Leg cramps in the night - causes and treatment

It is difficult to find a person who has never had to face such an unpleasant phenomenon as muscle spasm in the lower limbs. These attacks are unpleasant in themselves, but the situation is aggravated by the fact that they appear at night, when a person is at rest and sees serene dreams. This condition is caused by spastic muscle contractions that cannot be controlled. The attack develops at lightning speed, scaring the victim and limiting his ability to move.

Of course, for many people, night cramps become a serious problem, especially if they are repeated regularly. Therefore, the question of what measures to take in such a situation remains relevant. It must be said that modern medicine has studied well the nature of nighttime spasms and has effective ways to correct this condition.In this article we will talk about the causes of the phenomenon and what means will help to cope with this problem.

Types of night cramps

Most often with complaints of muscle spasms of the lower extremities during sleep are people of mature age, most of whom suffer from such pathology of the weaker sex. It should be noted that convulsive syndrome is regarded by experts as a response of the body to an irritant. Moreover, the source can be external or be inside the body. Depending on the nature of the spasm and its duration, convulsions are divided into two types:

1. Tonic seizures last for a relatively long time (over 4 minutes). Such convulsions block the management of the leg, and if a person wants to make a movement, severe pain appears.
2. Clonic convulsions cause less trouble. They are not so painful, they do not last long, they involve only separate muscle groups.

There is another classification, there are also two types of convulsive manifestations, but they are only divided by localization.

Important point! With the protracted nature of night cramps, as well as the intensity of their appearance, it is possible to judge the appearance of serious dysfunctions in the work of important body systems.For example, in older people, such spasms signal age-related changes occurring in it.

The reasons

In any case, ignore the night cramps are not worth it. It is necessary to visit a doctor about this and try to identify the cause of the problem together with a specialist. A variety of factors can be the source of a pathological condition. The main causes of seizures:

• increased sweating;
• dehydration of the body when the necessary elements and electrolytes are washed out with the liquid;
• pre-stroke condition;
• state of intoxication as a result of poisoning with poor-quality alcohol;
• hypokalemia (often observed with the use of diuretics and hormones);
• neuralgia;
• osteochondrosis;
• local oxygen starvation;
• stress;
• protein diets (proteins do not allow calcium to be properly absorbed);
• pregnancy (with the development of the fetus on the important arteries and nerve fibers there is a strong pressure).

This is only part of the factors that can provoke involuntary muscle spasm. A similar phenomenon may occur as a result of overheating in the sun, it is observed in certain deficient states, psychosis, and injuries (cranial).When the cramps in the hours of night sleep are one-time, they are usually associated with emotional stress or excessive physical exertion. Such spasms do not require systemic treatment. When driving your legs with frightening regularity, you need to seriously deal with this problem.

Primary care

Night cramps disturb sleep and cause significant discomfort to the person. To alleviate the condition and relieve pain, do the following:

1. Bare feet walk on the cool surface of the floor.
2. First, slowly pull out the contracted leg, and then pull the sock of the foot towards you.
3. Massage the lower leg.
4. Take aspirin. This will relieve muscle tone, and also lead to normal blood circulation in the problem limb.
5. You can pinch the area of ​​the spasm with a needle. But it is better not to undertake such manipulation independently, but to trust a specialist.
6. Easy gymnastics will help to cope with an unpleasant symptom. You need to bend the affected leg several times and then bend it. To carry out these movements, while the convulsive attack will not stop.

Tip! If the room is cool, after stopping the attack should wear warm socks.

Treatment methods

If the cause of night cramps lies in the functional disorder of the body, you need to determine where the failure occurred. Usually, therapy is prescribed based on the nature of the underlying pathology. So, in deficient conditions, the diet is adjusted. Vitamins and mineral components are necessarily included in the drug complex.

The drug composition of therapy in such situations is directed to the localization of the main cause, that is, the treatment of the disease that provoked night cramps. To get rid of pain, it is recommended to use ointments that have warming properties. In this respect, Kapsikam, Finalgon, Apizartron and other external preparations are very effective. These funds increase blood flow at the site of injury, as well as eliminate pain.

