Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Leg cramps

  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps happen when a muscle in the leg tightens and causes a sudden pain that can make it hard to move. […] The cramps can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. […] After the cramp has stopped, the muscle might feel sore for up to 24 hours. […] Non-urgent advice: See a GP if: leg cramps are disturbing your sleep, you also have numbness or swelling in your legs, cramps last longer than 10 minutes. […] A GP will examine you to try to find out the reason for your leg cramps. […] They will suggest a treatment depending on the cause.

• #2 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #3 Muscle cramp | Better Health Channel

  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/muscle-cramp

  A muscle cramp is an uncontrollable and painful spasm of a muscle. […] The symptoms of a muscle cramp include: sudden sensation of uncontrollable and painful spasms in the muscle, muscle twitching. […] Regular cramping or severe cramping that lasts longer than a few minutes should always be investigated by your doctor. […] Most muscle cramps resolve after a few seconds or minutes. […] See your doctor if you experience regular muscle cramping or if cramps last longer than a few minutes.

• #4 Muscle Cramps – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499895/

  Muscle cramps result in continuous, involuntary, painful, and localized contraction of an entire muscle group, individual single muscle, or select muscle fibers. Generally, the cramp can last from minutes to a few seconds for idiopathic or known causes with healthy subjects or in the presence of diseases. Palpating the muscle area of the cramp will reveal a knot. […] Exercise-associated muscle cramps are the most frequent condition requiring medical/therapeutic intervention during sports. The specific etiology is not well understood and possible causes depend on the physiological or pathological situation in which the cramps appear. It is important to note that a painful contraction that is limited to a specific area does not mean that the cause of the onset of the cramp is necessarily local.

• #5 Muscle Cramp: Types, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

  https://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/article.htm

  Muscle cramps can occur in any muscle; cramps of the leg muscles and feet are particularly common. […] Muscle cramps can last from a few seconds to a quarter of an hour or occasionally longer. It is not uncommon for a cramp to recur multiple times until it finally resolves. […] Muscle cramps are extremely common. Almost everyone (one estimate is about 95%) experiences a cramp at some time in their life. Muscle cramps are common in adults and become increasingly frequent with aging. However, children also experience cramps in their muscles. […] Cramps at rest are very common, especially in older adults, but may be experienced at any age, including childhood. Rest muscle cramps often occur at night. While not life-threatening, night cramps (commonly known as nocturnal cramps) can be painful and disrupt sleep, and they can recur frequently (that is, many times a night, and/or many nights each week). What causes leg cramps at night? The actual cause of night cramps is unknown.

• #6 Healthy Aging: Muscle Cramps & Spasms | MUSC Health | Charleston SC

  https://muschealth.org/medical-services/geriatrics-and-aging/healthy-aging/cramps-and-spasms

  Cramps occur commonly, it is estimated that 60 percent of adults have cramps from time to time. The frequency increases as we age. Women suffer more than men with nighttime cramps. […] The intense use of the muscles and the dehydration that occurs with perspiration together create the risk of cramping. The loss of electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and calcium with perspiration will lead to cramping of muscles. […] Pain in muscles that is not true cramping can occur with walking if there is claudication, which is a circulatory disorder causing inadequate blood supply to the muscles used in walking. […] Muscle spasms and cramping are increasingly common as we age.

• #7 Nocturnal Leg Cramps | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2012/0815/p350.html

  Up to 60 percent of adults report that they have had nocturnal leg cramps. The recurrent, painful tightening usually occurs in the calf muscles and can cause severe insomnia. […] Nocturnal leg cramps are reported by 50 to 60 percent of adults and by approximately 7 percent of children. They are slightly more common in women, and the prevalence increases with age. Up to 20 percent of patients who experience leg cramps have daily symptoms that are bothersome enough for the patient to seek medical attention. […] Leg cramps are painful and incapacitating, lasting an average of nine minutes per episode. The acute episode may be followed by hours of recurrent episodes and residual pain. Leg cramps are usually nocturnal and are associated with secondary insomnia. […] The precise mechanism of leg cramps is unknown, but several myopathic, neurologic, and metabolic causes have been suggested. Most cases of leg cramps are idiopathic.

• #8 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #9 Leg cramps – myDr.com.au

  https://mydr.com.au/sports-fitness/leg-cramps/

  Most people have suffered the excruciatingly painful experience of a leg cramp at least once in their life, often in bed at night. A cramp is a painful spasm of the muscle, usually in the calf, but sometimes in the foot or thigh muscles. During a cramp, the affected muscle feels very hard. […] Muscle cramps are a sudden, painful spasm or contraction (shortening) of a muscle. The cramp is involuntary you have no control over the muscle spasm. Cramps often happen at night, and can wake you from sleep. […] Cramps usually only last a few seconds or minutes. The affected muscle will usually look or feel as if in a knot and may be in an unusual position (for example, your toes may be sticking up, down or to the side). […] Cramps usually get better when you stretch the affected muscles. Walking around often helps relieve foot cramps. After cramps, the affected muscles may be sore and tender for a few hours. Sometimes there is even muscle swelling afterwards.

• #10 Understanding Leg Cramps: Symptoms, Triggers, & Treatments

  https://www.ithriveveins.com/vein-disease-symptoms/leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are a common, yet often misunderstood, issue that affects people of all ages and lifestyles. They can range from mild discomfort to excruciating pain, causing unnecessary distress when they occur. […] Muscle cramps, also known as leg cramps, are sudden and involuntary contractions of the leg muscles that cause pain. This cramp feels like the muscle is tightening into a knot, leading to discomfort or even agony. These cramps often occur during sleep, hence the term „night leg cramps”. Most cramps last for a few seconds to 10 minutes, but the affected muscles may ache for hours after the cramp subsides. […] Nocturnal leg cramps are a common occurrence that affects the calf muscles during sleep. Symptoms include sudden, painful muscle contractions, often involving the calf or foot.

• #11 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #12 Understanding the Causes and Symptoms of Leg Cramps – Atlas Pain Specialists

  https://atlaspainspecialists.com/causes-and-symptoms-of-leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps, commonly referred to as muscle spasms or Charley horses, are abrupt and often agonizing occurrences that catch individuals off guard, leaving them in search of immediate relief. […] Understanding the symptoms of leg cramps and recognizing their telltale signs empowers individuals to take proactive measures to alleviate discomfort and minimize the impact of these episodes on their daily lives. […] Here are the common symptoms associated with leg cramps: […] Leg cramps typically begin abruptly with a sharp or stabbing pain in the affected muscle. This pain can range from mild to severe and may intensify rapidly. […] During a leg cramp, the affected muscle may feel extremely tight and tense, as though it is contracting uncontrollably. This tightness can be visibly noticeable, with the muscle appearing visibly bulged or knotted.

• #13 What Causes Leg Cramps? Symptoms, Triggers, Treatments, and More

  https://www.healthline.com/health/pain-relief/what-causes-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps can occur due to dehydration or overexertion. Frequent leg cramps can occur with certain health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or kidney failure, or while taking certain medications. […] Leg cramps can be excruciating. They often attack when youre sound asleep, waking you with a violent reaction, worsened only by the shock of their arrival. […] Your muscles cramp when they involuntarily contract. This usually feels like a painful knot on your leg muscle and renders it momentarily immobile. […] Leg cramps are most common in the calf muscle, but they can also happen in the thighs or feet. […] Normally, leg cramps last just a few moments before the muscle loosens up and the pain dissipates. […] Some experts say muscle fatigue is the leading cause of leg cramps. The risks are even higher when these muscles are fatigued in hot weather or when you dont stay hydrated.

• #14 Muscle Cramps – OrthoInfo – AAOS

  https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/muscle-cramps

  Muscle cramps range in intensity from a slight tic (twitching) to agonizing pain. […] A cramping muscle may feel hard to the touch and/or appear visibly distorted or twitch beneath the skin. […] A cramp can last a few seconds to 15 minutes or longer. It might recur multiple times before it goes away.

• #15 Muscle Spasms (Muscle Cramps): Causes, Treatment & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/muscle-spasms-muscle-cramps

  Muscle spasms can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, it might feel like your muscle is jumping around on its own. Sometimes, you might even see your muscle twitching. In severe cases, it might feel like your entire muscle stiffens up into a tight ball. (This happens a lot with leg cramps.) If a cramp is particularly painful, you might even have lingering discomfort in that area for a day or two. […] Muscle spasms can worsen and happen more frequently with age. Preventive techniques, like the exercises outlined above, can reduce your overall risk for muscle spasms. […] See your healthcare provider if the spasms are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you develop: Significant pain. […] Leg cramps that wake you up at night. […] Severe muscle cramps all over your body could indicate an electrolyte imbalance or a serious underlying medical condition like atherosclerosis, thyroid disease or multiple sclerosis (MS). If you develop this type of cramping, head to your local emergency room.

• #16 Muscle cramp | Better Health Channel

  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/muscle-cramp

  A muscle cramp is an uncontrollable and painful spasm of a muscle. […] The symptoms of a muscle cramp include: sudden sensation of uncontrollable and painful spasms in the muscle, muscle twitching. […] Regular cramping or severe cramping that lasts longer than a few minutes should always be investigated by your doctor. […] Most muscle cramps resolve after a few seconds or minutes. […] See your doctor if you experience regular muscle cramping or if cramps last longer than a few minutes.

• #17 Understanding the Causes and Symptoms of Leg Cramps – Atlas Pain Specialists

  https://atlaspainspecialists.com/causes-and-symptoms-of-leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps can restrict movement in the affected leg, making it challenging to extend or flex the muscles. Individuals may experience difficulty walking or bearing weight on the affected leg during a cramp. […] After the leg cramp subsides, the affected muscle may continue to feel sore and tender for some time. This soreness is similar to the feeling of post-exercise muscle soreness and can persist for several hours or even days. […] Individuals who experience leg cramps may have recurrent episodes, particularly during certain activities or at specific times, such as during sleep or after vigorous exercise. […] In some cases, muscle twitching or spasms may accompany leg cramps, adding to the sensation of discomfort and tightness in the affected area. […] The duration of leg cramp symptoms can vary, with some cramps lasting only a few seconds while others persist for several minutes. The intensity and duration of symptoms may depend on the underlying cause of the cramp and individual factors such as hydration levels and muscle health.

• #18 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #19 Muscle Cramps (Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment)

  https://patient.info/doctor/muscle-cramps

  Muscle cramps are very common and 'cramp’ is usually taken to mean 'a spasmodic, painful, involuntary contraction of skeletal muscle’. Cramps usually last for a few seconds (but may last up to several minutes) and cease spontaneously, although pain and tenderness may persist for several hours afterwards. […] Most leg cramps occur when at rest during the night, but some people experience daytime cramps, especially if there is an underlying cause. […] Up to 60% of adults report that they have had nocturnal leg cramps. The problem is often distressing, impacting on sleep, and has an adverse effect on quality of life. […] Pregnant women – up to 30% of women can be affected by leg cramps during pregnancy. […] Most often, cramps involve the calf or thigh muscles and small muscles of the foot. Of these, the most commonly affected is the calf and it tends to be unilateral.

• #20 Muscle Cramps – Neurologic Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/symptoms-of-neurologic-disorders/muscle-cramps

  A muscle cramp (charley horse) is a sudden, brief, involuntary, painful contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Cramps commonly occur in healthy people (usually middle-aged and older adults), sometimes during rest, but particularly during or after exercise or at night (including during sleep). Leg cramps at night usually occur in the calf and cause plantar flexion of the foot and toes, but cramping of other muscle groups is also possible. […] The most common types of leg cramps are benign idiopathic leg cramps (leg cramps in the absence of a causative disorder, typically at night) and exercise-associated muscle cramping (cramps during or immediately after exercise). […] Although almost everyone has muscle cramps at some time, certain factors increase the risk and severity of cramps.

• #21 Causes and Treatments for Nighttime Leg Pain | TYLENOL®

  https://www.tylenol.com/adult-relief/sleeplessness/leg-pain-at-night

  Have you ever had your sleep disturbed by a sudden cramp or leg pain during the night? Youre not alone. In fact up to 60% of adults have experienced uncomfortable leg cramps at night. These intense muscle pains sometimes known as charley horses are usually felt in your calf, foot or thigh, lasting anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes at a time. However, they can have a lasting impact on your sleep pattern and daily routine, especially if they happen frequently. […] People may experience muscle cramps, intense pain or aching legs at night across a variety of areas. Different types of leg pain while sleeping include: Calf cramps at night these tend to be the most common. They usually involve your gastrocnemius or soleus muscles, but can also affect other parts of your leg. Foot pain the muscles in the sole of your foot function the same way as your calf muscles, so some nocturnal cramps may cause a tightening here. Thigh aches you may experience thigh pain at night from nocturnal cramps. Aching knees at night these could be a sign of injury, inflammation or arthritis. A combination of knee and ankle pain at night can also be an indication.

