WHAT ARE NOCTURNAL LEG CRAMPING?
Nocturnal leg cramping is leg and or foot cramping occurring at night either as one is falling asleep or during sleep. The cramping may occur in either a foot, both feet, on leg or both legs or a combinations of feet and legs. In all cases sleep is interrupted.
When falling asleep the cramps result in one returning to being awake and needing to take action to relieve the cramping. Mild cramping may be alleviated by changing positions. Aggressive cramping usually requires leaving the bed to walk or move around to alleviate the cramping. The cramping may occur several times before one is able to fall asleep.
During sleep the cramping usually results in one being awakened and needing to take action to relieve the cramping. Mild cramping may be alleviated by changing positions. Aggressive cramping usually requires leaving the bed to walk or move around to alleviate the cramping. The cramping may occur several times before one is able to fall asleep.
The long term nocturnal leg cramping often has the detrimental health outcome of sleep deprivation.
A muscle cramp is a strong, painful contraction or tightening of a muscle that comes on suddenly and lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. It often occurs in the legs or feet. A muscle cramp is also called a charlie horse.
Nighttime leg cramps are usually sudden spasms, or tightening, of muscles in the calf. The muscle cramps sometimes happen in the thigh or the foot. They often occur just as you are falling asleep or waking up.
WHAT CAUSES MUSCLE CRAMPS?
The cause of muscle cramps isn't always known. Muscle cramps may be brought on by many conditions or activities, such as:
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Exercising, injury, or overuse of muscles.
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Pregnancy. Cramps may occur because of decreased amounts of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, especially in the later months of pregnancy.
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Exposure to cold temperatures, especially to cold water.
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Other medical conditions, such as blood flow problems (peripheral arterial disease), kidney disease, thyroid disease, and multiple sclerosis.
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Standing on a hard surface for a long time, sitting for a long time, or putting your legs in awkward positions while you sleep.
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Not having enough potassium, calcium, and other minerals in your blood.
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Being dehydrated, which means that your body has lost too much fluid.
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Taking certain medicines, such as antipsychotics, birth control pills, diuretics, statins, and steroids.
WHAT IS THE PROGNOSIS OF PEOPLE WITH NOCTURNAL LEG CRAMPING?
Nocturnal Leg Cramping is generally a lifelong condition for which there is no cure once symptoms commence. Symptoms may gradually worsen with age, although the decline may be somewhat faster for individuals who also suffer from an associated medical condition. In addition, some individuals have remissions—periods in which symptoms decrease or disappear for days, weeks, or months—although symptoms usually eventually reappear. A diagnosis of Nocturnal Leg Cramping does not indicate the onset of another neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis.
HOW CAN YOU STOP A MUSCLE CRAMP WHEN IT HAPPENS?