A cramp is an involuntary, painful muscle contraction. The limb becomes numb and sore for some time. Contractions vary in duration, strength, and prevalence. They appear more often at night. Doctors classify them by type, look at the long term and the place that hit the muscle spasm.

There are a number of causes of spasms that are individual in nature. Spasms sometimes do not need treatment, they rarely appear. It is worth observing the body - if the spasm appears constantly, special treatment is required.

Spasms in the legs

• Excessive fatigue;
• Irritable nervous system;
• Pregnancy;
• Weak blood flow;
• Medications.

Some doctors believe that spasm at night appears due to an uncomfortable sleeping position. More often, a person falls asleep in a pose with bent knees, therefore, reduces the muscles of the legs.

Muscle spasm of the toes

A cramp reduces one finger or all at the same time. Causes of toe cramps:

• Uncomfortable shoes;
• Frozen toes;
• Lack of useful substances for the body;
• Weak circulation.

For the treatment of neurological diseases and pain, you should contact a proven rehabilitation center that uses modern methods physiotherapy.

Reduces the calf muscle

A couple of minutes before the onset of a spasm, a slight pulling of the muscles is felt. A favorite place for cramps is the calf muscle. Pain is more pronounced at night. At the moment of muscle contraction, severe pain is felt. The legs are tense, it is impossible to step on the foot, the muscles are hard and painful on contact.

The main reason is the lack of trace elements and severe overwork, if the lifestyle is too active, the day is spent on the feet. Atherosclerosis and excessive swelling of the legs are considered to be the causes of painful contractions in the calf muscles. Diseases of the spine become the cause. In 70% of cases, spasms occur from hard work on the legs.

Primary signs

The appearance of such idiopathic convulsions is influenced by tense muscles as a result of an overload of the body. People who abuse physical activity, neglecting rest, are sensitive to this type of muscle contraction. Due to a malfunction in the muscles, the likelihood of contractions is too high.

Wearing tight shoes, impaired blood flow, advanced age, and poor sleeping posture are all good reasons for idiopathic causes of spasms.

Secondary signs

Due to the lack of vitamins in the human body, convulsions appear. Micronutrient deficiencies and overwork are a secondary cause. This type is considered a symptom of a number of diseases and main reason disruption of the body.

The lack of magnesium, necessary and important for the normalization of muscle contractions, appears from malnutrition. The occurrence of magnesium deficiency is affected by diseases that prevent the microelement from being absorbed into the body as expected. Understanding that magnesium is not enough is easy. A person gets tired quickly, falls asleep with difficulty, is distinguished by a drooping mood, turning into depression. Persistent back pain and migraine are symptoms of magnesium deficiency.

vitamin deficiency

Calcium is considered to be similar to magnesium, the deficiency of the element is included in the secondary causes of seizures. Calcium performs similar beneficial actions with magnesium. Signs of calcium deficiency:

• fragile bones;
• Thin hair, exfoliating fingernails and toenails;
• Weak teeth;
• Lack of strength, fast fatigue.

Due to the lack of calcium in the body, changes in the biochemical composition of human blood appear.

Consider the composition of secondary features. Glucose deficiency due to constant uncorrected diets and the use of sugar-lowering drugs. Anemia - unsaturation of blood cells with oxygen. A sharp temperature drop - convulsions are short-term and actual. Sick vessels of the legs - there is a violation of blood flow, tissues do not receive the right amount of oxygen, hypoxia appears. The causes are diseases of the lower part of the spine, when the muscles are pinched and the sensitivity is impaired.

If the part of the brain responsible for the correct and uniform contraction of muscles is damaged, leg cramps appear. Damage to the brain area occurs subsequently:

• flu;
• Stroke or during treatment;
• Alcohol poisoning.

Brain injury

Why frequent seizures occur

A common reason is being overweight. Possible muscle overwork, constant tension and strong stressful situations, endocrine diseases and disruption of work nervous system. With persistent and overly painful cramps, consult a doctor immediately and immediately begin treatment, otherwise incurable and serious diseases will appear.

Muscle spasms during pregnancy

90% of pregnant women tell doctors about the occurrence of spasms. Common lesions are legs and toes. But while a woman is carrying a child, this is considered a normal condition, because of which you should not worry much, and in this case, convulsions will not be treated. Spasm manifests itself in the presence of excess overweight, which is fixed in every expectant mother. An enlarged uterus, pressing on the nerves, is also considered the cause of constant spasms.

Increased swelling due to increased blood volume and increased circulation cause contractions. The causes of leg cramps are a predisposition to varicose veins, a lack of vitamins and hormonal changes in the body.

Seizures in children

If a child periodically experiences contractions, they do not talk about diseases. More often this happens due to the growth and development of the child and the body. It is worth tracking the amount of vitamins, making up for the lack.

Flat feet or cold cause painful tension in the legs. Take care of proper sleep child, awkward posture over time affects unintentional contractions.

Reduces limbs in a child

What to do when seizures occur

It is important and necessary to consult a doctor immediately after their appearance in order to find out and eliminate the cause. If spasms are regular, it is necessary to carry out the necessary treatment with the use of a special medication. Before starting treatment, it is recommended to consult a therapist. The doctor will conduct an initial examination and give directions for the delivery of the required tests. After the manipulations, he will offer to go through an endocrinologist, neurologist or cardiologist.

If the cause of the occurrence was a disease, then it should be treated immediately. Special treatment will help prevent illness and spasms. If there are no diseases or muscle spasm occurred once, simple tips to eliminate the further occurrence of seizures will suffice.

How to relieve pain when cramping your legs

In any case, it is necessary to treat painful sensations. The main thing is to find and remove the cause of the appearance. Time will pass, memories will remain from spasms at night. Tips for avoiding cramps: correct and revise the diet, do not overdo it with training and exercise, take diuretics only as prescribed by the doctor in the right dose, periodically do simple exercises, stretching the muscles of the legs.

First aid

If at night it cramps your legs, you should not raise a panic. You need to relax, try to take deep, even breaths and exhalations. Stand on a cool floor and straighten up. Then you have to be patient: standing on your feet, lift your toes up, it will be painful and unpleasant. The muscles are stretched, the spasm goes away.

If the cramp does not recede, just pinch the sore spot on the legs where the spasm is localized. After relaxing the muscles in the cramped area, place a roll of a blanket or pillow under your feet so that the limbs are above the level of the heart and head.

Spasms in the legs also appear when swimming in the sea. Be careful, especially if swimming takes place at depth. Follow the rules: immediately roll over onto your back, try to pull the foot towards you with your fingers. If that doesn't help, pin a safety pin to your trunks to lightly prick the cramped area. If you swim in the pool and feel that your legs will cramp, stop swimming immediately and go to the surface. The reason is that the water temperature is below 20 degrees.

Prevention against seizures

Often brings legs together at night or in the middle of the day - fight this. If there are no dangerous moments, follow the tips below:

1. Do morning exercises and simple physical exercises;
2. Buy and wear comfortable and not tight shoes;
3. Do not overdo it with training;
4. Drink less strong coffee;
5. Do regular massage of the legs and feet;
6. Keep track of your vitamin intake.

If the advice is followed, there is a chance not to find out about the nightly unpleasant muscle contraction.

The vast majority of us are familiar with the sudden sharp pain in the leg, forcing to lose self-control. This pain can overtake anyone - a child and an adult, an old man with a bunch of diseases and a successful athlete.

It manifests itself at any time of the day, mainly at night. Pain sensations, both short-term and long-term, can be localized in any area of ​​the limb, but more often in the foot and lower leg. So why does the leg cramp cramp at night?

What is a spasm

The phenomenon of sudden contraction of various muscle groups is called a spasm. This does not belong to the category of diseases, but is classified as a functional pathological disorder. Depending on the causes that caused them, convulsions can pass quickly and painlessly, within a few seconds, and in severe cases, for a long time - up to 10 minutes - can make a person experience incredible pain in suddenly hardened muscles and feel complete helplessness.

It is customary to classify seizures into clonic and tonic:

1. clonic.
   Characterized by rapid movements of individual muscle groups. Involuntary erratic muscle contractions are called myoclonus. An example is short-term twitching of the face or eyelids with nervous tics. Often there is myoclonus in the feet and legs, which appears both during movement and during rest.

   In the event that muscle contractions look like shudders when frightened or falling asleep, they are not considered a serious pathology and, in most cases, are recognized as the norm due to the absence of signs of the disease.

   If muscle contractions are of a sudden nature and occur frequently, then this type of myoclonus belongs to the category of hyperkinesias and elucidation of its nature requires diagnostic measures.

2. tonic.
   Characterized by painful paroxysmal contractions of striated muscles. Similar convulsions, predominantly affecting the calf muscles, last from one minute or more. They can occur during sleep and rest, with long walking and playing sports.

