Cramps of the calf muscles causes and ways to get rid of. Violation of blood circulation to the muscle of the legs. Kefir and honey

Hello dear readers! In the article we discuss cramps in the calf muscles - causes, treatment, prevention. Applying our recommendations, you will be able to provide first aid to yourself and your loved ones in case of leg muscle spasm, relieve pain in the calf muscle, and also prevent further occurrence of muscle spasms.

Most people at least once experienced the state of “leg cramped”, they are familiar with the pain from a sudden cramp. Some people experience this condition more often than others. At such moments, the muscles experience involuntary prolonged contraction, which accompanies severe pain.

It happens that in a state between cramps, the calf muscle or the muscle of the foot cannot completely relax and muscle pain does not go away for several days.

Such a cramp can occur not only during wakefulness, but also at night in a dream.

In order to prevent such conditions or quickly eliminate them, it is important to know about first aid, causes, treatment.

Causes of cramps in the calf muscles

The treatment of cramps in the muscles of the legs relies on the causes of their occurrence, so first we will discuss why the muscles cramp. The main causes of seizures are:

Often the cause of leg muscle cramps can be an unusual load for them. The calf muscle is involved in all types of vertical movement, sports and outdoor activities - walking, swimming, skiing, squatting, volleyball, running, jumping, etc.

A long walk or an episode of intense physical exertion against the background of a habitual sedentary lifestyle can provoke a cramp.

Cramping during exercise can be the result of dehydration. Excessive sweating leads to the loss of potassium and calcium along with sweat.

Stretching the calf muscle

If, after an unusual physical activity, the aching pain in the muscle does not go away for several days, then we can talk about a slight degree of stretching of the calf muscle.

With a strong stretching of the calf muscle, acute pain immediately occurs, which significantly intensifies after the repetition of the action that caused it. In this case, it is necessary to contact a traumatologist who will prescribe a conservative treatment for sprain.

Rupture of the calf muscle

A rupture of the calf muscle, its tendon or ligaments is always accompanied by a characteristic sound, similar to a crack or click. The rupture is followed by acute pain and the loss of the ability to bring the foot, to stand on the leg. This condition requires urgent surgical trauma care.

Uncomfortable shoes and clothes

A high heel or an uncomfortable shoe last, forcing the foot to be in an unnatural position for it for a long time, can provoke cramps.

If your legs cramp after wearing just such a pair of shoes, stop wearing them - this will eliminate the cause of the spasms.

It happens that the legs are cramped due to temporary pinching of the blood vessels with uncomfortable clothing: too tight elastic on the socks, tight jeans, etc. Wear comfortable clothes that do not squeeze the body.

Hypothermia of the legs

Cold weather, shoes that get wet in rain or snow can also cause involuntary muscle spasms.

Often brings legs together when swimming in the cold water of a pool or other body of water. Cold leads to spasm of arterial, venous and lymphatic vessels, which in turn complicates and slows down all metabolic processes in tissues.

Impaired blood circulation to the leg muscles

Such violations are due to changes in the structure of the skeleton:

• injury,
• joint dislocation,
• flat feet,
• congenital dysplasia,
• birth trauma, etc.

In these cases, the leg joints are not in the correct physiological position. The changed position of the bones causes the wrong position of the muscles and the vessels and nerves that feed them, which are attached to the bone base.

In more complex cases, the cause of a violation of the conduction of a nerve impulse may be:

• traumatic brain injury;
• spinal injury;
• diseases of the central nervous system;
• congenital anomalies.

Such cases are considered individually at the appointment with a neuropathologist, who will select an effective treatment.

The causes of impaired blood flow can also be:

• varicose disease of the legs;
• inferior vena cava syndrome;
• chronic venous outflow disorders caused by frostbite, thrombosis, polyneuropathy, atherosclerosis, etc.

Changes in metabolic processes in the body

Metabolic changes can also cause calf cramps. Treatment of each case of metabolic disorders individually.

These are various states:

• toxicosis of pregnant women;
• diseases accompanied by fever;
• poisoning;
• intoxication;
• hypoxia;
• endocrine diseases;
• violations of water-salt metabolism (most often lack of potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium).

All these conditions require either replenishment of the deficiency of trace elements in the body, or constant and often urgent medical monitoring and treatment.

The causes of cramps in the calf muscles are very diverse, as we have already seen.

Causes of cramps at night

Nocturnal calf cramps can have the same causes that we discussed above. But they can also be caused by a temporary disruption of normal circulation in the legs due to an uncomfortable sleeping position.

Leg cramps during pregnancy

Both the above reasons and toxicosis can cause convulsions during pregnancy.

Toxicosis is a pathological condition of a pregnant woman, which is manifested by a violation of the functioning of the body, especially the vascular system, accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

This is the cause of cramps in the calf muscles. Treatment and constant supervision of a gynecologist in this case is simply necessary.

What to do if you cramp your leg

“The leg cramped” is a condition that forces you to take urgent measures. There are several simple ways to relieve spasm and get rid of pain.