• #22 Leg cramps | NHS inform

  https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints/leg-and-foot-problems-and-conditions/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps are a common and usually harmless condition. They cause the muscles in your leg to suddenly become tight and painful. A leg cramp is an episode of sudden pain in the muscles of the leg. Its caused by an involuntary contracting (shortening) of the leg muscle. Cramps usually occur in the calf muscles, although they can affect any part of your leg. This includes your feet and thighs. Cramps can last from a few seconds up to 10 minutes. Thigh muscle cramps tend to last the longest. During a cramping episode, the affected muscles will become tight and painful and the feet and toes will be stiff. After the cramping has passed, you may have pain and tenderness in your leg for several hours. Cramps often happen during the night when youre sleeping. […] Leg cramps might be a sign of a more serious health condition.

• #23 Leg cramps

  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps happen when a muscle in the leg tightens and causes a sudden pain that can make it hard to move. […] The cramps can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. […] After the cramp has stopped, the muscle might feel sore for up to 24 hours. […] Non-urgent advice: See a GP if: leg cramps are disturbing your sleep, you also have numbness or swelling in your legs, cramps last longer than 10 minutes. […] A GP will examine you to try to find out the reason for your leg cramps. […] They will suggest a treatment depending on the cause.

• #24 Leg cramps | NHS inform

  https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints/leg-and-foot-problems-and-conditions/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps are a common and usually harmless condition. They cause the muscles in your leg to suddenly become tight and painful. A leg cramp is an episode of sudden pain in the muscles of the leg. Its caused by an involuntary contracting (shortening) of the leg muscle. Cramps usually occur in the calf muscles, although they can affect any part of your leg. This includes your feet and thighs. Cramps can last from a few seconds up to 10 minutes. Thigh muscle cramps tend to last the longest. During a cramping episode, the affected muscles will become tight and painful and the feet and toes will be stiff. After the cramping has passed, you may have pain and tenderness in your leg for several hours. Cramps often happen during the night when youre sleeping. […] Leg cramps might be a sign of a more serious health condition.

• #25 Nocturnal Leg Cramps | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2012/0815/p350.html

  Up to 60 percent of adults report that they have had nocturnal leg cramps. The recurrent, painful tightening usually occurs in the calf muscles and can cause severe insomnia. […] Nocturnal leg cramps are reported by 50 to 60 percent of adults and by approximately 7 percent of children. They are slightly more common in women, and the prevalence increases with age. Up to 20 percent of patients who experience leg cramps have daily symptoms that are bothersome enough for the patient to seek medical attention. […] Leg cramps are painful and incapacitating, lasting an average of nine minutes per episode. The acute episode may be followed by hours of recurrent episodes and residual pain. Leg cramps are usually nocturnal and are associated with secondary insomnia. […] The precise mechanism of leg cramps is unknown, but several myopathic, neurologic, and metabolic causes have been suggested. Most cases of leg cramps are idiopathic.

• #26 Muscle Spasms (Muscle Cramps): Causes, Treatment & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/muscle-spasms-muscle-cramps

  Muscle spasms can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, it might feel like your muscle is jumping around on its own. Sometimes, you might even see your muscle twitching. In severe cases, it might feel like your entire muscle stiffens up into a tight ball. (This happens a lot with leg cramps.) If a cramp is particularly painful, you might even have lingering discomfort in that area for a day or two. […] Muscle spasms can worsen and happen more frequently with age. Preventive techniques, like the exercises outlined above, can reduce your overall risk for muscle spasms. […] See your healthcare provider if the spasms are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you develop: Significant pain. […] Leg cramps that wake you up at night. […] Severe muscle cramps all over your body could indicate an electrolyte imbalance or a serious underlying medical condition like atherosclerosis, thyroid disease or multiple sclerosis (MS). If you develop this type of cramping, head to your local emergency room.

• #27 Cramp – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cramp

  A cramp usually goes away on its own over several seconds or (sometimes) minutes. […] Cramps are common and tend to occur at rest, usually at night (nocturnal leg cramps). […] The duration of nocturnal leg cramps is variable, with cramps lasting anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. […] Muscle soreness may remain after the cramp itself ends. […] These cramps are more common in older people. […] They can, however, vary in intensity from mild to extremely painful. […] It may take up to a week for the muscle to return to a pain-free state, depending on the person’s fitness level, age, and several other factors.

• #28 Leg cramps | NHS inform

  https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints/leg-and-foot-problems-and-conditions/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps are a common and usually harmless condition. They cause the muscles in your leg to suddenly become tight and painful. A leg cramp is an episode of sudden pain in the muscles of the leg. Its caused by an involuntary contracting (shortening) of the leg muscle. Cramps usually occur in the calf muscles, although they can affect any part of your leg. This includes your feet and thighs. Cramps can last from a few seconds up to 10 minutes. Thigh muscle cramps tend to last the longest. During a cramping episode, the affected muscles will become tight and painful and the feet and toes will be stiff. After the cramping has passed, you may have pain and tenderness in your leg for several hours. Cramps often happen during the night when youre sleeping. […] Leg cramps might be a sign of a more serious health condition.

• #29 Frequency of Nocturnal Leg Cramp Symptoms and Gender Comparison of Stress, Physical Activity and Sleep Disturbances in Middle Aged Adults with Nocturnal Leg Cramps – Turkish Journal of Sleep Medicine

  https://jtsm.org/articles/frequency-of-nocturnal-leg-cramp-symptoms-and-gender-comparison-of-stress-physical-activity-and-sleep-disturbances-in-middle-aged-adults-with-nocturnal-leg-cramps/doi/jtsm.galenos.2022.59454

  The study concludes that majority of the participants experienced all symptoms of the nocturnal leg cramps, whereas leg cramps were the most frequent symptom. Furthermore, females suffering from nocturnal leg cramp reported higher levels of stress compared with males. […] Nocturnal leg cramps (sleep related cramps) are sudden, involuntary tightening and painful sensations experienced in the lower limb mainly the calf muscles during rest at night or during day time with periods of pain afterwards. The duration of these cramps vary from several seconds to minutes. […] Patients with frequent nocturnal leg cramps may experience severe distress and night-time sleep disruption. Literature has reported that patients whose sleep had been disrupted by nocturnal cramps are unable to sleep for months except in an armchair.

• #30 Leg cramps at night: Causes, risk factors, and how to stop them

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326327

  Leg cramps at night, or nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs), can occur due to inactivity during the day, tired muscles, or certain medical conditions. Treatment can include medication and stretching the muscle. […] NLCs, also called charley horses, are uncontrolled spasms in the muscles of the leg that may be painful. The spasms typically occur in the calf muscles, though they may also appear in the thighs or feet. […] Leg cramps are involuntary muscle spasms anywhere in the leg, though they are most common in the calf. The muscle tenses up, causing discomfort or moderate to severe pain and tightness in the area. […] NLCs may also lead to other issues. It can disrupt sleep and break a persons sleep cycle, which can make them feel tired or lethargic the next day. Leg cramps may make it very difficult to fall asleep, and this could lead to issues such as insomnia over time. […] As people age, they may also be more likely to have leg cramps at night. Research suggests that at least 37% of people over the age of 60 get NLCs. […] Anyone experiencing regular leg cramps at night for prolonged periods should contact a doctor for a full diagnosis.

• #31 Leg cramps – myDr.com.au

  https://mydr.com.au/sports-fitness/leg-cramps/

  Most people have suffered the excruciatingly painful experience of a leg cramp at least once in their life, often in bed at night. A cramp is a painful spasm of the muscle, usually in the calf, but sometimes in the foot or thigh muscles. During a cramp, the affected muscle feels very hard. […] Muscle cramps are a sudden, painful spasm or contraction (shortening) of a muscle. The cramp is involuntary you have no control over the muscle spasm. Cramps often happen at night, and can wake you from sleep. […] Cramps usually only last a few seconds or minutes. The affected muscle will usually look or feel as if in a knot and may be in an unusual position (for example, your toes may be sticking up, down or to the side). […] Cramps usually get better when you stretch the affected muscles. Walking around often helps relieve foot cramps. After cramps, the affected muscles may be sore and tender for a few hours. Sometimes there is even muscle swelling afterwards.

• #32 Leg cramps – myDr.com.au

  https://mydr.com.au/sports-fitness/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps (especially night cramps) seem to affect people more as they get older, usually affecting the calf muscles in the legs. […] Pregnant women are also prone to cramps, especially in the second and third trimesters. Pregnancy-related cramps also usually happen at night and affect the calf muscles. […] Most leg cramps have no known cause and are not serious. These cramps sometimes called true cramps are thought to be due to spontaneous overactivity of the nerves that supply certain muscles. […] Cramps that affect muscles other than the calf and foot muscles are more likely to have an underlying cause. […] Taking certain medicines (such as some medicines used to treat high blood pressure) can also increase the likelihood of you having leg cramps. […] If youre experiencing frequent leg cramps or having cramps in other muscles, see your doctor. Also see your doctor if: you are having leg cramps that are regularly disturbing your sleep; your cramps are not responding to simple self-care measures; you have diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease; youre concerned that the cramps may be related to medicines you are taking; you have associated muscle weakness; or the cramps are affecting a leg thats swollen, red or has skin changes.

• #33 Leg cramps

  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps happen when a muscle in the leg tightens and causes a sudden pain that can make it hard to move. […] The cramps can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. […] After the cramp has stopped, the muscle might feel sore for up to 24 hours. […] Non-urgent advice: See a GP if: leg cramps are disturbing your sleep, you also have numbness or swelling in your legs, cramps last longer than 10 minutes. […] A GP will examine you to try to find out the reason for your leg cramps. […] They will suggest a treatment depending on the cause.

• #34 Leg cramps

  https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps happen when a muscle in the leg shortens and causes a sudden pain that can make it hard to move. The cramps can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. After the cramp has stopped, the muscle might feel sore for up to 24 hours. […] Leg cramps are common, usually harmless and only last a short time. They can happen at any time, but most people have them at night or when resting. […] Regularly stretching your calf muscles may help to reduce leg cramps. But it may not completely stop them from happening. […] Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if: leg cramps are disturbing your sleep, you also have numbness or swelling in your legs, leg cramps last longer than 10 minutes, you have any other symptoms or concerns.

• #35 Healthy Aging: Muscle Cramps & Spasms | MUSC Health | Charleston SC

  https://muschealth.org/medical-services/geriatrics-and-aging/healthy-aging/cramps-and-spasms

  One of the many things to go wrong as we age is the unwanted and often painful involuntary contraction of muscles in our legs and sometimes other areas. If the contraction is sustained for more than several seconds it moves from being a muscle in spasm to a muscle cramp. The most important sign is intense pain caused by the extreme tightening of the muscle. The pain is localized at the site of the muscle. There may be tenderness on touching the muscle with ones hands. There always is the sensation of a tense or tight muscle that feels very hard compared to other relaxed muscles. The spasm may last only a few seconds or up to 15 minutes. The longer the cramp lasts the more likely the muscle will be sore for a prolonged period after the acute pain has subsided. The cramps can and often do impair function, for example, writers cramp occurs in muscles of the hand making it impossible to write. Or, there can be cramps in leg muscles that make walking or running difficult. The most common site of a cramp as we age is in the calf.

• #36 Muscle Cramp: Types, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

  https://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/article.htm

  Characteristically, a cramp is painful, often severely so. Usually, the sufferer must stop whatever activity is underway and seek relief from the cramp; the person is unable to use the affected muscle while it is cramping. […] Severe cramps may be associated with soreness and swelling, which can occasionally persist up to several days after the cramp has subsided. At the time of cramping, the knotted muscle will bulge, feel very firm, and maybe tender. […] Although cramps can be a great nuisance, they are a benign condition. Their importance is limited to the discomfort and inconvenience they cause, or to the diseases associated with them. Careful attention to the preceding recommendations will greatly diminish the problem of cramps for most individuals. Those with persistent or severe muscle cramps should seek medical attention.

• #37 Leg cramps – myDr.com.au

  https://mydr.com.au/sports-fitness/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps (especially night cramps) seem to affect people more as they get older, usually affecting the calf muscles in the legs. […] Pregnant women are also prone to cramps, especially in the second and third trimesters. Pregnancy-related cramps also usually happen at night and affect the calf muscles. […] Most leg cramps have no known cause and are not serious. These cramps sometimes called true cramps are thought to be due to spontaneous overactivity of the nerves that supply certain muscles. […] Cramps that affect muscles other than the calf and foot muscles are more likely to have an underlying cause. […] Taking certain medicines (such as some medicines used to treat high blood pressure) can also increase the likelihood of you having leg cramps. […] If youre experiencing frequent leg cramps or having cramps in other muscles, see your doctor. Also see your doctor if: you are having leg cramps that are regularly disturbing your sleep; your cramps are not responding to simple self-care measures; you have diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease; youre concerned that the cramps may be related to medicines you are taking; you have associated muscle weakness; or the cramps are affecting a leg thats swollen, red or has skin changes.

• #38 Leg Cramps at Night? Here’s What You Need to Know – Elite Vein Clinic

  https://eliteveinclinic.com/blog/leg-cramps/

  Most people have experienced a muscle cramp at some point in their lives. […] But one particularly bothersome type is nocturnal leg cramps. […] This condition, sometimes referred to as rest cramps, affects millions of people. Up to 37% of the population experience nocturnal leg cramps. […] Nocturnal leg cramps are an occasional occurrence for most. But for some people, these cramps can be debilitating, interrupting sleep and impacting quality of life. […] However, experiencing leg cramps at night can lead to further complications: Muscle soreness. After a leg cramp episode, the muscles can remain sore afterward. This can reduce mobility and interfere with daily activities like walking. […] Falling. Sudden cramps might cause you to lose your balance and fall out of bed if you try to stand. This can lead to bruising, sprains, and fractures. This is more common for seniors.