Why cramps in my legs at night

Cramps can be the result of a variety of reasons: from malnutrition to serious diseases of the body. According to the nature of the causes, they are grouped into 3 groups:

• Changes in the biochemical composition of the blood.
  For the correct intercellular electrolyte balance in the blood, there must be a certain ratio of trace elements and vitamins, in particular, calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamin D. These essential trace elements come to us from food with proper nutrition.

  However, intensive sports, hormonal disruptions, strict diets and bad habits do not contribute to their absorption.

  Particularly provoking convulsive muscle cramps is a lack of magnesium, calcium, B vitamins, as well as a decrease in blood glucose levels - hypoglycemia.

• Circulatory problems.
  Blood flow disorders are a common cause of seizures. With various pathologies - varicose veins, sclerotic vascular lesions, osteochondrosis, a sedentary lifestyle, blood stagnates in the vessels and tissue ischemia is provoked. During tissue hypoxia, metabolic products accumulate, including lactic acid and inflammatory mediators, which cause painful muscle contractions.
• neurological problems.
  Damage to the body by various infections (staphylococcal, meningococcal), poisoning cause disturbances in neuromuscular conduction and lead to spasticity of the leg muscles. With epilepsy, stroke, diabetes, brain tumors, nerve fibers are compressed. There is a violation of not only sensory nerves, but also motor ones, therefore, in addition to pain, involuntary muscle contractions also occur. Convulsive reactions are also caused by severe stress, overwork and being in a stuffy room. In some, seizures may occur due to a hereditary predisposition to a nervous response to various stimuli.

Why do cramps cramp calves, feet, and toes at night? Experts explain this in different ways. Some attribute this mainly to the fact that a relaxed body is conducive to a sharp shortening of the muscles. Others blame flat feet, physical muscle strain, and vascular disorders. Still others see the reason in the lack of calcium and magnesium - it is their lack that leads to muscle excitability, ending much later in muscle twitches.

During pregnancy

Cases of cramps in the calves and toes during pregnancy are explained by the fact that the need for trace elements for the expectant mother and the growing fetus increases dramatically, and dietary restrictions, drugs, toxicosis or other adverse factors do not contribute to maintaining the required concentration in the blood. In addition, the nutrients entering the body are redistributed in favor of the growing fetus, and not the mother.

• Pregnant women are often deficient in B vitamins, iron deficiency anemia, excess phosphate and sodium.

  Especially often the state of pregnancy accompanies calcium deficiency, which is to blame for the reduced function of the parathyroid glands, and which must be replenished not only with a balanced diet, but also with the use of medications.

• Hypoglycemia, which occurs due to errors in nutrition, namely, large intervals in eating and the predominance of easily digestible carbohydrates in it. A drop in sugar levels causes cramps at night and in the morning.
• Caffeine and nicotine are especially dangerous in terms of seizures, as they cause tissue hypoxia and muscle dehydration.
• In the second half of pregnancy, the load on the legs increases significantly: the fetus presses on the uterus and blood vessels. The congestion that occurs in this case contributes to muscle contractions.
• Inferior vena cava syndrome, in which the vein is squeezed by the growing uterus in the supine position, can contribute to the deterioration of blood circulation in the vessels of the legs and cause cramps.

For diseases of the spine

In the presence of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine: intervertebral hernias, spondylolisthesis, spondylosis of the lumbosacral region, those motor roots of the spinal cord that are responsible for the neuromuscular excitability of the lower extremities are compressed. As a result of the distortion of the transmission of these nerve impulses to the muscles of the legs, spasms of various intensity occur.

For cardiovascular diseases

A common cause of painful muscle contractions is cardiovascular pathology.

Diseases of cardio-vascular system lead to chronic disorders of blood flow, primarily in the vessels of the lower extremities, and especially in the feet and legs. It is the stagnation of blood that provokes a decrease in muscle tone, which eventually leads to regular convulsions.

The most common type of vascular pathology, in which convulsions are not uncommon - phlebeurysm, characterized by a bluish skin color, heaviness and pain in the legs.

The walls of the veins do not cope with the increased load, they stretch, forming nodules on the veins that disrupt normal blood circulation, which contributes to the occurrence of seizures.

Obliterating diseases of the arteries of the legs also cause convulsions. This pathology is characterized by a narrow lumen in the vessels, weakened blood flow, pallor of the skin of the sore leg and severe pain when walking.

Night cramps in children

The period of active growth of babies is often accompanied by night cramps. Unfamiliar and sharp pain causes children to experience anxiety and crying, and parents - confusion and fear.

The main causes of night cramps in a child include:

1. uncomfortable fixation of the child's legs for a long time, staying in one position;
2. being in a cold room or hypothermia of the legs on the street;
3. the presence of flat feet;
4. deficiency of the most important trace elements in the body - potassium, magnesium and calcium.

It is important to consider that regular and prolonged convulsions are caused mainly by the last two reasons.

Frequent convulsions in children may indicate the presence of formidable diseases, such as epilepsy, therefore, the child should be examined by a doctor immediately.

During convulsions, to relieve pain, the child's foot should be rubbed with a warming ointment, massaged gently and tried to put it on the toes.

First aid for seizures

If you are suddenly struck by severe pain in the calf muscle, it is recommended to perform the following simple steps:

• Carefully try to get up to restore blood flow and take a few steps.
• Grab the toe of the flattened foot with your hands and pull it towards you and up, and thus pull and swing the leg for a while.
• Muscle massage has an excellent relaxing effect, so you should carefully stretch the contracted muscles using the shaking method.
• If the convulsions do not disappear, you need to apply a strong tingling followed by rubbing the sore spot.
• To prevent recurrence of leg cramps, you need to lift and hold them for a while in this position.

Treatment and prevention

Do not panic for those who have seizures occasionally, up to 2-3 times a month. You need to organize a balanced diet, check the condition of the veins in your legs, leave a sedentary lifestyle and take control of bad habits.

Symptomatic therapy for mild types of seizures usually consists in prescribing magnesium preparations, vitamin complexes with trace elements and muscle relaxants.

However, frequent manifestations of seizures require a visit to the doctor, who will prescribe an examination and make a diagnosis. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable. Only by eliminating the root cause of the pathology, one can hope to get rid of troubles forever.

Convulsive muscle contractions cannot be taken lightly, since in all cases they signal the need to protect the body from internal or external stimuli. They affect not only carriers of pathologies, but also perfectly healthy people, in particular, athletes.

Statistically, calf cramp is the most common cause of death on the water. Therefore, the organization of preventive measures aimed at observing the correct regime of work and rest, sports loads, diet, refusal bad habits is the task of every individual who cares about his health.

A cramp is an involuntary contraction or excessive tension of a muscle or multiple muscles. This state is always accompanied by enough severe pain, and in duration can last from a few seconds to a quarter of an hour, all the while causing unbearable discomfort. Nighttime leg cramps are extremely common, with 8 out of 10 people experiencing them periodically, according to studies. In the framework of this article, we will find out what provokes such an unpleasant condition and how to deal with it correctly.

Possible diseases

In addition, there are a number of diseases in which the risk of cramps in the legs increases:

• phlebeurysm;
• kidney failure;
• problems with the thyroid gland;
• diabetes;
• flat feet;
• radiculitis;
• circulatory problems in the lower extremities;
• polyneuritis, accompanied by numbness and tingling of the legs at night. A person may experience dizziness, a sharp decrease in hearing and irritability .;
• haemorrhoids.

Causes of cramps in the calf muscles

According to the nature of the ongoing process, convulsions can be divided into two varieties: clonic and tonic. In the first type, the muscle contracts quickly and also quickly relaxes, while in the tonic variety, tension is retained more long time. Such attacks can be caused by the same reasons, which will be discussed below in more detail.

The occurrence of spasms of the calf muscles at night in some cases remains a real mystery, since the phenomenon can occur even in absolutely healthy people. However, experts identify a number of conditions that can provoke such tension:

1. in hot weather, dehydration of the body is called the source of the problem - in the spot the body loses a lot of moisture, and with it potassium, which causes tissue contraction;
2. lack of trace elements (calcium, magnesium, potassium). During sleep, blood circulation slows down, nutrients are distributed more slowly, and if some are not enough, then the muscles begin to experience a deficiency and spontaneous contraction occurs due to increased load;
3. physical activity before bed;
4. taking heartburn medications, which can interfere with the normal absorption of nutrients from food;
5. severe stress. During nervous tension, cortisol is produced in large quantities - a hormone, the side effect of which is a deterioration in calcium absorption, which provokes its deficiency;
6. the likelihood of the phenomenon increases in people who take diuretics or suffer from diarrhea.

Hypothermia can also provoke a cramp - this often happens at night in poorly heated rooms or while sleeping with open window in cool weather. As a result, he can not only reduce, but also twist his legs at night.

Nighttime toe cramps

Such localization of seizures occurs as a signal that insufficient attention is paid to the muscles of the fingers in terms of load.