1. stretching of the muscle;
2. pressure on the muscle;
3. kneading the leg.

stretching

You can stretch the calf muscle like this: stand up to your full height, put your foot on your heel, lift your toe off the floor, transfer your body weight to this leg. Thus, we voluntarily and consciously make a movement opposite to the spasm. We wait a little in this position, and the spasm lets go.

pressure

Pressing on the calf muscle is also effective. Feel the muscle that is cramped. It will feel very thick to the touch. Press firmly on it with your thumbs, clasping your leg with your hands in a ring. Press down, hold for a few seconds, release the pressure, then press again. A series of such movements will relieve the spasm.

kneading

You can also stretch the muscle. This should be done with effort, and not “stroking”. Grasp the calf with both hands, as if you want to pinch the calf muscle, from the outside or from the inside. Massage the lower leg up and down with pressure until the spasm subsides.

Any of these manipulations effectively relieves cramps in the calf muscle.

Treatment of seizures with folk remedies

It is often suggested to prick the leg with a needle to cause a stronger pain sensation “to switch” the nervous system. You can also “beat” the cramped muscle with the edge of the palm, but it is better to perform point pressure or kneading the muscle.

Massage of the calf muscles

After the spasm has passed and the pain subsides, massage your feet. Massage stimulates blood circulation, promotes the removal of metabolic products from tissues, and relaxes the muscles.

It is useful to lie down for a while with your legs elevated to improve venous outflow or to give your leg a little physical activity to “disperse the blood”.

Warm your feet, dress warmly, wrap your feet in a blanket, make a hot foot bath.

Cure for leg cramps

In the drug treatment of frequent severe convulsions, doctors use magnesium and potassium preparations, and, according to special indications, anticonvulsants.

Do not use anti-seizure medication unless prescribed by a doctor.

Now you know about the causes and treatment of calf cramps and can easily deal with them. Good health and good health to you. Click on the social media buttons, share useful information with your friends.

Strong sharp pain in the legs twisted so that there is no strength to endure? This makes itself felt cramps of the calf muscles - extremely unpleasant sensations localized on the back of the lower leg. What to do if you cramp your leg? How can you help yourself in this situation?

Causes of leg cramps

Why do seizures develop? Every person, at least once faced with a sharp pain in the lower leg, would like to know what is happening to him. Spasm of the calf muscles can be caused by a variety of reasons, and it is not always possible for specialists to accurately determine the trigger of pain.

Most often, the appearance of seizures is associated with the following conditions:

• Varicose veins;
• transferred injuries of the calf muscles;
• metabolic pathologies (including diabetes mellitus);
• deficiency of magnesium and calcium.

To accurately determine the cause of the spasm, you should carefully analyze your condition and try to understand what could lead to the appearance of pain. Knowing why it reduces the calf muscle, you can find a way to treat and fix the problem as soon as possible.

Night cramps

Painful spasms can make themselves felt at any time of the day, especially with prolonged immobility of the legs. In this case, a person can predict the development of an attack in advance and take measures to alleviate the condition. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to catch the moment when numbness and tingling of the leg turns into severe pain. Very often, calf cramps appear at night, disrupting the calm flow of sleep. The causes of nocturnal seizures have not yet been studied. It is assumed that a long stay of the leg in one position leads to muscle spasm and causes a person to wake up from severe pain.

Falling asleep, try to get in the most comfortable position for you - this will make it possible to avoid the appearance of pain.

In addition to the calf muscles, a cramp can cover the foot, causing rather long-term discomfort. As a rule, the pain is localized only on one side - the second leg remains unaffected by the cramp. A sudden spasm leads to the appearance of a seal on the back of the leg. Why is this happening? The thing is that during an attack, the calf muscle is torn, and a noticeable edema develops at the site of the injury. Nocturnal calf cramps leave noticeable effects during the day in the form of gait disturbance and painful sensations with every movement. Discomfort decreases when walking and increases again in a stationary position.

Cramps of the calf muscles at night rarely last more than 30 seconds, but all this time a person feels unbearable pain, which makes it impossible to adequately assess their condition. It is good if there is someone nearby who can provide first aid, but often patients have to look for a way to solve the problem on their own. What to do if a cramp cramped your legs, and there is no strength to endure this pain?

In most cases, pain appears only on one side, which means that a person retains the ability to control his body. Regardless of the cause of the spasm, you should follow a few simple steps that can quickly alleviate the condition.

• During the spasm, pull the sock towards you. Repeat this action several times until the cramp goes away.
• If within thirty seconds it was not possible to achieve the desired effect, get out of bed. Walk a little on the floor, preferably barefoot - where there are no carpets and other coverings.
• Strongly squeeze the muscles in its central part. Hold your leg in this position for 15-20 seconds.

Remember to breathe deeply during an attack!

