A nocturnal leg cramp is a muscle cramp that can either occur late at night or while sleeping. If they are persistent and reoccurring it can be a diagnosable disorder. The cramping region can include muscles in the thigh, calve, or the feet. They can range from short-time mild cramps to extended-time severe muscle cramps. Sometimes they can go unnoticed while sleeping and some can jolt your body back into consciousness from the pain. As an individual who suffers from nocturnal leg cramps it is a relief to know that there is information available as to the causes and how to prevent them. Any individual who suffers from reoccurring nocturnal leg cramps should visit their doctor and explain the severity, location, and how often they occur. There is treatment out there and they are not completely normal.
Causes and Symptoms
In many cases there is no direct cause of the muscle cramping. They can however be a side effect of a variety of diverse medical conditions: Addison’s disease, cirrhosis, alcoholism, diabetes, dehydration, chronic kidney failure, Parkinson’s, and hypothyroidism. Those are just the disorders in which muscle cramping is a common symptoms. They can also appear in the second or third trimester in a pregnancy, when an individual has peripheral artery disease, or simply for someone who has flatfeet.
The symptoms range from each individual and each episode.
Mild case symptoms include:
Slight tightening or cramping of the thigh, clave, for feet for a short period of time
A warming sensation in the leg
Anxiety or increased heart rate from awakening to the sudden sensation/pain
Muscle tenderness
Soreness immediately following the cramp
Extreme tightening or cramping of the thigh, clave, or feet for an extended period of time
A burning in the muscle region that is cramping
Fear and anxiety associated with the sudden severe pain
Visual and involuntary tightening of the muscle so severe the muscle is clearly defined and veins may be visible
Soreness following for up to two days, especially if movement was attempted during the episode
What to do / What not to do
During a nocturnal leg cramp it is important not to get up and try walking or using the muscle. This can cause damage the muscle such as stretching, pulling, or even tearing the muscle tissue. Most find is helpful to gently rub the affected area until the cramping episode is over and to elevate the leg after on something comfortable such as a pillow.
In severe cases the best thing will be waiting for the cramp to cease and try to remain as still as possible. With a tightening that severe damage is more likely is movement is attempted. Cramps often can last anywhere from fifteen second to a couple minutes.
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor is the cramp is severe and persistent. Any cramp lasting more than three minutes with intense pain is considered severe and persistent and medical attention should be sought. Even if the cramp ends it is still beneficial to seek medical attention to rule out any of the harmful possible underlying causes. If you exhibit muscle tenderness and weakness throughout the reoccurring cramps see a doctor. The final instance to see a doctor for muscle cramps would be if they are affecting your sleep constantly. This could lead to or be a result of several sleeping disorders.
To prevent nocturnal leg cramps try to stay hydrated throughout the day and drink water before going to bed. Try not to stretch your legs before going to bed as this may cause the cramp. (this is my personal cause)
At home when dealing with nocturnal muscle cramping try taking a warm bath to relax the muscle. Massage the muscle to determine the extent of damage and tenderness. Often ice is helpful to relieve any inflammation that occurred as a result of the cramp.
When determining whether prescription medication is necessary it is important to see a doctor first. Taking sleep aids may allow you to sleep through the symptom but may not make the cramps go away. A leg cramp can be a sign of a much more serious ailment and should not be ignored. Nocturnal leg cramps cause fear in patients and severe cases can cause intense pain over an extended period of time. Persistent leg cramps are not as normal as most believe and are your first sign to see a doctor.
