Leg spasms treatment. Night leg cramps: causes, treatment and prevention of the disease

In the legs it is considered one of the most common at doctor's appointments. It is noteworthy that absolutely all categories of people can experience leg cramps - young and old, pregnant women and children, with the appearance of absolute health and with already diagnosed pathologies. Most often, patients complain of leg cramps at night, during sleep - this syndrome causes a person to wake up, he experiences pain and discomfort.

Cramps - what are they?

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Cramps are involuntary contractions of one or a group of muscles, which are necessarily accompanied by intense pain. Most often, such sudden muscle contractions occur in the legs, or more precisely, on the back of the lower leg, in the calf muscle.

For some reason, the muscle begins to spasm, and this entails voluntary extension of the foot, and to the possible maximum. Naturally, this condition provokes pain.

Why does my legs cramp?

In general, there are many reasons that can trigger the occurrence of leg cramps - from violation of the regime and diet to insufficient intake of important microelements in the body. But the main reason for the periodic appearance of convulsive contractions of the leg muscles is considered to be a lack of magnesium in the body.

Magnesium deficiency in the body can only happen due to poor nutrition - it has already been proven that the absorption of this microelement into the body tissue is impaired due to excessive consumption of coffee, alcoholic beverages, sweet foods and flour products. The body, sensing magnesium deficiency, begins to actively “extract” it from the musculoskeletal system - by the way, this is why, when conducting a laboratory blood test, specialists determine the presence of magnesium either within normal limits or with elevated levels.

To understand that the cause of leg cramps is precisely the lack of magnesium in the body, it is enough to know other symptoms of such deficiency. These include:

fatigue, decreased concentration and memory;
profuse night sweats;
feeling of anxiety and fear;
increased irritability;
numbness of the limbs.

In addition to the fact that the cause of leg cramps can be a deficiency of magnesium in the body, there are other factors that provoke the condition in question. Experts highlight the following:

Low blood glucose - this usually occurs against the background of diabetes mellitus, when the patient carries out either too aggressive therapy, or ignores the recommendations of dietitians.
Thyroid diseases.
Lack of vitamin B6 in the body is classified as hypovitaminosis B.
Diseases of the veins of the lower extremities - varicose veins, thrombophlebitis.

Diseases of the spine of a degenerative-dystrophic nature - for example,.
Excessive physical activity on the lower limbs - for example, prolonged jogging, football, swimming.
Chronic renal failure.
High levels of estrogen in the blood - refers to an imbalance of female sex hormones.
Diseases associated with circulatory disorders in the vessels of the lower extremities and of a chronic nature - for example, atherosclerosis obliterans.
Violations in the psycho-emotional background.
Sleep disorders.

The most interesting thing is that all of these problems can arise in almost every person - they are a consequence of the “wrong” lifestyle. For example, the above diseases can lead to:

self-medication of serious infectious diseases - for example;
constant, the need to solve many problems;
improperly structured diet - including snacking “on the run”, eating semi-finished products;
Constantly wearing high-heeled shoes - the development of varicose veins and thrombophlebitis is almost inevitable.

Causes of leg cramps in pregnant women

Leg cramps in pregnant women are common, but they are usually not associated with renal failure or chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system. The reasons for the appearance of the syndrome in question during pregnancy in women can be:

Note:Pregnant women may develop eclampsia - increased blood pressure, severe swelling, and protein is found in the urine. The most dangerous thing with eclampsia is the occurrence of generalized convulsive seizures, which is an unambiguous indicator for urgent delivery.

The appearance of the syndrome in question in childhood is often associated with the active growth of the child. It is noteworthy that young children cannot describe the painful convulsive syndrome in words, so they report their problem by crying - it is always sharp and shrill. The causes of night cramps in children can be:

severe hypothermia of the lower extremities;
prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position with legs tucked/bent;
flat feet;
lack of potassium and magnesium in the children's body.

It is interesting that the lack of potassium / magnesium will be manifested not by single convulsive seizures, but by regular occurrences.

Leg cramps - what to do

Pull the toe of the foot towards you (as far as possible), then return to its original position and immediately, without interruption, pull the toe towards you again, but with maximum effort.
Get on your feet and take a few steps – albeit with some effort. At this moment, the blood flow in the legs increases, which will relax the spastically tense muscle.
Carry out a series of light massage movements in the direction from the center of the spasm to the periphery.
Use a warming ointment or gel, applying the drug to the skin in the area of \u200b\u200bspastic muscle contraction with massage movements.
Strongly pinch the muscle bound by a cramp, as an option - with sharp movements, prick the place of the cramp with a match, a hairpin.

Usually, after using one of the listed methods for relieving leg cramps, relief occurs. A person should take a lying position with his legs slightly elevated - this will speed up the outflow of blood from the lower extremities, which will prevent the occurrence of repeated cramps.

Seizures - diagnosis, treatment and prevention

If leg cramps bother you with enviable regularity, the above recommendations do not help to quickly relieve a spastic attack, then this is a reason to seek professional medical help. First, you need to visit a therapist (or a pediatrician in case of cramps in the child’s legs) - he will conduct an initial examination of the patient and refer him for additional consultation to more specialized specialists (neurologist, endocrinologist). Only after this will treatment of the underlying disease be prescribed - with positive dynamics, leg cramps will occur less and less often, and then completely disappear.

If no pathological changes are detected in the body, the doctor will give recommendations on how to eliminate possible causes of convulsive syndrome in the lower extremities. As a rule, they are as follows:

Organize proper nutrition:

You need to eat at least 5 times a day;
portions for each meal should be small;
let the basis of nutrition be complex carbohydrates - cereals, pasta, fruits and vegetables;
fats must be on the menu - this could be a small piece of fatty fish (for example, a type of salmon) or 50 grams of butter daily;
The menu should include nuts, bananas, dried apricots, dairy products, seaweed, carrots, and herbs.

Lead a healthy lifestyle and do not avoid physical activity. The only thing doctors warn about is that a minimum load should be placed on the lower extremities.
You need to sleep in a comfortable bed; it is imperative to raise your lower limbs slightly above the axis of your torso and head.
Every evening you can take foot baths with sea salt (3 tablespoons per 5 liters of warm water) - they have a relaxing effect.
Before going to bed, you can and should rub your feet with an ointment that has a warming property.
If venous insufficiency was previously diagnosed, then you must wear compression garments.

Note:Compression garments have different sizes and different degrees of pressure on the lower limbs. Therefore, such underwear should be selected by the doctor with whom the patient is being treated.

Cramps are involuntary muscle contractions. They are usually accompanied by pain. If your leg is cramped, it can be caused by various factors. There are external and internal reasons. In the first case, to get rid of cramps, methods such as exercises, techniques for influencing the cramped muscle, and traditional medicine are used. If convulsive syndrome is a symptom of serious diseases, then drug treatment is required.

Kinds

There are several types of seizures:

Causes

Seizure syndrome can occur at any age. To successfully combat it, it is necessary to identify the true cause. It may lie in a violation of the electrolyte or biochemical composition of the blood, caused by a deficiency of potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamins A, D, E and group B. Microelements and vitamins important for muscle structure are washed away due to various factors:

1. Stressful situations. They stimulate the production of cortisol, which negatively affects the absorption of calcium in the gastrointestinal tract and activates its excretion by the kidneys.
2. Taking medications. Adsorbents and diuretics can reduce the absorption of calcium, magnesium and potassium.
3. Pregnancy. Uncontrolled muscle contractions are typical for pregnant women due to a lack of vitamins and minerals, especially in the later stages of bearing a child. This is also due to the fact that the fetus compresses the blood vessels that are suitable for the legs, which is why their blood supply is disturbed.
4. Lack of glucose. It is secreted from carbohydrates in the human body. If the diet contains a small amount of carbohydrates, then the glucose deficiency is replenished due to the breakdown of fats. This process takes place with the accumulation of large amounts of ketones in the blood, which contribute to the excretion of calcium from the urine.
5. Excessive sweating. Potassium is washed out with sweat, so its deficiency can be observed in the hot season or after active sports.
6. Not spending enough time in the sun. This provokes a lack of vitamin D, which is necessary for the absorption of calcium by cells.

Convulsive syndrome can be a symptom of various diseases and conditions:

excessive physical activity;
radiculitis;
thyroid disease;
varicose veins of the legs;
diabetes;
circulatory disorders in the lower extremities;
muscle strain in the groin area;
chronic kidney diseases;
muscle damage;
hypothermia.

The etiology of the occurrence of seizures can be suggested by the time and place of the onset of the convulsive syndrome. If your leg cramps in a cold pool or water, this indicates hypothermia. When a person experiences physical activity unusual for him during the day, then in the evening his legs hurt, and at night - the calf and femoral muscles are greatly reduced.