Remember that any cramp rarely lasts more than two minutes, which means that in the near future the pain will recede even without your actions. After removing the attack, massage your feet. You can pinch the muscle slightly - this will help increase blood flow in the shin area and quickly restore mobility to the legs. It would be useful to visit a doctor to find out the cause of seizures and receive recommendations for the treatment of the disease.

It happens that calf massage does not help to quickly cope with pain. What to do in such a situation? Experts recommend performing a simple exercise that will help relieve an attack. To do this, you need to stand facing the wall, stepping back one step. Feet should be shoulder-width apart, hands resting on the wall above the head. Take small steps back from the wall, keeping your feet on the floor. Why can't you raise your foot during the exercise? It's simple: only in this position, the calf muscles will stretch well, which will eliminate pain in the affected organ.

Move as far away from the wall as possible. During the exercise, there should be no discomfort in the shin area. Stop in the chosen position, stay in it for about a minute. Keep breathing even and calm until the pain subsides. After an attack, unpleasant sipping may remain in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bdamaged muscles for several days.

Before dealing with the treatment of painful attacks, you should understand why such symptoms develop. If the cause of cramps is varicose veins, you should seek help from a phlebologist. The appointment of venotonics (drugs that strengthen the vascular wall) in most cases allows you to cope with the problem and forget about the occurrence of leg cramps for a long time.

Treatment of cramps of the calf muscles caused by a lack of calcium and magnesium begins with the intake of vitamin complexes. The course of therapy is about one month. In addition to multivitamins, the patient is advised to diversify his diet with fresh fruits and vegetables. Especially this recommendation will be relevant for pregnant women who are not immune from the development of convulsive leg spasms. In anticipation of the baby, many expectant mothers are deficient in trace elements and vitamins, which can lead to discomfort in the calf muscles.

What to do if the implementation of all the recommendations did not give a positive result and the convulsions return again and again? First of all, it is worth undergoing a thorough examination of the whole organism, assessing the condition of large vessels and paying special attention to changes in metabolism. Timely detection of the disease will give a chance not only to cope with the problem, but also to avoid the development of various complications.

Prevention

In order to avoid the appearance of new bouts of pain, you should first of all take care of your legs. General massage helps to improve blood flow throughout the body, which means it will be useful for the calf muscles. Regular exercise and sports will not only help keep your body in good shape, but also perfectly strengthen the calf muscles. Proper nutrition with the addition of foods rich in calcium and magnesium to the diet will reduce the likelihood of seizures due to micronutrient deficiencies. A daily contrast shower will bring some benefit. Pay attention to your legs - and you will forget about pain and muscle spasms for many years.

Seizures are involuntary, sudden onset brain symptoms, manifested by impaired consciousness, motor, sensory and emotional disorders. They can be a sign of a number of serious diseases not only of the nervous, but also of other systems of the human body.

Seizures are one of the symptoms that doctors of all specialties are most often afraid of. This is due to the fact that it is very difficult to stop the convulsive syndrome. A large number of complications that may be the result of seizures sometimes lead to disability.

The appearance of seizures in a person should be one of the reasons for visiting a neurologist, since various diseases can be hidden under the mask of this pathology. Very often, the occurrence of this symptom characterizes the severity of the disease: for example, during pregnancy, the presence of seizures indicates an associated complication (eclampsia). Frequent seizures in children may be the first precursors of epilepsy.

The reasons

It has been proven that loud sounds, bright lights (in people sensitive to the effects of these factors) can cause convulsions.

In the occurrence of a convulsive attack, a hereditary predisposition can play a significant role: it has been proven that people whose relatives have ever suffered convulsive seizures are at a high risk of such seizures. Provoking factors that can initiate a paroxysm of convulsions include excessive arousal, stress, and electrolyte imbalance.

Types of seizures

Tonic-clonic seizures begin suddenly with loss of consciousness, while the pupils dilate. In the phase of tonic convulsions, which lasts for several tens of seconds, all skeletal muscles become tense, the eyeballs roll up. Next comes the phase of clonic convulsions lasting about 40 seconds, in which periods of convulsions (contractions) alternate with periods of relaxation (relaxations) in the muscles of the trunk. The attack ends in a coma, which turns into sleep or into a state of short-term stunning. In persons who have had a seizure, there is a release of bloody foam from the mouth. Bite of the tongue and profuse salivation are characteristic symptoms of tonic-clonic seizures.

Myoclonic convulsions(myoclonus) most often occur in children and adolescents. The convulsive process involves either the entire skeletal muscles, or the muscles of the face, fingers. Significant myoclonus can cause children to fall with injury.

Partial seizures characterized by loss of consciousness. They are manifested by single convulsions of a clonic nature, which involve the muscles of the foot, hand, face in the pathological process.

It is a mistake to call spasm of the calf muscles cramps most frequently occurring during sleep. This pathology is characterized by the term "myoclonus". Myoclonus also includes spasm of the thigh muscles. In such cases, it reduces the muscles of the legs, there is no loss of consciousness.

