Other factors that may contribute to nighttime leg cramps include: Sedentary lifestyle. Muscles need to be stretched regularly to function properly. Sitting for long periods of time could make leg muscles more susceptible to cramping. Muscle overexertion. Too much exercise can create an overworked muscle and may be associated with muscle cramps.
Full Answer
How to prevent leg cramps and treat them at home?
- Get plenty of rest before and after exercise. ...
- If you get muscle cramps at night, wear thin socks to bed to promote smooth blood flow. ...
- Stretch, walk or do some light exercise for five minutes before going to bed. ...
- You can also drink a glass of warm milk daily before going to bed.
How do you prevent leg cramps?
Walking can also help to end the leg cramp, as it sends a message to the affected area to relax after excessive contraction. Hydration is key to avoid cramps, drinking water that preferably includes electrolytes. Magnesium can help to avoid this discomfort, for this it is recommended to consume nuts and seeds.
What are the reasons for leg cramps?
- Addison’s disease
- alcohol use disorder
- kidney failure
- thyroid issues
- Parkinson’s disease
- type 2 diabetes
- sarcoidosis
- cirrhosis
- vascular disease
What are home remedies for leg cramps at night?
Remedies for Night Cramps. Treatment for night leg cramps involves some simple steps to lessen the discomfort and reduce the pain: If you wake up with a leg cramp, the first thing you can do is lightly massage the affected muscles.
How do I stop my thighs from cramping at night?
What can I do to make leg cramps go away if they happen?Stretch. Straighten your leg and then flex it, pulling your toes towards your shin to stretch the muscles.Massage. Use your hands or a roller to massage the muscles.Stand. Get up. ... Walk. ... Apply heat. ... Apply cold. ... Pain killers. ... Elevate.
How do you get rid of cramps in your upper thigh?
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 heat or cold. Use a warm towel or heating pad on tense or tight muscles. Taking a warm bath or directing the stream of a hot shower onto the cramped muscle also can help.
Why do I get cramps in my thighs at night?
In general, night leg cramps are likely to be related to muscle fatigue and nerve problems. The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant women also have a higher likelihood of having night leg cramps.
What causes leg cramps in the upper thighs?
Main causes of cramps include dehydration, muscle overuse and muscle strain or trauma. The blood supply is compromised when you don't have enough fluids in your muscles. Cramps also can come from repeating a particular motion for a very long time, such as running.
What is the best vitamin for leg cramps?
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential for regulating your body's functioning. It's involved in more than 300 of your body's biochemical processes, including muscle contraction and nerve transmission. Magnesium is a widely used remedy for leg cramps.
Do bananas help with leg cramps?
Potassium is the main mineral known for cramp prevention. It's an essential mineral that can aid communication between muscles and nerves. Although potassium is often associated with bananas, those sweet fruits actually aren't a very high source, providing just nine percent of your daily recommended intake.
What is your body lacking when you have leg cramps?
Muscles need calcium to function properly, which is why a lack of calcium in your blood can lead to muscle-related complications, including muscle cramps and irregular heartbeat ( 12 ).
Does drinking water before bed prevent leg cramps?
It's been suggested that drinking 2 to 3 ounces of tonic water before bedtime can prevent leg cramps at night. Is that true? A. Tonic water—and the quinine it contains—have been promoted for preventing leg cramps for decades despite the lack of evidence that they are effective.
What medications cause leg cramps at night?
These medications can cause leg cramps in 3% of people who take them or less:Bupropion (Wellbutrin)Celecoxib (Celebrex)Cetirizine (Zyrtec)Fluoxetine (Prozac)Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)Pregabalin (Lyrica)Sertraline (Zoloft)Short-acting inhalers such as ipratropium/albuterol (Combivent) and levalbuterol (Xopenex).More items...•
What causes leg cramps?
Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries. Also, peripheral neuropathy: Damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can cause nerve damage, which may cause leg cramps. There are rumors that leg cramps can also be a sign of the following conditions.
What is leg cramps?
What are leg cramps? Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle pains usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as a “charley horse.”. Sometimes the cramp may cause your leg to spasm – to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps are generally harmless.
How to stop cramps in calves?
Try the following to prevent leg cramps in your calves: Stand about three feet (one meter) away from a wall. Lean forward. Touch the wall with your arms outstretched while keeping your feet flat. Count to five before you stop, and do it over and over again for at least five minutes.
How to treat a calf muscle?
Try forcefully stretching the affected muscle (for example, stretch your calf muscle by flexing your foot upward). Jiggle your leg, massage it, or force yourself to walk. It might also help to apply ice or heat – use a heating pad or take a warm bath. (Read the “Management and Treatment” section for more tips.)
What is the best medicine for leg cramps?