• #39 Leg Cramps at Night? Here’s What You Need to Know – Elite Vein Clinic

  https://eliteveinclinic.com/blog/leg-cramps/

  Sleep disruption. Leg cramps can cause you to wake up several times at night, reducing sleep quality. […] Anxiety. If regular leg cramps keep you awake, going to bed may seem stressful. You could have trouble relaxing and falling asleep. […] While leg cramps can be more than an uncomfortable moment, they could be a sign of a potential decline in quality of life.

• #40 Muscle Cramps – Neurologic Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/symptoms-of-neurologic-disorders/muscle-cramps

  A muscle cramp (charley horse) is a sudden, brief, involuntary, painful contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Cramps commonly occur in healthy people (usually middle-aged and older adults), sometimes during rest, but particularly during or after exercise or at night (including during sleep). Leg cramps at night usually occur in the calf and cause plantar flexion of the foot and toes, but cramping of other muscle groups is also possible. […] The most common types of leg cramps are benign idiopathic leg cramps (leg cramps in the absence of a causative disorder, typically at night) and exercise-associated muscle cramping (cramps during or immediately after exercise). […] Although almost everyone has muscle cramps at some time, certain factors increase the risk and severity of cramps.

• #41 Muscle Cramps (Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment)

  https://patient.info/doctor/muscle-cramps

  Muscle cramps are very common and 'cramp’ is usually taken to mean 'a spasmodic, painful, involuntary contraction of skeletal muscle’. Cramps usually last for a few seconds (but may last up to several minutes) and cease spontaneously, although pain and tenderness may persist for several hours afterwards. […] Most leg cramps occur when at rest during the night, but some people experience daytime cramps, especially if there is an underlying cause. […] Up to 60% of adults report that they have had nocturnal leg cramps. The problem is often distressing, impacting on sleep, and has an adverse effect on quality of life. […] Pregnant women – up to 30% of women can be affected by leg cramps during pregnancy. […] Most often, cramps involve the calf or thigh muscles and small muscles of the foot. Of these, the most commonly affected is the calf and it tends to be unilateral.

• #42 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #43 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #44 Leg Cramps: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

  https://www.genexa.com/blog/leg-cramps-symptoms-causes-and-treatment

  All in all, its pretty easy to tell if you or your child experiences a leg cramp. Although they are overall harmless, leg cramps can feel really bad and can debilitate you for a short period of time. Even after the leg cramp fully subsides, its not uncommon to feel a little tenderness or pain in your leg for a few hours afterward. […] Fortunately, leg cramps don’t usually last for too long. The majority of leg cramps only last for a few seconds, although they may recur in smaller spasms as well, gradually lowering in intensity and pain over time. Rare leg cramps may last for up to 10 minutes. Until a leg cramp subsides, you will not be able to control any affected muscles. […] Data indicates that about 33% of older people (people over the age of 60) experience leg cramps in the night about once every two months. Furthermore, almost every older adult (adults aged 50 or over) has at least one leg cramp over their lifetimes. […] However, its important to note that only 7% of children experience nighttime leg cramps. If your child experiences repeated leg cramps at night, it may be a sign that there is something a little more serious at play and you should contact your doctor.

• #45 Leg Cramps: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/leg-cramps

  Nocturnal leg cramps are a tight, knotted feeling in your legs that happens at night. They can last several seconds to several minutes. If the cramp is severe, your muscle may be sore for days. […] Experts don’t know the exact cause of nighttime leg cramps. They could happen because your nerves send the wrong signals to your muscles. For example, your brain might mistakenly tell your leg to move while you dream. That confuses your calf muscles and causes them to contract. […] You’re more likely to have leg cramps if you: Are 50 or older, Work your muscles too much, Sit too long without moving, Don’t drink enough water, Stand too long on hard surfaces. […] Other health conditions can also raise your chances of leg cramps, including: Diabetes, Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alcohol abuse, Low blood sugar, Some hormone disorders, such as hypothyroidism, Too much or not enough of certain chemicals in your body, such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, Flat feet, Pregnancy, Blood flow problems, Nerve damage.

• #46 Frequency of Nocturnal Leg Cramp Symptoms and Gender Comparison of Stress, Physical Activity and Sleep Disturbances in Middle Aged Adults with Nocturnal Leg Cramps – Turkish Journal of Sleep Medicine

  https://jtsm.org/articles/frequency-of-nocturnal-leg-cramp-symptoms-and-gender-comparison-of-stress-physical-activity-and-sleep-disturbances-in-middle-aged-adults-with-nocturnal-leg-cramps/doi/jtsm.galenos.2022.59454

  The study concludes that majority of the participants experienced all symptoms of the nocturnal leg cramps, whereas leg cramps were the most frequent symptom. Furthermore, females suffering from nocturnal leg cramp reported higher levels of stress compared with males. […] Nocturnal leg cramps (sleep related cramps) are sudden, involuntary tightening and painful sensations experienced in the lower limb mainly the calf muscles during rest at night or during day time with periods of pain afterwards. The duration of these cramps vary from several seconds to minutes. […] Patients with frequent nocturnal leg cramps may experience severe distress and night-time sleep disruption. Literature has reported that patients whose sleep had been disrupted by nocturnal cramps are unable to sleep for months except in an armchair.

• #47 Leg Cramps: Causes, Remedies, and When to See a Doctor

  https://resources.healthgrades.com/right-care/bones-joints-and-muscles/leg-cramps

  Leg cramps occur when a muscle in the leg contracts, causing sudden pain. While the pain from cramps can be severe, leg cramps are often harmless and occur for benign reasons. However, sometimes these cramps can be a symptom of a chronic condition. […] Cramps in the legs, also sometimes called a charley horse, may feel like sudden pain that makes it difficult to move due to the involuntary contracting of the muscle. These cramps may cause soreness even after the cramping pain has initially subsided. […] Researchers suggest that up to 60% of adults have reported having nighttime leg cramps. Having these cramps at night can lead to further effects on your health and quality of life due to disrupted sleep or even severe insomnia. […] Although uncommon, leg cramps can sometimes appear as a symptom of a serious condition that may require urgent or intensive medical care.

• #48 Muscle Cramps – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499895/

  Nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) affect approximately 37% of the population in America over 60 years of age. The syndrome is also known as sleep-related leg cramps. The most affected muscle area is the calf. Night cramps reduce sleep quality and quality of life in patients. […] Muscle cramps in women during pregnancy are very common, about 50%; particularly in the last 3 months and during the night. […] Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramp (EAMC) is an event that frequently occurs during or after physical activity. […] About 95% of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) report cramps. The frequency and intensity of the cramps are not related to the severity of the disease. […] Muscle cramps in this patient population are a usual and high event (88%). […] In healthy subjects, the prognosis for the appearance of cramps is always benign. […] The easiest conservative treatment for healthy subjects and patients is stretching the involved muscle or deep massages.

• #49 Muscle Cramps – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499895/

  Muscle cramps result in continuous, involuntary, painful, and localized contraction of an entire muscle group, individual single muscle, or select muscle fibers. Generally, the cramp can last from minutes to a few seconds for idiopathic or known causes with healthy subjects or in the presence of diseases. Palpating the muscle area of the cramp will reveal a knot. […] Exercise-associated muscle cramps are the most frequent condition requiring medical/therapeutic intervention during sports. The specific etiology is not well understood and possible causes depend on the physiological or pathological situation in which the cramps appear. It is important to note that a painful contraction that is limited to a specific area does not mean that the cause of the onset of the cramp is necessarily local.

• #50 Muscle Cramps – Neurologic Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/symptoms-of-neurologic-disorders/muscle-cramps

  A muscle cramp (charley horse) is a sudden, brief, involuntary, painful contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Cramps commonly occur in healthy people (usually middle-aged and older adults), sometimes during rest, but particularly during or after exercise or at night (including during sleep). Leg cramps at night usually occur in the calf and cause plantar flexion of the foot and toes, but cramping of other muscle groups is also possible. […] The most common types of leg cramps are benign idiopathic leg cramps (leg cramps in the absence of a causative disorder, typically at night) and exercise-associated muscle cramping (cramps during or immediately after exercise). […] Although almost everyone has muscle cramps at some time, certain factors increase the risk and severity of cramps.

• #51 Nocturnal Leg Cramps | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2012/0815/p350.html

  Exercise research suggests that muscle fatigue is a primary cause of leg cramps. Studies of endurance athletes show that a higher-than-normal intensity of exercise is associated with leg cramps. […] Several medical conditions are associated with leg cramps. A study of outpatient veterans reported leg cramps in 75 percent of those with peripheral vascular disease, 63 percent of those with hypokalemia, and 62 percent of those with coronary artery disease. […] The patient history is the key to identifying the possible cause of leg cramps. Nocturnal occurrence, visible muscle tightening, and sudden, intense pain are typical manifestations. […] No current treatments for leg cramps have been proven both safe and effective. Passive stretching and deep tissue massage are harmless, patient-controlled maneuvers that may be suggested as a therapeutic trial despite limited proof of effectiveness.

• #52 Leg cramps | NHS inform

  https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints/leg-and-foot-problems-and-conditions/leg-cramps/

  Your GP will ask about your symptoms and examine your legs and feet. They may also ask if you have other symptoms, like numbness or swelling. This may be a sign that you have secondary leg cramps caused by an underlying condition. […] The cause of leg cramps is sometimes unknown (idiopathic). In other cases, there may be an underlying condition or identifiable cause (secondary leg cramps). […] Idiopathic leg cramps may be caused by: abnormal nerve activity during sleep, excessive strain placed on leg muscles, for example during exercise, a sudden restriction in the blood supply to the affected muscles. […] Secondary leg cramps are caused by an underlying condition or another identifiable cause like: pregnancy the extra weight of pregnancy can place strain on the leg muscles, making them more vulnerable to cramping, exercise leg cramps are often experienced when resting after exercise, neurological conditions for example, motor neurone disease or peripheral neuropathy, liver disease if your liver stops working properly, toxins will build up in your blood, which can make your muscles spasm, infection some types of bacterial infection, like tetanus, can cause muscle cramps and spasm, toxins in some people, high levels of toxic (poisonous) substances in the blood, like lead or mercury, can cause leg cramps, dehydration in some people, low levels of water in the body can lead to a drop in your salt levels, which can trigger muscle cramps.

• #53 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #54 10 Causes of Leg Cramps – Orthopedic Institute

  https://orthopedicinstitutesf.com/10-causes-of-leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps are a pain, literally! It may not always obvious what causes them, but the pain associated with leg cramps makes them nearly impossible to ignore. […] A cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle. The fluids in your body allow your muscles to relax, but—when those muscles are dehydrated—they get irritable and prone to cramping. […] When doing particularly intense physical activity, the nerves in your spine can become overexcited and fire involuntarily, contracting your muscles and causing a cramp. […] If you use them for extended periods of time without proper rest, the potential for leg cramps is greatly increased. […] Bodies are meant to move, so staying in one position, regardless of whether you’re sitting or standing, puts you at greater risk for muscle cramps. […] Certain medications prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s, high cholesterol, asthma, Parkinson’s and osteoporosis have a tendency to cause muscle cramps.

• #55 Leg Cramps: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/leg-cramps

  Nocturnal leg cramps are a tight, knotted feeling in your legs that happens at night. They can last several seconds to several minutes. If the cramp is severe, your muscle may be sore for days. […] Experts don’t know the exact cause of nighttime leg cramps. They could happen because your nerves send the wrong signals to your muscles. For example, your brain might mistakenly tell your leg to move while you dream. That confuses your calf muscles and causes them to contract. […] You’re more likely to have leg cramps if you: Are 50 or older, Work your muscles too much, Sit too long without moving, Don’t drink enough water, Stand too long on hard surfaces. […] Other health conditions can also raise your chances of leg cramps, including: Diabetes, Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alcohol abuse, Low blood sugar, Some hormone disorders, such as hypothyroidism, Too much or not enough of certain chemicals in your body, such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, Flat feet, Pregnancy, Blood flow problems, Nerve damage.

• #56

  https://bpac.org.nz/bpj/2012/december/legcramps.aspx

  Nocturnal cramps are common, with a lifetime prevalence of between 50 – 60% in adults and approximately 7% in children. […] The cause of nocturnal cramps for many people is unknown; however, dehydration, electrolyte and mineral imbalances, muscle fatigue and reduced peripheral blood flow have been suggested as possible contributing factors. […] Factors known to be associated with an increased risk of nocturnal cramping, include: Age over 50 years, Pregnancy, Exercise, particularly over-exertion, Leg positioning, e.g. prolonged sitting with legs crossed, tight bed covers which cause the toes to point downwards, Excessive consumption of alcohol, Chronic dehydration, Structural disorders, e.g. flat feet or other foot and ankle malformations, Medicines, e.g. diuretics (especially thiazide and potassium-sparing diuretics), some anti-inflammatories (e.g. naproxen), long-acting beta-2 agonists, statins, opioids, raloxifene (used in osteoporosis) and lithium, Co-morbidities, e.g. osteoarthritis, vascular diseases, cirrhosis, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, hypo- and hyperthyroidism.