Home Anticonvulsant Therapy
With systematically repeated convulsions at night, along with the treatment of the underlying pathology, effective folk techniques can be used. Good help in such situations, heat treatments and massage. We must not forget about the rational mode of the day, and be sure to leave time for a good rest.To remove muscle tension will help simple recommendations, which are listed below.

1. Foot contrast trays with alternating temperatures. Replace this procedure by pouring the legs alternately first with cold, then hot water. Regular implementation of these rather pleasant procedures will improve the condition of the tissues of the lower extremities. To consolidate the beneficial effect, instead of ordinary water, herbs can be used: mint, valerian, horsetail.
2. It is necessary to revise the nutritious diet, add more cereals, beans, protein foods. The menu should contain dairy products, fish, more vegetables. Especially carefully you need to approach the issue of nutrition, if cramps at night bother the child.
3. A simple gymnastics complex in the morning will also benefit the muscles. To improve their condition, you should first look a little on your toes, then on your heels, then alternately on the inside, then on the outer plane of the feet. Squatting, wiggling with your toes should also be included in the morning workout.

Other folk ways
To reduce the frequency of convulsive manifestations and reduce their intensity, you can still use a number ofprocedures proposed by traditional healers.

Honey Compresses applied to the area of ​​the gastrocnemius muscle for half an hour. To enhance the impact, it is necessary to wrap your leg with a compress with a warm blanket. This type of home treatment gives excellent results for muscle cramps in children.

Lemon juice also help to remove the attack, if they smear at night feet. The course of this type of home therapy can be from 7 to 14 days.

The ointment of cramps is prepared from the following components:

• egg yolk - 1;
• apple cider vinegar - 1 l. canteen;
• turpentine-1 l. tea room

The listed ingredients are mixed, and before going to bed, the resulting ointment is applied to the feet. In the morning the rest of the composition can be washed off. In a similar way to prepare the ointment of mustard powder.

Vaseline ointmentCooked in-house is also very effective. To get the drug, you need to take 2 parts of the base and one part - celandine juice. But this tool is used only when the appearance of convulsions.

Potentilla goose broth able to significantly improve the situation. The healing drink is prepared in the following sequence: the vegetable component (4 l. Art.), Poured in a saucepan with a liter of boiling water, five minutes on low heat. After the solution has cooled, it should be drained. The resulting amount must be drunk during the day.The same herb can be brewed in milk. Only in this case, apply a different proportion (1. l. H per glass). The drink is recommended to drink hot.

Special exercises for legs
In the collection of effective methods of dealing with attacks of night cramps there is another set of exercises. Experts recommend doing before the onset of the attack, as well as during its active phase.

1. Lying on your back, you must simultaneously stretch both legs. In this case, the foot should be pulled back.
2. In the same starting position to do the movement of the legs, imitating cycling.
3. With arms extended along the body, it is necessary to alternately raise the legs extended to the top. For greater effectiveness, you can hold your leg a little with your hands.
4. Standing should alternately shift from toe to heel. This exercise is very helpful for pregnant women when cramping the muscles of the legs.

These simple exercises, if you perform them every morning. They will help not only to forget about night cramps, but also strengthen the joints and all muscle groups of the lower limbs.

Helpful tip: If you have a feeling about the imminent onset of muscle spasm, it is enough to pull the socks on your feet with all your strength.During an attack, the problematic limb should immediately be brought back as much as possible, transferring the mass of one’s own body to the foot. This situation will contribute to the rapid relief of convulsive syndrome.

Preventive actions
In order not to know the nightly torment of what drives the leg, experts recommend to follow a few basic rules:

• keep your feet from increased loads (this rule is especially important for those over 40);
• limit coffee consumption;
• smoking will also have to quit;
• supplement the diet with foods rich in salts of magnesium and calcium;
• perform regularly gymnastic complex, as described above;
• try to maintain emotional balance.

Training in the gym under the guidance of an instructor will also have a beneficial effect on the health of the legs.

Cramps are unpleasant in their own right. But they become a double problem when it is their fault that disrupts a person’s normal sleep. Consultation of a specialist and a list of simple actions, which is given here, will help to correct the state in a positive way. By following all the recommendations consistently, you can quickly get rid of nighttime muscle spasms.

Video: simple ways to treat leg cramps