Night cramps also occur with circulatory problems, because during the day the vital organs are actively working, and at night natural processes slow down. If such phenomena are rare, then there is no need to treat seizures.

How to get rid of cramps?

Leg cramps significantly impair quality of life. If they appear during the day, the pain negatively affects mood, performance decreases, and mobility is limited. Spasms in the lower extremities at night provoke the development of insomnia, and the nervous system suffers.

When the cause of convulsions is external influences (increased load, hypothermia, unbalanced diet), folk remedies and exercises will help to cope with them. If they are provoked by pathological changes in the body, it is unlikely that it will be possible to get rid of them without the help of official medicine.

Folk remedies

If you suffer from night cramps, you can use traditional medicine. The following recipes are popular:

1. Express method. For severe cramps and pain, hold several salt crystals in your mouth for 1-2 minutes.
2. Lemon juice. This drink has a similar effect. You need to hold a spoon of lemon juice under your tongue. It can also be used to rub a cramped muscle.
3. Bread kvass mixture. You need to add 1 teaspoon of yeast to 200 ml of kvass, leave for 6 hours, then drink it throughout the day before meals in equal portions. To make the taste better, add a spoonful of honey. Treat with this remedy for a month.
4. Tincture of wormwood. It is necessary to fill a 0.5 liter jar with wormwood balls, add vodka and leave for 20 days. The resulting product is used to rub the legs before bed every evening until the cramps stop bothering you.
5. Kefir and honey. Every morning for 2-3 weeks, eat a tablespoon of honey and wash it down with a glass of kefir. After this, take a two-week break and resume the course. These two products will help maintain the required level of vitamins and microelements.
6. Chamomile potion. You need to take 2 tablespoons of raw material, pour 500 ml of boiling water. Drink the product as tea after each meal and before going to bed. This drink has a calming and relaxing effect.
7. Celandine ointment. You should squeeze the juice from a fresh plant and mix it with Vaseline. Use proportions 1:2. Rub the resulting ointment onto your legs in areas where cramps occur for two weeks.
8. Infusion of thyme and yarrow. The herbs are taken in equal proportions, filled into a glass bottle, filled with alcohol and infused in a dark place for 2 weeks at room temperature. The resulting product is used to rub the feet in the morning and evening.

If folk remedies are ineffective, you should consult a doctor. This may indicate that the seizure syndrome is a consequence of serious illnesses.

Medicines

There are no specific medications for seizures. Therefore, drug treatment is established only after determining the causes of the convulsive syndrome.

As a rule, doctors prescribe:

1. Valparin. The product stabilizes the nervous system, thereby allowing you to restore night sleep and get rid of seizures.
2. Difenin. This drug relaxes muscles, reduces the duration and pain of convulsive attacks by relieving spasms of nerve fibers caused by neuralgia.
3. Xanax. Normalizes a person’s emotional background, eliminates anxiety and insomnia. Has a calming effect. Designed to get rid of cramps caused by somatic (bodily) diseases.
4. Panangin/Propanorm. Restores the balance of nutrients. These medications are designed to replenish magnesium and potassium stores.
5. Keppra. This medicine is used to relieve seizures caused by brain diseases. The drug helps stop seizures provoked by neurogenic outbreaks.
6. Actinerval. An antiepileptic drug prescribed for neuralgia.

If convulsive spasms occur due to varicose veins of the legs or thrombophlebitis, then use Diosmin, Troxevasin or Normoven. They help restore blood circulation. This group includes Heparin ointment, but it is used externally.

To replenish the balance of microelements and vitamins, special complexes are recommended:

Complivit;
Magne-B6;
Pyridoxine;
Calcemin;
Neurovitan;
Vitrum.

Even these complexes must be prescribed by a doctor. You should initially determine which vitamins and minerals are insufficient in the body. Hypervitaminosis can also provoke night cramps.

Exercises

If your leg cramps at night, the simplest thing you can do is to pinch the cramped muscle or sharply prick it with a needle. When the pain does not go away, another method is used - stand on the affected limb and transfer your entire weight to it.

Method for relieving calf muscle cramps

If your leg is cramped and it hurts for a long time, then use the following complex:

1. Sit on a chair, leaning on the back. You need to raise your legs and point your toes, trying to achieve a position in which your hips, shins and feet are in line. After this, the fingers spread and the toes are pulled up. You need to stay in this position for 5-7 seconds. After this, take the starting position and perform heel-to-toe steps, holding each position for 10-12 seconds.
2. Stand on your feet, rest your hands on the back of the chair. You need to rise on the toes of one leg and bend the other at the knee. In this position, they lean on one leg and try to sit down. Each exercise is repeated 7-10 times.

To prevent cramps from occurring, you must perform the following set of exercises daily:

1. Stand on your feet, lean on the outer part of your foot. After this, slowly lower yourself onto your full foot, rise on your toes and sharply lower again.
2. In a sitting position, slightly stretch your legs, place them on your heels and perform flexion and extension with the force of your toes.
3. Starting position is the same, lift your heels off the floor. You need to rotate your feet first in one direction, then in the other. After this, rotate, pointing your toes away from you and towards you.
4. In a sitting position, raise your knees one by one, resting one foot on the floor. After this, rest on both feet and actively move your toes. At the end of the exercise, get up from the chair and walk in place with a marching step, each time raising your knees higher.

Each exercise is repeated 5-7 times. This complex is intended mainly for people with a sedentary lifestyle who, due to their activities, move little. For those who lead an active lifestyle, we can recommend relaxation exercises, for example, lying down in the evening with a pillow under your feet so that your feet are higher than your torso.

Content

An involuntary contraction of a muscle group accompanied by sharp, acute pain and numbness is called a cramp or spasm. Leg cramps are a problem for many men and women, requiring diagnosis and mandatory treatment. Numerous causes of muscle spasms are well studied by medicine, are easily corrected, and quickly treated. If you constantly suffer from contractions of your limbs, then be sure to consult a doctor who will help you solve this problem. What are the reasons for cramps in the left or right legs?

Causes of leg cramps

In medicine, tonic muscle spasms are distinguished, characterized by prolonged muscle tension, and clonic - short-term contractions, alternating with relaxation. Leg cramps belong to the first category and occur in the feet and calf muscles. Spasms of the lower extremities are accompanied by acute, painful sensations of petrification of a part of the body; they occur suddenly, the pain syndrome lasts from 2 to 5 minutes, and goes away only after relaxation of the muscle.

Causes of leg cramps:

Lack of vitamins and microelements– magnesium, calcium, potassium, responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles. A lack of micro- and macroelements can be caused by an unbalanced diet, an excess of harmful substances (nicotine, caffeine, tannin, sugar), a protein diet, or taking medications that interfere with their absorption.
Dehydration. With active sweating, there is a significant loss of microelements that ensure healthy muscle function. Therefore, it is so important to drink up to 2.5 liters of water per day, especially during the hot summer season and during active sports.
Temperature changes. Hypothermia while swimming or in the cold causes a sharp contraction of the muscles of the limbs and the appearance of muscle cramps. Therefore, it is important to monitor your body temperature and prevent temperature changes of up to 10 degrees.
Diseases. Improper metabolism, vascular diseases, and limb injuries are common causes of muscle cramps. To eliminate spasms, consult a specialist (endocrinologist, neurologist, phlebologist, orthopedist) and undergo the prescribed treatment.
Stress. During emotional stress, there is an intense load on the entire human body, primarily on the nerve endings responsible for contracting the muscles of the body. An excess of the stress hormone (cortisol) leads to an imbalance of micro and macro elements, leads to a lack of calcium in the body, which is necessary for healthy functioning, muscle tension and relaxation.

muscle cramps

Muscle cramps in the legs occur due to a disruption in the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscle for relaxation. These spasms affect the muscles of the lower leg, front and back of the thigh. The intensity of the cramp can vary from a slight twitch to a significant contraction accompanied by severe pain. Spasmodic muscles are like a stone: hard, tightly compressed, stand out sharply on the body. A seizure lasts from 1 to 15 minutes, with several repetitions of spasms over a period of time.

Toe cramps

Toe cramps are a syndrome of metabolic disorders or diseases of a different nature. Occurs with joint diseases, venous insufficiency, and diabetes. It can be observed in people whose activities involve standing on their feet for a long time, walking for a long time in uncomfortable shoes. Frequent attacks of toe cramps require mandatory consultation with a specialized doctor who will help determine the cause of the symptom and prescribe the correct treatment.

Feet

Spasms of the muscles of the feet are associated with the presence of flat feet or neurological disorders. If you frequently experience cramps in the foot area, consult an orthopedist or neurologist. Avoiding wearing uncomfortable shoes, reducing the intensity of the load on the lower extremities, and taking vitamins and microelements that help normalize the functioning of the muscles of the musculoskeletal system help reduce the number of attacks.

Why do my legs often cramp at night?

