Leg cramps at night

introduction

As Calf cramps is called the involuntary twitching and Cramp the calf muscles in the lower leg. They can occur in any situation, but special they are common at night. It is not uncommon for them to deprive those affected of sleep, although in many cases a cause is not even clearly identified. Athlete or not, calf cramps can occur with every person appear out of nowhere.

causes

The occurrence of calf cramps at night is in most cases “multifactorial”. That means they can't be traced back to a problem. In addition, many calf cramps do not even have an ascertainable or obvious cause. In this case it is called "idiopathic". Rare causes of calf cramps are a number of chronic metabolic diseases. These include diabetes, thyroid dysfunction or diseases in the kidney's metabolism.
Since muscles react sensitively to disturbances in the balance of electrolytes, any influences on them can trigger calf cramps, including certain medications or temporary illnesses with vomiting and diarrhea. If the cause is not in the body's salt balance, the nerve that transmits the electrical impulse to the calf muscles may be damaged. A large number of nerve diseases can trigger such a thing, many of which are summarized under the term “polyneuropathies”. Circulatory disorders are also rarely behind this, which can occur in the context of many diseases, especially in the leg.

Read more on the topic: You can recognize a magnesium deficiency by these symptoms

In most cases, however, the cause lies in the muscle itself. Muscle diseases such as myotonia or metabolic myopathies, which are more noticeable in early childhood, are rarer. In almost all cases, the leg cramp is based on an incorrect strain on the muscles.
Excessive stress occurs, for example, in pregnant women, overweight people and athletes. Insufficient water supply while sweating at the same time shifts the body's salt balance, which also often causes calf cramps in the groups mentioned. Overcooling of the muscles, as can occur when swimming or exercising in winter temperatures, also causes cramps. Permanent misalignments, for example hyperextension of the foot, can also trigger a calf cramp. This mainly happens when the affected joint is immobile or in incorrect positions while sleeping. With a targeted overstretching of the foot over a certain period of time, one can often even consciously provoke a leg cramp.

Read more on the subject at: Cramps cause

therapy

Anyone who has tried it knows that calf cramps occur very easy to trigger by itself to let. You just have to be aware of that Hyperextend the foot and it doesn't take long for the pain to set in. The movement takes place in the upper ankle joint between the tarsal bones and the lower leg bones.
Exactly on that opposite way calf cramp is the most effective solve again and push back. As soon as the pain starts, it should Foot tightened, so the toes are stretched towards the upper body. The movement is also called "Dorsiflexion" designated. The Calf muscles will be there long drawn and severely overstretched. This movement can be supported by using the Presses foot against a wall or the like or grasp your toes with your hands and pull them strongly towards you. It takes time few secondsuntil the spasm should be resolved and the pain has passed. After that, however, the muscle is still prone to new cramps for a certain period of time. Especially at night it is advisable to remain in a position that is comfortable for the foot for the time being.
If the muscle is particularly sensitive immediately afterwards, various measures can help. Slow walking around with a firm footing relaxes the muscle. Likewise, a massage loosen and relax the tissue. You can often see athletes on television after a particular exertion, for example a football game with added time, pulling on their toes or receiving a massage of the calf muscles to solve or prevent calf cramps.
Just as cold can promote cramps when the muscles are stressed, it also helps to resolve the cramp warm affected muscle, for example through a Hot water bottle or a bath.
If the calf cramps occur permanently at night and rob you of sleep, it can already be hot bath before bed effectively relax the muscle.

Prevent calf cramps

Because the cramp is mainly a cause Combination of improper strain on the muscles and an unbalanced mineral balance finds, with this knowledge you can also skillfully prevent a leg cramp. Tightening the toes and thus the Stretching the calf muscles represents on the one hand prevention and acute treatment.
Because often a Magnesium deficiency is the cause, a calf cramp can be prevented by the Taking magnesium tablets. Magnesium as a preparation is available in different versions and doses. The one available in every supermarket is particularly popular Effervescent tablet. However, it is recommended that you seek advice from a pharmacist or doctor.
Many people like to take up alternative medical treatment methods back. This is especially the case with calf cramps Schuessler salts into consideration. According to experience reports, many complaints can be alleviated with it, even if one medical effect rather controversial is.

