Cramps in legs during the night?

Question

Why is my partner waking up during the night with cramps in his legs.
He has been getting them quite often but last night woke up with both legs in pain.
Bad enough with 1 leg not 2.

All great answers thanks just to let you all know he's a farmer who shears a lot of sheap so muscles prob worked too much but have taken everything on board.
Thanks a million

Answer 1

LEG CRAMPS

What are LEG CRAMPS?
- Cramp is a term often used to refer to a painful, involuntary contraction of a single muscle or a muscle group.
- Leg cramps frequently occur in the legs of elderly patients and can be extremely painful.
- Severe leg cramps my be followed by residual tenderness and evidence of muscle fiber necrosis, including elevation of serum creatinine kinase.
- Cramps in the calf muscles are so common as to be considered normal, but more generalized cramps may be a sign of chronic disease of the motor neuron.
- Complaints of muscle pain and muscle fatigue are among the most frequent symptoms offered by patients. The decision as to which patients require extensive diagnostic tests can usually be made by history, examination, and routine blood studies.
- Muscle cramps can be particularly troublesome during pregnancy, in patients with electrolyte disturbances (hyponatremia), and in patients on hemodialysis.
- Spasms (abnormal movements of muscle) may arise from abnormal electrical activity of the central nervous system (CNS) mediated via the motor neuron or occur within the motor neuron or muscle fiber itself.

Causes of LEG CRAMPS
- In many cases, it is impossible to determine the cause of the leg cramps.
- Muscle cramps can arise from spontaneous firing of special nerve groups followed by contraction of certain muscle fibers.
- Cramps that are recurrent and localized to one muscle group may suggest nerve root disease.

Treatment of LEG CRAMPS
- The decision to treat a patient with leg cramps depends on the severity and degree of impairment.
- If the pain is mild and self-limiting, topical and/or oral non-prescription analgesics may be appropriate. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
- For more severe pain or if the pain is referred, the patient should see their physician for further evaluation.
- Quinine Sulfate is usually the prescription drug of choice for leg cramps.
Alternative names

Pain - leg; Aches - leg; Cramps - leg
Definition

Leg pain is a common symptom and complaint. For more specific topics, see foot pain, hip pain, knee pain, muscle pain, joint pain, shin splints, and blockage of leg arteries.

Common Causes

Leg pain can be due to a muscle cramp (also called a charley horse). Common causes of cramps include:

Muscle fatigue or strain from overuse, too much exercise, or holding a muscle in the same position for a long time
Dehydration or low amounts of potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium in the blood
Medications such as:
Diuretics, which can cause you to lose too much fluid or minerals
Statins, which lower cholesterol
An injury can also cause leg pain from:

A torn or overstretched muscle (strain)
Inflamed tendon (tendinitis)
Shin splints -- pain in the front of your leg related to overuse or repetitive pounding
Hairline crack in the bone (stress fracture)
Other common causes of leg pain include:

Blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) from prolonged bed rest
Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup) that blocks blood flow in the arteries (this type of pain, called claudication, is generally felt when exercising or walking and relieved by rest)
Inflammation of the leg joints by arthritis or gout
Nerve damage -- common in diabetics, smokers, and alcoholics (symptoms include numbness, tingling, or a sensation of pins-and-needles)
Infection of the bone (osteomyelitis) or skin and soft tissue (cellulitis)
Varicose veins
Less common causes include:

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis -- usually seen in boys and overweight children between 11 and 15 years old, this refers to a separation of the ball of the hip joint from the thigh bone. It causes pain and growth abnormalities.
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease -- poor blood flow to the hip that may stop or slow the normal growth of the leg. This condition usually affects boys between 4 and 10 years old.
Benign tumors or cysts of the femur or tibia (osteoid osteoma).
Malignant bone tumors (osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma).
Drugs such as allopurinol and corticosteroids.
Sciatic nerve pain (radiating pain down the leg) caused by a slipped disk in the back.
Home Care

If you have leg pain from cramps or overuse, take these steps first:

Rest as much as possible.
Elevate your leg.
Apply ice for up to 15 minutes. Do this 4 times per day, more often for the first few days.
Gently stretch and massage cramping muscles.
Take over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
For leg pain caused by varicose veins, leg elevation and compression with elastic bandages or support hose can help.

For leg pain caused by nerve disorders or claudication, control diabetes, eliminate alcohol and tobacco, and avoid ill-fitting shoes.

Call your health care provider if

Call your doctor if:

The painful leg is swollen or red.
You have a fever.
Your pain worsens when walking or exercising and improves with rest.
The leg is black and blue.
The leg is cold and pale.
You are on medications that may be causing leg pain. DO NOT stop or change any of your usual medications without talking to your doctor.
Self-care steps do not help.
What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination, with careful attention to your legs, feet, thighs, hips, back, knees, and ankles.

