases of the disease occur at night during sleep.

Learn more about the symptoms of leg cramps.

What causes leg cramps?

Leg cramps can occur for no apparent reason, known as idiopathic leg cramps, or as a symptom or complication of a health condition known as secondary leg cramps.

Causes of secondary leg cramps may include:

During a cramp, your muscles suddenly contract (shorten), causing leg pain.This is called a spasm and you cannot control the affected muscle.

A seizure can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. Once the spasm has passed, you will be able to control the affected muscle again.

Learn more about the causes of leg cramps.

When to contact your GP

Talk to your GP if leg cramps are affecting your quality of life; for example, if you have frequent leg cramps or they interfere with your sleep.

Your therapist will ask about your symptoms and examine your legs and feet.They may also ask if you have other symptoms, such as numbness or swelling, which could be a sign that you have secondary leg cramps caused by an underlying medical condition.

In this case, you may need additional tests, such as blood and urine tests, to rule out other conditions.

Treatment of leg cramps

In most cases, leg cramps can be relieved by exercising the affected muscles. Exercising your legs throughout the day can often help reduce the frequency of seizures.

Stretch marks

To stretch the calf muscles, stand with the front half of your feet on a step with your heels hanging over the edge. Slowly lower your heels so that they are below the level of the step, and hold for a few seconds before lifting your heels back to the starting position. Repeat several times.

Medication is usually only needed in the most persistent cases where the spasms do not respond to exercise.

If you have secondary leg cramps, treating the underlying cause may help relieve symptoms.

Leg cramps that occur during pregnancy should resolve after the baby is born.

Seizures resulting from serious liver disease can be more difficult to treat. Your treatment plan may include the use of drugs such as muscle relaxants.

Learn more about the treatment of leg cramps

Prevention of leg cramps

If you have frequent leg cramps, stretching your leg muscles regularly can help prevent or reduce the frequency of cramps.

You may find it helpful to stretch your calves every night before bed (see Stretching Tips above, or try this post-workout calf stretch).

The following advice at night may also help:

• If you are lying on your back, make sure your toes are pointing up — placing the pillow on its side at the end of the bed with the soles of your feet against it will help you keep your feet in the correct position.
• If you are lying on your stomach, hanging your feet over the edge of the bed will keep your feet relaxed and help stop the contraction and tension of the calf muscles.
• Keep sheets and blankets loose.

Leg cramps: causes, treatment and prevention

Cramps in the legs or Charlie’s horses are a common problem that affects the feet, calves and thigh muscles. They are associated with sudden, painful and involuntary contractions of the leg muscles.

Often occur when a person is sleeping or resting. They can disappear in a few seconds, but the average duration is 9 minutes. They can leave muscle soreness for up to 24 hours.

In most cases, there is no obvious reason why they occur and they are harmless. However, they can sometimes indicate an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or peripheral arterial disease.

In most cases, people do not know why leg cramps occur, although there are a number of theories.

Several studies suggest that muscle fatigue and nervous dysfunction may play a role.

Sleeping with an extended foot and shortened calf muscles can cause night cramps.

Another theory is that seizures are more likely these days because most people no longer squat, and this position stretches the calf muscles.

Exercise is a factor. Straining or prolonged use of a muscle can cause leg cramps during or after exercise. Seizures often affect athletes, especially early in the season if they are out of shape, and nerve damage can play a role.

Some experts believe that dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can contribute to this.Athletes who exercise intensely in hot weather often experience cramps. However, scientific evidence has not confirmed this connection. After all, athletes who play in cool climates also experience seizures.

Sometimes leg cramps are caused by an underlying medical condition involving the nervous system, circulation, metabolism or hormones. Certain medicines can also increase your risk.

Conditions that can cause seizures include:

Medicines that can cause cramps include:

• iron-sucrose (venofer)
• conjugated estrogens
• raloxifene (Evista)
• naproxen (Aleve)
• teriparatide

23

Leg cramps are more common in older people.Loss of muscle mass begins in the mid-40s and increases if the person is inactive. This can increase the risk of seizures.

Research shows that 50-60% of adults and 7% of children experience seizures, and the likelihood of this increases with age.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) suggests the following to relieve cramps:

• Stop the activity that caused the cramping.
• Stretch and massage the muscles.
• Keep your leg extended until the cramp stops.
• Heat tense or tense muscles.
• Use cold compresses for delicate muscles.

Some people use supplements such as magnesium to reduce muscle cramps. However, a 2020 review of older adults concluded that they are unlikely to benefit from this treatment. For other situations, such as pregnancy, there is insufficient data to show whether supplements help.

Stretching before bed may help, but evidence is limited.

No medication will help prevent leg cramps.

If severe cramping leaves a sore feeling in the muscles, over-the-counter pain relievers may help.

People used to use quinine. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges people not to use it as it can have dangerous interactions and side effects.

There is limited evidence that exercise and stretching, calcium channel blockers, carisoprodol, and vitamin B-12 can help. Multivitamins can be helpful during pregnancy.

There is no evidence that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), calcium or potassium are of any benefit.

Learn more about the treatment of leg cramps.