The main cause of nighttime muscle cramps is slow blood circulation, which reduces the absorption of nutrients necessary for muscles, and an uncomfortable position during sleep. For frequent nocturnal antispasmodic attacks, increase your diet with foods high in calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Eat buckwheat and oatmeal, lentils, legumes, dried fruits, nuts, seaweed, and dairy products more often.

To improve the health of blood vessels and the circulatory system, reduce the amount or completely avoid nicotine, caffeine, and sugar. Reduce the amount of animal protein you consume, giving preference to dietary poultry. Spend more time outdoors, combining leisurely walks with light physical activity on your body muscles. Pay close attention to the quality of your sleep. A comfortable bed with an orthopedic mattress will help you reduce the number of muscle cramps at night.

What causes this phenomenon during pregnancy?

Muscle cramps during pregnancy can be caused by many reasons: from disturbances in phosphorus-calcium metabolism to various complications caused by difficulty in blood circulation. If you experience frequent leg cramps during pregnancy, it is important to determine and treat the cause of the muscle cramps by consulting with your healthcare provider.

Let's consider the main prerequisites for the development of muscle cramps in pregnant women:

lack of B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, potassium;
decreased hemoglobin (anemia);
increased blood sugar levels;
vascular diseases, varicose veins;
violation of venous outflow in the legs;
excess caffeine;
sedentary lifestyle.

A balanced diet, additional vitamin complexes, and moderate physical activity will help avoid muscle cramps during pregnancy. If attacks often recur and do not disappear, then this is an additional reason to seek advice from your doctor. Timely treatment and correct diagnosis help eliminate antispasmodic attacks and prevent negative consequences from muscle cramps during pregnancy.

What to do in case of a sudden seizure - first aid

There are several ways to provide first aid for muscle cramps:

conduct an intensive massage session of the affected area;
try to stretch a tense muscle:

calf, foot muscles - while sitting, straighten your limbs, grab your big toes with your hands, pull towards you;
front of the thigh - stand straight, bend the affected leg at the knee, grab the ankle with both hands, pull the foot towards the buttocks;
back of the thigh - stand up straight, put the leg with the affected muscles forward one step, put it on the heel, bend the healthy one at the knee, lean on it with your hands, carefully begin to stretch the patient, moving the pelvis back, as if you were trying to remove the shoe from the patient;

apply a cold compress.

Use these methods to relieve the underlying pain syndrome of a cramp. They help relax tense muscles, increase blood flow in the legs, and reduce pain. After eliminating the main pain, ensure good blood flow to the affected area: lie on your back, place a pillow under your feet so that your limbs are at an angle of 60 degrees, try to relax as much as possible. Remain in this position until all pain from the muscle cramp goes away.

Methods of treatment outside of an attack

The main goal of preventive treatment of muscle cramps outside of antispasmodic attacks is to improve the condition of blood vessels and the circulatory system. Review your diet, enriching your diet with essential vitamins, micro- and macroelements, and giving up harmful, unhealthy foods. Reduce or completely eliminate alcoholic beverages, fast food, industrially processed foods, overly salty and sweet foods, and carbonated drinks from your diet. Stop smoking.

To prevent treatment of muscle cramps, do not allow your body to become dehydrated. Drink 2–3 liters of liquids during the day in the form of still drinking water, green tea, freshly squeezed juices, natural fruit drinks, homemade compotes. Reduce the amount of coffee and black tea you consume. These drinks have a diuretic effect, so in addition to water, beneficial microelements will be washed out of the body.

To reduce the likelihood of muscle cramps, engage in sports or other active activities that will help restore blood circulation in the legs after sedentary work and improve blood supply to the lower body. Before going to bed, it is advisable to do stretching exercises, yoga, and Pilates every day, which will relieve stress and tension and stretch tired muscles. A good prevention against night cramps is a warm shower or bath with aromatic oils: rose, lavender, mint, ylang-ylang.

Medications

Based on the diagnosis, medications from different areas are used to treat and prevent muscle cramps: correcting metabolism, improving the condition of blood vessels and the circulatory system, helping to recover from injuries. Additionally, complexes of vitamins and microelements are prescribed to replenish substances important for the body. It is important to remember that tablets should only be used for medicinal treatment of muscle cramps after consulting a doctor.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for muscle cramps help reduce the number and frequency of spasms, reduce pain during an attack, improve blood circulation in the extremities, and increase the elasticity of the vascular system. The use of traditional methods is a good prevention and addition to the main treatment regimen for painful muscle cramps prescribed by a doctor.

Popular treatments for seizures:

cold compresses with lemon juice on the feet, 2 times a day for 2 weeks;
bay leaf oil, used during self-massage for muscle spasms;
Place a regular magnet on a muscle group cramped, after 1 minute the attack will pass;
compress at night for 1 week: apply a horseradish leaf, smeared with honey, sprinkled with salt to the sore spot, wrap it with a cotton towel on top;
ointment based on celandine: mix the juice of the plant with Vaseline, rub problem parts of the body before going to bed for 2 weeks;
daily self-massage of feet with mustard oil.

Physiotherapy

A special set of exercises will help you against cramps in the limbs. Performing therapeutic exercises promotes better vein patency, develops and improves muscle mass, promotes muscle contraction / relaxation training, strengthens ligaments and joints, relieves stress and emotional tension. By performing special exercises, you reduce the likelihood of attacks of spasms in the limbs, prevent varicose veins, arthritis and arthrosis.

A complex of therapeutic exercises for muscle cramps:

in a standing position:

circular rotations with each foot in different directions, 30 times;
rolls from toe to heel, 30-50 times;
we rise on our toes and sharply lower our heels, 30 times;
swing your legs in different directions, 20 times.

in a lying position:

we rotate our legs, imitating riding a bicycle;
alternate swings of limbs, 30-40 times;
swing legs crosswise, 20 times

By constantly performing simple therapeutic exercises 1-2 times a day, you will get rid of cramps in the muscles of the limbs, feet and fingers. After completing the complex, take hot water and aromatic oils that help improve blood circulation, dilate blood vessels and relax muscles: basil, eucalyptus, sage, geranium, lavender, mandarin, sandalwood, neroli.

Video: how to get rid of leg cramps

Leg cramps: causes and treatment 3 days. Answer

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Anonymous 976

The phlebologist prescribed so many things that half of the salary would have been spent on medicines alone. The pharmacist at the pharmacy advised me to take Angiorus as a replacement, this is our venotonic and is sold at half the price. I've been taking it for about two weeks, and I can really feel the results - my legs have become lighter. The medicine is well tolerated, I didn’t notice any side effects

3 days Answer

Cramps or muscle spasms are involuntary contractions of muscle groups. In this case, severe, sharp and acute pain appears, accompanied by numbness. The muscle lacks oxygen and nutrients.

Leg muscle cramps are not uncommon. Both men and women suffer from them.

According to statistics, every person has encountered such a problem at least once in their life. The causes of spasms must be determined and treatment prescribed. Many of them have long been known, studied and can be quickly treated.

General information about the problem of seizures

What types of cramps are there?

We have already figured out that cramps represent uncontrolled muscle contraction.

In medicine, muscle spasms are divided into several types:

Myoclonic when muscle contraction is short-term without pain.
Clonic. Longer lasting, muscles contract rhythmically with repetitions.
tonic. They are characterized by prolonged tension in muscle tissue. It may cramp any part of the body or the entire torso. Convulsions sometimes cause loss of consciousness.
Tonic-clonic. A combination of two types of spasms.
Partial, appearing rarely and do not pose a threat to health.

With spasm of the legs, a pain syndrome appears - acute, painful, with a feeling of petrification of the body. It appears suddenly and lasts up to 5 minutes. As soon as the muscles relax, the symptoms go away.

Causes

Vitamin and macronutrient deficiency

Namely - calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin D. They are necessary for the full functioning of the nervous system and the transmission of impulses to the muscles.

If the body lacks them due to an unbalanced diet, the use of harmful substances, a large amount of protein, drugs, then similar problems appear.

Dehydration

When there is increased sweating with a large loss of beneficial trace elements responsible for the functioning of the muscular system, convulsions appear.

To avoid this situation, you need to drink up to 2.5 liters of water per day. This is true in hot summers and during active sports activities.

Physical overload

Often during sports training the body receives an uneven load. Perhaps the warm-up was insufficient and the muscles were not warmed up.

Overstrain of a muscle group is typical for people engaged in hard work. All these indicators lead to disruption in the functioning of muscle mass. If you do not give the muscle a rest, it becomes exhausted and, as a result, cramps occur.

Temperature jumps

For example, swimming in cold water causes the muscles to contract, so you should be aware of the temperature.

Diseases

These include improper metabolism, vascular pathologies, leg injuries. Usually, treatment requires consultations with specialized specialists - a neurologist, endocrinologist, phlebologist, orthopedist.

