Leg Cramps At Night

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Last night as I was sleeping, i felt a pain (cramps) on my left leg. I cried in pain, could not move and do anything. That is why I researched a little bit online, and wanted to share it with everybody. So you can also avoid night leg cramps. Nocturnal leg cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions of the calf muscles that occur during the night or while at rest. The cramps can affect persons in any age-group, but they tend to occur in middle-aged and older populations. Sometimes muscles in the soles of the feet also cramp. Research has not identified precisely what causes nighttime muscle cramps. The problem is most likely with the nerves controlling the muscles rather than with the muscles themselves. Some research points to a problem with the transition from wakefulness to sleep. Many individuals who have nocturnal leg cramps have them at the time of dreaming. That's why some researchers think that these cramps result from a subtle malfunction in the control system that normally separates our brain from the body movements we make in our dreams. However, most scientists believe that the problem is not a disorder within the brain. Sometimes the cramps are caused by overexertion of the muscles, structural disorders (flat feet), standing on concrete, prolonged sitting, inappropriate leg positions while sedentary, or dehydration. Doctors do know that those who are more muscular seem to have more leg cramps. Less common causes include diabetes, Parkinson's disease, hypoglycemia, anemia, thyroid and endocrine disorders and use of some medications. Low levels of certain minerals known as electrolytes—magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium—have long been linked to leg cramps. (Marathon runners sweating out the miles are particularly prone to this variety.) Certain drugs, such as diuretics have also been cited as a cause of leg cramps. Dialysis patients often complain of leg cramps, and pregnancy is also a factor. To prevent cramping consider the regular use of supplements, especially calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium (only if your sodium intake is low or if you sweat a lot). Stretching your calves regularly during the day and at night will help. You can often prevent night cramps by exhausting the stretch reflex before you go to bed by stretching your calf muscles with wall pushups and applying a heating pad for 10 minutes before going to bed. Keeping blankets loose at the foot of the bed will help prevent unnatural positioning of your feet and toes which can cause night time cramping. When cramping occurs, try walking on the affected leg and then elevate it. Stretch your calf by grabbing your toes and pulling them upward toward your knee, especially with you leg extended straight. Take a hot shower or warm bath, or apply an ice massage to the cramped muscle. Persistent or severe leg cramps often are treated with medication. Such medications include diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl), simple muscle relaxants such as meprobamate (Equanil, Miltown) and verapamil hydrochloride (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan). Quinine, while effective, has too many side effects and has been banned in the US for this use. Recommendations for Leg Cramps At Night: Diet C466089.html - KC466089.html - KDairy Products Avoidance There is some information suggesting that milk may make leg cramps worse due to an underlying calcium deficiency. Milk does not make a good calcium replacement source because of the amount of phosphorus it contains. Pregnant women and others who get legs cramps due to low calcium levels should reduce milk intake, because drinking milk does not correct the underlying imbalances in calcium and phosphorus. The most common cause of nocturnal leg cramps is calcium deficiency. Non-phosphate containing calcium supplements should be used if low calcium is suspected. However, some people are helped by taking milk before bed. One person writes that "Both my son and I have severe nocturnal leg cramps if we eat cheese, milk,,etc. Even the 'hidden' lactose added to sweetened sausages has this effect…" Drug C466089.html - KC466089.html - KGHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate) An IND (Investigational New Drug Application) has been filed with the FDA for GHB's proposed action on reducing nocturnal myoclonus (painful leg cramps at night). Habits C466089.html - KC466089.html - KAerobic Exercise Exercise, such as riding a stationary bicycle for a few minutes before bedtime, can help prevent cramps from developing during the night, especially if you do not get a lot of exercise during the day. Mineral C466089.html - KC466089.html - KCalcium Both calcium and magnesium are involved in relaxing nerve impulses and regulating muscle activity. Calcium is needed to contract the muscle, and magnesium is needed to relax it. An imbalance in this dynamic duo can irritate and confuse the muscle. Oxygen / Oxidative Therapies C466089.html - KC466089.html - KOxygen There are some reports that muscle cramps at night may be associated with shallow breathing, or the oxygen depravation from sleep apnea. Try taking several deep breaths at the first sign of cramping to see if more oxygen helps. Physical Medicine C466089.html - KC466089.html - KHydrotherapy Vitamins C466089.html - KC466089.html - KVitamin E Nocturnal leg cramping often responds to 400-800iu of vitamin E per day. In one of the largest studies, 103 of 125 people who had been experiencing leg and foot cramps at night reported relief after taking vitamin E. A daily dose of 300iu was effective for half of the participants, while the others required 400iu or more for relief. C466089.html - KC466089.html - KVitamin D Here is the story of one man's journey to find an answer for his night time leg cramps: 'I need to tell you about my quest for nocturnal leg cramp relief and how I achieved it. I am a healthy 60 year old male who five years ago, was being treated for hypertension. The doctors were giving me medicines to treat this and then a heart specialist put me on some kind of diuretic. I don't remember the name of it but it was a small white pill. I think this caused some type of electrolytic imbalance because not more than two weeks into this treatment I started being awakened in the early mornings (4AM) by painful calf cramping. I was also having cramps in the arch of my feet. It was so bad that I had to jump out of bed and walk around the bedroom for relief. Even quiting the treatment didn't cure the cramping. These are not the kind of fatigue cramps that I've had in my large muscles, such as thigh or hamstring which can be cured with quinine sulfate tablets, these come right out of the blue and are very strong. The GP doctors that I complained to kind of poo poo'ed my problem and told me I should get plenty of potassium and calcium etc. I loaded up on these minerals (calcium, magnesium, and potassium) and it reduced the problem by about 20%. This went on for YEARS before I told a co-worker about this problem and he said "Oh, You need vitamin D". I started taking a 400IU vitamin D pill daily along with a Calcium tablet and IMMEDIATELY stopped having these nightly cramps. I think this cure is remarkable and have never seen this reported in any article about leg cramps and hoping that I am telling the right people. Someone should launch a study on this."