Scientists have established why it reduces muscles with myoclonus. This is due to a violation in the extrapyramidal system of the brain, a decrease in the calcium content in the blood serum and concomitant diseases. If muscle spasm occurs once every few months, this may be the first symptom of the disease: for example, in women, the calf muscles begin to reduce at night with varicose veins of the lower extremities or with serum calcium deficiency.

The occurrence of spasms of the calf muscles in cold water is due to the narrowing of blood vessels due to exposure to low temperatures, overstrain of the muscles. Very often in cold water it reduces muscles in people with diseases of the spine and low calcium content.

During physical exertion, muscles can reduce for the following reasons:
dehydration of the body with loss of calcium and potassium along with sweat
insufficient warm-up
excessive stress on a specific muscle group
increase in training volume

In sleep, muscle spasms occur when moving from one position to another: there is a sharp tension in one muscle group, leading to a spasm.

Diseases and consequences

At a body temperature above 39 ° C, febrile convulsions occur, which are most common among children. In this case, the duration of the attack is five minutes, the nature of the seizures is tonic-clonic.

An epileptic seizure has a characteristic clinical picture: the patient cries out, turns pale, loses consciousness, strong tonic-clonic convulsions develop, breathing and blood circulation are disturbed. At the end of the attack, the person falls asleep.

Brain tumors lead to generalized convulsions, in which profuse foam is released from the mouth.

The occurrence of convulsions in a dream can be due to diseases of the spine, a lack of magnesium and B vitamins in the body. In this case, convulsions occur at night, closer to the morning, are characterized by a severe pain syndrome, which is localized in the arms and legs.

Seizures can lead to death due to dysfunction of the heart and lungs. Often, convulsive syndrome is accompanied by the development of the following complications:
cardiac arrest;
pulmonary edema;
muscle breaks;
arrhythmias;
hemorrhages in the brain tissue;
spinal fractures;
injuries caused by hitting the ground during loss of consciousness.

Very often, with convulsions, an increase in the level of potassium and lactic acid in the blood serum is observed, which leads to a violation of the heart rhythm.
Muscle pain after a seizure is due to the accumulation of lactate, which is formed as a result of incomplete oxidation of glucose.

Single muscle spasms do not pose any danger to the body.

Treatment

Every adult needs to know what to do and how to act with the development of a seizure. The first aid algorithm includes the following activities:
injury prevention; this is achieved by holding the victim
turning the victim on his side in order to prevent obstruction (closing) of the airway lumen by vomit
tongue bite is prevented by placing a hard object between the teeth
call an ambulance

Be sure to know how to get rid of seizures, persons whose relatives suffer from epilepsy are obliged. With this disease, convulsions can be repeated several times a day.

At the second stage, the treatment of the underlying disease, which led to the occurrence of a convulsive syndrome, is carried out.

With insufficient oxygen supply to the body, it is necessary to carry out oxygenation (blood saturation with oxygen by inhaling it through a face mask).

With malformations of the brain, anticonvulsants (anticonvulsants) are used to prevent seizures.

Prescribing antibiotic therapy for meningitis will help prevent seizures.

Febrile seizures are stopped by taking antipyretic drugs. Normalization of body temperature will quickly lead to recovery.

Seizures due to dehydration are treated with intravenous fluids (normalization of the volume of circulating blood helps to get rid of convulsions).

If it often reduces the calf muscles, (i.e. with myoclonus) proceed as follows:
organize proper nutrition (it is recommended to regularly eat foods containing potassium and calcium: cottage cheese, cheeses, bananas, legumes)
perform special exercises aimed at relaxing the calf muscles (you can take your hand on the tips of your toes and pull them towards you)
in some cases, strong pinches in the shin area help
perform a complete examination to establish the cause that led to the appearance of seizures

needle prick with spasm of the calf muscles is a very effective way, however, specially trained people can perform this procedure, since it is necessary to know the injection points perfectly. Doing a needle prick on your own is not recommended: there is a high probability of pathogens that can cause infectious diseases entering the body. Superficially located nerves and vessels can also be damaged.

Prevention of seizures is carried out to prevent the occurrence of a new attack. To prevent cramps resort to the use of general massage. Muscles are warmed up, as a result of which blood flow increases.

The diet should include fruits, vegetables, dairy products, liver, oatmeal.

In the presence of concomitant diseases, their timely treatment is required. With varicose veins of the lower extremities, it often reduces the calf muscles. The appointment of venotonics (drugs to improve the functioning of the veins) will help prevent the occurrence of seizures in this case.

Exercise helps strengthen the muscle groups that are most prone to spasms.

In epilepsy, anticonvulsants (anticonvulsants) are used to prevent the onset of a seizure: phenobarbital,
carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid, lamotrigine.

Only an integrated approach to prevention will help prevent the occurrence of seizures.

We hope that this article has expanded your knowledge and now you will not call any slight muscle spasm a cramp.