To help diagnose the cause of the problem, your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

Where exactly is your pain?
Do you have pain in one or both legs?
How would you describe the pain? Dull and aching? Sharp and stabbing? Do you consider it to be severe?
Is the pain worse at any particular time of day, like in the morning or at night?
What makes the pain feel worse? For example, does exercise or long periods of standing worsen your pain?
Does anything make your pain feel better like elevating your legs?
Do you have any other symptoms like numbness or tingling? Back pain? A fever? Weakness?
The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

Duplex Doppler/ultrasound exam to look for a blood clot
X-ray of your back or legs
MRI if a malignant tumor is suspected
Bone biopsy if tumor is seen on MRI which may be malignant
Bone scan
Blood tests for specific diseases
Arteriogram to check blood flow
Treatment depends on the cause. Medications may include pain medicines, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as Coumadin if there is a blood clot, and others. Cellulitis and osteomyelitis are each treated with antibiotics. Osteomyelitis will require extended use of antibiotics.

For some causes of leg pain, physical therapy may be recommended by your doctor. If you have a blocked artery, inserting a balloon catheter into the artery to improve blood flow may be advised.

Prevention

To prevent claudication and nerve damage:

Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Limit how much alcohol you drink.
Keep your blood sugars under good control if you have diabetes.
Reduce other heart disease risk factors, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
To prevent overuse injuries, like shin splints, muscle cramps, and other causes of leg pain:

Warm up before physical activity and cool down afterward. Be sure to stretch.
Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, especially before, during, and after exercise.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

A muscle cramp is an involuntary, sustained tightening (contraction) of one or more of your muscles. It can result in intense pain and an inability to use the affected muscles. Night leg cramps are contractions of the leg muscles, usually in the back of the lower leg (calf). They often occur just as you're falling asleep or just as you're waking up.

The exact cause of night leg cramps isn't known. Some experts believe they may be due to abnormal processing of electrolytes — essential elements and chemical substances your body needs for basic functions — by muscles. Almost everyone has occasional leg cramps. But they occur most often in older adults. Common causes of night leg cramps include:

Muscle overexertion
Prolonged sitting
Dehydration
Pregnancy
Diabetes
Decreased potassium levels
Neuromuscular disorders, such as Parkinson's disease
Certain medications, such as albuterol, niacin, diuretics, and some calcium channel blockers and antipsychotic medications
Alcohol use
If you do get a leg cramp, you may be able to make it go away by:

Walking on the affected leg
Massaging the affected muscle
Straightening your leg and flexing your foot toward your knee until you feel the calf muscles stretch
Applying a cold pack to the affected muscle
Taking a hot bath
To help prevent night leg cramps:

Drink plenty of fluids during the day
Stretch your leg muscles before bedtime
If you have frequent and severe leg cramps at night, talk to your doctor. Treatment results vary. But the most effective treatments based on current research are:

Quinine
Vitamin B-12
Gabapentin
Night leg cramps should be distinguished from another common cause of night leg discomfort called restless legs syndrome, a condition in which your legs have a creepy, crawly or fidgety sensation unless you move them. This sensation often gets worse as night approaches. Restless legs syndrome is a neurologic condition that requires different treatment from that of night leg cramps.

Answer 5

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I had these every night throughout my entire 3rd trimester! I tried following all the normal advice (banana's etc.) but it's just another one of those pregnancy things! the only thing that worked for me, was to flex my toes upward toward my body as soon as I felt the cramp coming on. Every time without fail it would immediately stop the pain from progressing further. Every night when I woudl feel the cramp coming on, I would flex my toes upward and the pain would stop before it even really started. The reason the answerer above me finds relief when she stands on her tippy toes is because she's flexing the same muscle you flex when you flex your toes upward. If it works for you the way it worked for me, you won't be bothered by teh cramps again. Hoping you find relief!

Answer 6

Not sure if this is similar or not, but i sometimes can't sleep because i can't stop moving my legs, they constantly twitch. I used to get it because i was standing up most of the day, just needed to stretch them out and help the blood flow.
For your partner id suggest massaging the calfs and working your way up also some light leg stretching holding each stretch for 15-20 seconds. Hot baths also help relax the muscles

Answer 7

cramps usually happen from a lack of calcium. They often happen in the legs at night when one stretches their legs in the coldest part of the bed. Sounds like maybe there isn't enough oxygen getting to the muscles in his case. If he could increase his calcium intake anyway and maybe get his blood calcium levels checked. He may need supplements. Encourage him to exercise them but not to overdo it. he also should bathe them in hot water. This will help the flow of blood and relax the muscle. They are very painful to get, so I hope it clears up soon.

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Answer 10

Happy to hearing the release of painfulness from your partner. Do not get wet to the leg for week, otherwise the following painfulness coming later. Useing ginger juice to rub on the leg to have a better blood circulation.

Answer 11

Cramps are due to the stress that we put on our legs. When we stand blood circulates faster and so we feel ok. but when we sit down or we lap up then only we get the problem. So first get to an doctor and ask him about the specific nerves which cause the pain.