1. If a person leads a passive lifestyle (sedentary work, inactive rest), then the blood circulation becomes less active, and given the remoteness of the toes from the heart, the problem of oxygen sufficiency becomes most acute. In general, little attention is paid to fingers in terms of purposeful movement, which is why the already thin muscle fibers weaken.
2. Lack of oxygen and loss of muscle elasticity is a direct path to seizures.
3. An imbalance of mineral components is a common reason why leg cramps in general, of any localization. With a lack of potassium, magnesium, calcium and vitamin D, the risk of developing such conditions, and for a long time, is very high.

During pregnancy

Calf cramps are frequent unwanted companions of the period of bearing a baby. They can start to bother from the first months due to frequent vomiting (with toxicosis), as this creates dehydration of the body. The reasons associated with mineral metabolism during pregnancy take on new facets:

• with the development of the fetus, the need for trace elements increases significantly, and without taking into account this fact, one can face a serious deficiency and all its unpleasant symptoms;
• due to a change in taste preferences, nutrition can lose its balance, which is also the cause of a deficiency of important beneficial components;
• in the second half of pregnancy, women often resort to safe diuretics to relieve swelling, and mineral components dissolved in it come out with the liquid.

The source of the problem can also be reduced hemoglobin and inferior vena cava syndrome (this is typical for the third trimester of multiple pregnancy).

Leg cramps in children

Convulsions in childhood should attract the special attention of parents, as they may be evidence of a developing disease. Night contractions of the leg muscles most often occur in a child's life during a period of active growth, and such attacks often frighten babies - they begin to cry and complain of severe pain in the leg. The source of the problem can be:

• foot hypothermia;
• flat feet;
• being in an uncomfortable position for a long time;
• lack of calcium, potassium and other important components in the body.

In addition, the phenomenon can be a symptom of the diseases discussed earlier. In children, recurring and frequent seizures usually indicate circulatory problems, which require immediate attention from specialists.

First aid

The big difficulty is that a cramp is a source of significant discomfort, which needs to be dealt with here and now. Undoubtedly, if the seizures acquire an “enviable” constancy, then a visit to the doctor is simply necessary, but regardless of the cause, the cramp that has arisen must be fought. To do this, you can use the following tips:

• rub the tense muscle with your hands, massage a little or even pinch;
• pull the toe of the big toe towards you (effectively with tension of the calf muscle);
• during the massage, try to actively bend and unbend your toes;
• with prolonged stress, you can substitute your foot under a hot stream of water;
• as soon as the pain subsides, it is worth walking a little to restore blood circulation.

It is worth trying to minimize the risk of this problem by wearing shoes with low heels, using massage mats to improve circulation in the legs, as well as wearing anti-varicose stockings and wearing warm socks on cold nights.

Elimination of vitamin deficiency

It should be understood that if convulsions are a symptom of the disease, then you can get rid of them only through the complex treatment of the cause. But there are ways to effectively deal with the symptom itself.

Convulsions are most often provoked by a deficiency of vitamins and microelements, so one of the methods of treatment is to compensate for the existing deficiency. Complexes containing the following components will be relevant:

• vitamin B1;
• vitamin B6;
• vitamin E;
• magnesium;
• calcium;
• potassium.

Taking drugs is usually in this case directly related to the underlying disease. So, if the problem is provoked by dehydration, then preparations with vitamin elements, for example, Orthocalcium plus magnesium or Ortho Taurine Ergo, will be useful. In some cases, Asparkam will be effective.

Treatment with folk remedies

The following popular recipes can be useful and effective in eliminating leg cramps:

• apply warm honey on the calves and wrap the legs for half an hour;
• you can lubricate the feet at night lemon juice and continue such therapy for two weeks as a prophylaxis;
• rub your feet with mustard powder;
• apply during convulsions a mixture of celandine juice and petroleum jelly (in a ratio of one to two);
• take inside a decoction of goose cinquefoil (3 tablespoons per liter of water, boil everything together for 5-10 minutes, strain and drink for one day).

AT recent times Increasingly, perfectly healthy people suffer such an unpleasant manifestation as convulsive muscle contractions at night, which prevents normal sleep. Cramps are usually accompanied by numbness and pain. Unfortunately, it is observed not only in older people, but also in children and the younger generation.

The cause and root of the problem can be different, and in order to understand their nature and exclude the development of serious diseases, you should contact a qualified specialist. Only he will help you figure out what can affect the convulsive contractions of the leg muscles and prescribe treatment.

Types of leg cramps.

Leg cramps in a dream are a very unpleasant phenomenon. During sleep, the whole body is weakened, the activity of muscle tissues decreases and lactic acid accumulates in the calf muscles, which contributes to the occurrence of seizures. A person is forced to wake up from a sharp pain and take action to eliminate the violation. The following types of leg cramps are distinguished, depending on the location of the pain.

Toe cramps

With a spasm of the toes, the pain manifests itself sharply and intensely, while it can tighten both one finger and all at once. Why cramps legs:

• uncomfortable, tight shoes
• stiffness of the legs,
• limited content of vital vitamins and minerals,
• impaired circulation.

Cramps of the calf muscles

Calf cramps are the most unpleasant phenomenon that causes maximum discomfort and is more common than other types of cramps. In this case, the pain of the ankle is accompanied by: excessive tension and "petrification" of the calf muscle, the inability to stand on the foot.

Causes of the problem

The muscles of the lower leg are subjected to incredible stress every day, which leads to clogging of the muscles and the occurrence of cramps.

Convulsions disturb, as a rule, at night. The reasons can be very diverse, and in order to determine them, you need to think about which of the daily procedures can provoke an unpleasant manifestation and eliminate their negative impact.

However, if leg cramps interfere with normal life and appear too often, you should find out why it reduces the calves of the legs at night. Let's highlight the main causes leading to night cramps:

• Physical fatigue and frequent stress. As a result of increased physical activity during the day, the muscles become clogged, tired and in most cases make themselves felt at night.
• Permanent standing or sitting position associated with the type of activity. In this case, there is a violation of the blood flow. As a result, poor circulation accompanies poor nutrition and blood flow to the lower extremities.
• Deficiency of nutrients in the body that are involved in the conduction of nerve impulses to the muscles.
• With a decrease in hemoglobin, the nutrition of the body with useful substances is disturbed, as a result of which muscle spasms are possible.
• Varicose veins cause leg cramps.
• Pressing shoes and clothing is one of the causes of seizures.
• Taking drugs with a diuretic effect contributes to the fact that it reduces the legs at night. When taking these drugs, fluids and nutrients are washed out of the body and mineral metabolism is disturbed.
• Convulsive manifestations due to malnutrition are also possible.
• Posture of the body in sleep, leading to discomfort of the limbs.
• Incorrect metabolism and, as a result, oxygen starvation of the muscle tissues of the legs.
• Temperature fluctuations due to excessive overheating or hypothermia can cause short-term seizures.
• With obesity, body weight puts more stress on the lower extremities, which leads to greater muscle tension and clogging.
• Vascular diseases. As a result, there is a violation of blood flow, oxygen is poorly supplied to the tissues and convulsive manifestations appear.
• Dehydration of the body.
• For women, convulsions can be caused by taking oral contraceptives.
• Frequent stressful situations and emotional upheavals can provoke leg cramps at night.
• protein diets. If a large amount of protein enters the body, the absorption of calcium by our body is blocked.
• Alcohol intoxication contributes to excessive leaching of calcium from the body.
• Elderly age. There is an aging of the body, wear of blood vessels, metabolism slows down, there is a lack of sugar in the blood - all this leads to convulsive manifestations.

Sometimes cramps are one of the many symptoms of progressive pathologies and disorders in the body, here it is important not to ignore the manifestations that bother you, but to seek help for a comprehensive medical diagnosis of the body in order to find out why the calves of the legs are reduced at night. To possible diseases, which is characterized this symptom can include the following:

• Cirrhosis of the liver. There is an imbalance between the components of the blood, as a result of which fluid accumulates in the tissues of the abdominal cavity, which can cause seizures.
• Pregnancy. In position, a woman is most susceptible to convulsive manifestations. This is due to a lack of calcium, magnesium, iron in the body of a pregnant woman, a large body weight, which gives an additional load on the lower limbs, and convulsions can also occur during sleep due to compression of the vena cava with an incorrectly chosen sleeping position.
• Flat feet. Incorrect positioning of the foot leads to additional stress on the muscles, and this can cause convulsive spasms.
• Lumbar osteochondrosis. When the intervertebral discs are clamped, the nerve roots of the spinal cord are compressed, and at night it reduces the legs.
• Low blood sugar or diabetes contributes to cramps due to impaired blood circulation in the extremities.
• Raynaud's disease. Violations of the functioning of the capillaries cause a decrease in muscle tone, as a result - the occurrence of seizures.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures in this case will consist of a thorough examination, a survey for additional complaints, except for night cramps, and testing. If the presence of any disease is detected, therapeutic measures will be aimed at eliminating the root cause, after which the convulsions should disappear. If everything is not as serious as it seemed to you at first glance, and convulsions occur for less compelling reasons, it is enough just to follow preventive measures.