Comments

I also occasionally have cramps during sleep, the main causes of cramps are muscle overstrain - for example, where there is often an overstrain of the leg muscles - in football and basketball - athletes lie on the floor and ground from reduced muscles almost every match - so if you overtrain - proper relaxation and timely muscle massage begin to play a special role - after a good massage, cramps are already a very rare occurrence, if at all possible

Overvoltage can also arise from the inconvenience of the unevenness of the furniture you use - a chair, a table, a bed - everything should be exactly for your height and your dimensions and physiological characteristics (in this regard, people with small stature are more lucky - they have much more opportunities to get settled normally even on a very uncomfortable bed or chair) ... and for example, I just suffer everywhere with my 193 cm - because in our country, like Japan, is everything done for people no more than 150 cm tall - literally everything - with rare exceptions .... but nevertheless - you should have everything special that is suitable only for you - this largely allows you to solve the problem of artificial muscle strain - where it has no real practical significance, but only to the detriment Now, for the good, the market has begun to respond to people's requests - more and more ergonomic chairs, sofas, bed mattresses with different designs and features - (I hope they finally drop their prices :)))) that allow you to choose waiting for a person what is most convenient

buzmeg,
"The contractions of one muscle or an entire group of muscles by an erroneous command of the muscle brain are called hyperkinesis (hyper - excess, kinesis - movement). Tick is a type of hyperkinesis. Ticks are considered to be fast movements of the same type, which can sometimes affect the vocal apparatus, which is accompanied by the pronunciation of sounds ( vocalization) - grunting, smacking, speaking words.

it's more of a mental problem - you need to relax more - the brain, when it starts to feel uncomfortable, overstrain and excitement begins to torment the muscles with a bunch of unnecessary impulses - some of them become a habit later - if they somehow "help" a person survive some kind of situation - it's like superstition - only on physiological level The reality is that, of course, the violation of the work of the nervous system and the absence of normal muscle relaxation - does not bring anything good to a person and obviously only prevents him from winning in everything - but such is the nature of man

It starts like this, at first, under the skin in the hands on the palms, light goosebumps begin to run, such as tingling, then it begins to reduce the calves on the legs and the muscles of the arms and neck, and a feeling of poor condition, nothing hurts, but just bad, and the heart starts more often beat, hands are shaking, weakness, throws me like a drunk left and right, and when I get sick in transport, the same thing starts to happen, it doesn’t sicken to nausea, but reduce the muscles of the arms, but also the neck, what is it, how to get rid of it ?

rose flower June 27, 2011 10:16 am

daughter 2 years 10 months old, according to the teacher, during the daytime sleep she screamed and pointed to the handles, and the teacher said that they were reduced and very cold, what could it be, told me about it after 4 days, I sit and think now, this is what something terrible? and generally sleeps very restlessly, screams and throws himself in different directions during sleep

my right eye has been twitching for almost a month now, and in my legs, it often happens that if I want to squat, it starts to pull like during convulsions, and recently I was walking from the market carrying bags so my hands hurt so much as if the muscles were pulled from them, then convulsions began

Played football (40 minutes), suddenly - "shot" in the leg (somewhere between the Achilles tendon and the end of the calf muscle). I fell down and couldn't step on my foot. I applied ice (about 2 hours with breaks). There was a feeling that it was as if "pulling" the entire calf, Achilles and ankle. About 3 hours later, somewhere in the middle of the gastrocnemius muscle, there was either a crunch or a click - as if the “knot was untied”. It stopped pulling, there was a feeling of a strongly stretched calf and a strongly stretched Achilles ... . What's this? severe sprain due to cramps? Tear? Strange, but there is no hematoma. There is no hemorrhage (bruising). With the forced movement of the toe of the leg "on itself" - a pulling pain in the Achilles (sprain?). I can walk, but I'm just getting on my feet. Maybe he just pulled a bunch?

and sometimes suddenly in my eyes darkening and dizziness lasts about a minute, and during sleep there is a twitching of the legs and arms, as if an electric shock, fatigue, depression, irritability, all this may be due to improper breathing

stas July 23, 2013 06:23

For several years, even more than 2 decades, I shudder during sleep, sometimes I wake up from this, but mostly my wife or children tell me about it. Even earlier, during sleep, my muscles trembled just like a horse shudders with body parts to scare away insects that have landed on it. Now I am 56 years old and I suffer greatly from regular spasms on the calf muscles, on the muscles of the arms, the plantar part, in front of the eyes. The truth is that I never complained to doctors about this, now I understand that it’s in vain

Boris Selsky August 3, 2013 09:57

I am 90 years old, my legs hurt, often severely. And during sleep, especially recently, leg cramps, then the second leg. With difficulty, you need to get up, straighten up and stand for a while until the severe pain passes. But the pain continues.
I massage my leg, sometimes I smear places with Diclak Gel ointment, No. Dr. Taissa with live bone, I eat normally and take calcium tablets.
And the convulsions are repeated. In the morning I try to relax and do some gymnastic exercises and a light jog.
And the cramps don't go away.
All the years he led a normal life.
Thanks for the
your advice and response.
Greetings from Lviv!