• #57 Leg Cramps: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/leg-cramps

  Nocturnal leg cramps are a tight, knotted feeling in your legs that happens at night. They can last several seconds to several minutes. If the cramp is severe, your muscle may be sore for days. […] Experts don’t know the exact cause of nighttime leg cramps. They could happen because your nerves send the wrong signals to your muscles. For example, your brain might mistakenly tell your leg to move while you dream. That confuses your calf muscles and causes them to contract. […] You’re more likely to have leg cramps if you: Are 50 or older, Work your muscles too much, Sit too long without moving, Don’t drink enough water, Stand too long on hard surfaces. […] Other health conditions can also raise your chances of leg cramps, including: Diabetes, Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alcohol abuse, Low blood sugar, Some hormone disorders, such as hypothyroidism, Too much or not enough of certain chemicals in your body, such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, Flat feet, Pregnancy, Blood flow problems, Nerve damage.

• #58 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #59 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #60 Nocturnal Leg Cramps | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2012/0815/p350.html

  Up to 60 percent of adults report that they have had nocturnal leg cramps. The recurrent, painful tightening usually occurs in the calf muscles and can cause severe insomnia. […] Nocturnal leg cramps are reported by 50 to 60 percent of adults and by approximately 7 percent of children. They are slightly more common in women, and the prevalence increases with age. Up to 20 percent of patients who experience leg cramps have daily symptoms that are bothersome enough for the patient to seek medical attention. […] Leg cramps are painful and incapacitating, lasting an average of nine minutes per episode. The acute episode may be followed by hours of recurrent episodes and residual pain. Leg cramps are usually nocturnal and are associated with secondary insomnia. […] The precise mechanism of leg cramps is unknown, but several myopathic, neurologic, and metabolic causes have been suggested. Most cases of leg cramps are idiopathic.

• #61 Leg cramps – myDr.com.au

  https://mydr.com.au/sports-fitness/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps (especially night cramps) seem to affect people more as they get older, usually affecting the calf muscles in the legs. […] Pregnant women are also prone to cramps, especially in the second and third trimesters. Pregnancy-related cramps also usually happen at night and affect the calf muscles. […] Most leg cramps have no known cause and are not serious. These cramps sometimes called true cramps are thought to be due to spontaneous overactivity of the nerves that supply certain muscles. […] Cramps that affect muscles other than the calf and foot muscles are more likely to have an underlying cause. […] Taking certain medicines (such as some medicines used to treat high blood pressure) can also increase the likelihood of you having leg cramps. […] If youre experiencing frequent leg cramps or having cramps in other muscles, see your doctor. Also see your doctor if: you are having leg cramps that are regularly disturbing your sleep; your cramps are not responding to simple self-care measures; you have diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease; youre concerned that the cramps may be related to medicines you are taking; you have associated muscle weakness; or the cramps are affecting a leg thats swollen, red or has skin changes.

• #62 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #63 Leg cramps | NHS inform

  https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints/leg-and-foot-problems-and-conditions/leg-cramps/

  Your GP will ask about your symptoms and examine your legs and feet. They may also ask if you have other symptoms, like numbness or swelling. This may be a sign that you have secondary leg cramps caused by an underlying condition. […] The cause of leg cramps is sometimes unknown (idiopathic). In other cases, there may be an underlying condition or identifiable cause (secondary leg cramps). […] Idiopathic leg cramps may be caused by: abnormal nerve activity during sleep, excessive strain placed on leg muscles, for example during exercise, a sudden restriction in the blood supply to the affected muscles. […] Secondary leg cramps are caused by an underlying condition or another identifiable cause like: pregnancy the extra weight of pregnancy can place strain on the leg muscles, making them more vulnerable to cramping, exercise leg cramps are often experienced when resting after exercise, neurological conditions for example, motor neurone disease or peripheral neuropathy, liver disease if your liver stops working properly, toxins will build up in your blood, which can make your muscles spasm, infection some types of bacterial infection, like tetanus, can cause muscle cramps and spasm, toxins in some people, high levels of toxic (poisonous) substances in the blood, like lead or mercury, can cause leg cramps, dehydration in some people, low levels of water in the body can lead to a drop in your salt levels, which can trigger muscle cramps.

• #64 10 Causes of Leg Cramps – Orthopedic Institute

  https://orthopedicinstitutesf.com/10-causes-of-leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps are a pain, literally! It may not always obvious what causes them, but the pain associated with leg cramps makes them nearly impossible to ignore. […] A cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle. The fluids in your body allow your muscles to relax, but—when those muscles are dehydrated—they get irritable and prone to cramping. […] When doing particularly intense physical activity, the nerves in your spine can become overexcited and fire involuntarily, contracting your muscles and causing a cramp. […] If you use them for extended periods of time without proper rest, the potential for leg cramps is greatly increased. […] Bodies are meant to move, so staying in one position, regardless of whether you’re sitting or standing, puts you at greater risk for muscle cramps. […] Certain medications prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s, high cholesterol, asthma, Parkinson’s and osteoporosis have a tendency to cause muscle cramps.

• #65 Understanding Leg Cramps: Symptoms, Triggers, & Treatments

  https://www.ithriveveins.com/vein-disease-symptoms/leg-cramps

  A Charley horse is a casual term for a painful leg muscle spasm. It’s different from restless legs syndrome and can occur in any muscle, but it’s most common in the legs. […] Leg cramps can be triggered by various factors, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, certain medications, and underlying health conditions. […] Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can cause muscle weakness, improper contraction, and leg cramps. Proper hydration and electrolyte balance are essential in preventing leg cramps. […] Certain medications and health conditions can cause leg cramps. Health conditions such as diabetes, peripheral artery disease, nervous system disorders, circulation disorders, chronic venous insufficiency, metabolism disorders, and hormonal imbalances have all been linked to leg cramps.

• #66 10 Causes of Leg Cramps – Orthopedic Institute

  https://orthopedicinstitutesf.com/10-causes-of-leg-cramps/

  When you have a potassium deficiency, these signals are not relayed properly, and muscle contractions may be prolonged, causing a cramp. […] Poor circulation in your legs can prevent your leg muscles from getting all the oxygen they need to function. This can lead to leg pain, muscle spasms and cramps. […] Excessive drinking can alter the levels of thiamine, folate and vitamins B6, B12, and E, which are all needed for your nerves to function properly. […] Women in the third trimester of pregnancy often experience leg cramps, especially in the evening hours. […] One of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis is spasticity, a condition which causes certain muscles to be continuously contracted.

• #67

  https://www.today.com/health/what-your-leg-pain-really-means-when-it-s-time-t100778

  Most shooting pains, leg cramps and charley horses are temporary. […] The good news is most cramps which can occur anywhere on the leg really arent anything to worry about, most of the time. […] A leg cramp is really just a muscle contracting and tightening spontaneously. The problem is that can be very painful for several seconds or even several minutes. […] Some potential reasons for cramping include dehydration (especially among athletes or any of us working out in hot, humid conditions.) Another potential reason could be electrolyte imbalance. […] Dont be surprised if your leg, calf or hamstring muscles ache for a while, even after the cramp has eased. […] What happens, especially when its a bad, painful cramp, is that some people might develop tiny micro-tears in the muscle from the strong contractions.

• #68 Leg cramps | NHS inform

  https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints/leg-and-foot-problems-and-conditions/leg-cramps/

  Your GP will ask about your symptoms and examine your legs and feet. They may also ask if you have other symptoms, like numbness or swelling. This may be a sign that you have secondary leg cramps caused by an underlying condition. […] The cause of leg cramps is sometimes unknown (idiopathic). In other cases, there may be an underlying condition or identifiable cause (secondary leg cramps). […] Idiopathic leg cramps may be caused by: abnormal nerve activity during sleep, excessive strain placed on leg muscles, for example during exercise, a sudden restriction in the blood supply to the affected muscles. […] Secondary leg cramps are caused by an underlying condition or another identifiable cause like: pregnancy the extra weight of pregnancy can place strain on the leg muscles, making them more vulnerable to cramping, exercise leg cramps are often experienced when resting after exercise, neurological conditions for example, motor neurone disease or peripheral neuropathy, liver disease if your liver stops working properly, toxins will build up in your blood, which can make your muscles spasm, infection some types of bacterial infection, like tetanus, can cause muscle cramps and spasm, toxins in some people, high levels of toxic (poisonous) substances in the blood, like lead or mercury, can cause leg cramps, dehydration in some people, low levels of water in the body can lead to a drop in your salt levels, which can trigger muscle cramps.

• #69 10 Causes of Leg Cramps – Orthopedic Institute

  https://orthopedicinstitutesf.com/10-causes-of-leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps are a pain, literally! It may not always obvious what causes them, but the pain associated with leg cramps makes them nearly impossible to ignore. […] A cramp is an involuntary contraction of a muscle. The fluids in your body allow your muscles to relax, but—when those muscles are dehydrated—they get irritable and prone to cramping. […] When doing particularly intense physical activity, the nerves in your spine can become overexcited and fire involuntarily, contracting your muscles and causing a cramp. […] If you use them for extended periods of time without proper rest, the potential for leg cramps is greatly increased. […] Bodies are meant to move, so staying in one position, regardless of whether you’re sitting or standing, puts you at greater risk for muscle cramps. […] Certain medications prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s, high cholesterol, asthma, Parkinson’s and osteoporosis have a tendency to cause muscle cramps.

• #70 Leg cramps | Spire Healthcare

  https://www.spirehealthcare.com/health-hub/specialties/general-health/leg-cramps/

  You should see your GP if: […] Your leg cramps last longer than 10 minutes. […] The most effective remedy for leg cramps is usually to exercise your legs this can both stop and help prevent leg cramps. […] If you have idiopathic leg cramps ie where the cause is unknown, exercise and painkillers can help. […] Home remedies for leg cramps involve stretching and massaging your affected muscle and applying heat (eg a hot towel or hot water bottle, taking a warm bath or shower). These can all reduce your pain and discomfort during a cramp, although cramps will usually go away by themselves anyway. […] Leg cramps usually don’t last any longer than 10 minutes. However, during this time you can ease your leg cramps by exercising, specifically stretching out your leg muscles. […] You may have leg cramps in bed at night if you sleep with your knees slightly bent and your toes pointing downwards. This shortens your calf muscles and makes cramps more likely.

• #71

  https://bpac.org.nz/bpj/2012/december/legcramps.aspx

  Nocturnal cramps are common, with a lifetime prevalence of between 50 – 60% in adults and approximately 7% in children. […] The cause of nocturnal cramps for many people is unknown; however, dehydration, electrolyte and mineral imbalances, muscle fatigue and reduced peripheral blood flow have been suggested as possible contributing factors. […] Factors known to be associated with an increased risk of nocturnal cramping, include: Age over 50 years, Pregnancy, Exercise, particularly over-exertion, Leg positioning, e.g. prolonged sitting with legs crossed, tight bed covers which cause the toes to point downwards, Excessive consumption of alcohol, Chronic dehydration, Structural disorders, e.g. flat feet or other foot and ankle malformations, Medicines, e.g. diuretics (especially thiazide and potassium-sparing diuretics), some anti-inflammatories (e.g. naproxen), long-acting beta-2 agonists, statins, opioids, raloxifene (used in osteoporosis) and lithium, Co-morbidities, e.g. osteoarthritis, vascular diseases, cirrhosis, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, hypo- and hyperthyroidism.

• #72

  https://www.today.com/health/what-your-leg-pain-really-means-when-it-s-time-t100778

  Its a serious condition that can lead to a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. […] But for some people, leg cramps can be a regular occurrence. […] Individuals with endocrine problem like diabetes, structural problems like flat feet, poor circulation and those with neurological or neuromuscular disorders often have leg cramps. […] Once an underlying problem is brought under better control, the leg cramps might no longer be an issue. […] Certain medications used to treat high blood pressure, such as diuretics and beta-agonists, used to treat respiratory problems, can also cause cramping.

• #73 Painful Leg Cramps Can Stop You in Your Tracks | University Hospitals

  https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2023/06/painful-leg-cramps-can-stop-you-in-your-tracks

  Leg cramps can strike at any time while walking, running, sitting, even sleeping. Suddenly the muscles in your calf or thigh seize up and become locked in a contracted position, causing intense pain that can last from a few seconds to ten minutes or more. Once the spasm has passed, some people may experience muscle soreness for hours or days afterwards. […] Muscle spasms in the legs are quite common and can occur in people of any age however, they are more prevalent in older adults, with nearly 60 percent of people over 50 reporting having leg cramps either occasionally or with some frequency. […] Although leg cramps are generally harmless, if you have severe, persistent cramps that disrupt your sleep and affect your quality of life, its time to talk to your doctor. There may be an underlying medical condition contributing to the spasms that needs to be diagnosed and treated.