Obliterating atherosclerosis

I would like to highlight this pathology separately, since it has become the scourge of the modern world. It spreads with an increase in the standard of living of the population.

The reason is excessive smoking, diet, sedentary lifestyle. This leads to blockage in the vessels and the formation of plaques. Most often, the iliac, femoral and popliteal arteries and muscles that suffer from a lack of oxygen are affected.

Interestingly, smokers are 5 times more likely to have seizures.

stressful situations

When a person is emotionally stressed, a nervous breakdown occurs. At this time, the body experiences intense stress and the nerve endings are the first to suffer.

A large amount of the stress hormone, also known as cortisol, disrupts the balance of micro and macroelements, which leads to calcium deficiency. And as a result, muscle cramps appear.

Types of seizures

Muscle spasms

Muscles cramp due to improper transmission of nerve impulses to the muscle for relaxation.

First, the nerve signal appears in the brain and goes through the nerve to the muscle, after which the electrical impulse passes to its surface.

Through special tubules the signal spreads throughout the muscle tissue. Excitation reaches the cisterns, which are cellular formations with a large number of calcium ions.

As a result, calcium enters the intracellular space and triggers the process of bringing together the actin and myosin filaments. When they come together, the entire muscle contracts.

The muscles of the lower leg, front and back of the thigh suffer from such spasms.

The strength of the spasms varies and can vary from simple twitching to powerful painful contractions.

Muscles in spasm are like stones - hard, tight and bulging. An attack can last from 1 to 15 minutes. Repetitions are possible.

The most common people to suffer from seizures are:

- athletes;
- movers;
- sellers;
- swimmers;
- surgeons.

Contractions of the toes

When the toes suffer from muscle contractions, the problem is most likely a metabolic disorder and the presence of other pathologies.

Often this is a signal from the body in case of joint diseases, venous insufficiency, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus. As a result, the threshold of muscle excitability decreases and contractions appear.

If you walk in the wrong shoes for a long time, then such symptoms may also appear. When seizures become frequent, it is necessary to see a doctor to determine the real cause and treatment.

Often, after excessive exercise and muscle fatigue, metabolites accumulate in the tissues, including lactic acid. This leads to spontaneous convulsions at night.

Foot cramps

Feet suffer from muscle contractions due to flat feet or neurological pathology. Be sure to consult an orthopedist or neurologist.

You can reduce the number of attacks by reducing the load on the legs, taking vitamin complexes, changing shoes to the right one.

Why cramps disturb at night

The answer is simple. Because blood circulation slows down at night, and the muscles receive less nutrients. The body rests at this time. The heart, lungs, diaphragm and brain are always working, and the muscles are relaxing. Or maybe the reason is simply an awkward body position.

In addition, the brain works hard during sleep during the REM phase. Even a slight stimulation of nerve cells causes muscle spasms.

When cramps occur several times a night, it is recommended to increase the calcium, potassium and magnesium content in the diet. These are buckwheat, oatmeal, lentils, legumes, dried fruits, nuts, seaweed, and fermented milk products.

In order for the vessels of the circulatory system to function at full strength, you will have to give up nicotine, caffeine and sugar. It is preferable to replace animal protein with dietary poultry meat.

It is useful to walk a lot at a slow pace, sleep on a comfortable bed with a good mattress.

Cramps during pregnancy

Complaints of muscle spasm during this period are not rare. In the 1st trimester, the reason is toxicosis, with which potassium, calcium, and magnesium are washed away. In the 2nd and 3rd trimesters there is an increased lack of vital microelements.

In the later stages, due to the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the inferior vena cava, the outflow of venous blood from the lower extremities is difficult.

The abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava are compressed. And with the growth of the child, the pressure increases, circulatory disorders in this area progress. Stagnation of blood and swelling occurs.

Tissue nutrition is disturbed, oxygen deficiency appears and, as a result, an increase in the risk of seizures.

There are actually many reasons for the appearance of spasms during pregnancy:

— disturbance of phosphorus-calcium metabolism;
- anemia - a decrease in the level of red blood cells, which affects the gas exchange between air, blood and tissues;
— deficiency of vitamin B, magnesium, calcium, potassium;
- high blood sugar;
- varicose veins - thinning of the venous wall and protrusion beyond the normal contours. Appears in patients with heart failure, obesity associated with standing hours of work;
- vascular pathologies;
- a large amount of caffeine;
- insufficiently mobile lifestyle;
- violation of blood circulation;
- thrombophlebitis, which is an inflammation of the veins.

As soon as convulsions appear, they must be eliminated. A balanced diet, vitamins, and physical activity in small quantities are recommended. When attacks are frequent, treatment is prescribed by a doctor to determine the cause of their occurrence.

Harbingers of muscle spasm

Even healthy people can develop muscle cramps for no apparent reason. This does not require any special measures.

Usually, before the muscles spasmed, they were preceded by the following events:

unusual physical activity for people with a sedentary lifestyle;
stress can be very susceptible for some people, and this includes not only negative, but also positive emotions;
exacerbation of pathologies, since during such a period the whole body suffers, especially weak points, for example, muscles;
poor climatic conditions, characterized by a deficiency of vitamins and minerals, which leads to convulsions.

Treatment of seizures

First aid for seizures

To help yourself or another person get rid of excruciating pain during a muscle spasm, you need to:

When the back of the thigh was injured, also from a standing position, put the leg forward 1 step on the heel, bend the second healthy one at the knee and slowly begin to stretch the injured by pulling the pelvis back. The exercise is similar to when you need to take off your shoes.

Cooling compress.
Attempting to pinch or prick a muscle with a pen or fork. Naturally not much!
Once the spasm is relieved, stroking or light massage will help achieve maximum relaxation.

These tips will help you get rid of muscle cramps in a short time by relaxing the tense muscle, blood flow to your legs and getting rid of pain.

When the muscle has returned to normal, it needs to be looked after. To do this, lie on your back, place a pillow under your legs, creating an angle of 60 degrees, and relax.

Therapy

Therapy and prevention of muscle spasms consists of normalizing the performance of the vascular and circulatory system. It is important to review your diet and include more vitamins, macro and microelements. Limit unhealthy foods and drinks in the form of alcohol, fast food, pickles, smoked foods, sweets, carbonated drinks.

It is recommended to monitor the amount of fluid in the body.

You need to drink 2-3 liters a day of still water, green tea, compotes, juices, fruit drinks.

But, black tea and coffee should be limited due to their diuretic properties.

It is useful to play sports, especially if you have a sedentary job. Before going to bed, it is recommended to do stretching exercises, yoga, and Pilates. At the same time, it will help relieve stress during the day.

You can pamper yourself with a bath with aromatic oils - rose, lavender, mint, ylang-ylang.

Drug therapy

Treatment with medications is prescribed by a doctor. These can be means for correcting metabolism, restoring the functioning of blood vessels and the circulatory system, vitamins, microelements.

To eliminate the cause of seizures, barbiturates, Phenazepam, Magnesium sulfate, Aminazine, Urokinase, and iron are used.

Therapy is needed for a partial or epileptic seizure, which is a type of seizure. Typically, such patients are prescribed benzodiazepines, GABA derivatives, trace elements, anticonvulsants.

Folk recipes

Folk methods effectively reduce the number of seizures and relieve pain, help improve blood circulation in the legs, and make the vessels elastic.

Treatment with folk remedies is an additional measure to the main therapy.

The most used means:

Gymnastics

A special medical gymnastics complex has been developed to help get rid of leg cramps.

This contributes to good vein patency, makes muscles work, trains them to contract and relax, strengthens the ligamentous and articular apparatus, and relieves stress and emotional tension.

Also, such gymnastics is an excellent prevention of varicose veins, arthritis and arthrosis. Consists of the following exercises:

Performed while standing:

The following are performed while lying down:

leg movement - bicycle;
swing your legs - 30 times and crosswise - 20 times.

Gymnastics is very simple and even doing it once a day, you can forget about cramps in the legs, feet and fingers. It is recommended to complete the set of exercises by taking a hot bath with salt and aromatic oils.

If you need to lift a heavy weight, it is better to divide it into parts.
You need to carry the load with a straight back.
After 30 minutes of work, take a break.
The lunch break should not be less than 1 hour.
A warm shower is recommended before going to bed.
Sleep should be at least 6 hours a day.
You need to fall asleep and wake up at the same time.

Compliance with the work and rest regime, proper nutrition and muscle load will prevent, and this is better than treating cramps.

is called a squeezing, sharp pain in the calf muscles or other muscles that appears suddenly. From a physiological point of view, this is a spasm or strong contraction of a muscle (

). If seizures are rare enough, this should not be too scary. But seizures can significantly reduce the quality of life and impair night sleep. Convulsions can torment both children and the elderly, but older people suffer the most from this phenomenon. According to statistics, this unpleasant phenomenon is observed in 80% of the inhabitants of our planet with varying frequency. Convulsions may occur with acute pain.