Cramps of the calf muscles - unexpected and involuntary spasms - usually occur at night and do not depend on age and gender: men and women, the elderly and children suffer from them. Single attacks should not be a cause for concern. But if the problem appears often, then it is worth thinking about the reasons that provoke it, and take the necessary measures to eliminate the painful symptoms. To do this, you need to contact a specialist.

Show all

Causes of calf cramps

In medicine, there are 2 types of calf muscle cramps:

• clonic- caused by short-term contractions and subsequent relaxation of individual muscle groups;
• tonic– last more than 3 minutes, as a result of which the muscles can “freeze” in a certain position and cause prolonged pain.

The causes of both types of seizures can be divided into two groups - external and internal.

External factors

External factors that cause nocturnal calf muscle cramps include:

• hypothermia (wet feet while walking or swimming in cold water);
• wearing tight or uncomfortable shoes, for women - high-heeled shoes;
• excessive physical activity (in athletes and people engaged in heavy physical labor);
• prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position (for example, among welders who are forced to squat for a long time);
• taking certain medications that can cause side effects in the form of muscle contractions (anti-inflammatory, antidepressants, diuretics, insomnia drugs);
• alcohol abuse.

By eliminating the provoking factor, you can completely get rid of pain and unexpected awakenings at night.

Internal factors

The situation is more complicated if the causes of convulsions lie inside the body. The list of pathologies that cause calf muscle cramps includes:

• circulatory disorders in the legs (atherosclerosis, thrombosis, varicose veins, inferior vena cava syndrome, etc.);
• excess or deficiency of vitamins, micro- and macroelements caused by unbalanced nutrition, diets, inability of the body to absorb certain beneficial substances (most often magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus);
• dehydration due to insufficient fluid intake or increased sweating;
• anemia of various nature;
• intoxication accompanied by diarrhea or vomiting;
• toxicosis during pregnancy;
• hypoxia (lack of oxygen in certain tissues and organs);
• dysfunction of the endocrine system;
• diabetes;
• kidney failure;
• epilepsy;
• problems with the spine (hernia, osteochondrosis);
• disruption of the nervous system as a result of traumatic brain injury, insufficient cerebral circulation, infectious lesions of the central nervous system;
• stress;
• acute psychotic disorders;
• inflammatory and febrile conditions.

To establish the true cause of muscle spasms, it is necessary to consult a doctor for examination and prescribing adequate therapy.

Causes of seizures in certain categories of people

Leg cramps can be disturbing in childhood and old age, as well as during pregnancy. This may be due to various factors.

Children and teenagers

Cramps in the calf muscles often bother babies and teenagers. Most often, this is not associated with chronic diseases, but is caused by a mobile lifestyle and active growth of a young organism, especially in the period from 7 to 14 years. The cause of spasms in children can also be:

• a long stay in an uncomfortable position, when blood vessels are pinched and the normal blood supply to muscle tissues is disturbed;
• fright caused by loud noises or a sharp turn on of the light;
• birth injury;
• congenital dysplasia;
• dislocation of the joint;
• flat feet.

Old people

In older people, seizures occur as a result of the following factors:

• general aging of the body;
• changes in the size of the tendons of the lower leg;
• deterioration of the absorption of minerals and vitamins by the digestive organs;
• varicose veins;
• atherosclerosis of blood vessels;
• various chronic diseases.

pregnant

Calf cramps during sleep often bother pregnant women. Doctors consider this a normal, passing phenomenon. It is simple to explain the cause of unpleasant symptoms in expectant mothers: most often they are caused by a deficiency of vitamins and minerals spent on the formation and development of the fetus, tissue swelling, excess weight and increased load on the legs. This condition does not require treatment - after the birth of the baby, the body returns to normal, and the convulsions disappear.

If cramps in the calf muscles are not associated with physical activity, appear several times a night and cause intense pain that bothers you for more than a day, then you need to contact the clinic and undergo an examination. Sometimes it is enough to take a blood and urine test to reveal the true cause of nocturnal muscle cramps.

First aid

Night cramps usually occur in one leg and go away on their own after a while. But the pain from them is strong enough.

If during sleep you cramped your leg, then you need to take emergency measures:

1. 1. Raise your leg by placing it on a high pillow, cushion or headboard - this will eliminate venous congestion and speed up the outflow of blood.
2. 2. Massage or pinch the cramped calf muscle with your hands - such a manipulation will improve microcirculation and oxygen saturation of tissues.
3. 3. Do not prick your leg with a needle or pin, as advised in many sources of information. In extreme cases, you can put pressure on the calf with an obtuse angle of any improvised object - in this way it is often possible to relax the leg and reduce pain.
4. 4. Pull the toes of the sore leg towards you - this technique will cause muscle relaxation and help to quickly eliminate the spasm.
5. 5. Get out of bed and walk barefoot on the cold floor.