Symptoms

The calf cramp is noticeable in the form of a very strong, stabbing pain, of the suddenly occurs. Only about three to five seconds pass between the first signs of a cramp and a fully developed muscle cramp.
If you touch the calf in the affected area, you can feel from the outside, that the Muscle tight and tight is. Through a targeted tightening of the foot in the direction of the upper body you can feel the cramp within a few seconds to solve. However, until then there is an almost unbearable, extremely acute and sudden, sharp pain. He kicks at night on what is not exactly a rarity, rips he the affected Person immediately out of sleep.
If you press on the outside of the muscle, lets the Pain does not intensify or trigger. That limits the calf cramp, for example Inflammation in the leg from.
Leg cramps are a nuisance for those affected, especially at night. People who experience cramps frequently have nocturnal interruptions in their sleep sometimes struggling hard.

diagnosis

Most people experience leg cramps from time to time, including at night. You have long been no cause for alarm often they rely on one Muscle overexertion the previous day. As suddenly as they come, they stop and usually do not appear any further.
At the latest when the person concerned persistent or without apparent causes Suffers from calf cramps, it is best to have one Consult a doctor. An exact anamnese (Questioning) the patient leaves a lot many conclusions towards potential causes. The type of pain, the time and situation of the occurrence, but also the activities of the previous day can usually diagnose the calf cramp and determine the cause.

Definition of a calf cramp

Such a spasm is due to one malfunction of the muscle. The Calf muscles affected. During a calf cramp, the muscle contracts quickly and remains in a rigid position, usually called a very painful is felt. The whole thing happens involuntarily and unconsciously. From the moment you feel the spasm developing, it only takes a few seconds to develop into a fully developed, painful spasm.
About 40% the human in Germany suffer from such recurring calf cramps. If the muscle is used and stretched, the cramps tend to occur rarely, which is why they are mainly when lying quietly at night feels. People with a More stress on the leg muscles during the day also have one higher riskTo get cramps. Which includes especially athletes and pregnant women.
The development of a calf cramp starts with the annoy out. A nerve usually guides the conscious Signals from the brain to the muscleswhich should execute a movement. If the person decides to stop the movement, the nerve no longer passes on stimulus and the muscle relaxes. Will the nerve but unconsciously at some point in its course permanently irritatedthe corresponding muscle is tensed. Does that happen unconsciously, one speaks of a Cramp or "spasm".
The real ones causes however, for calf cramps can be quite different. Often these are easily treatable problems. Especially rare cases can also serious illnesses behind it.

Leg cramps at night during pregnancy

Pregnant women are one large risk group, What Calf pain is concerned. With them, too, they occur to the chagrin of those involved often at night and, in addition to all other adversities during pregnancy, also rob the expectant mothers of sleep.
The causes for calf cramps in pregnant women are not influenced by behavior. Pregnant women change their metabolism over the course of nine months. This also affects the Salt and mineral balance. If this is changed, muscle cramps are also promoted. Another risk factor for calf cramps is the More stress on the muscle solely through the additional weight of the child. Everyday tasks are mastered with a slightly increased weight. Initially, the muscle can react to this with exhaustion and nocturnal calf cramps.
In rare cases, it does Affecting a large nerve, which is responsible for the entire leg muscles, the so-called "Sciatic nerve". In the course of pregnancy, the mother's uterus grows in the abdomen and displaces other organs. In unfavorable situations it can lead to temporary entrapment of the sciatic nerve come and the reactions in the associated muscles can be different.
For the safety of women and the child should in all cases consulted a general practitioner or gynecologist to rule out more dangerous causes.