Tablets and injections for seizures

Involuntary contraction or excessive tension of one or more muscles is medically called a cramp. In essence, this is a short-term muscle spasm that significantly reduces the mobility of the limb, causes pain and acute internal discomfort. The pathological process involves one or more muscles located in the arms, legs, abdomen, and neck. To return normal leg movement and restore restful sleep, it is important not to delay in finding the root cause and starting comprehensive treatment.

If at retirement age the appearance of night cramps is associated with a lack of microelements in the body, intensive vitamin therapy will help replenish the imbalance. Taking any medications must be discussed with your doctor in advance, since in the presence of chronic internal diseases, drug interactions with essential medications cannot be ruled out.

To be in the fresh air, to take long walks without the participation of extraneous support for the body.
Change the daily diet, enrich it with products with a capacious content of magnesium, potassium, calcium.
Timely treat the underlying diseases, which just provoke the regular appearance of night cramps.
Distribute the physical load on the spine, in the daytime in every possible way to avoid stress and nervous shocks.
Use alternative medicine methods strictly on the recommendation of your doctor, such as taking a foot bath with a decoction of thyme or preparing a sedative for the stress hormone (cortisol) from valerian root.

Aging is accompanied by various pathologies and diseases that can significantly overshadow the existence of a person. Similar phenomena include leg cramps. The elderly often cramp their legs at night, it is very difficult to find out the causes of this phenomenon and prescribe a treatment that can alleviate suffering.

Older people suffer from sharp spasms caused by involuntary muscle contraction. The main signs of leg cramps include excruciating, unbearable pain that makes it impossible to move. Older people may experience cramps not only in the legs, but also in the arms and other parts of the body.

Finding out the causes of illness in old age is very difficult. The opinions of specialists on this issue differ radically. World statistics confirm that after 70 years, seizures become permanent. The main and main reason for the appearance of seizures in the elderly can be called a general weakening of the body and the inevitable deterioration of health.

However, in some cases, the cause of cramps may be due to poor diet or excessive exercise.

It is worth noting that it is not recommended for older people to treat seizures on their own. You should seek help from a specialist who will understand why the legs are cramping at night in the elderly and will prescribe appropriate treatment.

There are no specific medications or ointments aimed at eliminating seizures. The patient is prescribed a specialized diet that can improve his diet. Diseases such as varicose veins or flat feet, which can cause the disease, will also be eliminated.

In case of painful spasms, the following rules should be followed to avoid their occurrence:

It is worth noting that night cramps do not pose a serious threat to health. However, they can cause insomnia and pain, which are especially undesirable in old age.

Therapeutic exercises against seizures are recommended not only for people suffering from such an illness, but also for everyone who wants to protect themselves from its occurrence. It does not cause any particular difficulties and does not require significant effort. Gymnastics can be easily done at home.

The following exercise is effective in combating seizures in older people:

You will need a small stand that will need to be placed under your socks. If there is no stand, you can replace it with a regular step.
The feet must be kept strictly parallel to each other.
You need to press your toes against the stand and try to touch the floor with your heels. You need to hold this position for about 10-20 seconds.
The exercise should be repeated again, keeping your heels apart and your toes close.
After this, you need to repeat the exercise again, changing the location of your toes and heels.

The following exercise has a positive effect on the course of the disease and allows you to get rid of cramps:

The exercise must be performed in a standing position.
Rotate each foot 30 times.
Raise and lower your toes 30 times, landing sharply on your heel.
Swing your leg to the side 15 times.

One of the simplest and most effective exercises to combat cramps involves using a stick or a regular rolling pin. It can be done while sitting at home. You just need to roll the stick with your feet.

A great option is yoga. Light exercises that don't require much effort are great for older people who want to get rid of cramps.

In some cases, the cause of seizures can be attributed to poor nutrition. Sometimes the culprit is excess weight, which causes serious harm to the elderly body. In this case, urgent help from a specialist is required who can prescribe a diet that will improve the situation and allow the elderly person to get rid of unpleasant sensations.

A therapeutic diet is not always aimed at reducing body weight, although in most cases this is its main goal. Nutrition is a very important part of the lives of older people, as they require a huge amount of vitamins and nutrients. Their absence seriously affects human health.

The diet of foods that an elderly person must consume usually includes the following:

Cottage cheese, milk, cheese;
Oats, buckwheat;
Fish;
Greenery;
Vegetables and fruits;
Nuts.

A lack of substances necessary for the body may be the reason why older people experience cramps in their legs at night. It is possible to replenish them with the help of healthy foods that are included in the therapeutic diet. A balanced diet is the key to a healthy body. The presence of seizures can be directly related to poor diet and lack of vitamins in the body.

Proper nutrition is very important in the fight against such ailments as leg cramps in older people. Mineral balance can be improved only by completely changing your diet.

Older people are susceptible to irreversible metabolic changes. Microelements and vitamins are more difficult to absorb from food. Metabolic processes in the vessels of the extremities are disrupted with age, which leads to local disruption of blood circulation.

Physiological causes of seizures in older people:

Age-related changes in the vascular bed. The presence of plaques and blood clots on the walls of blood vessels.
Degeneration of muscle fibers. Their shortening and loss of elasticity.
Taking certain medications (diuretics and hormones).
Slowing metabolism.
Stress.

Pathologies in older people leading to seizures:

hypertonic disease;
diabetes;
osteochondrosis;
renal failure;
liver diseases;
phlebeurysm.

For older people, it is important to maintain good nutrition and a daily routine. Taking vitamin and mineral complexes will be useful. It is necessary to treat concomitant diseases in a timely manner to prevent seizures.

Before starting drug treatment for seizures, the cause of their occurrence should be determined. In the absence of serious pathology, doctors recommend eliminating the lack of important minerals in the blood and improving the condition of the veins with the help of venotonics. This is the general name given to drugs whose action is aimed at strengthening the walls of blood vessels and increasing their elasticity.

Venotonics:

Troxevasin;
Troxerutin;
Venarus;
Venoflebin;
Diosmin;
Detralex.

It will be useful to use these same drugs topically in the form of ointments or gels, rubbing them into the skin of the feet.

Magnelis;
Magne B6;
Magnerot;
Calcemin.

The process of regulating nerve impulses and muscle activity largely involves beneficial microelements that the body receives daily. With a lack of vital substances, certain functions are disrupted and an imbalance of the electrolyte and biochemical composition of the blood occurs. This factor is the main cause of leg cramps at night.

When identifying the causes of spasms, it is important to take into account the individual characteristics of the body. For example, in children, seizures often occur due to excessive activity, and not just due to a lack of nutrients. During pregnancy, cramps are considered one of the typical manifestations of changes that occur in a woman’s body.

Among the most common causes of leg cramps, experts identify:

stressful conditions that contribute to the body’s release of the hormone cortisol, which blocks the process of calcium absorption;
active absorption of proteins, which also block the beneficial effects of calcium on the body;
excessive activity leading to increased sweating;
diuretics and antacids that actively remove potassium and magnesium from the body;
deficiency of vitamin D, calcium, magnesium and potassium due to poor diet;
leg injuries;
chronic diseases associated with circulatory disorders;
thyroid diseases;
pregnancy;
diabetes;
radiculitis;
infectious diseases;
hypothermia.

Development mechanism

Each cell that makes up muscle fibers has an electrical charge. This is possible because the inside of the cells is covered with potassium ions, and the outside with sodium. To ensure a balance between potassium and sodium, cells have special pumps. It is this charge that allows cells to contract.

When exposed to nerve impulses, the charge of the cell weakens, then calcium ions enter it.

It is thanks to this substance that the cell performs its function. The muscle fiber cell contracts. Along with the penetration of calcium, sodium enters the cell and potassium is excreted. During the period when the cell is filled with calcium ions, it spasms.

Cell relaxation occurs when:

release of calcium using special pumps,
cleansing the cell of sodium and introducing potassium into it by other types of pumps.

About 40% of the energy produced by the cell is used to operate the pumps.

Varieties

If you regularly experience leg cramps at night, you should not ignore such an unpleasant symptom. More often, the pathological process involves the muscles of the calves and toes, which do not experience similar discomfort during the daytime. The phenomenon is temporary, but dangerous; frighteningly systematic relapses.

Tonic convulsions. If the patient takes an uncomfortable position of the legs and does not change it for more than 4 minutes, control of the limb is significantly limited, and acute pain syndrome predominates.
Clonic. The spasm predominates during accidental or forced stretching of muscle structures and has a short-term course.
Localized. The focus of the pathology is single - only one muscle suffers, while others are not involved in the pathological process.
Generalized. This is a consequence of a serious pathology of the entire muscular system of the leg, and such an unpleasant symptom is disturbing over a long period of time.

