Are you suffering from nighttime leg cramps?

Leg cramps at night and while you sleep are a common symptom for many adults.  It is estimated that nearly 60% of adults have experienced them.  They usually present as involuntary and intense spasms of the muscles of the lower leg and calf but can affect the feet and toes as well.

The cramps usually last several minutes, with muscle pain that may continue for a few hours after the cramping subsides.  Quality of life can be greatly impacted if you frequently suffer from these cramps as sleep can be interrupted and pain can continue for several days after, requiring modification of daily living activities.

So what causes these cramps, and what can you do to prevent and treat them?

Common causes of nighttime leg cramps are many and include the following:

·        Muscle/tendon changes with age (tendons naturally shorten with age)

·        Pregnancy

·        Medications (examples: IV iron treatments, estrogen, statins for cholesterol treatment, and certain asthma drugs)

·        Kidney disease/failure

·        Diabetic nerve damage

·        Cirrhosis of the liver

·        Vascular disease of the circulation of the lower legs

·        Dehydration/under hydration

·        Overuse of muscles during exercise

Several things can be tried to prevent or minimize the frequency of leg cramps.  These include:

 ·        Ensuring adequate daytime hydration

·        Light stretching or activity an hour or two before bed (such as light walking or use of a stationary bike)

·        Magnesium supplements (200-300 mg before bedtime)

·        Vitamin B12 supplements

·        Vitamin K2 supplements (180 mcg per day was recently found to be helpful according to this study)

Other home remedies have been recommended by holistic practitioners in the past, including drinking pickle juice, eating a teaspoon of mustard, and placing a bar of soap under the mattress.  While some patients have noted improvement in reducing the frequency or severity of leg cramps with these methods, there have not been any controlled studies that have definitively demonstrated their effectiveness. 

Also note that quinine, or tonic water, was previously used but is no longer recommended as there have been several instances of it interacting with other medications and has the potential for serious side effects.

Should you find yourself in the throes of a painful cramp, there are several things you can try to alleviate or minimize the discomfort.  These include: 

·        Light massage of the area affected

·        Application of heating pad or ice pack to the area of cramping

·        Use of over-the-counter NSAID’s for inflammation such as ibuprofen or naproxen

·        Use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain control

·        Getting up and walking around

·        Elevation of the affected limb

If you find yourself having frequent and repeated cramps, be sure to see your physician.  Talk to your doctor before using supplements to prevent/treat your leg cramps as it may be dangerous to do so for patients with certain health conditions (such as kidney and liver disease).

Know that Dr Thomas Bailey at Mahoning Valley Direct Primary Care is here to assist you in assessing health issues that are causing the cramps and to guide you on safe and appropriate prevention and treatment techniques.