What to do with night cramps

What to do if you have this annoying problem? First of all, if a convulsive manifestation has befallen you at night, do not give in to panic, relax and inhale deeply to improve the flow of air to muscle tissues. Do the following:

• Stretch the muscle, pull the toe towards you or shift the center of gravity to a full foot;
• Get a calf massage or ask the people around you to do it. With massage and rubbing, blood circulation normalizes, and pain subsides;
• Prick the muscle with something sharp, pinch yourself, rub the calf muscle;
• A warm compress also helps to relieve muscle spasm, as heat increases blood flow. You can warm the sore spot with warm shower or heating pads;
• Lie down so that the limbs are higher than the head.

Medical methods to fix the problem

To eliminate the symptoms of convulsive manifestations, the therapist may prescribe the following drugs:

• Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Drugs that relax muscles;
• Anticonvulsants;
• sleeping pills;
• A complex of vitamins and minerals containing iron, magnesium and potassium;
• Also, ointments and gels that eliminate muscle cramps are highly effective. They are applied and rubbed into the place of localization of pain several times a day.

In the event that leg cramps do not go away for a long time, are accompanied by additional dangerous symptoms, you need to call an ambulance in order to prevent dangerous complications in which case.

Folk methods for eliminating muscle spasm of the legs

Of the folk methods, the most effective are:

• A cold cabbage leaf restores metabolic processes well.
• Muscle relaxation is facilitated by the use of cucumber pickle.
• An effective method in preventing muscle spasms is rubbing the calves with soap containing glycerin.
• To eliminate muscle spasms, warm honey is used, which must be applied to the calves and wrap the ankles, and then rinsed thoroughly.
• Rub lemon juice into the feet at night until completely absorbed, then rinse.
• If the convulsing factor is varicose veins, an effective folk remedy is apple cider vinegar, which you need to rub the affected vessels, or take 2 tablespoons daily in a glass of clean water.
• You can also prevent convulsive manifestations by making the following mixture for rubbing into the limbs: Egg yolk, a spoonful of turpentine, a spoonful of apple cider vinegar.
• Mustard powder is good in eliminating muscle spasms, which also needs to be rubbed into the calves of the legs.
• Celandine and petroleum jelly are an excellent remedy for fighting cramps.

Preventive measures to prevent seizures

To eliminate unpleasant manifestations, it is necessary, first of all, to find out the reasons that led to them. Many try to relieve pain on their own, but this does not lead to the desired effect. What to do to prevent calf cramps? It is best in this case to identify the initial cause of the manifestation of the disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment. The main procedures for the prevention of convulsive manifestations are:

• Provide proper nutrition, exclude junk food: caffeinated drinks, soda, spicy, fatty and other products that do not bring any benefit. Eat fruits and vegetables in large quantities;
• Take vitamin complexes that contain the elements necessary to strengthen muscles and bone tissue.
• Walk more often in the fresh air, sunlight helps to saturate the body with vitamin D;
• Take care of your legs, do not overload them, let your legs rest;
• Take time to care for your feet: use warm baths, rub your ankles, massage;
• Clothing and shoes should be comfortable, not squeeze the limbs;
• Gymnastics in this case is very useful, exercise moderately, without giving the body an excessive load;
• Before going to bed for a short time, raise your legs as high as possible, while the blood flow normalizes;
• Sleep position should be chosen as comfortable as possible;
• Drink more fluids;
• Minimize the impact of stressful situations;
• Avoid postures conducive to stagnation of blood;
• Prevent hypothermia of the extremities, insulate your legs.

Frequent leg cramps at night in most cases are one of the symptoms of a disease. There is no such disease that they specifically point to. Determining the disease and undergoing treatment is the first and main task of the patient. To prevent the problem of muscle spasms, preventive measures should initially be followed. After all, any disease is easier to prevent than after suffering with treatment.

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Cramps - muscle contractions - are rather unpleasant and painful sensations that everyone has to deal with at least once in their life. And if the leg is cramped at night - down with sleep and rest. Doctors know what is the cause of the disease, and how to overcome it.

Why does it bring legs together - reasons

Doctors differentiate cramps by duration, location, and degree of muscle involvement. Legs occasionally reduces for everyone for various reasons, but if this happens with enviable constancy, you need to think about treating the process.

Night cramps

It's a shame when a sound sleep is suddenly interrupted by sudden contractions of the leg muscles, which are accompanied by a sharp pain. The first time a person panics, tormented by severe pain.

There is an opinion that the posture during sleep with legs bent at the knees leads to involuntary muscle contraction.

It reduces legs at night in both children and adults, the latter suffer more often due to age-related reasons. The children's body is more stable, it grows and develops, but the older generation accumulates unfavorable physical load.

Causes of night cramps:

• malfunctions of the nervous system;
• muscle fatigue;
• poor blood circulation in the limbs;
• pregnancy;
• a side effect of certain medications;
• lack of vitamins in the body.

Curls toes

When he suddenly brings his toes together, a person involuntarily grabs his feet and begins to pull them in different directions, take your time, figure out why the fingers are brought together.

Causes of toe cramps:

• hypothermia of the legs (often happens in winter in severe frosts);
• tight and uncomfortable shoes (for women - high heels);
• vitamin deficiency;
• congestion in the feet.

Contraction of the calf muscle

Such spasms are the most painful of all others, the calves of the legs most often cramp. At the same time, a person cannot stand on the whole foot, experiences strong tension and a feeling of “stone” muscles.

Leg cramps happen when swimming in cold water, wear a pin in your swimsuit to get rid of the spasm urgently.

Quite often, calf cramps occur due to strong physical exertion, this muscle group bears the main burden of "responsibility".

Causes of calf cramps:

• prolonged stay on the legs;
• excessive sports loads;
• venous insufficiency and edema;
• lack of vitamins and minerals;
• spinal diseases.

Why do pregnant women cramp their legs at night

The body of a pregnant woman works for two, so it is not surprising that the expectant mother experiences many inconveniences, one of which is night cramps.

Causes of seizures in pregnant women:

• an increase in the uterus leads to pressure on the vascular system, blood circulation is disturbed;
• the volume of blood increases, which causes swelling of the tissues;
• hormonal fluctuations;
• excess weight.

What to do if your leg cramped at night?

It is important to know how to quickly get rid of leg pain during a night cramp. The main thing is not to panic, there is nothing terrible in this phenomenon.

Remember the following procedure:

• Breathe deeply to improve circulation.
• Carefully stand on the floor, legs together, back straight.
• Pull the foot of the sore leg towards you, overcoming discomfort. With this action, the muscle is stretched and the spasm goes away.
• If that doesn't work, rub your leg or massage with a warming ointment.
• When continuing to sleep, the legs should lie above the head.

How to avoid leg cramps

Prevention

In order not to face this unpleasant problem, it is enough to conduct healthy lifestyle life, wear comfortable shoes of your size with low heels, do not overwork your feet. For information on how to choose the right heel height, read our publication. Morning exercises with exercises for the feet and knee joints will be a good preventive measure.

A varied diet supplies the body with calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron, without which the strength of blood vessels and good blood circulation are impossible.

Periodically, it is recommended to massage the feet and take a contrast shower so that the blood circulates well in the legs. Try not to abuse diuretics. Follow these tips and you will forget what cramps are.

Diagnostics

If night cramps recur and become a real problem for you, you need to urgently consult a doctor to determine the cause of the disease. The doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe special tests.

With convulsions, it may be necessary to consult a neurologist, cardiologist or endocrinologist.

What abnormalities are secondary causes of seizures? Having established the diagnosis, you will know how to deal with it.

Medical markers of nocturnal cramps:

• Magnesium deficiency - insomnia, depression, heart problems and headaches.
• Lack of calcium - fragile bones, loss of strength, irritability.
• Iron deficiency is a lack of oxygen in the blood.
• Glucose deficiency - spikes in blood sugar levels.
• Nerve impulses during influenza, SARS, during a stroke.
• Diseases of the vessels of the extremities.
• Hot weather - loss of fluid and salts.

Having recovered from the disease, which has become the main cause of night cramps, you will forever forget about discomfort. The main thing is to follow the recommendations of doctors throughout life. Eat right and exercise, take care of your feet. Movement is life!

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Cramps legs - what to do. First aid, causes and treatment of spasms of the calf muscle and toes

One of the common problems in women and men are muscle spasms in the lower extremities. They appear for a variety of reasons and depend on many factors. Today, this pathology is well studied by doctors, its treatment is carried out in several ways.

leg cramps

Continuous contraction of muscle tissue, which is not amenable to voluntary relaxation - these are convulsions. Often such spasms "attack" the lower limbs: thigh, lower leg, feet, fingers. Leg cramps are accompanied by painful sensations, because with muscle spasm, there is a lack of nutrients and oxygen. In medicine, there are two types of such a problem: tonic convulsions - prolonged muscle tension, clonic - short-term contractions that alternate with relaxation. Leg cramps are classified as the first type.