Whatever form the disease predominates, in any case it requires timely diagnosis and subsequent treatment. If the calf muscles suffer, the reasons can be physiological and pathological, and in the latter case they require a comprehensive examination at the hospital. To quickly suppress cramps at night, you need to start treatment with a visit to your local physician.

Causes

Why at night? Sleep and rest reduce blood circulation, since the muscles rest and do not participate in this process, and blood, due to various reasons (thickening, varicose veins, thrombosis), cannot move freely through the veins. Moreover, the muscle is not elastic and does not allow free blood circulation. And all this is superimposed on other factors, more about them below.

There are many reasons that provoke night spasms. They can be divided according to etiology.

Violation of electrolyte metabolism (potassium, calcium, magnesium), it is the most common.
Associated with general and chronic diseases.
When taking medications.
Physiological.
Neurological.

In addition, it is worth distinguishing between seizures that occur due to pathologies of the nervous system and myogenic (trigger points).

To understand why the leg muscles cramp at night, you need to look at each point in more detail.

A cramp is always accompanied by a sharp pain that lasts quite a long time. Some sources recommend using a needle or pin as a quick way to eliminate cramps - you need to prick a tense muscle, especially when hitting a trigger point. But this method is not safe, and searching for a sharp object in the dark during severe pain is quite problematic.

But the needle method works effectively during convulsive contractions during swimming, helping to quickly return to action. One minus is that an injection with an undisinfected needle can lead to infection, but swimmers pin a pin to their swimming trunks in order to help themselves in time.

There is an experience of a folk remedy to sleep with a wrench in your feet instead of a kitten. The cold body of the metal prevents cramps from appearing in the night. It helps a lot.

The best solution for relieving cramps is massage and stretching, especially before bed. To relieve tension, you should stretch the muscle well, making passive movements.

The causes of spasms are very diverse, so therapy and prevention of cramps come down to eliminating the factors that cause them. It is recommended to change your lifestyle - exercise regularly, become more active. It should be remembered that all loads should be increased gradually so as not to provoke the appearance of spasms from overexertion.

- Establishing a sleep schedule - you need to go to bed when you want to sleep. Be sure to ventilate the room before going to bed, and the environment should be as comfortable as possible for you. The use of psychostimulants at night (alcohol, coffee) should be avoided.
- Rational diet - it is advisable to add foods rich in calcium and potassium to the diet. Introduce fatty fish to compensate for the deficiency of phosphorus and vitamin D; fish oil in capsules is an excellent replacement.
- Relaxing warm foot baths at night with a light massage.
- It is also recommended to carry out daily self-massage and stretching exercises.

The video shows great exercises, number 4 is the most effective, I do it every day.

Research has shown that using these techniques significantly reduces episodes of cramps. You only need to carry out the complex for 3 minutes, which includes repeating stretching exercises 3 times with breaks of 10 seconds. It is advisable to involve not only the calf muscles, but also the muscles of the back of the thigh.

To prevent spasms of the calf muscles during sleep, you should use stretching exercises 3 times a day (10 seconds each, repeated 4 times and rest for 5 seconds).

Symptomatic treatment of neurological diseases is used, as well as correction of somatic diseases; treatment in this case is prescribed strictly individually, based on the examination results.

For cramps of unknown etiology, especially those that occur frequently, with severe pain, quinine, muscle relaxants (baclofen), anticonvulsants, and antiepileptic drugs are used painfully and medicinally.

Cramps during sleep in women occur for a number of reasons, all of which are significant and, if pain occurs regularly, require medical attention:

More often, nighttime muscle spasms are observed in people over 50 years of age, but sometimes they occur even in children. Sometimes the cause of seizures is trivial - taking certain medications (for blood pressure, hormones, statins, diuretics).

In women, excessive sweating can provoke muscle spasms, because it causes the removal of potassium from the body. If the problem appeared after an injury to the left or right leg and is observed constantly, there may be damage to the nerve roots. Young girls often begin to twist their legs when following strict diets, against the background of prolonged stress, or with too heavy menstruation.

Taking hormonal contraceptives, constantly wearing high-heeled shoes, and being overweight also greatly increase the risk of cramps at night, in the morning, or during the day.

Short-term night cramps most often last no more than 1 minute. This may indicate an unhealthy lifestyle. Most often, such phenomena are observed in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and abuse smoking.

Doctors believe that the main cause of tonic seizures is an insufficient amount of minerals in the blood. Because of this, the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles is disrupted. Often for this reason, cramps bother pregnant women. All microelements during the period of bearing a child are spent on its formation. The woman’s body begins to experience a shortage.

In addition, the causes of leg cramps at night can be:

Dehydration – Even mild dehydration can cause night cramps. This is due to the fact that necessary substances leave the human body with water. Excessive sweating can also cause cramps at night.
Voluntary excitation of motor signals in the brain. This occurs at the initial stage of a stroke or during the rehabilitation period, with infection of the nervous system, as well as with alcohol poisoning.
Local hypoxia – it provokes the work of blood vessels in certain areas.
Convulsions can occur with a sharp increase in body temperature. This can occur as a result of a serious viral illness or sunstroke.
Leg cramps at night bother patients with osteochondrosis. In such a situation, the nerve fibers are compressed, and the action of individual nerves is disrupted. The whole process is accompanied by a reflex muscle spasm.
Spasms can occur as a result of a long course of taking hormonal drugs, diuretics, which remove potassium from the body.
protein diets.

Very often, cramps plague older people at night; this is due to metabolic disorders in their bodies.

The first aid for severe leg cramps is massage and a special set of actions. After the pain has subsided, it is recommended to first take a few steps and then be at rest for a while. A common situation is when spasms are caused by ordinary external factors - the leg was in one position for a long time, you made too sudden a movement or were hypothermic.

The following steps will help you quickly cope with leg cramps at night:

active movements of the feet in a circle and pulling the socks towards oneself;
massage movements of the spasmodic area;
pinching the skin of the affected area;
raise your legs above your body to normalize blood flow;
placing a mustard plaster on a spasmodic area of skin.

Drink more and drink less coffee

lack of mineral salts,
too intense or prolonged stress on the muscles,
dysfunction of the central nervous system or other diseases.

Do not panic under any circumstances, no matter where the cramp occurs,
If your leg cramps while in a pond, you should stop moving your lower limbs and try to move your cramped leg with your healthy one. A pin prick also helps. Therefore, you can fasten a small safety pin to your swimsuit just in case,
In extreme heat, you should add a little salt to your drinking water or drink mineral water with a high salt content,

Immediately stand up, take off your shoes and socks. It's better if the floor is cold under you,
On the contrary, you can take a horizontal position and pull the toes of the affected foot towards you,
Rub and pinch the affected muscle thoroughly,
You can gently prick it with a pin,
If the pain is severe, a pain reliever may help.

What causes this phenomenon during pregnancy?

in the first trimester of pregnancy. Not only the calf muscles can contract, but also the muscles of the arms and face. A similar unpleasant phenomenon is observed during bedtime, and sometimes during daylight hours during the daytime rest.

The cause of seizures is a change in the level of microelements in the body of the expectant mother. For good health, it is important to maintain a balance between mineral molecules located inside cells and in the intercellular space. If the balance is disturbed, many changes develop, including seizures.

The body of the expectant mother requires more mineral salts than before. Moreover, many people experience vomiting due to toxicosis. A lot of useful substances come out with vomit, including those found in digestive enzymes produced by the body. Some women during pregnancy lean on certain foods, completely forgetting about a balanced diet. The body does not receive what it needs.

Others suffer from edema at the end of pregnancy and try to self-prescribe diuretics. Many essential substances are removed from the body through urine. Anemia is not uncommon during pregnancy. It also creates favorable conditions for convulsive muscle contractions.

If the pregnancy is multiple, convulsions may develop against the background of inferior vena cava syndrome. The syndrome is associated with the fact that when lying on the right side or on the back, the uterus compresses the inferior vena cava. Thereby inhibiting the movement of venous blood from the lower extremities. To prevent the development of this syndrome, you need to sleep on your left side or back, raising the left half of your butt with a small pillow. This will balance the weight of the uterus and reduce its effect on the inferior vena cava, which is located to the right of the spine.

Let's consider the main prerequisites for the development of muscle cramps in pregnant women:

lack of B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, potassium;
decreased hemoglobin (anemia);
increased blood sugar levels;
vascular diseases, varicose veins;
violation of venous outflow in the legs;
excess caffeine;
sedentary lifestyle.

If your legs cramp at night, the cause is pregnancy, treatment can be aimed at increasing the concentration of hemoglobin and glucose in the blood.

Treatment options for seizures during pregnancy:

take vitamin and mineral complexes;
Healthy food;
monitor body weight;
alternate rest with physical activity;
maintain a drinking regime to prevent edema.

