8 Ways to Get Rid of Leg Cramps
If you’ve ever experienced a “Charley horse,” then you know how severely debilitating they can be. The House Call Doctor explains what causes leg cramps, and how to treat them.
Here’s a pop quiz: Besides restless leg syndrome (which I’ve covered in detail in previous episodes), can you name another medical issue that involves both a problem with the leg and insomnia?
Answer: Leg Cramps.
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night with a sudden, very severe cramp in the calf that just won’t let go. Often referred to as a “Charley horse,” this pain can be so incapacitating that you may even cry out in pain–and awaken a partner sleeping next to you. Although the cramp may last only minutes, it’s enough to disturb your sleep–possibly for the remainder of the night. The next day, you awaken with a lingering pain that affects the rest of your day, as well.
This is how people with a diagnosis of “nocturnal leg cramps” often describe their experience. And about 50% of adults have experienced this at one point or another. So let’s discuss leg cramps in today’s episode.
What Are Nocturnal Leg Cramps?
Cramps can come and go, here and there in the body. But for those with a diagnosis of “nocturnal leg cramps,” these are the common ways patients describe the signs and symptoms:
- They are involuntary (meaning you don’t have much control over them once they occur).
- They typically occur in the calf, but can occur anywhere from the thigh down to the foot.
- They appear suddenly.
- They are severe.
- They last for minutes.
- They occuring at night, often during sleep.
What Causes Leg Cramps?
Leg cramps are often “idiopathic,” which is a fancy term that simply means that there is no known cause for them in most patients. However, the following are possible causes of chronic leg cramps in a few select patients:
- Diabetes
- Dehydration
- Electrolyte imbalances (like phosphorous, potassium, sodium)
- Problems with the nerves (like in those with Parkinson’s or peripheral neuropathy)
- Muscle fatigue (as in those with high intensity workouts, or in those with a change in their exercise routine)
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Hemodialysis (for those with kidney failure)
- Spinal stenosis in the lower back
- Venous insufficiency (when the veins don’t pump the blood back up to the heart, due to leaky valves)
- Pregnancy
- Medication side effects (certain anti-inflammatories, inhalers, osteoporosis treatments, a few antidepressants, clonazepam, other sleep aids, chemotherapy, and diuretics)
It’s important to know if you suffer from any of these risk factors for leg cramps, because once the underlying cause is identified, then the cramps can be more easily treated.
Treatment of Leg Cramps
If there is not a risk factor for developing leg cramps (which is true for most sufferers of this annoying condition), then we must address it in other ways.
Unfortunately, though, there is currently no good treatment for leg cramps. Various tactics have been suggested in the past–such as taking over-the-counter supplements or vitamins, eating bananas, etc.–but they have not been shown to be very effective. The prescription drug quinine was prescribed in the past, but is no longer recommended by the FDA, due to potentially serious side effects, and the toxicity levels of the drug vs the very modest benefit for the symptoms.
Until a medical treatment has been found, here are some ways to deal with leg cramps that have some evidence of benefits, at this point in time; as always, be sure to discuss them, and your symptoms, with your doctor:
- Mild exercise before bedtime (such as a few minutes on the treadmill or stationary bike)
- Stretching exercises and massage before bedtime
- Avoid diuretics in your diet (caffeine and alcohol, which are dehydrating)
- Magnesium supplements (but be careful not to overdo it, since magnesium can be toxic at high levels)
- Vitamin B12 (only if you are low)
- Prescription muscle relaxants
- Neuropathic pain medications (such as gabapentin)
- Calcium channel blockers (often used for treatment of hypertension and migraines)
In a nutshell, half of us have experienced these debilitating symptoms at some point or another. However, for some of us, leg cramps can become too frequent and start to affect our quality of life.
Most patients don’t have another medical condition that is causing the leg cramps, but if you are getting them frequently–and are they type to shy away from the doctor’s office–it may be wise to make an appointment, if only for peace of mind. Even a simple blood pressure check and blood test may be enough to determine if you have risk factors for peripheral vascular disease, or if you may be suffering from diabetes or electrolyte imbalances, which are the more common risks associated with leg cramps.
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Please note that all content here is strictly for informational purposes only. This content does not substitute any medical advice, and does not replace any medical judgment or reasoning by your own personal health provider. Please always seek a licensed physician in your area regarding all health related questions and issues.
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About the Author
Dr. Sanaz Majd is a board-certified Family Medicine physician who graduated from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. Her special interests are women’s health and patient education.