Under your healthcare provider’s watchful eye, you might want to try the following: Carisoprodol (Soma®): A muscle relaxant. Diltiazem (Cartia XT®): A calciuim-channel blocker.
What to do when you have a cramp?
When a cramp happens, try flexing the muscle, applying heat or ice and massaging the area . Appointments 866.588.2264.
Can leg cramps be a sign of a serious illness?
Leg cramps can sometimes be a symptom of a serious health condition. (See the “Symptoms and Causes” section.) If you are concerned that you have a serious health condition, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider and report your symptoms, including your leg cr amps.
What Are Leg Cramps?
Leg cramps are sharp, painful contractions that occur in leg muscles. When these cramps occur during sleep, they are called nocturnal leg cramps. Usually, the calves and feet are most affected. Nocturnal leg cramps are more prevalent in women and older adults, but anyone can experience them.
How Long Do Leg Cramps Last?
Nocturnal leg cramps can occur for as short as a few seconds, and they usually do not last longer than 10 minutes. You may feel soreness or reduced strength in your legs the day after your cramps. Stretching your calf or foot during the cramp may help relieve some of the intense pain.
Causes of Leg Cramps at Night
Leg cramps can be distressing and painful. Experiencing pain during the night can disrupt sleep. The exact causes of nocturnal leg cramps are unknown. However, there are some factors that may increase the chance of experiencing leg cramps during the night.
How to Reduce Leg Cramps at Night
Although the exact cause of nocturnal leg cramps is unknown, there are ways to reduce the likelihood that you will experience them. Typically, leg cramps do not indicate a serious health problem. However, if you are experiencing frequent leg cramping, you should reach out to your doctor.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
If you are experiencing cramping in your feet and calves frequently during the night that does not go away with changes in lifestyle or diet, consult your doctor. In many cases, the cause of nocturnal leg cramps is unknown. Some leg cramps could indicate a more serious underlying disease, however, including:
Why do my legs cramp at night?
Other factors that may contribute to nighttime leg cramps include: Sedentary lifestyle. Muscles need to be stretched regularly to function properly. Sitting for long periods of time could make leg muscles more susceptible to cramping.
What to do for cramps in legs?
Some evidence suggests that drinking a small amount of pickle juice may help relieve muscle cramps. Take an over-the-counter painkiller if your leg is sore after. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory ( NSAID) drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) can help relieve tenderness after a cramp.
How to get rid of leg cramps at night?
Most people who experience them don’t need medical treatment. You can try the following at home to try to relieve a cramp: Massage your leg. Rubbing the affected muscle may help it relax.
How to avoid leg cramps while sleeping?
The following tips may help you avoid leg cramps while sleeping: Drink plenty of fluids. Fluids allow for normal muscle function. You might need to adjust how much fluid you drink based on factors such as the weather, your age, activity level, and medication you’re taking. Stretch your legs.
How to get rid of nocturnal leg cramps?
Stretch your legs. Stretching your calves and hamstrings before bed can reduce the frequency and severity of nocturnal leg cramps. Ride a stationary bike. A few minutes of easy pedaling might help loosen up your leg muscles before you go to sleep. Change your sleeping position.
What is it called when you have a cramp in your leg?
Sometimes referred to as muscle spasms or charley horses , they occur when one or more of the muscles in the leg tighten involuntarily. Leg cramps most often affect the gastrocnemius muscle (calf muscle) which spans the back of each leg from the ankle to the knee. However, they can also affect the muscles at the front of each thigh ( quadriceps) ...
Can leg cramps be caused by foot position?
In most cases, nocturnal leg cramps are idiopathic, which means their exact cause isn’t known. Nighttime leg cramps may be related to foot position.
Can diuretics cause night leg cramps?
People who are taking certain medications, such as certain diuretics, might be more likely to have night leg cramps, although it's not known if there's a direct connection. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is sometimes confused with night leg cramps, but it's a separate condition. In general, pain is not a main feature of RLS, ...
Is RLS painful?
In general, pain is not a main feature of RLS, although some people describe their RLS as being painful. Other conditions that may sometimes be associated with night leg cramps may include:
Can you get night leg cramps while pregnant?
The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant women also have a higher likelihood of having night leg cramps. Several conditions, such as kidney failure and diabetic nerve damage, are known to cause night leg cramps. But if you have one of these, you're most likely aware of it and have symptoms other than night leg cramps.
Why do I get cramps in my legs?
If you're low in certain electrolytes and other minerals, that imbalance can trigger spontaneous cramping. An imbalance in sodium, calcium, magnesium, or potassium could all lead to leg cramping, says Gerardo Miranda-Comas, MD, associate program director of the sports medicine fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Sports drinks can help reduce cramps thanks to their sodium, as can eating wisely. Bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach, yogurt, and nuts are rich in those muscle-friendly minerals and may ward off the deficiencies that could cause leg cramps.
What are the causes of leg cramps?