Why cramps legs

Painful muscle tension is provoked by various factors. Here are some of the main reasons why leg cramps can occur frequently:

• change in the balance of ions;
• dehydration;
• pregnancy;
• muscle fatigue;
• phlebeurysm;
• lack of vitamins in the body;
• endocrine diseases;
• hidden injuries;
• inflammatory processes of a local nature.

Leg cramps during pregnancy

Often, pregnant women cramp their legs with a strong cramp - what to do, how to deal with the problem, why this happens, it is important to understand. The phenomenon is considered the norm, associated with a high load on the female body. When convulsions occur during pregnancy, this can signal problems such as:

• excess body weight;
• swelling of blood vessels, tissues, caused by an increase in blood volume;
• lack of useful trace elements, vitamins;
• hormonal changes;
• tendency to varicose veins;
• violation of normal blood circulation due to an increase in the uterus, which presses on the nerve endings and vessels of the lower extremities.

To eliminate cramps during pregnancy, you need to follow these steps:

1. grind well, pinch the reduced muscle;
2. massage by squeezing and straightening your fingers;
3. after pain relief - walk a little to activate blood circulation.

Leg cramps at night

Often cramps bring legs together at night. All body processes proceed more slowly, as it rests. Blood continues to supply organs such as the brain, heart, lungs and diaphragm at the same level. All other organs and systems are relaxed. When local blood flow is impaired or reduced by a number of factors, then, under the condition of a lack of oxygen in the tissues, sharp nocturnal spasmodic attacks can manifest themselves. Uncomfortable posture or overexcitation before going to bed can also cause muscle cramps.

Reduces calves

As a rule, cramps in the calf muscles are the most unpleasant, painful. This part of the lower extremities is very often overcome by spasms, unlike other muscle groups. The main causes of seizures:

• venous insufficiency;
• frequent swelling;
• the use of diuretic drugs;
• atherosclerosis;
• lack of trace elements, vitamins;
• diseases of the lumbar spine.

Curls toes

Some people often cramp their toes. Such attacks begin suddenly, cramps may appear in one or more fingers at once. Possible sources of the problem:

1. avitaminosis;
2. hypothermia of the lower body;
3. wearing uncomfortable shoes;
4. circulatory failure in the human foot.

Leg cramps - treatment

Before treating leg cramps, it is imperative to find out the causes of their occurrence. Do not self-medicate, you should consult a doctor. First you need to be examined by a therapist who will give a referral to a specialist. If convulsions are caused by varicose veins, then a phlebologist will deal with damage to the arteries - a vascular surgeon, diabetes - an endocrinologist, sciatica - a neurologist. Find out what to do when diagnosed with varicose veins of the lower extremities.

leg cramp pills

When he often cramps his legs - what to do, and what methods of therapy help get rid of seizures? After visiting the doctor and determining the cause of muscle spasms, you can begin therapy. The doctor will explain what to take for leg cramps. For certain purposes, medications are prescribed, the type of which depends on the diagnosis. For therapeutic and prophylactic effects, the following means are used:

• tablets with anti-inflammatory or analgesic effect;
• neuroleptics, relaxing muscles;
• barbiturates or other drugs for leg cramps with a hypnotic effect;
• pregnant women are prescribed folic acid, which prevents seizures;
• mineral-vitamin complexes or preparations with magnesium, potassium help out well.

Ointment for seizures

Sometimes a remedy for leg cramps is prescribed in the form of ointments, creams, gels. Medicines of this type are used locally, they lubricate (or rub) the desired part of the leg two to three times a day. Such drugs perfectly reduce the frequency and strength of muscle cramps, help relieve pain, activate the outflow of lymph and blood, strengthen blood vessels well. The most effective, popular means: Troxerutin, Troxevasin, Miaton, Heparin ointment, Traumeel.

Folk remedies

To significantly reduce the frequency, the amount of muscle tension, use folk remedies from leg cramps. Natural medicines reduce pain, accelerate blood circulation, increase the elasticity of blood vessels. Below are some effective recipes for dealing with muscle spasms:

1. It is necessary to prepare a tincture of cumin fruits (a tablespoon), peppermint leaves (two tablespoons), one tablespoon of anise and fennel. Two teaspoons of the mixture are poured with boiling water (liter), infused for half an hour. Strain through cheesecloth, consume all day in small portions.
2. Cramps legs - what to do? Mix vaseline and celandine juice (2 to 1). Mix the components until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. Treat the lower limbs with the resulting ointment once a day. The course of treatment is two weeks.
3. Combine dry bay leaf (50 grams) with unrefined vegetable oil (glass). The mixture is insisted for two weeks in a jar under a closed lid. The medicine is filtered, applied to a specific area when a spasmodic attack occurs.

What to do if you cramp your leg

There are some topical tips on what to do with leg cramps. You need to do the following:

1. Conduct an intensive massage of the tense area.
2. Apply a cold compress.
3. First aid for leg cramps is stretching the affected area:
   • feet, calves: while sitting, straighten the lower limbs, pull the thumbs towards you;
   • anterior femoral part: standing, bend the limb at the knee, clasp the ankle with your hands, pull the foot towards the buttocks;
   • back of the thighs: put the sore leg forward, put it on the heel, bend the other limb at the knee and lean on it with your hands, carefully stretch the reduced limb, pulling back the pelvic part.

How to get rid of cramps

To prevent the occurrence of spasmodic attacks or reduce their number, it is worth resorting to preventive measures. Here are some tips on how to get rid of leg cramps. Need:

• proper nutrition;
• a reasonable regime of rest and work;
• wearing comfortable, high-quality shoes;
• rejection of bad habits;
• before physical activity, it is necessary to perform a warm-up;
• the use of vitamins, minerals;
• timely diagnosis, treatment of ailments that cause convulsions;
• performance of special gymnastics.

Video: how to treat seizures

I am carrying a child, I faced a very unpleasant situation - spasms of the lower extremities. She cramps both legs - at first she didn’t know what to do. The pediatrician advised me to regularly perform simple exercises, take vitamins and get more rest. To date, the problem has practically ceased to disturb.

Gennady, 48 years old

I get very tired at work, which is associated with constant physical activity. I began to wake up at night from severe spasms in my feet and fingers. I visited a doctor, he prescribed a good warming ointment, painkillers. After a couple of weeks, the seizures disappeared. To play it safe, I try not to overexert myself, I drink vitamins.

Varicose veins appeared. Against this background, there are periodic, but painful cramps of the lower extremities. I decided to contact the local therapist, he referred me to a phlebologist. Prescribed medicines (tablets, gel). I am treated for a week, I do special simple gymnastics, there is a significant improvement.

The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make recommendations for treatment based on individual features specific patient.

What to do if your legs cramp

A cramp is a sudden painful muscle contraction. This phenomenon is uncontrollable and involuntary. Not everyone knows that there are spasms, not only leg muscles are affected. In fact, a nervous tic of the face, eyelids, is also a type of spasm, only this type of spasm is called "clonic" because it is expressed by fast uncontrolled movements that are stereotypical.

The same cramps that almost every adult knows about are called "tonic." In this case, the muscles do not contract, but harden, causing severe pain. Most often, such cramps occur at night in the legs, namely, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe legs. It also sometimes cramps the feet or hips. Seizures occur even in children, but much less frequently than in adults.

Diagnostics

Statistics claim that leg cramps, often repeated at night, are a phenomenon well known to 80% of the world's population.

This phenomenon is not only unpleasant, do not underestimate its importance. Severe seizures can even be life-threatening. With the so-called "generalized" convulsions, it reduces almost all the muscles of the body. From such a spasm, a person can lose consciousness. Seizures of this type are caused by a consequence of certain diseases. In such cases, without medical care not enough.

Let's try to understand why seizures happen and what to do to prevent and treat them. Oddly enough, the most common cause lies in the blood. If the blood is not replenished with some essential substances, its biochemical composition changes. Substances such as calcium, potassium and magnesium contribute to the normal functioning of muscles and nerve endings. In addition, the body may lack vitamin D. The lack of these substances may well cause an imbalance that leads to seizures.

The normal absorption of calcium and magnesium by the body can be prevented by taking any medication. Among such drugs, adsorbents and diuretic drugs can be distinguished. The latter contribute to the excretion of potassium and magnesium from the body. Heartburn medications can have the same side effect.

The body can begin to remove calcium itself, without external influence of any drugs. This occurs when there is an excessive release of a hormone such as cortisol. Cortisol enters the body during severe stress.

During pregnancy, the lack of one or another trace element is a common problem. A woman who is expecting a baby needs much more calcium and magnesium. In this regard, pregnant women often cramp their legs.