In the later stages, due to the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the inferior vena cava, the outflow of venous blood from the lower extremities is difficult.

Tissue nutrition is disturbed, oxygen deficiency appears and, as a result, an increase in the risk of seizures.

There are actually many reasons for the appearance of spasms during pregnancy:

- disturbance of phosphorus-calcium metabolism;
- anemia – a decrease in the level of red blood cells, which affects gas exchange between air, blood and tissues;
- deficiency of vitamin B, magnesium, calcium, potassium;
- high blood sugar;
- varicose veins – thinning of the venous wall and protrusion beyond the normal contours. Appears in patients with heart failure, obesity associated with standing hours of work;
- vascular pathologies;
- large amounts of caffeine;
- insufficiently active lifestyle;
- circulatory disorders;
- thrombophlebitis, which is inflammation of the veins.

As soon as convulsions appear, they must be eliminated. A balanced diet, vitamins, and physical activity in small quantities are recommended. When attacks are frequent, treatment is prescribed by a doctor to determine the cause of their occurrence.

Local treatment and exercises

In addition to drug therapy, the pathological condition can be treated using traditional medicine. Thanks to such recipes, you can significantly reduce the frequency of seizures, and in some cases, get rid of them completely.

The following recipes are considered the most effective:

To relieve convulsive contractions, it is necessary to apply slightly warmed honey to the calf area, on top of which a layer of cling film is applied, and then insulation. The time for keeping such a compress on the leg is no more than half an hour, after which the remaining honey is washed off with warm water;
for cramps due to varicose veins, it is recommended to rub the legs with apple cider vinegar, as well as take apple cider vinegar orally 2 times a day, after dissolving 2 tbsp. spoons of vinegar in 200 ml of slightly warmed water. The general course of treatment is at least 1 month;
To prevent leg cramps, it is recommended to mix 1 egg yolk with 1 tbsp. a spoonful of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of turpentine. After thorough mixing, this solution is rubbed into the calves before bed;
to prevent the development of cramps, you can rub your feet with mustard powder or freshly squeezed lemon juice;
Celandine juice (1 part) is mixed with 2 parts of Vaseline and applied to the legs when a cramping seizure begins, which allows you to stop it at the initial stage.

Despite the sufficient effectiveness and safety of folk recipes, you should consult your doctor before using them, since there may be cases of individual intolerance to some herbal components.

In most cases, it is almost impossible to cope with the disease without drug treatment. Most often, doctors prescribe various ointments that can have a positive effect on the course of the disease and relieve seizures. There are no drugs that can permanently cure a person from seizures.

In some cases, traditional medicine in combination with medications gives excellent results and almost completely eliminates seizures. But you should remember that you should not completely rely on traditional methods. There are several proven and safe ways to cope with such an ailment as leg cramps.

If the phenomenon bothers you frequently, you should consult a doctor. To prescribe methods of therapy, you need to establish why it reduces the calves of the legs at night. First of all, the doctor prescribes a blood test to determine the level of magnesium and potassium. If the cause of cramps at night is a disease, treatment will be aimed at eliminating it.

The patient is assigned a comprehensive examination, consultations of an endocrinologist, a neurologist. It is necessary to exclude the presence of flat feet, for this you need to undergo an examination by a surgeon and an orthopedist.

Since legs often cramp at night due to the onset of varicose veins, you need to consult a phlebologist to check the condition of the veins.

After establishing the reasons why your legs cramp at night, your doctor may prescribe medications:

Detralex is a drug that is prescribed to increase the tone of the veins and relieve convulsions. The drug not only relieves unpleasant symptoms, but also eliminates their cause. It is prescribed for a course of at least 60 days.

Diosmin - the drug eliminates leg cramps if they are associated with venous insufficiency. It is recommended for the treatment of varicose veins. The active substances of the drug strengthen the walls of the veins and increase their tone. Thanks to the action of the drug, the inflammatory process is relieved and blood flow improves. Taking the drug may cause an allergic reaction; therefore, it is contraindicated in pregnant women and children under 18 years of age.

Venoflebin - prescribed if your legs cramp at night due to varicose veins.

Troxevasin - helps relieve heaviness of the legs, is prescribed for chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, and trophic disorders.

If convulsions occur due to heart failure or blood circulation problems, the drug Digoxin may be prescribed. If cramps are caused by anemia, you need to take iron supplements.

Patients are often prescribed sedatives. This is necessary if seizures are caused by stress or nervous tension.

Before treating leg cramps, you must find out the reasons for their occurrence. You should not self-medicate, you should consult a doctor. First, you need to be examined by a therapist, who will give you a referral to a specialized specialist. If convulsions are caused by varicose veins, then treatment will be carried out by a phlebologist, damage to the arteries - by a vascular surgeon, diabetes - by an endocrinologist, and radiculitis - by a neurologist. Find out what to do if you are diagnosed with varicose veins of the lower extremities.

To prevent treatment of muscle cramps, do not allow your body to become dehydrated. Drink 2–3 liters of liquids during the day in the form of still drinking water, green tea, freshly squeezed juices, natural fruit drinks, homemade compotes. Reduce the amount of coffee and black tea you consume. These drinks have a diuretic effect, so in addition to water, beneficial microelements will be washed out of the body.

If cramps in the legs are a symptom of an existing disease, then first of all it is necessary to get rid of the main disease. Seizures will automatically stop bothering you after the cause of their appearance is eliminated. Specialists and a therapist will help to identify the presence of deviations in the functioning of the body. The treatment of leg cramps is not limited to a simple massage, but consists of a whole range of actions.

Treatment complex for seizures:

change in diet;
introducing a large amount of complex carbohydrates into the diet;
a must-have addition to your daily diet foods containing potassium, magnesium, calcium and vitamins D and B;
massage with warming cream;
foot baths with sea salt;
taking multivitamin medications;
avoiding wearing uncomfortable shoes.

Simultaneously with such actions, it is necessary to actively get rid of concomitant diseases, if any. For example, if you have flat feet, then with a massage you will only temporarily relieve yourself of torment. Your main goal should be to get rid of the underlying disease. If your body is depleted and you are constantly exposed to stress, then the main actions should be to actively replenish the supply of vitamins and bring the nervous system back to normal.

Ointments and creams are used mainly for the vascular nature of symptoms. With diagnosed varicose veins on the legs twice / day, you need to apply the following ointments:

The frequency, strength of spastic contractions after the start of the use of such drugs quickly decreases, pain and swelling disappear, because the blood and lymph flow is activated. To massage the calves or other muscles, you can use homeopathic Traumeel ointment - after a month of use, you can notice a significant improvement in blood circulation in the extremities.

To combat spasms, you need to lie on the bed, stretch strongly, and point the toes of your feet towards you. The muscles should be tense during this exercise. You can also stand on your toes, then suddenly roll over onto your heels, this will also help against an attack.

Be aware that leg cramps may occur

1. Calcium pantothenate, one tablet twice a day for one and a half weeks.2. If you have a night cramp, you should get up - this will improve blood circulation and the pain will go away.3. If the cramp has already passed, but the muscle still hurts, you should wrap your calf with an elastic bandage.

Drink 100 ml of brewer's yeast three times a day, 30 minutes before meals, for several months.

Take one tablet once a day after meals

The course of treatment is five days. Sometimes just one tablet is enough.

Massage the cramped muscle with mustard oil.

Twice a day, treat your feet with lemon juice or rub with a piece of

Leave until dry and put on stockings. The duration of treatment is 14 days.

Treat the feet with nine percent vinegar.

Eat potatoes boiled in their jackets or baked with skin on.

Brew two tablespoons of chamomile with 200 ml of boiling water, hold for 10 minutes after boiling, pass through a sieve and consume 50 ml orally three to four times a day on an empty stomach.

Pour one dessert spoon of birch buds into 200 ml of boiling water, leave for 10 minutes, pass through a sieve and drink a third of a glass in the morning, at lunch and in the evening on an empty stomach.

Toe cramp

The most common cause of toe cramps is chronic venous insufficiency or a lack of electrolyte salts in the body.

Therefore it is necessary to carry out

condition of the leg veins. Diagnosis includes ultrasound or Doppler. Based on the results of the examination, the phlebologist will determine the treatment regimen.

If everything is in order with the veins, you need to do a blood test for biochemistry, taking into account electrolytes (sodium, potassium and calcium), and also determine the level of glucose in the blood. In order for the test results to be reliable, you do not need to start taking any vitamin and mineral supplements medications. Taking a number of medications or dietary supplements (for example, to cleanse the body or lose weight) can cause a decrease in the amount of electrolytes in the blood, anemia and seizures. And another reason that you can try to eliminate on your own is uncomfortable shoes or weight gain.

wearing tight shoes;
hypothermia of the lower extremities;
prolonged vertical position of the body;
stagnation of blood in the vessels of the legs due to hypodynamia.