If there's no obvious cause of your leg cramps, then you might want to take a look at any recent additions to your medication list, Dr. Sontag says. Diuretics, a class of medications used to lower blood pressure, may trigger cramps because they deplete the body of fluid and salts, he explains. Other medications that may cause leg cramps include osteoporosis drugs like raloxifene and teriparatide; intravenous iron sucrose (used to treat anemia); asthma medications like albuterol; conjugated estrogens (used to treat menopause symptoms); and pain meds like naproxen and pregabalin. Commonly prescribed statins are also associated with muscle cramps in general, he adds. Talk to your doctor if you started taking a new medication at the onset of your leg cramps; Dr. Sontag says he is usually able to find an alternative medication for his patients.
What causes numbness in the legs and feet?
Too-high blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes can lead to damage to the nerves in the legs, feet, arms, and hands called diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This nerve damage often leads to feelings of numbness or tingling, but it can also produce muscle twitching and full-blown leg cramps when the nerves in the legs aren't functioning properly. Diabetes treatment can help prevent any further nerve damage, but a doctor might recommend pain medication or anticonvulsant drugs to tamp down the leg cramps.
Can leg cramps be harmless?
These sudden, involuntary muscle contractions are common and usually harmless, but they can be excruciatingly painful . We asked experts to explain what causes leg cramps and how you can avoid them in the future.
What causes leg cramps?
toxins: in some people, high levels of toxic (poisonous) substances in the blood, such as lead or mercury, can cause leg cramps. dehydration.
How to stop leg cramps?
Preventing leg cramps. If you often get leg cramps, regularly stretching the muscles in your lower legs may help prevent the cramps or reduce their frequency. You might find it useful to stretch your calves before you go to bed each night (see stretching advice above or try this post-exercise calf stretch).
What is it called when your legs are tight?
About leg cramps. Leg cramps are a common and usually harmless condition where the muscles in your leg suddenly become tight and painful. It usually occurs in the calf muscles, although it can affect any part of your leg, including your feet and thighs. After the cramping has passed, you may have pain and tenderness in your leg for several hours.
How long does a cramp last?
This is known as a spasm, and you cannot control the affected muscle. The cramp can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. When the spasm passes, you will be able to control the affected muscle again.
How to stretch calf muscles?
To stretch your calf muscles, stand with the front half of your feet on a step, with your heels hanging off the edge. Slowly lower your heels so that they are below the level of the step. Hold for a few seconds before lifting your heels back up to the starting position. Repeat a number of times.
Can you take medication for leg cramps?
Medication is usually only needed in the most persistent cases where cramping does not respond to exercise. If you have secondary leg cramps, treating the underlying cause may help relieve your symptoms. Leg cramps that occur during pregnancy should pass after the baby is born.
Can you go to a GP for leg cramps?
If you only get leg cramps occasionally, it is not a cause for concern and a medical diagnosis is not required. A visit to your GP will only be necessary if you get leg cramps frequently, or if they are so painful they disrupt your sleep and you are unable to function normally the next day.
Why does my thigh hurt?
Thigh pain may be caused by a pinched spinal nerve. Both herniated lumbar discs and low back arthritis may pinch on the nerves that exit your spinal column and travel down your thigh. 1
What causes pain in the back of the thigh?
Overuse and repeated stress to your thigh muscles may cause inflammation in your tendons. This condition is known as tendonitis . Symptoms of quad or hamstring tendonitis include: Pain in the front or back of your thigh, usually near your knee or hip.
Why does my lower back hurt?
Weakness in your thigh muscles. Difficulty sitting or rising from sitting. Pinched nerves typically cause thigh pain that changes depending on your spine's position, so this can be a clue to your doctor that your low back is actually causing your thigh pain. 2.
What does it mean when you have a pain in your thigh?
Severe pain that limits your ability to function. If you are having difficulty walking normally due to your pain, visit your doctor. Pain that is accompanied by fever or malaise. This could be a sign of infection, and your doctor should check things out. Thigh pain with redness, swelling, and warmth of your skin.
How do you know if you have a blow to your thigh?
Symptoms from a blow to the thigh may include pain in the front or back of your thigh that worsens with activity. You may also have bruising. Bruising that does not improve within a few days or continues to worsen should be evaluated by your doctor to ensure no other injuries have occurred.
What is the band on the side of the thigh called?
Your iliotibial band is a thick piece of tissue and fascia (connective tissue densely packed with nerves) that runs down the outer side of your thigh. Sometimes it can become irritated with overuse or repeated stress. This is a common running injury known as iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBS) .
How to help thigh pain?
Exercise . Exercise has been proven to help thigh pain that involves your muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. This is known as your musculoskeletal system. If your pain is coming from your back, lumbar stretches and strengthening exercises may be done to relieve pressure from spinal nerves.