• #74 Leg cramps – myDr.com.au

  https://mydr.com.au/sports-fitness/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps (especially night cramps) seem to affect people more as they get older, usually affecting the calf muscles in the legs. […] Pregnant women are also prone to cramps, especially in the second and third trimesters. Pregnancy-related cramps also usually happen at night and affect the calf muscles. […] Most leg cramps have no known cause and are not serious. These cramps sometimes called true cramps are thought to be due to spontaneous overactivity of the nerves that supply certain muscles. […] Cramps that affect muscles other than the calf and foot muscles are more likely to have an underlying cause. […] Taking certain medicines (such as some medicines used to treat high blood pressure) can also increase the likelihood of you having leg cramps. […] If youre experiencing frequent leg cramps or having cramps in other muscles, see your doctor. Also see your doctor if: you are having leg cramps that are regularly disturbing your sleep; your cramps are not responding to simple self-care measures; you have diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease; youre concerned that the cramps may be related to medicines you are taking; you have associated muscle weakness; or the cramps are affecting a leg thats swollen, red or has skin changes.

• #75 Painful Leg Cramps Can Stop You in Your Tracks | University Hospitals

  https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2023/06/painful-leg-cramps-can-stop-you-in-your-tracks

  Leg cramps can strike at any time while walking, running, sitting, even sleeping. Suddenly the muscles in your calf or thigh seize up and become locked in a contracted position, causing intense pain that can last from a few seconds to ten minutes or more. Once the spasm has passed, some people may experience muscle soreness for hours or days afterwards. […] Muscle spasms in the legs are quite common and can occur in people of any age however, they are more prevalent in older adults, with nearly 60 percent of people over 50 reporting having leg cramps either occasionally or with some frequency. […] Although leg cramps are generally harmless, if you have severe, persistent cramps that disrupt your sleep and affect your quality of life, its time to talk to your doctor. There may be an underlying medical condition contributing to the spasms that needs to be diagnosed and treated.

• #76 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #77 Leg Cramps: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/leg-cramps

  Nocturnal leg cramps are a tight, knotted feeling in your legs that happens at night. They can last several seconds to several minutes. If the cramp is severe, your muscle may be sore for days. […] Experts don’t know the exact cause of nighttime leg cramps. They could happen because your nerves send the wrong signals to your muscles. For example, your brain might mistakenly tell your leg to move while you dream. That confuses your calf muscles and causes them to contract. […] You’re more likely to have leg cramps if you: Are 50 or older, Work your muscles too much, Sit too long without moving, Don’t drink enough water, Stand too long on hard surfaces. […] Other health conditions can also raise your chances of leg cramps, including: Diabetes, Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alcohol abuse, Low blood sugar, Some hormone disorders, such as hypothyroidism, Too much or not enough of certain chemicals in your body, such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, Flat feet, Pregnancy, Blood flow problems, Nerve damage.

• #78 Understanding Leg Cramps: Symptoms, Triggers, & Treatments

  https://www.ithriveveins.com/vein-disease-symptoms/leg-cramps

  A Charley horse is a casual term for a painful leg muscle spasm. It’s different from restless legs syndrome and can occur in any muscle, but it’s most common in the legs. […] Leg cramps can be triggered by various factors, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, certain medications, and underlying health conditions. […] Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can cause muscle weakness, improper contraction, and leg cramps. Proper hydration and electrolyte balance are essential in preventing leg cramps. […] Certain medications and health conditions can cause leg cramps. Health conditions such as diabetes, peripheral artery disease, nervous system disorders, circulation disorders, chronic venous insufficiency, metabolism disorders, and hormonal imbalances have all been linked to leg cramps.

• #79 Nocturnal Leg Cramps | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2012/0815/p350.html

  Exercise research suggests that muscle fatigue is a primary cause of leg cramps. Studies of endurance athletes show that a higher-than-normal intensity of exercise is associated with leg cramps. […] Several medical conditions are associated with leg cramps. A study of outpatient veterans reported leg cramps in 75 percent of those with peripheral vascular disease, 63 percent of those with hypokalemia, and 62 percent of those with coronary artery disease. […] The patient history is the key to identifying the possible cause of leg cramps. Nocturnal occurrence, visible muscle tightening, and sudden, intense pain are typical manifestations. […] No current treatments for leg cramps have been proven both safe and effective. Passive stretching and deep tissue massage are harmless, patient-controlled maneuvers that may be suggested as a therapeutic trial despite limited proof of effectiveness.

• #80 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #81 Muscle Cramps – Neurologic Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/symptoms-of-neurologic-disorders/muscle-cramps

  Cramps must be differentiated from claudication and dystonias; clinical evaluation is usually adequate. […] Focal cramps suggest benign idiopathic leg cramps, exercise-associated muscle cramping, musculoskeletal abnormalities, peripheral nervous system causes, or an early degenerative disorder that can be asymmetric, such as a motor neuron disorder. […] A normal examination and compatible history suggests benign idiopathic leg cramps or exercise-associated muscle cramping. […] Stretching can help relieve and prevent cramps. […] The most common causes are benign idiopathic leg cramps and exercise-associated muscle cramping.

• #82 Night leg cramps

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/night-leg-cramps/basics/causes/sym-20050813

  Most of the time, there’s no known cause for night leg cramps. In general, they’re likely the result of tired muscles and nerve problems. […] The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant people also are more likely to have night leg cramps. […] Restless legs syndrome is sometimes confused with night leg cramps. But the conditions are different. The most common symptom of restless legs syndrome is the need to move the legs when falling asleep. Restless legs syndrome is usually not painful, and the symptoms last longer than do night leg cramps. […] Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

• #83 Night leg cramps

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/night-leg-cramps/basics/causes/sym-20050813

  Most of the time, there’s no known cause for night leg cramps. In general, they’re likely the result of tired muscles and nerve problems. […] The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant people also are more likely to have night leg cramps. […] Restless legs syndrome is sometimes confused with night leg cramps. But the conditions are different. The most common symptom of restless legs syndrome is the need to move the legs when falling asleep. Restless legs syndrome is usually not painful, and the symptoms last longer than do night leg cramps. […] Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

• #84 What health problems cause leg cramps?

  https://legsmatter.org/information-and-support/health-concerns/cramp/

  Intermittent claudication or cramp, is one of the most common symptoms of cardiovascular disease peripheral arterial disease. […] The pain can range from mild to severe and usually goes away after a few minutes when you rest your legs. It is often worse when walking up an incline. […] The symptoms of peripheral arterial disease often develop slowly and over time. If your symptoms develop quickly or suddenly get worse, it could be a sign of a serious problem that needs immediate treatment. […] Most people with Intermittent claudication will remain stable. Approximately 5-10% of those with claudication will go on to develop critical limb threatening ischaemia, which is the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease.

• #85 Most Leg Cramps are Harmless, But Some Have a Deeper Cause

  https://www.baystatehealth.org/articles/pvd-and-leg-cramping

  The most common symptom of lower-extremity PAD, painful muscle cramps in calf, buttocks, thighs, or hips, is called claudication. […] Claudication occurs when your body cant deliver the oxygen needed by your muscles to engage in an activity, most often walking, explains Blackwood. You can readily identify a PAD cramp from, say, a Charlie horse by the fact it goes away when you stop the activity; often immediately, sometimes after a few minutes. But if you re-engage, the pain will recur. Depending upon the severity of the PAD, the pain may be mildly discomforting or full-on debilitating. […] Blackwood notes, Its important not to ignore cramping pain that repeatedly occurs when walking. The pain is your body sending a warning that something is amiss, and that part of your body isnt receiving enough blood during.

• #86 Are Those Leg Cramps A Sign Of Peripheral Artery Disease? | Henry Ford Health – Detroit, MI

  https://www.henryford.com/blog/2023/11/are-those-leg-cramps-a-sign-of-peripheral-artery-disease

  Leg cramps are common and happen for many different reasons. But for some people they may be a warning sign of peripheral artery disease. […] Leg cramps related to peripheral artery disease happen in the same way each time you exert yourself. […] Peripheral artery disease causes narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, particularly those in the legs and feet. That restriction in blood flow can lead to various symptoms, one of the most noticeable being leg cramps during physical activities like walking. […] Without enough blood and oxygen, the leg muscles produce more lactic acid. Lactic acid buildup leads to muscle cramping and pain. Those leg cramps act as a warning sign. They indicate that the muscles are not receiving enough blood flow to sustain your level of activity. […] While its worth having a doctor evaluate any type of leg cramps, those related to PAD share specific features. They are consistent and reproducible. In other words, the cramps will typically happen every time you walk a certain distance or for a specific amount of time. They dont come and go and they usually go away as soon as you stop being active. […] The cramps are your bodys way of saying its maxed out its ability to move blood to your muscles.

• #87 What health problems cause leg cramps?

  https://legsmatter.org/information-and-support/health-concerns/cramp/

  Intermittent claudication or cramp, is one of the most common symptoms of cardiovascular disease peripheral arterial disease. […] The pain can range from mild to severe and usually goes away after a few minutes when you rest your legs. It is often worse when walking up an incline. […] The symptoms of peripheral arterial disease often develop slowly and over time. If your symptoms develop quickly or suddenly get worse, it could be a sign of a serious problem that needs immediate treatment. […] Most people with Intermittent claudication will remain stable. Approximately 5-10% of those with claudication will go on to develop critical limb threatening ischaemia, which is the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease.

• #88 Muscle cramps and dystonia | Parkinson’s UK

  https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/muscle-cramps-and-dystonia

  If exercises arent working and youre still having problems with muscle cramps, your GP may suggest medication, such as over-the-counter painkillers, like paracetamol or muscle relaxants. […] Quinine is sometimes prescribed for leg cramps. Although clinical guidelines recommend that it should not generally be used for leg cramps, it may be prescribed if your cramps are very painful. […] Dystonia mostly happens as levodopa is wearing off. […] If you take your last dose of medication before you go to sleep at night, you may experience 'off’ dystonia when you wake up in the morning. This is most likely to affect your legs and feet. You may experience painful spasms and might not be able to get out of bed until your first dose of medication starts to work. […] Dystonia usually happens on the side of your body that Parkinsons affects the most. It can affect a single muscle or a group of muscles and can cause parts of your body to twist or turn on their own.

• #89 Muscle cramps and dystonia | Parkinson’s UK

  https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/muscle-cramps-and-dystonia

  Dystonia can cause spasms in your calf muscles. It can make your toes curl under your foot, or make your big toe extend out or up. Your foot may also turn in at your ankle. Dystonia in your legs or feet may make it temporarily difficult for you to walk or exercise. […] More rarely and often in people diagnosed at a younger age, Parkinsons itself can cause dystonia. The spasms and movements may happen at any time of the day but usually last for a shorter time than dystonia linked to levodopa.

• #90 Muscle cramps and dystonia | Parkinson’s UK

  https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/muscle-cramps-and-dystonia

  If exercises arent working and youre still having problems with muscle cramps, your GP may suggest medication, such as over-the-counter painkillers, like paracetamol or muscle relaxants. […] Quinine is sometimes prescribed for leg cramps. Although clinical guidelines recommend that it should not generally be used for leg cramps, it may be prescribed if your cramps are very painful. […] Dystonia mostly happens as levodopa is wearing off. […] If you take your last dose of medication before you go to sleep at night, you may experience 'off’ dystonia when you wake up in the morning. This is most likely to affect your legs and feet. You may experience painful spasms and might not be able to get out of bed until your first dose of medication starts to work. […] Dystonia usually happens on the side of your body that Parkinsons affects the most. It can affect a single muscle or a group of muscles and can cause parts of your body to twist or turn on their own.

• #91 Muscle cramp – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscle-cramp/symptoms-causes/syc-20350820

  Muscle cramps occur mostly in leg muscles, most often in the calf. Cramps usually last for seconds to minutes. After the cramp eases, the area might be sore for hours or days. […] Muscle cramps usually go away on their own. They don’t usually need medical care. However, see a health care provider for cramps that: […] Cause severe discomfort. […] Have leg swelling, redness or skin changes. […] Come with muscle weakness. […] Happen often. […] Don’t get better with self-care.

• #92 Muscle Spasms (Muscle Cramps): Causes, Treatment & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/muscle-spasms-muscle-cramps

  Muscle spasms can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, it might feel like your muscle is jumping around on its own. Sometimes, you might even see your muscle twitching. In severe cases, it might feel like your entire muscle stiffens up into a tight ball. (This happens a lot with leg cramps.) If a cramp is particularly painful, you might even have lingering discomfort in that area for a day or two. […] Muscle spasms can worsen and happen more frequently with age. Preventive techniques, like the exercises outlined above, can reduce your overall risk for muscle spasms. […] See your healthcare provider if the spasms are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you develop: Significant pain. […] Leg cramps that wake you up at night. […] Severe muscle cramps all over your body could indicate an electrolyte imbalance or a serious underlying medical condition like atherosclerosis, thyroid disease or multiple sclerosis (MS). If you develop this type of cramping, head to your local emergency room.

• #93 Muscle cramp – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscle-cramp/symptoms-causes/syc-20350820

  Muscle cramps occur mostly in leg muscles, most often in the calf. Cramps usually last for seconds to minutes. After the cramp eases, the area might be sore for hours or days. […] Muscle cramps usually go away on their own. They don’t usually need medical care. However, see a health care provider for cramps that: […] Cause severe discomfort. […] Have leg swelling, redness or skin changes. […] Come with muscle weakness. […] Happen often. […] Don’t get better with self-care.