Leg cramps - treatment

Methods of alternative medicine in the successful treatment of leg cramps play only a secondary role; they can suppress an unpleasant night attack only at the early stage of the disease. This home therapy causes fewer side effects; the main thing is to first make sure that the body does not have an allergic reaction to the main ingredient.

Dissolve in 1 tbsp. water 2 tbsp. l. apple cider vinegar, mix the mixture thoroughly. After this, rub your calves intensively before going to bed, be sure to provide the so-called warming effect (you need to wrap your legs in a blanket). You will have to be treated in this traditional way for a month, then take a break for several days. Unpleasant symptoms disappear within 3–5 nights, and the once disturbed sleep phase returns to normal.
In one container you need to combine raw egg yolk (after shaking it), 1 tsp. turpentine, 1 tbsp. l. apple cider vinegar, mix thoroughly until a foam from the yolk forms on the surface of the medicine. With the prepared medicinal composition, you need to intensively rub your feet before going to bed in those areas where night cramps occur. The course of intensive therapy is 2 – 3 weeks.
It is necessary to combine 1 part of fresh celandine juice and 2 parts of Vaseline, mix vigorously until smooth. Apply the prepared composition during night cramps, rub vigorously into the skin until completely absorbed. Afterwards, be sure to wrap your feet in a warm blanket.
If there is no allergic reaction to bee waste products, it is recommended to rub the diseased calves with liquid honey (apply a thin layer and rub well), then wrap them in cellophane and warm them with a warm blanket. The procedure should be carried out before going to bed, and in the morning after waking up you need to take a shower.

Treatment with folk remedies is intended to activate blood circulation in the extremities and improve the elasticity of blood vessels. You can combine equal amounts of mint leaves and anise and fennel seeds, pour a tablespoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour. Drink in small sips throughout the day. An ointment for spasms is also prepared:

You can also drink infusions of linden, birch buds, chamomile, thyme, and black elderberry inside. Popularly, these plants are considered effective remedies for seizures of any origin.

If your legs cramp at night, you can use traditional methods of treatment. But these methods should be used in combination:

Every day before each meal you can eat two teaspoons of honey.
Chamomile effectively helps cope with muscle spasms. It can be used as a decoction or as an oil. To prepare a decoction, you need to pour 4 tablespoons of the dried plant into a glass of water and boil for 10 minutes. The resulting decoction is taken one third of a glass three times a day. Chamomile oil can be rubbed onto painful areas.

You can get rid of painful sensations with the help of wormwood. The pureed smenena should be poured with olive oil in proportions of 1 to 4. The resulting product is taken diluted with sugar, 2 drops each.
Mustard oil can be used as a local remedy to relieve spasms of the calf muscles. They need to rub the areas where there are problems.

It is important to understand that all these methods will only help relieve the manifestation of seizures. If a person is diagnosed with a serious illness, a comprehensive approach to solving the problem is necessary.

Prevention

Prevention of frequent night cramps is limited to simple actions - proper diet and preventive massage. In some situations, it is almost impossible to prevent spasms, for example, due to approaching old age or pregnancy. Excessive exercise, constant hypothermia and wearing uncomfortable shoes also lead to painful sensations in the feet.

Set of preventive measures:

regular contrast baths;
dividing the diet into fractional six meals a day;
calf massage;
use of compression hosiery;
exercises aimed at stretching the leg muscles;
drinking enough liquid;
getting rid of bad habits;
avoiding excessive physical activity;
reducing the amount of coffee and alcohol consumed;
compliance with the rules of a special diet based on supplementing the diet with foods high in magnesium, calcium, potassium and phosphorus.

Drink more fluids and reduce your intake of coffee and alcohol, which have a strong diuretic effect.
Adhere to a daily routine and a healthy lifestyle: do not overwork, devote enough time to rest and sleep, pay attention to reasonable physical activity and walking in the fresh air, get rid of bad habits.
Create comfortable conditions for a night's rest: purchase a comfortable mattress, ventilate the room before going to bed, maintain an optimal temperature and humidity level, and avoid any caffeine-containing drinks in the evening. Also, in order not to disrupt blood circulation in the legs at night, it is better to go to bed in loose clothes made of natural material.
Review your diet: eat more foods rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin D. If this is not enough, eliminate the deficiency of vitamins and microelements by taking special medications, for example, fish oil capsules or vitamin-mineral complexes.
Spend time daily on self-massage, and before going to bed, do a little muscle stretching, take relaxing baths with sea salt or decoctions of medicinal plants that have an anticonvulsant effect (peppermint, valerian, horsetail), and apply warm compresses to your calves. Also, before going to bed, it is useful to briefly raise your legs as high as possible and lie in this position to normalize blood flow.
Refuse uncomfortable and hard shoes in favor of orthopedic ones. And if women experience frequent nighttime leg cramps, forget about high heels and platforms.
During the day and especially during sleep, try to choose the most comfortable position for your legs, avoiding positions that can lead to blood stagnation.

But if, despite all the measures taken, cramps at night continue to bother you, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor. The main thing is to understand the causes of muscle spasms as quickly as possible and begin treatment in order to avoid much more serious health problems.

To exclude the unexpected appearance of night cramps and a decrease in the duration of the sleep phase, doctors recommend taking timely preventive measures, changing your usual lifestyle and individual habits. This is especially true for people with a genetic predisposition to periodic spasms of the calf and other muscles of the extremities. Here are the preventive measures we are talking about:

completely give up bad habits (do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, control the intake of medications, do not self-medicate);
it is important not to eat at night, to avoid systematic overeating (it is advisable to adhere to a lean therapeutic diet);
promptly treat underlying diseases, for example, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
evenly distribute the load on the spine during the daytime, avoid stress, emotional overstrain, and states of shock;
take vitamins and multivitamin complexes, especially during the period of seasonal vitamin deficiency (we are talking about the intake of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron into the body);
Massage of the calf muscles after a hard day is especially useful; you can additionally use ointments and creams such as the drug Troxevasin.

How to warn?

choose shoes carefully,
reduce the amount of sugar and coffee in your diet,
walk or run less
quit smoking,
eat more foods that are rich in calcium and magnesium,
do leg exercises and massage (not possible during),
After a working day, take alternating cold and hot baths or foot soaks. If there are varicose veins, the difference between temperatures should be less. It is very good to use a decoction of relaxing herbs instead of water: valerian, mint, horsetail,
It is useful to go to bed in socks made of pure wool.

You can normalize the level of minerals in your diet with the help of

or medications. So, with frequent cramps, you should increase the amount of food rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin in the menu

Magnesium-rich foods:

parsley, green onions, dill,
dates, dried apricots, prunes, figs,
bran,
beans, peas, beans,
sea kale.

In order for magnesium to be better absorbed, it should be combined with vitamin

Which is abundant in fish, buckwheat, walnuts, liver, and meat.

For better absorption of calcium, it is useful to drink 200 ml of slightly warmed water with a teaspoon every day

and lemon juice.

If there are not enough mineral salts in the body for a long time, a healthy diet may not be enough. But you can take any medications only as prescribed by a doctor.

Calcium supplements and vitamin D are usually prescribed. You should know that after 6 pm the body absorbs magnesium worse, so it is preferable to take magnesium supplements before lunch. Magnesium is also better absorbed by those who do light exercise. Medicines containing calcium and vitamin D, on the contrary, are preferable to take closer to the night, at which time the bones “absorb” calcium faster.

Exercise to prevent seizures

It is better to do this exercise immediately after waking up.

Stand on your legs and cross them, standing on the outer edges of your feet. Stand for ten seconds, stand straight, and then repeat the exercise.

Sit on a chair, tuck your toes and hold the position for ten seconds. The same amount of time to relax and repeat.

Get to your feet and stretch on your toes. Fix the position and “fall” on your heels.

Each exercise should be repeated at least 5 times.

And these exercises are suitable for relaxation after a working day: 1. Sit on a stool, raise your legs and roll your feet.2. Purse your fingers intensely and immediately straighten them. Move them actively.3. Slowly walk in place, stretching the toe of the raised leg.4. Lean on the wall with two palms, move away from the back in small steps without moving the torso.

What types of cramps are there?

A sharp painful contraction can occur in any muscle of the human body and last from a few seconds to 10 minutes. Localized cramps most often affect the calf muscles and toes.

In the medical classification, convulsions are usually divided into clonic, tonic and mixed. The latter type is characteristic of generalized seizures.

Diseases that cause seizures

The presence of serious pathology is one of the causes of seizures.

Seizures are caused by diseases such as:

renal failure;
atherosclerosis;
phlebeurysm;
thrombophlebitis;
diabetes;
hyperthyroidism;
epilepsy;
ischemia;
stroke;
brain tumors;
spinal hernia;
staphylococcal and meningococcal infections;
flat feet.