If there is no underlying cause, leg cramps are likely to resolve without treatment.

Tiptoe walking can help stretch muscles and reduce cramps.

Stretching exercises can help. If the cramp is in the calf muscle, try the following exercises:

Hamstring stretch

Image Credit: Zinkevych / Getty Images

1. Sit on the floor with your legs extended forward.
2. Pull your toes towards the knee to stretch the calf muscle.
3. Hold for 30 seconds.

Calf Stretch

1. Stand one meter from the wall with both feet on the ground.
2. Lean forward against the wall with your arms extended and palms on the wall. Keep your heels on the ground.
3. Hold for 10 seconds, then gently return to an upright position.
4. Repeat 5-10 times.

Quadriceps Stretch

1. Stand up straight, holding on to a wall or chair for support if necessary.
2. Bring one leg to your buttocks, grab your ankle and keep your foot as close to your body as possible.
3. Hold for 30 seconds, then repeat with the other leg.

Performing these exercises may help reduce or prevent seizures. They can also serve as a pre-workout warm-up.

The following measures may also help prevent leg cramps.

• Support your toes while lying down or asleep by propping your feet up with a pillow.
• Keep bedding loose so that your feet and toes do not point downward while you sleep.
• Wear suitable footwear during the day, especially if the person has flat feet or other foot problems.

Keeping in shape through exercise can help. If a person plays sports, he must make sure that his program is suitable and that his progress is gradual. Avoid overexertion and lengthy workouts, and always remember to warm up before starting.

Leg cramps are usually not a cause for concern, but they can sometimes indicate an underlying problem. If the seizures are severe or occur frequently, it is recommended to see a doctor.

A doctor may do tests to try to determine the root cause. If a person is taking medications that can cause seizures, the doctor may adjust the dose or change the medication.

Leg cramps are a common problem that usually occurs for no apparent reason.Stretching and massaging your muscles can often provide relief.

However, in some cases, there may be an underlying cause requiring medical attention. If the cramps are severe or frequent, see your doctor.

Muscle cramps | Michigan Medicine

Topic overview

What are muscle cramps?

A muscle spasm is a severe, painful contraction or contraction of a muscle that occurs suddenly and lasts from a few seconds to several minutes.Often occurs in the legs. Muscle cramps are also called horse lunge.

Nocturnal leg cramps are usually sudden cramps or muscle tension in the lower leg. Muscle cramps can sometimes occur in the thigh or foot. They often occur when you fall asleep or wake up.

What causes muscle cramps?

The cause of muscle cramps is not always known. Muscle cramps can be caused by many conditions or activities, such as:

• Exercise, injury or overuse of muscles.
• Pregnancy. Seizures can occur due to low levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, especially in the last months of pregnancy.
• Exposure to low temperatures, especially cold water.
• Other medical conditions such as blood flow problems (peripheral arterial disease), kidney disease, thyroid disease, and multiple sclerosis.
• Stand for a long time on a hard surface, sit for a long time or put your legs in an uncomfortable position while sleeping.
• Lack of potassium, calcium and other minerals in the blood.
• Dehydration means your body has lost too much fluid.
• Taking certain medications such as antipsychotics, birth control pills, diuretics, and steroids.

How to stop a muscle spasm if it happens?

You may need to try several different ways to stop muscle cramps before you find what works best for you.Here are some things you can try:

• Stretch and massage the muscles.
• Take a warm shower or bath to relax your muscles. A heating pad applied to the muscle may also help.
• Try ice or cold compress. Always keep the cloth between your skin and an ice pack.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as paracetamol (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Alev). Be careful with medications.Read and follow all label instructions.
• If your doctor prescribes medicines for muscle cramps, take them exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you have problems taking your medication.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Sports drinks like Gatorade often help with leg cramps.

Here are some things to try for a leg cramps:

• Take a walk or swing your leg.
• Stretch the calf muscles. You can do this stretch while sitting or standing:
  • While sitting, straighten your leg and bend your foot towards the knee. You can place a rolled towel under the ball of your foot and, holding both ends of the towel, gently pull the towel towards you, keeping your knee straight.
  • Standing about 2 feet (0.6 m) from the wall, lean forward against the wall. Keep the knee of the affected leg straight and the heel on the ground. Do this while you bend the knee of the other leg.Take a look at the picture on how to do this calf stretch.

If you think a drug is causing muscle cramps:

• Before taking a new dose, call the doctor who prescribed this drug. The drug may need to be stopped or changed, or the dose may need to be adjusted.
• If you are taking any medicine that is not prescribed by your doctor, stop taking it. Talk to your doctor if you think you need to continue taking your medication.

How to prevent muscle cramps?

These tips can help prevent muscle cramps:

• Drink plenty of water and other liquids to keep your urine light yellow or clear, like water.
• Limit or avoid alcoholic beverages.
• Make sure you eat healthy foods (especially if you are pregnant) that are rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium.
• Ride a bike or stationary bike to strengthen and stretch your muscles.
• Stretch your muscles daily, especially before and after exercise, and before bed.
• Do not suddenly increase the amount of exercise; increase the load slightly each week.
• Take a daily multivitamin supplement.