• #94 Muscle Spasms (Muscle Cramps): Causes, Treatment & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/muscle-spasms-muscle-cramps

  Muscle spasms can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, it might feel like your muscle is jumping around on its own. Sometimes, you might even see your muscle twitching. In severe cases, it might feel like your entire muscle stiffens up into a tight ball. (This happens a lot with leg cramps.) If a cramp is particularly painful, you might even have lingering discomfort in that area for a day or two. […] Muscle spasms can worsen and happen more frequently with age. Preventive techniques, like the exercises outlined above, can reduce your overall risk for muscle spasms. […] See your healthcare provider if the spasms are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you develop: Significant pain. […] Leg cramps that wake you up at night. […] Severe muscle cramps all over your body could indicate an electrolyte imbalance or a serious underlying medical condition like atherosclerosis, thyroid disease or multiple sclerosis (MS). If you develop this type of cramping, head to your local emergency room.

• #95 Muscle cramp – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscle-cramp/symptoms-causes/syc-20350820

  Muscle cramps occur mostly in leg muscles, most often in the calf. Cramps usually last for seconds to minutes. After the cramp eases, the area might be sore for hours or days. […] Muscle cramps usually go away on their own. They don’t usually need medical care. However, see a health care provider for cramps that: […] Cause severe discomfort. […] Have leg swelling, redness or skin changes. […] Come with muscle weakness. […] Happen often. […] Don’t get better with self-care.

• #96 Charley Horse: Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, & Prevention

  https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/muscle-spasms-cramps-charley-horse

  A charley horse feels like the affected muscle has tightened up and locked down. Its painful and can happen suddenly even when youre just lying there, sleeping. […] Leg cramps are usually nothing to worry about as they often go away on their own without any medicines. However, see a doctor if your leg cramps cause symptoms such as: Serious pain and discomfort, Leg swelling and redness, Skin changes, Muscle weakness. […] Having these symptoms with your leg cramps could be due to serious health conditions, including: Kidney disease, Diabetes, Nerve damage in your legs, Spinal cord injury, Vascular disorders, Thyroid disease, Liver disease. […] In most cases, a charley horse will stop within a few minutes. But if you get them often and for no obvious reason, tell your doctor.

• #97 Leg cramps

  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps happen when a muscle in the leg tightens and causes a sudden pain that can make it hard to move. […] The cramps can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. […] After the cramp has stopped, the muscle might feel sore for up to 24 hours. […] Non-urgent advice: See a GP if: leg cramps are disturbing your sleep, you also have numbness or swelling in your legs, cramps last longer than 10 minutes. […] A GP will examine you to try to find out the reason for your leg cramps. […] They will suggest a treatment depending on the cause.

• #98 Leg cramps

  https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps happen when a muscle in the leg shortens and causes a sudden pain that can make it hard to move. The cramps can last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. After the cramp has stopped, the muscle might feel sore for up to 24 hours. […] Leg cramps are common, usually harmless and only last a short time. They can happen at any time, but most people have them at night or when resting. […] Regularly stretching your calf muscles may help to reduce leg cramps. But it may not completely stop them from happening. […] Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if: leg cramps are disturbing your sleep, you also have numbness or swelling in your legs, leg cramps last longer than 10 minutes, you have any other symptoms or concerns.

• #99 Muscle cramp – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscle-cramp/symptoms-causes/syc-20350820

  Muscle cramps occur mostly in leg muscles, most often in the calf. Cramps usually last for seconds to minutes. After the cramp eases, the area might be sore for hours or days. […] Muscle cramps usually go away on their own. They don’t usually need medical care. However, see a health care provider for cramps that: […] Cause severe discomfort. […] Have leg swelling, redness or skin changes. […] Come with muscle weakness. […] Happen often. […] Don’t get better with self-care.

• #100 Charley Horse: Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, & Prevention

  https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/muscle-spasms-cramps-charley-horse

  A charley horse feels like the affected muscle has tightened up and locked down. Its painful and can happen suddenly even when youre just lying there, sleeping. […] Leg cramps are usually nothing to worry about as they often go away on their own without any medicines. However, see a doctor if your leg cramps cause symptoms such as: Serious pain and discomfort, Leg swelling and redness, Skin changes, Muscle weakness. […] Having these symptoms with your leg cramps could be due to serious health conditions, including: Kidney disease, Diabetes, Nerve damage in your legs, Spinal cord injury, Vascular disorders, Thyroid disease, Liver disease. […] In most cases, a charley horse will stop within a few minutes. But if you get them often and for no obvious reason, tell your doctor.

• #101 Muscle cramp – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscle-cramp/symptoms-causes/syc-20350820

  Muscle cramps occur mostly in leg muscles, most often in the calf. Cramps usually last for seconds to minutes. After the cramp eases, the area might be sore for hours or days. […] Muscle cramps usually go away on their own. They don’t usually need medical care. However, see a health care provider for cramps that: […] Cause severe discomfort. […] Have leg swelling, redness or skin changes. […] Come with muscle weakness. […] Happen often. […] Don’t get better with self-care.

• #102 Muscle Cramps – Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders – Merck Manual Consumer Version

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain-spinal-cord-and-nerve-disorders/symptoms-of-brain-spinal-cord-and-nerve-disorders/muscle-cramps

  A cramp is a sudden, brief, unintended (involuntary), and usually painful contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Muscle cramps can be a symptom of nervous system malfunction. […] Cramps tend to occur during or after vigorous exercise but sometimes occur during rest. Some people have painful leg cramps during sleep. Sleep-related leg cramps usually affect the calf and foot muscles, causing the foot and toes to curl downward. Although painful, these cramps are usually not serious and are thus called benign leg cramps. […] In people with muscle cramps, the following symptoms and characteristics are of particular concern: Cramps in the arms or trunk, Muscle twitching, Signs of alcohol use disorder, such as a history of consuming large amounts of alcohol, spider veins, and red palms, Weakness, Cramps that occur after loss of body fluids (dehydration) or use of diuretics, Pain or loss of sensation unless they occur at the same time as the cramping. […] If a cramp occurs, stretching the affected muscle often relieves the cramp. For example, for a calf cramp, the person could use a hand to pull the foot and toes upward or could do the runner’s stretch.

• #103 Muscle Cramps – Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders – Merck Manual Consumer Version

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain-spinal-cord-and-nerve-disorders/symptoms-of-brain-spinal-cord-and-nerve-disorders/muscle-cramps

  A cramp is a sudden, brief, unintended (involuntary), and usually painful contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Muscle cramps can be a symptom of nervous system malfunction. […] Cramps tend to occur during or after vigorous exercise but sometimes occur during rest. Some people have painful leg cramps during sleep. Sleep-related leg cramps usually affect the calf and foot muscles, causing the foot and toes to curl downward. Although painful, these cramps are usually not serious and are thus called benign leg cramps. […] In people with muscle cramps, the following symptoms and characteristics are of particular concern: Cramps in the arms or trunk, Muscle twitching, Signs of alcohol use disorder, such as a history of consuming large amounts of alcohol, spider veins, and red palms, Weakness, Cramps that occur after loss of body fluids (dehydration) or use of diuretics, Pain or loss of sensation unless they occur at the same time as the cramping. […] If a cramp occurs, stretching the affected muscle often relieves the cramp. For example, for a calf cramp, the person could use a hand to pull the foot and toes upward or could do the runner’s stretch.

• #104 Leg Cramps: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/leg-cramps

  People with type 2 diabetes are highly prone to muscle cramps, particularly in their legs. Such cramps can be severe, even disabling. They most often occur at night. […] If you’re pregnant, you’ve got about a 50% chance of developing leg cramps. They typically happen in the second and third trimester and most often strike at night. […] If you often have severe leg cramps, talk to your doctor, who can determine what’s causing them. […] Everyone has the occasional leg cramp. Painful as they may be, leg cramps usually pass quickly and are rarely something to worry about. But you should see a doctor about your legs cramps if: They cause significant pain, They occur frequently, waking you up at night and preventing you from getting good sleep, You develop muscle cramps in other parts of your body, You develop swelling, numbness, or skin changes in your leg.

• #105 Muscle Cramps: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatments

  https://www.healthline.com/health/muscle-cramps

  Muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions that occur in various muscles. These contractions are often painful and can affect different muscle groups. […] The intense pain of a cramp can awaken you at night or make it difficult to walk. […] A sudden, sharp pain, lasting from a few seconds to 15 minutes, is the most common symptom of a muscle cramp. In some cases, a bulging lump of muscle tissue beneath the skin can accompany a cramp as well. […] Muscle cramps are usually harmless and dont require medical attention. However, you should see a doctor if your muscle cramps are severe, dont improve with stretching, or persist for a long time. This could be a sign of an underlying medical condition. […] Let your doctor know if youre experiencing weakness, pain, or a loss of sensation. These symptoms can be signs of a nerve disorder.

• #106 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #107 When to See a Doctor About Leg Cramps: Clement Banda, MD: Dermatologist

  https://www.mdveins.com/blog/when-to-see-a-doctor-about-leg-cramps

  As many as 60% of American adults know the sensation of being jolted awake by the pain of a spasming calf muscle. Though leg cramps typically dont last very long, youre temporarily unable to use the cramped muscle and, of course, your sleep is disrupted. […] Sometimes though, leg cramps can be severe or frequent enough to disrupt your life, or theyre associated with other symptoms that could indicate a more serious problem. […] If you notice the intensity and/or frequency of your leg cramps increasing, this too could be a sign its time for a doctor visit. Schedule an appointment if your cramps are consistent and accompanied by certain other symptoms including: […] When cramps disturb your sleep enough so that daytime fatigue becomes an issue, you may need medical attention to restore your rest and recovery time. […] When these measures fail to produce results, contact MD Vein and Skin Specialists for an examination and diagnosis.

• #108 What Causes Leg Cramps in Pregnancy? | UNM Health Blog | Albuquerque, New Mexico

  https://unmhealth.org/stories/2021/06/leg-cramps-during-pregnancy.html

  Did you know around half of pregnant patients get leg cramps by their third trimester? Leg cramps tend to strike at night when you’re about to fall asleep. You might feel a sudden tightening of your muscle followed by a sharp pain. […] Usually, leg cramps in pregnancy are nothing to worry about, however, sometimes they can be a sign of a more serious health problem. […] Leg cramps are a common symptom of dehydration. […] Your uterus is also putting extra pressure on your blood vessels. When the blood vessels in your legs and feet are strained, it can lead to increased leg cramps. […] If leg cramps are keeping you awake at night and at-home treatments aren’t working, talk with your doctor or midwife. […] Less commonly, some leg cramp symptoms are signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is a serious medical condition that can cause blood clots. Pregnant women are 50 percent more likely to get blood clots than non-pregnant women. […] Call for help right away if you have any of these symptoms: Extreme leg pain when you stand up, Severe, persistent or worsening leg cramps, Very swollen legs, Red spots that are warm to the touch, Enlarged veins in the legs.

• #109 Muscle Spasms (Muscle Cramps): Causes, Treatment & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/muscle-spasms-muscle-cramps

  Muscle spasms can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, it might feel like your muscle is jumping around on its own. Sometimes, you might even see your muscle twitching. In severe cases, it might feel like your entire muscle stiffens up into a tight ball. (This happens a lot with leg cramps.) If a cramp is particularly painful, you might even have lingering discomfort in that area for a day or two. […] Muscle spasms can worsen and happen more frequently with age. Preventive techniques, like the exercises outlined above, can reduce your overall risk for muscle spasms. […] See your healthcare provider if the spasms are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you develop: Significant pain. […] Leg cramps that wake you up at night. […] Severe muscle cramps all over your body could indicate an electrolyte imbalance or a serious underlying medical condition like atherosclerosis, thyroid disease or multiple sclerosis (MS). If you develop this type of cramping, head to your local emergency room.

• #110 Muscle Spasms (Muscle Cramps): Causes, Treatment & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/muscle-spasms-muscle-cramps

  Muscle spasms can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, it might feel like your muscle is jumping around on its own. Sometimes, you might even see your muscle twitching. In severe cases, it might feel like your entire muscle stiffens up into a tight ball. (This happens a lot with leg cramps.) If a cramp is particularly painful, you might even have lingering discomfort in that area for a day or two. […] Muscle spasms can worsen and happen more frequently with age. Preventive techniques, like the exercises outlined above, can reduce your overall risk for muscle spasms. […] See your healthcare provider if the spasms are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you develop: Significant pain. […] Leg cramps that wake you up at night. […] Severe muscle cramps all over your body could indicate an electrolyte imbalance or a serious underlying medical condition like atherosclerosis, thyroid disease or multiple sclerosis (MS). If you develop this type of cramping, head to your local emergency room.