Another cause of calcium deficiency is the consumption of excessive amounts of protein. If the body does not have enough glucose, it takes it from fats, and not just from carbohydrates. In this case, the so-called "ketosis" can develop, provoked by the appearance of ketones in the blood. This entails such an active excretion of calcium from the body that stones may even appear in the kidneys.

Cramps often occur in athletes in the summer. This is due to sweating. A lot of potassium comes out with sweat.

AT winter time people get less vitamin D from the body sunbeams. Vitamin D contributes to the normal absorption of calcium. Therefore, a lack of a vitamin can also cause the problem in question.

There are a few more possible causes painful muscle spasms

• Thyroid disease.
• Violation of the veins, varicose veins.
• Radiculitis.
• Diabetes.
• Improper circulation in the legs.
• Kidney problems, insufficiency.
• Injuries to the muscles of the legs, even flat feet.
• Hypothermia of the body.
• Physical overload.

One of the most unpleasant and painful types of cramps is a spasm of the calf muscle. It starts with a slight sensation of muscle contraction and develops into severe pain. The increase and intensification of pain occurs in a short time, it is always sudden.

Night cramps are considered very common. They should not be confused with disturbing sensations in the legs caused by dysfunction of the joints. These spasms prevent people from sleeping properly at night.

If you did not have time to do this, then you need to take countermeasures against the spasm that has already happened.

Grab your big toe and pull it hard towards you. Release the toe for a short time, and then repeat the action. Take off your socks and walk in the cold with half-bare feet.

If you have an ointment with a warming effect on hand, rub it on your cramped leg or ask someone close to do it.

A well-known remedy for cramps is a needle prick. At night, the needles may not be nearby; you can replace the injection with a slight pinching in the muscle area.

When the cramp has passed, raise your legs above the level of your heart. The blood will drain from the legs, and the risk of a spasm recurring will be minimized.

Prevention

It is impossible to permanently get rid of this problem without eliminating its source. The cause of seizures can be correctly identified by the doctor. Be sure to set aside time for a visit to a specialist, because health is most important.

With this problem, first of all, you need to go to a general practitioner. He will conduct a general examination of the body and decide which specialist you should be referred to. The therapist makes this decision based on the results of the tests, which show in which area violations are possible. There are fairly safe steps to prevent seizures that you can do yourself.

1. First, you need to choose shoes that tightly cover the leg in the ankle area. A high rise will also have a positive effect on the prevention of seizures. Shoes should be comfortable. The less the legs get tired during the day, the less often it reduces them at night. So it's better to forget about high heels.
2. Secondly, try to reduce the level of physical activity. Muscle fatigue, which can be obtained in the gym or in the country, may well be a catalyst for cramps.

Take contrast baths before bed to reduce blood flow to your legs and reduce the risk of cramping at night. You can add valerian, which is known for its relaxing properties, to the water.

Massage your feet before bed. Rub the muscles where they usually cramp. Start with easy movements and build up over the course of a few minutes.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, leg cramps at night are most often in people who do not eat quite right. If leg cramps occur at night, it means that something is missing in the body.

The natural conclusion - you need to include in the diet foods containing a lot of potassium and magnesium. You also need to take calcium and vitamin D, you can in tablets. Calcium is found in dairy products. Eat cottage cheese, cheese; drink kefir, milk. There is a lot of potassium in meat, poultry, fish. Magnesium you get from cereals, greens, legumes. Be outdoors more often, especially in sunny weather. This is how you enrich your body with vitamin D.

Two more things to do with cramps: control the amount of coffee and try to cut down on smoking.

Leg exercises

In the morning, stretch in bed, stretch your legs, tighten and relax a lot several times in a row. This exercise should be done regularly. Stretch up while standing on your toes. Quickly return to the starting position. This can be done several times in a row. Stand up straight. Standing on the outer parts of the feet, tighten your legs. Stay in this position for a few seconds, up to a minute. Relax your legs, let them rest, and repeat all over again.

Now you know what to do to prevent and prevent seizures. If you have normalized your diet, but your legs still cramp at night, then you need to change something else. Where to start in this case? Of course, with a visit to the doctor. It must be remembered that self-medication can cause serious harm to health. Thoughtlessly treating yourself for cramps, you can provoke the appearance of problems much more serious than spasms at night.

After reading this article, you have become familiar with the most common and harmless methods of treating and preventing the problem in question. But the causes of your cramps may differ from those described above. This means that other methods of treatment should be used.

Seizures appear when a person moves a little. The muscles decrease in volume, the activity of the spinal cord changes and the muscle tenses.

Varicose veins are also a cause of leg cramps. As a preventive measure, I began to smear my legs with Thrombocide. The cramps have passed, now my legs do not reduce as before.

Leg cramps - causes and effective treatment

The muscles of the legs and feet are subject to involuntary contractions called spasms or tonic spasms. This condition is accompanied by acute pain, which can last 3-5 minutes, and a feeling of intense tension, "fossilized" muscles. Coping with spasms is easy if you know their causes and a few effective treatments.

Why cramps legs?

Muscle contractions can occur in both healthy people and those suffering from serious chronic diseases. In the first case, the causes of seizures are as follows:

• strong and prolonged tension of a certain muscle group;
• long stay of the leg in one position;
• low ambient air or water temperature;
• a sharp increase in load with poor fitness;
• seasonal deficiency of trace elements and vitamins.

In healthy adults, leg cramps are rare and resolve quickly without recurrence. If tonic spasms appear regularly and are characterized by a duration of several minutes, it is necessary to look for provoking factors in work disorders. internal organs and systems. There are 3 options dangerous reasons, from which it cramps the legs:

• water-electrolyte imbalance;
• improper blood circulation in soft tissues;
• neurological diseases.

It is difficult to figure out why muscle contractions occur on your own. To make a diagnosis, you will have to visit a specialist, describe in detail to him the clinical signs accompanying seizures, and pass the prescribed tests. At the consultation, it is important to indicate at what time of the day the problem appears, how often, and to name the muscle group that hurts more.

Leg cramps at night - causes

Intense spasms in the soft tissues indicate the accumulation of lactic acid in them. Its amount increases if a person sleeps in a hot and cramped room with a lack of oxygen. Another common reason why it cramps legs at night is vascular disorders in combination with muscle overload the day before. Due to their overvoltage, the outflow of venous blood during sleep is reduced, and the flow of biological fluid in the arteries is slowed down. This causes spastic phenomena, pain syndrome and a feeling of "petrification" of the limb.

Cramps the calves of the legs

The lower legs are subject to involuntary contractions more often than other muscles, as they experience a greater load during the day. Tonic leg cramps can occur for the following reasons:

• dehydration;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• varicose disease;
• hemodialysis;
• plasma transfusion;
• inadequate treatment with diuretics;
• chronic renal failure;
• intoxication of the body against the background of a bacterial or viral infection;
• Raynaud's disease;
• violation of cerebral circulation;
• epileptic seizures with convulsions;
• osteochondrosis;
• knee injuries and bone fractures;
• spastic paralysis;
• heavy bleeding;
• endocrine pathologies;
• improper rehydration therapy.

Brief leg cramps are also seen in pregnant women, especially during the second and third trimesters. For the full growth and formation of the bone structures of the fetus, an increased intake of calcium and potassium is required, therefore, in many expectant mothers, the concentration of these trace elements in the body decreases and short-term spasms occur.

Cramping toes

The contraction of the muscles of the feet appears either due to a deterioration in blood circulation in small arteries and capillaries, or against the background of anomalies of the ligaments and joints. Cramps of the foot and toes are observed due to such factors:

• obliterating endarteritis;
• diabetes;
• transverse flat feet;
• smoking;
• violation of tissue utilization of carbohydrates;

What to do with leg cramps?

Methods of emergency stop of spastic contraction:

• active limb massage;
• gentle stretching of the muscles of the foot or lower leg;
• tissue relaxation.

Sometimes the attack is felt in advance. A person feels tension, numbness and growing pulling pain in the legs - cramps begin with these symptoms. If any of the following symptoms appear, you must:

1. Change the position of the limb, rotate it.
2. Try to relax your leg muscles as much as possible.
3. Normalize blood circulation in the legs and feet.

Leg cramps at night - what to do?

The fastest method of dealing with spasms involves stretching the muscle. To eliminate night cramps in the legs, you should use your hands to pull your toes towards you. At the same time, you need to try to fully straighten the knee so that the soft tissues relax. There are also too frequent leg cramps at night - what to do:

1. Quickly take an upright position or sit down with your feet flat on the floor. It is advisable to walk on a cool surface.
2. Gently rub the tense muscle. Stroking, patting on the leg and shaking will help.
3. Raise the limbs by placing a high pillow or folded blanket under the heels.

How to relieve leg cramps?

Emergency treatment options for tonic spasms include strong pinching of contracted muscles and pricking with a pin or needle. These methods instantly relieve both nocturnal leg cramps and sudden attacks during the day. If a tense limb is sharply pinched, bitten or pricked, the activated nerve endings reflexively switch to another stimulus and the muscle immediately relaxes.