If you are taking medicines that cause leg cramps, your doctor may prescribe other medicines.

What if muscle cramps return?

Talk to your doctor if you have recurring or severe muscle cramps.These could be symptoms of another problem, such as restless legs syndrome.

If your cramps come back, bother you badly, or interfere with sleep, your doctor may prescribe medication to relax your muscles.

References

Consultations on other works

• American Academy of Neurology (2010). Summary of the AAN Evidence-Based Clinician Guide: Symptomatic Treatment of Muscle Spasms. Available on the Internet: http: // www.aan.com/practice/guideline/uploads/394.pdf.
• American Academy of Neurology (2010). AAN’s Summary of Evidence-Based Guidelines for Patients and Families: Drug Treatment for Symptoms of Muscle Cramps. Available online: http://www.aan.com/practice/guideline/uploads/395.pdf.
• Katzberg HD et al. (2010). Evaluation: Symptomatic Treatment of Muscle Cramps (Evidence Based Review): Report of the Subcommittee on Therapy and Technology Evaluation of the American Academy of Neurology.Neurology, 74 (8): 691–696. Available online: http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/full/74/8/691.
• Young G (2014). Leg cramps. Clinical data BMJ. http: // clinicalevidence.bmj.com/x/systematic-review/1113/overview.html. As of April 14, 2016 90,040

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Current as of:
Aug 4, 2020

By Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Anne C. Poignier, Physician
Kathleen Romito, M.D. Family Medicine
Martin J.Gabika, MD, family medicine
Karin M. Lindholm D.O. – Neurology

As of: 4 August 2020

Author:
Healthy staff

Medical Review: Anne S. Poignier, Physician, Kathleen Romito, MD, Family Medicine, Martin J. Gabika, MD, Family Medicine, and Karin M. Lindholm, D.O. – neurology

muscle cramps | HealthLink BC

Topic overview

What are muscle cramps?

A muscle spasm is a violent, painful contraction or contraction of a muscle that occurs suddenly and lasts from a few seconds to several minutes.Often occurs in the legs. Muscle cramps are also called horse lunge.

Nocturnal leg cramps are usually sudden cramps or muscle tension in the lower leg. Muscle cramps can sometimes occur in the thigh or foot. They often occur when you fall asleep or wake up.

What causes muscle cramps?

The cause of muscle cramps is not always known. Muscle cramps can be caused by a variety of conditions or actions, for example:

• Exercise, injury or overuse of muscles.
• Pregnancy. Seizures can occur due to low levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, especially in the last months of pregnancy.
• Exposure to low temperatures, especially cold water.
• Other medical conditions such as blood flow problems (peripheral arterial disease), kidney disease, thyroid disease, and multiple sclerosis.
• Stand for a long time on a hard surface, sit for a long time or put your legs in an uncomfortable position while sleeping.
• Lack of potassium, calcium and other minerals in the blood.
• Dehydration means your body has lost too much fluid.
• Taking certain medications such as antipsychotics, birth control pills, diuretics, and steroids.

How to stop a muscle spasm if it happens?

You may need to try several different ways to stop muscle cramps before you find what works best for you.Here are some things you can try:

• Stretch and massage the muscles.
• Take a warm shower or bath to relax your muscles. A heating pad applied to the muscle may also help.
• Try ice or cold compress. Always keep the cloth between your skin and an ice pack.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as paracetamol (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Alev). Be careful with medications.Read and follow all label instructions.
• If your doctor prescribes medicines for muscle cramps, take them exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you have any problems with taking your medicine.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Sports drinks like Gatorade often help with leg cramps.

Here are some things to try for a leg cramps:

• Take a walk or swing your leg.
• Stretch the calf muscles. You can do this stretch while sitting or standing:
  • Sitting, straighten your leg and bend your foot towards the knee. You can place a rolled-up towel under the ball of your foot and, holding both ends of the towel, gently pull the towel towards you, keeping your knee straight.
  • Standing 0.5 m (2 feet) from the wall, lean forward against the wall. Keep the knee of the affected leg straight and the heel on the ground. Do this while you bend the knee of the other leg.Take a look at the picture on how to do this calf stretch.

If you think a drug is causing muscle cramps:

• Before taking a new dose, call the doctor who prescribed this medicine. The medication may need to be stopped or changed, or the dose may need to be adjusted.
• If you are taking a medicine that has not been prescribed by your doctor, stop taking it. Talk to your doctor if you think you need to continue taking your medication.

How to prevent muscle cramps?

These tips can help prevent muscle cramps:

• Drink plenty of water and other fluids to keep your urine light yellow or clear, like water.
• Limit or avoid alcohol or caffeine.
• Make sure you eat healthy foods (especially if you are pregnant) that are rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium.
• Ride a bike or stationary bike to strengthen and stretch your muscles.
• Stretch your muscles every day, especially before and after exercise, and before bed.
• Do not suddenly increase the amount of exercise. Increase the activity slightly each week.
• Take a multivitamin daily.

If you are taking medicines that cause leg cramps, your doctor may prescribe other medicines.