In order not to wake up from an attack of pain during the night, you need to warm your leg in any convenient way:

• put on woolen socks;
• pour dry mustard into socks;
• take a hot foot bath;
• wrap your feet in a warm scarf;
• apply a warm heating pad or a plastic bottle of hot water for 15-30 minutes;
• rub the calves with any warming ointment (Apizartron, Heparin, Finalgon, Viprosal, Kapsikam, etc.);
• drink hot tea or milk.

If the cramp has passed, and the pain does not recede, then it is necessary to take an anesthetic tablet (ibuprofen, naproxen, gabapentin, Motrin).

Treatment

Treatment of calf cramps is aimed at eliminating the causes and diseases that caused them. To compensate for the deficiency of vitamins and minerals, the doctor may prescribe mono-drugs and vitamin-mineral complexes:

• B vitamins (B₁, B₆, B₁₂);
• Asparkam;
• Magne B₆;
• Magnerot;
• magnesium sulfate;
• Magvit;
• Magnelis;
• Calcemin Advance;
• Magnesium plus;
• Panangin;
• Calcium-D₃ Nycomed.

They must be drunk in courses, having coordinated the reception with the attending physician. Do not prescribe yourself such, at first glance, harmless drugs. An excess of trace elements and vitamins is just as harmful to the body as their lack.

To compensate for the deficiency of nutrients, it is necessary to balance the diet and include foods rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium and vitamin D in the diet:

• apricots;
• bananas;
• grape;
• nectarine;
• citrus;
• dried fruits (prunes, dried apricots, raisins);
• sea ​​and white cabbage;
• broccoli;
• pork;
• mutton;
• liver (beef, chicken);
• sea ​​fish and seafood;
• peas, beans;
• walnut, pine and hazelnut;
• cashews, pistachios, peanuts;
• sunflower seeds;
• Sesame oil;
• buckwheat, millet, oatmeal and barley groats;
• dairy products;
• fresh herbs (lettuce, spinach, green onions, dill, parsley).

It is worth using the available folk remedies. Natural bee honey (forbs) is able to reduce the risk of seizures: it is enough to dissolve one teaspoon of the product 2 times a day half an hour before meals. In the evening, it is useful to supplement it with a cup of chamomile tea: a tablespoon of medicinal raw materials should be poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for half an hour and drunk before bedtime.

According to statistics, 75% of people of any age have experienced leg cramps. If in some people this phenomenon happens in very rare cases, then in others, convulsions are a sign of a chronic disease and accompany them all their lives.

Consider what is the cause of leg cramps and why they often occur at night. We will find out what cramps cause calves in pregnant women and how to relieve an attack.

There are many causes of leg cramps at night.

What is leg cramps and what causes it?

A cramp is an involuntary and unexpected contraction of a leg muscle that is accompanied by severe pain. Most often, a cramp reduces the calf muscle, less often - the toes. At the moment of contraction, the muscles are very tense and hard to the touch. When a muscle cramps, the patient is unable to step on the foot and tries with all his might to get rid of the unbearable pain. The causes of leg cramps are different - from severe muscle strain in athletes to a serious illness that causes muscle cramps.

The main causes of leg cramps:

• phlebeurysm;
• sedentary work or a sedentary lifestyle;
• lack of magnesium, calcium and potassium in the body;
• flat feet;
• trauma and brain tumors;
• long-term pregnancy;
• obesity;
• diabetes;
• exposure to very cold water;
• severe and sudden muscle strain;
• taking statins and diuretics;
• elderly age;
• wearing shoes with high heels.

Provoking factors can be alcohol intake and stress. In old age, the cause of convulsive contraction of the calf muscles at night is the loss of elasticity of the tendons of the legs.

What are the types of leg muscle spasms?

In terms of duration, convulsive muscle contractions are short and long.

On etiological grounds:

• Idiopathic seizures that appear in the elderly and in athletes after intense exertion.
• Secondary convulsions, the causes of which are diseases or physiological conditions.

Most often there are secondary spastic contractions of the calves of the legs caused by chronic diseases.

Convulsive contractions of the muscles of the legs with a deficiency of minerals

In the vast majority of cases of leg cramps, which is 75%, the cause of spasm of the calf muscle is a lack of magnesium, potassium and calcium, as well as B vitamins in the body. It is known that these minerals are involved in the transmission of impulses from nerve fibers to muscle tissue. With a lack of minerals, the impulse transmission is disrupted, as a result of which involuntary muscle contraction occurs. B vitamins directly affect the state of the nerve fibers through which impulses are transmitted to the muscles.

To eliminate the convulsive syndrome, it is necessary to compensate for the deficiency of minerals by taking magnesium-containing drugs:

• Magne B6 Forte, French or Russian production. The drug is available in tablets or ampoules for oral administration. It is recommended to take a tablet or ampoule twice a day during or after meals.

A drug that replenishes magnesium deficiency in the body

• Magvital 365 mg, Turkish-made drug is a powder packaged in sachets of 365 mg.

Before taking medications, you should do a blood test for the level of calcium, potassium and magnesium.