• #111 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #112 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #113 Muscle Spasms (Muscle Cramps): Causes, Treatment & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/muscle-spasms-muscle-cramps

  Muscle spasms can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, it might feel like your muscle is jumping around on its own. Sometimes, you might even see your muscle twitching. In severe cases, it might feel like your entire muscle stiffens up into a tight ball. (This happens a lot with leg cramps.) If a cramp is particularly painful, you might even have lingering discomfort in that area for a day or two. […] Muscle spasms can worsen and happen more frequently with age. Preventive techniques, like the exercises outlined above, can reduce your overall risk for muscle spasms. […] See your healthcare provider if the spasms are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you develop: Significant pain. […] Leg cramps that wake you up at night. […] Severe muscle cramps all over your body could indicate an electrolyte imbalance or a serious underlying medical condition like atherosclerosis, thyroid disease or multiple sclerosis (MS). If you develop this type of cramping, head to your local emergency room.

• #114 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #115 What Causes Leg Cramps? Symptoms, Triggers, Treatments, and More

  https://www.healthline.com/health/pain-relief/what-causes-leg-cramps

  Pregnancy, as well as certain medical conditions, can also increase your risk of experiencing leg cramps. […] Generally, the effects of a cramp will disappear in minutes. But if you have ongoing cramps, speak with your doctor. […] Currently, there are no medications specifically designed to treat recurring muscle cramps. However, if your cramping is a symptom of another condition, addressing that underlying issue could provide relief.

• #116

  https://www.prevention.com/health/a20515838/leg-cramps-at-night-charley-horse/

  Leg cramps appear to be more common after age 50. It is around the same time that we start losing our motor neurons. […] Recurring leg cramps may indicate an underlying problem, so its best to have a medical professional check it out. Your doctor can rule out any more serious causes, make any treatment recommendations, and help you address lifestyle changes that may ease the leg cramps.

• #117 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #118 Muscle Cramps – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499895/

  Nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) affect approximately 37% of the population in America over 60 years of age. The syndrome is also known as sleep-related leg cramps. The most affected muscle area is the calf. Night cramps reduce sleep quality and quality of life in patients. […] Muscle cramps in women during pregnancy are very common, about 50%; particularly in the last 3 months and during the night. […] Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramp (EAMC) is an event that frequently occurs during or after physical activity. […] About 95% of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) report cramps. The frequency and intensity of the cramps are not related to the severity of the disease. […] Muscle cramps in this patient population are a usual and high event (88%). […] In healthy subjects, the prognosis for the appearance of cramps is always benign. […] The easiest conservative treatment for healthy subjects and patients is stretching the involved muscle or deep massages.

• #119 Leg cramps: Causes, treatment, and prevention

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180160

  Leg cramps involve sudden, painful, and involuntary contractions of a leg muscle, causing pain and discomfort in the feet, calves, and thigh muscles. […] They often occur while a person is sleeping or resting. They can be gone in a few seconds, but the average duration is 9 minutes. They can leave tenderness in the muscle for up to 24 hours after. […] In most cases, there is no identifiable reason why they happen, and they are harmless. Sometimes, however, they can indicate an underlying disorder, such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease. […] Research suggests that 5060% of adults and 7% of children experience cramps, and the likelihood increases with age. […] Leg cramps are not usually a cause for concern, but sometimes they can indicate an underlying problem. If cramps are severe or happen frequently, it may be a good idea to seek medical advice. […] Leg cramps are a common problem that usually happen for no identifiable reason. Stretching and massaging the muscle can often bring relief. […] In some cases, however, there may be an underlying cause that needs medical attention. If cramps are severe or frequent, consider consulting a doctor.

• #120 Muscle Cramps: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatments

  https://www.healthline.com/health/muscle-cramps

  Stretching the affected muscle can also alleviate the pain of muscle cramps. […] Muscle cramps can interrupt your sleep. If this happens, talk to your doctor about a prescription muscle relaxer. This medication helps relax your muscles and calm spasms. […] Controlling the underlying cause of muscle cramps can improve your symptoms and ease spasms. […] The simplest way to prevent muscle cramps is to avoid or limit the exercises that strain your muscles and cause cramps.

• #121 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #122 Muscle Cramps – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499895/

  Nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) affect approximately 37% of the population in America over 60 years of age. The syndrome is also known as sleep-related leg cramps. The most affected muscle area is the calf. Night cramps reduce sleep quality and quality of life in patients. […] Muscle cramps in women during pregnancy are very common, about 50%; particularly in the last 3 months and during the night. […] Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramp (EAMC) is an event that frequently occurs during or after physical activity. […] About 95% of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) report cramps. The frequency and intensity of the cramps are not related to the severity of the disease. […] Muscle cramps in this patient population are a usual and high event (88%). […] In healthy subjects, the prognosis for the appearance of cramps is always benign. […] The easiest conservative treatment for healthy subjects and patients is stretching the involved muscle or deep massages.

• #123 Leg cramps – myDr.com.au

  https://mydr.com.au/sports-fitness/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps (especially night cramps) seem to affect people more as they get older, usually affecting the calf muscles in the legs. […] Pregnant women are also prone to cramps, especially in the second and third trimesters. Pregnancy-related cramps also usually happen at night and affect the calf muscles. […] Most leg cramps have no known cause and are not serious. These cramps sometimes called true cramps are thought to be due to spontaneous overactivity of the nerves that supply certain muscles. […] Cramps that affect muscles other than the calf and foot muscles are more likely to have an underlying cause. […] Taking certain medicines (such as some medicines used to treat high blood pressure) can also increase the likelihood of you having leg cramps. […] If youre experiencing frequent leg cramps or having cramps in other muscles, see your doctor. Also see your doctor if: you are having leg cramps that are regularly disturbing your sleep; your cramps are not responding to simple self-care measures; you have diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease; youre concerned that the cramps may be related to medicines you are taking; you have associated muscle weakness; or the cramps are affecting a leg thats swollen, red or has skin changes.

• #124 Leg cramps during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

  https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/leg-cramps-during-pregnancy

  Leg cramps affect up to 3 in 10 people who are pregnant. You usually feel them in your calf muscles but can also occur in your thighs or feet. This happens when acid builds up in your muscles. […] Cramps usually happen at night. They are more common in your second and third trimesters. […] If leg cramps are bothering you during your pregnancy or they are persistent and not going away, talk to your doctor or midwife. […] Leg pain can sometimes be a sign of a blood clot. If pain in your leg doesnt go away, or if your leg is red, warm or swollen, see your doctor immediately. […] To ease a leg cramp, you can try the following: Stretch the muscle by pulling your toes hard up towards the front of your ankle. Rub the muscle firmly. Walk around. […] There is no effective way to completely prevent cramps from happening. Things you can try that might help reduce cramps include the following: Stretch your calf muscles before you go to bed. Drink plenty of water. Avoid stretching your leg while pointing your toes. Have a warm bath before you go to bed. Eat a balanced diet.

• #125 Leg cramps – myDr.com.au

  https://mydr.com.au/sports-fitness/leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps (especially night cramps) seem to affect people more as they get older, usually affecting the calf muscles in the legs. […] Pregnant women are also prone to cramps, especially in the second and third trimesters. Pregnancy-related cramps also usually happen at night and affect the calf muscles. […] Most leg cramps have no known cause and are not serious. These cramps sometimes called true cramps are thought to be due to spontaneous overactivity of the nerves that supply certain muscles. […] Cramps that affect muscles other than the calf and foot muscles are more likely to have an underlying cause. […] Taking certain medicines (such as some medicines used to treat high blood pressure) can also increase the likelihood of you having leg cramps. […] If youre experiencing frequent leg cramps or having cramps in other muscles, see your doctor. Also see your doctor if: you are having leg cramps that are regularly disturbing your sleep; your cramps are not responding to simple self-care measures; you have diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease; youre concerned that the cramps may be related to medicines you are taking; you have associated muscle weakness; or the cramps are affecting a leg thats swollen, red or has skin changes.

• #126 What Causes Leg Cramps in Pregnancy? | UNM Health Blog | Albuquerque, New Mexico

  https://unmhealth.org/stories/2021/06/leg-cramps-during-pregnancy.html

  Did you know around half of pregnant patients get leg cramps by their third trimester? Leg cramps tend to strike at night when you’re about to fall asleep. You might feel a sudden tightening of your muscle followed by a sharp pain. […] Usually, leg cramps in pregnancy are nothing to worry about, however, sometimes they can be a sign of a more serious health problem. […] Leg cramps are a common symptom of dehydration. […] Your uterus is also putting extra pressure on your blood vessels. When the blood vessels in your legs and feet are strained, it can lead to increased leg cramps. […] If leg cramps are keeping you awake at night and at-home treatments aren’t working, talk with your doctor or midwife. […] Less commonly, some leg cramp symptoms are signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is a serious medical condition that can cause blood clots. Pregnant women are 50 percent more likely to get blood clots than non-pregnant women. […] Call for help right away if you have any of these symptoms: Extreme leg pain when you stand up, Severe, persistent or worsening leg cramps, Very swollen legs, Red spots that are warm to the touch, Enlarged veins in the legs.

• #127 Leg cramps | NHS inform

  https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints/leg-and-foot-problems-and-conditions/leg-cramps/

  Medication is usually only needed in 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. […] Most cases of leg cramps can be relieved by exercising the affected muscles. Exercising your legs during the day will often help reduce how often you get cramping episodes. […] If you often get leg cramps, regularly stretching the muscles in your lower legs may help prevent the cramps or reduce their frequency.

• #128 What Causes Leg Cramps in Pregnancy? | UNM Health Blog | Albuquerque, New Mexico

  https://unmhealth.org/stories/2021/06/leg-cramps-during-pregnancy.html

  Did you know around half of pregnant patients get leg cramps by their third trimester? Leg cramps tend to strike at night when you’re about to fall asleep. You might feel a sudden tightening of your muscle followed by a sharp pain. […] Usually, leg cramps in pregnancy are nothing to worry about, however, sometimes they can be a sign of a more serious health problem. […] Leg cramps are a common symptom of dehydration. […] Your uterus is also putting extra pressure on your blood vessels. When the blood vessels in your legs and feet are strained, it can lead to increased leg cramps. […] If leg cramps are keeping you awake at night and at-home treatments aren’t working, talk with your doctor or midwife. […] Less commonly, some leg cramp symptoms are signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is a serious medical condition that can cause blood clots. Pregnant women are 50 percent more likely to get blood clots than non-pregnant women. […] Call for help right away if you have any of these symptoms: Extreme leg pain when you stand up, Severe, persistent or worsening leg cramps, Very swollen legs, Red spots that are warm to the touch, Enlarged veins in the legs.

• #129 Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14170-leg-cramps

  Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They can affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle spasms, usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as charley horses. Sometimes, the cramp may cause your leg muscles to contract to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps in your legs are generally harmless. Muscle cramps in your legs can last from several seconds to several minutes. The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. Women are also more likely to get them. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers. Nighttime leg cramps happen when you’re not very active or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Night leg cramps (nocturnal leg cramps) can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult aged 50 and older will have them at least one time. Approximately 40% of people experience leg cramps during pregnancy. Healthcare providers believe that’s because the extra weight of pregnancy strains your muscles. About 3 out of 4 reported cases of leg cramps happen at night. Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There aren’t any warning signs. But there are risk factors, like pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect. If you know you have certain risk factors, you can be on the alert for leg cramps, so you won’t be as startled when they happen. A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away. Some leg cramps happen for no known reason. These are called idiopathic cramps. Possible causes of these leg cramps include: Involuntary nerve discharges. Part of your leg muscle isn’t getting enough blood. Stress. Too much high-intensity exercise. Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include: Sitting for long periods of time (like at a desk job). Overusing your muscles. Standing or working on concrete floors. Having poor posture during the day. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage, mineral deficits and issues with blood flow. Sometimes, leg cramps happen for no reason, but other times, they could be a sign or symptom of a health condition. Secondary leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, your leg cramps may be a result of that condition. Also, keep in mind that if you don’t already know you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult a healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of something serious. Leg cramps can be a sign of serious conditions, including: ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease. Congestive heart failure: When your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of your liver. Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Flat feet: The absence of a supportive arch in your foot. Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood. Kidney failure: A condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work correctly. Osteoarthritis: The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries in your legs or arms. Peripheral neuropathy: A group of nerve diseases that can cause a range of symptoms, including cramps and pain. Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and manage your leg cramps. It depends on the person. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. Your cramps may feel worse and happen more often as you age. See a healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps: Muscle cramps in other parts of your body. Significant pain. Swelling or numbness in your leg. Changes in the skin of your leg. Waking up over and over again with leg cramps. Your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep. You have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances. Go to the emergency room if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful.

• #130 Leg Cramps: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/leg-cramps

  Nocturnal leg cramps are a tight, knotted feeling in your legs that happens at night. They can last several seconds to several minutes. If the cramp is severe, your muscle may be sore for days. […] Experts don’t know the exact cause of nighttime leg cramps. They could happen because your nerves send the wrong signals to your muscles. For example, your brain might mistakenly tell your leg to move while you dream. That confuses your calf muscles and causes them to contract. […] You’re more likely to have leg cramps if you: Are 50 or older, Work your muscles too much, Sit too long without moving, Don’t drink enough water, Stand too long on hard surfaces. […] Other health conditions can also raise your chances of leg cramps, including: Diabetes, Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alcohol abuse, Low blood sugar, Some hormone disorders, such as hypothyroidism, Too much or not enough of certain chemicals in your body, such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, Flat feet, Pregnancy, Blood flow problems, Nerve damage.

