what causes cramp when your asleep?

Question

i sometimes get cramp in my calfs when im asleep.... it always wakes me up in great pain....

what causes it?

Answer 1

Is it after you've been drinking? Cramp is caused by lack of salt / dehydration. I can usually time a cramp by a big night out. It's hideous. Drink lots of water.

Answer 2

Cramping during sleep is usually due to an exaggeration of a normal muscle reflex. When you turn during sleep, you contract your calf muscles and stretch their tendons. This stimulates nerve stretch receptors in the tendon and sends a message back to the spinal cord, telling the calf muscles to contract. Sometimes, the muscles remain contracted and hurt. Painful muscle cramps at night can also be caused by nerve damage such as that caused by pinching a nerve, muscle damage, a partially-obstructed flow of blood to the legs and abnormal mineral or hormone levels, so if you have this problem, check with your doctor. If you do not have a serious cause, you can often prevent night cramps by exhausting the stretch reflex before you go to bed by stretching your calf muscles with wall pushups, and applying a heating pad for 10 minutes before you go to sleep.

Answer 3

Leg cramps ("Charlie horse") are painful Muscle Spasms in the legs that usually occur at night. Dehydration, excessive exercise, and use of diuretic ("water pills") medications may trigger or worsen leg cramps.

Acute painful episode:

-Stretch slowly, then massage your leg while pointing your toes upward.
-Stand up and gently put pressure on the affected leg.
-Cold or warm packs may help.

Daily stretching before bed. While standing, place hands on the wall, heels on the floor, lean toward the wall while bending one knee, and hold this position for 10 seconds. Repeat with the other knee. Repeat 5-7 times with each side.

Keep well hydrated -- 6-8 cups of fluid per day. Make sure some of the fluids contain Electrolytes (e.g., sports drinks).

Quinine sulfate before bed may be prescribed for frequent nighttime leg cramps.

Vitamin E (400 I.U./day) has been reported to help prevent leg cramps as well.

Answer 4

My understanding of Cramp is that the neves to a muscle tell the muscle to move into a particular position when it is already there and it then tries so it tightens.

How the two are related I do not know but it has been said that a lack of salt creates cramp. I know salt is a dirty word but without any we would not survive.

Answer 5

Nocturnal cramps or cramps on a similar time as dozing is a symptom of a coronary heart problem fairly in case you journey it an outstanding variety of the time. Cramps is additionally reason for over fatigue and accumulation of lactic acid on your calf muscle.

Answer 6

It is most probably the lack of one or more essential minerals, potassium, magnesium, calcium. Ordinary cooking salt contains only sodium which actually replaces potassium in your system and would make the problem worse.
There are supplements for all 3 available in any pharmacy, but you can also do it the natural way, by increasing your intake of dairy products for calcium, bananas and potatos for potassium and celery for magnesium.

Answer 7

I disagree with the other answerers. I think your body is giving reactions to the dreams you've had, you must see a neurogist. Sometimes when overall stress is at a high level, or when it is a srtuggling phase in life, dreams become more complex and more tense and more real.

Answer 8

I agree with Summermars. I was told this by a reliable doctor a few months ago.

Answer 9

You overused them muscles during the day. Try gentle stretching before you go sleep.

Answer 10

It can be just temporary problems with circulation, or it can be a calcium deficiency causing neuronal agitation. It can also be restless leg syndrome. (RLS) take Requip.