How to get rid of leg cramps?

Regular or daily spasms of the legs and feet must be treated comprehensively. The constant use of the above methods of emergency care allows you to cope only with the symptoms of pathology. To find out how to relieve leg cramps for a long time, you need to undergo a diagnosis and determine the causes of tonic muscle contractions, consult with doctors.

Leg cramps treatment

A single therapeutic regimen that allows you to get rid of tonic spasms has not been developed. You can choose the best way to treat leg cramps after finding out all the factors that provoke the pathology. First you need to contact a therapist and take a general blood test to assess the general condition of the body, muscles and the circulatory system. When making a diagnosis and identifying the cause of seizures, further consultations are carried out by specialized specialists. Treatment is carried out by a cardiologist, neuropathologist, phlebologist or endocrinologist.

Home therapy for leg cramps consists in following several important rules:

1. Monitor water and electrolyte balance. In the hot season, increase the amount of fluid consumed.
2. Choose the right shoes with good ankle support and sufficient instep. It is better to replace high stilettos with stable heels 3-4 cm high.
3. Daily self-massage of the feet. It is useful to rub the muscles from the toes to the knee, even if there are no cramps.
4. Do not overload the limbs. With a feeling of severe fatigue in the legs, the appearance of swelling and numbness of the muscles, relax, massage the soft tissues.
5. Periodically take prophylactic doses of vitamins, calcium and potassium. This is especially necessary for pregnant women.

Leg cramps at night - treatment

If spasms occur during sleep, you should contact a cardiologist or vascular surgeon, do dopplerography. The doctor will help identify and eliminate the causes of stagnation of venous blood and deterioration of blood circulation in the arteries. To alleviate and prevent leg cramps at night, you can through the following activities:

1. Taking contrast baths or alternately dousing the skin with hot and cold water before going to bed. To improve blood flow, it is recommended to use decoctions medicinal plants, relieving convulsions - mint, horsetail, valerian.
2. Diet correction. Spastic muscle contractions can be prevented by enriching the menu with foods containing magnesium, calcium, vitamin D and potassium. These substances are present in greens, legumes, dried fruits and bran. Additionally, it is worth including cod fish liver, dairy products, avocados in the diet.
3. Performing gymnastics for convulsions. Every morning you need to do simple exercises - walk "on your toes", on your heels, on the outer and inner surfaces of the feet, move your toes, bend and unbend your knees. Increasing the elasticity of the muscles will help to avoid the recurrence of spasms.

Cure for leg cramps

There are no specific medications for the treatment of sudden muscle contractions. Any drugs are selected by a specialized doctor based on the diagnosis and research. The only common cure for leg cramps is tablets containing mineral and vitamin complexes. Additionally, the doctor may advise taking magnesium supplements and muscle relaxants to relax the muscles.

Medicines for leg cramps

Effective vitamin and mineral complexes:

Effective magnesium preparations to prevent leg cramps:

There are no special local medicines for spastic muscle contractions either, so the pharmacy does not sell ointment for leg cramps. Any drug with a warming and irritating effect will help alleviate the symptoms of pathology. The exception is situations where the problem occurs due to varicose veins. With such a diagnosis, the phlebologist prescribes special local remedies that restore blood circulation, prevent the formation of blood clots and the appearance of muscle cramps.

Many of us have experienced a sharp contraction of the muscles of the legs, intense and uncontrollable, of varying duration. This is a rather painful condition that deprives a person of the opportunity for any type of movement and frightens with its suddenness.

Most often, leg muscle cramps appear in the muscles of the lower extremities. In the common people they say "legs cramped", meaning a spasm of the calf muscles or toes. Much less often than calves, cramps affect the muscles of the back or front of the thighs.

The strongest contraction of one or a group of skeletal muscles, accompanied by severe pain, is called a leg cramp. Sometimes several of these attacks can occur in one night. Most often, leg cramps occur in the calves at night, in the morning or immediately after waking up.

This symptom may indicate a fairly large range of pathological conditions of the body, functional changes, as well as responses to certain stimuli. Often there are night cramps in the legs in the elderly, due to a violation of the venous blood flow.

What diseases can signal cramps in the legs:

• varicose veins, incipient thrombosis;
• metabolic disorders, including diabetes mellitus;
• pathology of the thyroid gland, as one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism;
• diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• flat feet;
• pathological changes in the nervous system;
• problems with the spine;
• deficiency of trace elements, in particular, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, responsible for the transport of nerve signals from the central nervous system to the muscles;
• avitaminosis (vitamins of groups B, D), as a rule, is observed in combination with a lack of these trace elements;
• local inflammatory processes;
• hidden leg injuries.

Night spasms of the calf muscles and toes are companions of neurological diseases, such as tetanus, epilepsy, neurosis, and severe poisoning. Can cause leg cramps fever body.

As a rule, episodic spasms of the calf muscles, lasting up to 1 minute, indicate an unhealthy lifestyle. Such manifestations can be observed in smokers, people leading a sedentary lifestyle, irrationally eating, often following strict diets and fasting, experiencing a lack of fluid in the body, absorbing large doses of caffeine.

A person can harm himself by taking uncontrolled laxatives and diuretics, for example, if you want to quickly lose weight or to cleanse the body using some home-grown method. Remember that they flush out potassium, and its deficiency is one of the main causes of leg cramps.

Athletes and people who experience regular physical overload also suffer from short-term leg cramps. Another factor that provokes spasms of the calf muscles is the general overwork of the body, constant stress. Involuntary contractions are often observed in people with severe hypothermia.

However, such a sign may indicate some diseases, therefore, if you are worried about nightly spasms of the calf muscles daily, for 5-7 days, then this is a serious reason to undergo an examination of the body, seeking the advice of specialists.

The answer to the question of why a person is tormented by leg cramps at night, their cause and treatment, can only be established and prescribed by a doctor after examining the patient, talking with him and passing laboratory tests.

Causes of toe cramps

In addition to the calf muscles, spasms occur in the fingers of one or both legs. The reasons for this phenomenon are varied. Often this symptom indicates chronic venous insufficiency, a lack of certain electrolytes in the blood (sodium, calcium, potassium).

Sometimes the cause of seizures is taking certain medications.

Leg cramps at night - causes over the age of 50, treatment

Provoking causes of leg cramps at night in middle and old age are much more common. People over 45 have many chronic diseases. Over the years, metabolism slows down, hormonal disruptions and other disturbances in the functioning of systems occur.

Every second elderly person faces the problem of night cramps. To reduce the number of seizures, it is imperative to treat concomitant diseases, be observed by specialists and lead a healthy lifestyle.

What to do when legs cramp?

The main thing with a cramp is not to panic. Pinch the muscle hard or pierce the skin with a sterile pin/needle. Sit on the bed, put your feet on the cool floor, try to stand up straight - this leads to the normalization of blood circulation in the lower extremities.

With muscle spasm in the tissues, there is an accumulation of the product of glucose oxidation - lactate. It is this substance that causes pain, which can manifest itself for a certain period of time.

1. When a cramp occurs, doctors recommend self-massage, combining patting movements on the muscle with rubbing. Warming rubbing of the legs with medical alcohol or vodka helps well.
2. Another option for calf cramps is to lubricate the legs with a warming cream / ointment. According to experienced aromatherapists, foot massage with oils helps relieve pain and free muscles from lactate.

Laurel oil has proven itself well in the treatment of seizures: insist 50 grams of dried laurel leaves in a quarter liter of unrefined or sunflower oil for two weeks, filter. Rub the cramped muscles with the elixir, massaging the legs from toes to heels, from heels to knees and patting the skin.

If night cramps are a symptom of a certain disease, then getting rid of them begins with the establishment of a diagnosis and adequate therapy. All therapeutic measures are prescribed taking into account the existing chronic diseases and the individual characteristics of the organism.

If venous insufficiency is suspected, the lower veins are examined by ultrasound examination (duplex scanning). After ultrasound, the phlebologist prescribes complex therapy.

A blood sugar test is required. If problems are found, supervision by an experienced endocrinologist is required. The same specialist will help with diseases of the thyroid gland.

If convulsions are caused by diseases of the cardiovascular system, then the therapy is prescribed by a cardiologist. A neuropathologist (neurologist) deals with diseases of the nervous system.

Nutrition for people prone to seizures

Patients suffering from leg cramps are advised to normalize their diet by including foods rich in calcium, potassium, and magnesium in the menu. First of all, we are talking about fermented milk products, cottage cheese and hard cheeses, spinach, cabbage, almonds, poppy seeds.

The absorption of calcium is facilitated by bee products. There is a lot of potassium in apricots, dried apricots, apricots, potato peels (it is recommended to use homemade tubers baked with the peel), bananas, avocados, fish and meat.

To provide the body with magnesium, daily include legumes, mushrooms, herbs, oats, rye bread, seeds, and unroasted nuts in the diet. Use egg yolks, caviar, and fatty fish to replenish your D vitamins. Be sure to observe the drinking regime (at least 8 glasses of free clean water per day).