In addition to the use of drugs, it is necessary to revise the diet: it should include foods containing magnesium, calcium and potassium. Magnesium and potassium are found in buckwheat, bananas, walnuts, dried apricots, figs and prunes. Fresh fruits, legumes and grains are also rich in magnesium. Calcium is found in dairy products: hard cheeses, cottage cheese, milk. Cabbage also contains calcium.

Spasmodic contractions of the leg muscles with varicose veins

The cause of calf cramps is often varicose veins. The first signs of varicose veins of the legs appear long before the cramps. Spider veins on the legs are a characteristic conspicuous sign of varicose veins. With the development of the disease, the following symptoms appear: heaviness in the lower extremities, increased fatigue and swelling of the legs. In people with varicose veins, cramps in the calf muscle or toes often appear at night during sleep.

Night cramps in the muscles of the legs can occur with varicose veins

If you notice such signs in yourself, you should contact a vascular surgeon. Even an external examination of the patient gives the doctor information for establishing a diagnosis. If necessary, the doctor will conduct a blood coagulation study and determine the prothrombin index. In some cases, phlebologists prescribe dopplerography of the vessels of the legs. Doppler ultrasound allows you to diagnose spasms, stenosis or thrombosis of the vessels of the brain, lower and upper extremities.

With varicose veins, you can not massage the muscles of the legs.

Leg cramps and pregnancy

A frequent companion of pregnancy are leg cramps. Why do they develop during pregnancy? The causes of seizures are explained, on the one hand, by the lack of minerals calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are spent on the development of the fetus. Taking diuretics due to edema and vomiting during toxicosis of pregnancy also violate the mineral composition of the blood.

From the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, the enlarged uterus compresses the main vessels of the legs, causing insufficiency of their valves. Violation of the circulation of the lower extremities is manifested by the fact that a pregnant woman cramps her legs at night. In this case, you need to strengthen the diet with dishes containing magnesium, potassium and calcium. On the other hand, to improve blood circulation, you need to walk a lot and try not to sit for a long time. Even while sitting, you need to move your legs at the knee and ankle joints. On a long trip while sitting in transport, you can periodically squeeze and release the calves of the legs to restore blood circulation. If the calf muscle cramped, you need to sit down and put your feet on the cold floor.

Spasmodic contractions of the leg muscles in the elderly

The elderly are more likely to suffer from night cramps

Why do older people often get leg cramps at night? With age, factors accumulate that contribute to the development of leg muscle spasms. The most important points in the occurrence of seizures at night in the elderly:

• Violation of the circulation of the lower extremities due to atherosclerosis of the vessels.
• Often concomitant varicose veins of the legs.
• Violation of the absorption of minerals and vitamins by the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.
• A sedentary lifestyle that disrupts the circulation of the calves of the legs.
• Obesity.

In old age, the legs often cramp at night due to accumulated fatigue during the day. It is necessary to treat leg cramps based on its cause. In any case, enriching the diet with minerals and vitamins will reduce leg cramps. A more active lifestyle and weight loss are important conditions for successful treatment. Significant assistance will be provided by a course of treatment with Magne B6 Forte. If the leg cramps for a long time and in a dream, the right decision is to contact a vascular surgeon.

Leg muscle cramps after medication

What causes leg cramps after taking medication? Some medicines upset the balance of minerals in the body. Prolonged use of diuretics leads to a deficiency of potassium and magnesium. This causes a violation of the neuromuscular transmission of impulses, resulting in a contraction of the leg muscles.

Another drug that is responsible for the development of leg cramps is statins. With prolonged use, they contribute to the deposition of calcium on the inner wall of blood vessels and its compaction. The lack of elasticity of blood vessels over time leads to vascular insufficiency of the lower extremities, which is manifested by leg muscle cramps. In the instructions for use of Atorvastatin, side effects from the musculoskeletal system - leg cramps - are noted.

One of the possible side effects of statins is leg cramps.

First aid for leg cramps

In the event of a seizure in a dream, a person wakes up from such pain, so he must help himself to relieve the attack. You just need to know how to do it. With a cramp, simple measures help:

• If the leg cramped at night, one should sit up in bed, lower the legs and place them on the cold floor. Then get up and stand straight. In this position, blood circulation is restored and the cramp disappears.
• Sitting in bed, take a deep breath, grab your toes with your hand and pull them towards you, overcoming the pain. At the same time, you can swing your leg to the right and left. Thanks to the stretched calf muscle, the blood circulation of the calf is restored and the cramp stops.

"Unblocking" the muscle

• Stand facing the wall at a distance of 40-50 cm from it. Put your feet shoulder width apart. Lean your hands against the wall and, without lifting your heels from the floor, slowly lean forward and backward several times. This exercise is very powerful.

Minor leg cramps at night can be relieved by rubbing with warming ointments or apple cider vinegar. Suitable for rubbing and compresses vodka.

In conclusion, we emphasize that the causes of leg cramps are numerous. Most often, seizures occur due to a deficiency of magnesium, calcium and potassium. Spasms that occur at night and last for a long period require the consultation of a vascular surgeon.