• #131 Leg Cramps: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/leg-cramps

  People with type 2 diabetes are highly prone to muscle cramps, particularly in their legs. Such cramps can be severe, even disabling. They most often occur at night. […] If you’re pregnant, you’ve got about a 50% chance of developing leg cramps. They typically happen in the second and third trimester and most often strike at night. […] If you often have severe leg cramps, talk to your doctor, who can determine what’s causing them. […] Everyone has the occasional leg cramp. Painful as they may be, leg cramps usually pass quickly and are rarely something to worry about. But you should see a doctor about your legs cramps if: They cause significant pain, They occur frequently, waking you up at night and preventing you from getting good sleep, You develop muscle cramps in other parts of your body, You develop swelling, numbness, or skin changes in your leg.

• #132 Muscle Cramps – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499895/

  Nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) affect approximately 37% of the population in America over 60 years of age. The syndrome is also known as sleep-related leg cramps. The most affected muscle area is the calf. Night cramps reduce sleep quality and quality of life in patients. […] Muscle cramps in women during pregnancy are very common, about 50%; particularly in the last 3 months and during the night. […] Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramp (EAMC) is an event that frequently occurs during or after physical activity. […] About 95% of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) report cramps. The frequency and intensity of the cramps are not related to the severity of the disease. […] Muscle cramps in this patient population are a usual and high event (88%). […] In healthy subjects, the prognosis for the appearance of cramps is always benign. […] The easiest conservative treatment for healthy subjects and patients is stretching the involved muscle or deep massages.

• #133 Can leg cramps be a sign of something serious? : Peachstate Advanced Cardiac & Endovascular: Board Certified Interventional Cardiologists

  https://www.pacecvi.com/blog/can-leg-cramps-be-a-sign-of-something-serious

  Leg cramps or spams are one-time events that generally occur as a result of overworking a certain muscle. Even while the cramps are unpleasant, they are not harmful. Muscle cramps/leg cramps, on the other hand, might indicate a serious condition in some circumstances, therefore it’s critical to know the difference between a harmless cramp and a life-threatening one. […] Cramp Fasciculation Syndrome (CFS) is a peripheral neuropathy characterized by hyperexcitability of the peripheral nerve system. Unwanted muscular cramps and fasciculation are symptoms of this illness. […] Leg cramps, particularly in the calf regions, are common in people with end-stage kidney or renal illness, especially those who are receiving dialysis. […] Leg cramps in Cirrhosis patients occur in a variety of locations, including the thighs, cervical region, toes, calves, fingers, and abdominal muscles.

• #134 Nocturnal Leg Cramps | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2012/0815/p350.html

  Exercise research suggests that muscle fatigue is a primary cause of leg cramps. Studies of endurance athletes show that a higher-than-normal intensity of exercise is associated with leg cramps. […] Several medical conditions are associated with leg cramps. A study of outpatient veterans reported leg cramps in 75 percent of those with peripheral vascular disease, 63 percent of those with hypokalemia, and 62 percent of those with coronary artery disease. […] The patient history is the key to identifying the possible cause of leg cramps. Nocturnal occurrence, visible muscle tightening, and sudden, intense pain are typical manifestations. […] No current treatments for leg cramps have been proven both safe and effective. Passive stretching and deep tissue massage are harmless, patient-controlled maneuvers that may be suggested as a therapeutic trial despite limited proof of effectiveness.

• #135 Can leg cramps be a sign of something serious? : Peachstate Advanced Cardiac & Endovascular: Board Certified Interventional Cardiologists

  https://www.pacecvi.com/blog/can-leg-cramps-be-a-sign-of-something-serious

  If you often go for lengthy runs and get cramp from jogging the same distance each time, it might be a sign of a health problem. […] If you observe discolouration, swelling, or redness on your skin, as well as muscular cramps, these might be indicators of a blood clot. […] Leg cramps, in most situations, cause you to feel agony, curl your toes, and persist for roughly 10 minutes. However, if you see anything different than the above, it might be a sign of anything more serious. […] Inadequate blood flow to the particular muscle, ovarian bulk, or pinched nerve are all possible reasons of severe muscular cramps. […] If you’re experiencing leg cramps along with other symptoms like vomiting, fever, or nausea, it’s possible that you’re suffering from food poisoning or dehydration. […] Because of your herniated disk condition, you may have tingling and burning sensations in your legs as well as muscular cramps.

• #136 Muscle Cramps: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatments

  https://www.healthline.com/health/muscle-cramps

  Stretching the affected muscle can also alleviate the pain of muscle cramps. […] Muscle cramps can interrupt your sleep. If this happens, talk to your doctor about a prescription muscle relaxer. This medication helps relax your muscles and calm spasms. […] Controlling the underlying cause of muscle cramps can improve your symptoms and ease spasms. […] The simplest way to prevent muscle cramps is to avoid or limit the exercises that strain your muscles and cause cramps.

• #137 Leg Cramps: 13 Causes and Treatment

  https://www.health.com/condition/chronic-pain/leg-cramps-causes

  A leg cramp is a sharp, sudden contraction or tightening of the muscle in the calf, which usually lasts a few seconds to a few minutes. It can feel debilitating whether you are lying in bed at night or running. Leg cramps can become even more irritating if they persist and knock you off your typical exercise or sleep routine. […] Nighttime (nocturnal) leg cramps are also common if you are overtired. There’s no clear cause of nighttime leg cramps. Muscle fatigue and nerve dysfunction are the likely culprits. Research has shown that about 30% of adults reported nocturnal leg cramps at least five times a month. […] Leg cramps can also be a symptom of the nerve disorder multiple sclerosis (MS). Some people with MS have spasticity, which can include involuntary muscle spasms and twitches or leg cramps. Spasticity might feel like a mild tightness or tingling or more severe cramping and pain.

• #138 Leg Cramps: 13 Causes and Treatment

  https://www.health.com/condition/chronic-pain/leg-cramps-causes

  Overexcited nerves can cause overuse-related leg cramps. Nerves malfunctioning for other reasons can also cause symptoms. […] Leg cramps are usually linked to osteoarthritis of the spine. This condition can lead to pinched nerves or other nerve damage in severe cases. […] Nerve damage often leads to feelings of numbness or tingling. It can also produce muscle twitching and leg cramps when the nerves in the legs do not function properly. […] People with hypothyroidism will feel weakness or pain in their muscles. Others might experience leg cramps.

• #139 Muscle cramps and dystonia | Parkinson’s UK

  https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/muscle-cramps-and-dystonia

  Anyone can experience muscle cramps but they are more common in people with Parkinsons. […] Youre most likely to get muscle cramps in your legs, especially in your calf muscle at the back of your leg. You may also experience cramps in muscles in your feet or thighs. […] Muscle cramps happen when your muscles shorten more than they are used to, or when they suddenly tighten, causing sharp pain. […] A cramp usually lasts a few seconds but it can last up to 10 minutes. Your muscles can feel tender for up to 24 hours afterwards. […] Some people with Parkinsons say that muscle cramps happen when they have done something specific. This could be sleeping in a particular position or doing an activity involving an unusual muscle movement. […] But other people say muscle cramps appear to happen without any cause.

• #140 Muscle Cramps – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499895/

  Nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) affect approximately 37% of the population in America over 60 years of age. The syndrome is also known as sleep-related leg cramps. The most affected muscle area is the calf. Night cramps reduce sleep quality and quality of life in patients. […] Muscle cramps in women during pregnancy are very common, about 50%; particularly in the last 3 months and during the night. […] Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramp (EAMC) is an event that frequently occurs during or after physical activity. […] About 95% of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) report cramps. The frequency and intensity of the cramps are not related to the severity of the disease. […] Muscle cramps in this patient population are a usual and high event (88%). […] In healthy subjects, the prognosis for the appearance of cramps is always benign. […] The easiest conservative treatment for healthy subjects and patients is stretching the involved muscle or deep massages.

• #141 Muscle cramps and dystonia | Parkinson’s UK

  https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/muscle-cramps-and-dystonia

  If exercises arent working and youre still having problems with muscle cramps, your GP may suggest medication, such as over-the-counter painkillers, like paracetamol or muscle relaxants. […] Quinine is sometimes prescribed for leg cramps. Although clinical guidelines recommend that it should not generally be used for leg cramps, it may be prescribed if your cramps are very painful. […] Dystonia mostly happens as levodopa is wearing off. […] If you take your last dose of medication before you go to sleep at night, you may experience 'off’ dystonia when you wake up in the morning. This is most likely to affect your legs and feet. You may experience painful spasms and might not be able to get out of bed until your first dose of medication starts to work. […] Dystonia usually happens on the side of your body that Parkinsons affects the most. It can affect a single muscle or a group of muscles and can cause parts of your body to twist or turn on their own.

• #142 Understanding the Causes and Symptoms of Leg Cramps – Atlas Pain Specialists

  https://atlaspainspecialists.com/causes-and-symptoms-of-leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps, commonly referred to as muscle spasms or Charley horses, are abrupt and often agonizing occurrences that catch individuals off guard, leaving them in search of immediate relief. […] Understanding the symptoms of leg cramps and recognizing their telltale signs empowers individuals to take proactive measures to alleviate discomfort and minimize the impact of these episodes on their daily lives. […] Here are the common symptoms associated with leg cramps: […] Leg cramps typically begin abruptly with a sharp or stabbing pain in the affected muscle. This pain can range from mild to severe and may intensify rapidly. […] During a leg cramp, the affected muscle may feel extremely tight and tense, as though it is contracting uncontrollably. This tightness can be visibly noticeable, with the muscle appearing visibly bulged or knotted.

• #143 Understanding the Causes and Symptoms of Leg Cramps – Atlas Pain Specialists

  https://atlaspainspecialists.com/causes-and-symptoms-of-leg-cramps/

  Leg cramps can restrict movement in the affected leg, making it challenging to extend or flex the muscles. Individuals may experience difficulty walking or bearing weight on the affected leg during a cramp. […] After the leg cramp subsides, the affected muscle may continue to feel sore and tender for some time. This soreness is similar to the feeling of post-exercise muscle soreness and can persist for several hours or even days. […] Individuals who experience leg cramps may have recurrent episodes, particularly during certain activities or at specific times, such as during sleep or after vigorous exercise. […] In some cases, muscle twitching or spasms may accompany leg cramps, adding to the sensation of discomfort and tightness in the affected area. […] The duration of leg cramp symptoms can vary, with some cramps lasting only a few seconds while others persist for several minutes. The intensity and duration of symptoms may depend on the underlying cause of the cramp and individual factors such as hydration levels and muscle health.

• #144 Charley Horse: Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, & Prevention

  https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/muscle-spasms-cramps-charley-horse

  A charley horse feels like the affected muscle has tightened up and locked down. Its painful and can happen suddenly even when youre just lying there, sleeping. […] Leg cramps are usually nothing to worry about as they often go away on their own without any medicines. However, see a doctor if your leg cramps cause symptoms such as: Serious pain and discomfort, Leg swelling and redness, Skin changes, Muscle weakness. […] Having these symptoms with your leg cramps could be due to serious health conditions, including: Kidney disease, Diabetes, Nerve damage in your legs, Spinal cord injury, Vascular disorders, Thyroid disease, Liver disease. […] In most cases, a charley horse will stop within a few minutes. But if you get them often and for no obvious reason, tell your doctor.

• #145 When To Worry About Leg Cramps

  https://inoviavein.com/leg-cramps/

  Almost everyone has experienced leg cramps at one time or another. Typically, leg cramps can be quickly relieved and are not a cause for concern but occasionally, they can be a sign of a more serious condition. […] Common symptoms include sudden, intense pain and tightness in the affected muscles. While occasional cramps are common and usually harmless, severe cases might indicate underlying health problems that warrant attention. Understanding the triggers and seeking appropriate treatment can help alleviate discomfort and prevent future episodes. […] Although most muscle cramps are benign, severe or recurrent episodes accompanied by significant pain should prompt further investigation into ones medical history and overall health to rule out any serious underlying conditions such as heart attack or other cardiovascular issues. […] If chronic leg cramping continues outside of exercise and with proper hydration, and/or if you have severe discomfort, swelling or skin redness, this may be a symptom of a more serious health condition.

• #146 Leg cramps: Causes, treatment, and prevention

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180160

  Leg cramps involve sudden, painful, and involuntary contractions of a leg muscle, causing pain and discomfort in the feet, calves, and thigh muscles. […] They often occur while a person is sleeping or resting. They can be gone in a few seconds, but the average duration is 9 minutes. They can leave tenderness in the muscle for up to 24 hours after. […] In most cases, there is no identifiable reason why they happen, and they are harmless. Sometimes, however, they can indicate an underlying disorder, such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease. […] Research suggests that 5060% of adults and 7% of children experience cramps, and the likelihood increases with age. […] Leg cramps are not usually a cause for concern, but sometimes they can indicate an underlying problem. If cramps are severe or happen frequently, it may be a good idea to seek medical advice. […] Leg cramps are a common problem that usually happen for no identifiable reason. Stretching and massaging the muscle can often bring relief. […] In some cases, however, there may be an underlying cause that needs medical attention. If cramps are severe or frequent, consider consulting a doctor.

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