It should be borne in mind that caffeinated drinks remove water from the tissues, so after a cup of strong tea or coffee, it is advisable to drink about 200 ml of liquid.

Prevention of leg cramps

• Complete nutrition, rich in all necessary biologically active substances.
• Weight normalization. With excess weight, the load on the lower limbs and the heart increases many times over.
• Refusal or minimization of the use of energy drinks, coffee and strong tea.
• Wearing comfortable shoes. Women who prefer to wear high heels should regularly rest their feet by removing uncomfortable shoes once an hour.
• Contrast foot baths with the addition of herbal decoctions (nettle, chamomile, yarrow) or with essential oils (lavender, orange, rosemary, geranium).
• Relaxing leg exercises before bed.
• Self-massage of the lower extremities with oils (4-5 drops of pure chamomile and ginger esters are added to 30 ml of peach kernel, jojoba, almond oil base).
• A course of professional massage with essential oils will help minimize nighttime convulsive contractions.
• Rubbing your feet with mustard oil before going to bed will effectively prevent cramps.
• Useful morning and evening gymnastics for the legs.

If you are faced with the problem of leg cramps, then our tips will help you decide on the next course of action. Indeed, in some cases, the problem can be solved only by radically changing the way of life and giving up bad habits.

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Leg cramps are not a pleasant feeling. According to statistics, 30% of people have muscle cramps at least once in their lives. The pain from this is almost always unexpected and very sharp. Often, convulsions begin at night, forcing us to experience not the most joyful moments. Fortunately, this can be avoided.

website will help you understand the reasons why your legs are cramping, and tell you where to start treatment.

Dehydration

The classic cause of nighttime leg cramps is dehydration. Drinking enough fluids is very important for proper muscle function. According to doctors, lack of water provokes hypersensitivity of nerve endings, resulting in seizures.

What to do? Drink plenty of water, especially if it's hot outside or you're active in sports.

Micronutrient deficiency

Micronutrient deficiencies can cause many health problems, including seizures. Potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium are vital minerals that help maintain fluid balance in the body and are involved in muscle function.

Potassium and sodium chloride create electrical impulses responsible for muscle contraction. And magnesium regulates the amount of adenosine triphosphate in the body, which is the main source of energy for muscles. Interestingly, the main reserves of magnesium are “stored” in the muscles of the legs, so cramps are the first sign of its lack.

What to do? Eat and drink. No kidding: water and food contain all the necessary trace elements.

• Statins. Used to lower blood cholesterol levels.
• Diuretics. Assign at high pressure. Diuretics are diuretic drugs and can cause potassium and magnesium deficiencies.
• Estrogens. Hormones to treat menopausal symptoms.
• Painkillers. Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including side effects- muscle cramps.

What to do? Contact your doctor. The doctor will select other, more suitable drugs.

kidney disease

What to do? Follow the training regimen, do not overwork and remain calm.

Bonus

• Drink plenty of fluids, this should become a habit for you. Mineral-rich sports drinks can be a good alternative to pure water.
• Cut down on coffee and alcohol: they have a very strong diuretic effect.
• Stretch your leg muscles before bed.
• Sleep in loose clothing that does not interfere with blood circulation.
• If you still cramp your leg, just move it, this will send a signal to the brain that everything is in order.
• Add magnesium-rich foods to your diet, such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
• A warm compress on the affected area relieves cramps.
• Wear comfortable orthopedic shoes.
• Be active, do not sit too long in one place, go in for sports.

Suffering from calf muscle cramps a large number of of people. Periodic pulling pain, from which it reduces the legs at night, interfere with normal sleep. The causes and methods of treatment of this disease cannot be called fully established. And today there are a number of difficulties in diagnosing problems that cause calf spasms, and there is also no general therapeutic program aimed at bringing the leg muscles back to normal. However, the relative lack of knowledge of the issue is not a reason to stop fighting the disease and let the problem that threatens the health of the whole organism take its course.

Most people are familiar with convulsive contractions of the calf region.

Cramp (spasm) - involuntary contraction of muscle tissue cells. This contraction/contraction is accompanied by a pulling pain in the legs. You can get rid of this pain only by normalizing the work of muscle tissue.

Why does involuntary muscle contraction occur, which cramps the legs? Doctors name several main reasons:

• superfluous physical exercise on the lower limbs;
• metabolic disease;
• deviations in the work of the cardiovascular system;
• deformities in the structure of the feet;
• disorders associated with infectious diseases.

However, if you believe the doctors who have been working with patients for decades who complain that they periodically cramp their calves, in 70% of cases none of the listed causes is the dominant source of pain in the legs. Most often, there is a complex of problems that is easier to prevent than to get rid of its consequences in the future.

Therefore, in order to find out why he cramps his legs during the night and how to deal with this ailment, you must first analyze your way of life and your habits on your own, and only after that turn to specialists on:

• feature definitions;
• structures of the lower extremities;
• the state of the cardiovascular system;
• tests for the presence of infections in the body that can provoke a condition in which it reduces the lower limbs.

With frequent spasms in the calf region, you need to see a doctor

During the examination, it will be necessary to take tests and undergo hardware studies that can give an idea of ​​the general condition of the body and its individual organs.

Uncomfortable position of the lower extremities during the day is one of the main reasons that reduces leg muscles. And this reason is relevant for both women and men. Many women sin on heels as the main problem that provokes cramps in the calves.

However, it is not. Walking in heels in itself cannot cause cramps and, accordingly, the reason that reduces the calves of the legs. Of course, shoes with heels do not add health to the female body and can provoke a whole bunch of diseases, but they are mainly associated with disorders in the spine, in the departments responsible for the even distribution of body weight.

Shoes with high heels increase the load on the lower extremities, but do not cause convulsive muscle contractions.

In this case, prolonged sitting with the wrong position of the legs is considered as excessively harmful, in which the muscles are pinched and their normal work is blocked.

If you really notice yourself often sitting in uncomfortable positions with crooked legs and at night it happens that you cramp your calves, then the first thing to do is change the habit and try to keep your legs in a comfortable position. No other treatment is needed.

In acute convulsions, pain can be relieved by massage and on the legs, which provide additional blood flow to calf muscles. These methods quickly restore the normal functioning of muscle tissue.

Massage will help to avoid convulsive muscle contractions

If, even after the measures taken, at night it continues to reduce the calves of the legs, then work should begin to identify other causes of painful cramps.

Metabolic disease

In the body, it most often manifests itself in a lack of important elements, without which some organs and systems cannot function normally.

Tormented by cramps at night? Review your diet!

The reason that reduces the calves of the legs at night may be a lack in the body:

• potassium ions;
• magnesium ions;
• calcium;
• vitamin D.

The circumstances under which there is a shortage of these trace elements are different. This is the wrong way of life, and chronic diseases, and temporary discord in the work of some organs.

Causes can only be established through medical examinations.

The lack of potassium and magnesium is associated with the use of diuretic drugs to treat, for example, edema or pressure. If a woman takes them and she reduces her calves in the morning or at night, then the necessary treatment for convulsive spasms can be reduced to taking medications containing potassium and magnesium.

Instead of treatment with medications, it is proposed to add to the diet buckwheat porridge, chocolate, bananas, beans and other foods containing large amounts of potassium and magnesium.

Bananas - a tasty and healthy treat, suitable as a treatment

Lack of calcium is the first thing that is assumed in cases of patients seeking treatment when they cramp their calves at night. Treatment of such a shortage also comes down to taking foods that contain a large amount of calcium. Sometimes the reason for the lack of calcium is associated with a lack of vitamin D in the body. This deficiency is also replenished by additional intake of the missing vitamin.

Vascular problems

Also, one of the common problems that leads to the fact that at night it can cramp legs is a violation of the cardiovascular system.

The great danger of this problem in cases where it brings the legs together during pregnancy lies in the possible complications in carrying the fetus.

Leg cramps during pregnancy require treatment

Therefore, if you cramp your legs during pregnancy at night, you should not reassure yourself that this is just a lack of calcium or vitamin D. It is necessary first of all to exclude the possibility of thrombophilia.

Treatment of thrombophilia is a complex and multilevel process. It uses both medical and physiotherapeutic methods. Treatment of this problem during pregnancy should be handled exclusively by specialists.

Foot deformities

A more rare cause of cramping at night is flat feet. Only in a small number of patients who suffer from flat feet, there is such a symptom as cramps in the calf muscles.

But if, nevertheless, there is flat feet and convulsions are also disturbing, it is necessary to check whether there is a causal relationship between these two deviations. If indeed, according to the doctor, flat feet can cause convulsions in a particular patient, then the main thing to do is to reduce the impact of the deformed foot on the functioning of the calf muscles.

With flat feet, a doctor should treat convulsive muscle contractions

To do this, experts advise to perform certain sets of exercises and switch to orthopedic shoes.