what causes leg cramps in your calf
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- Leg cramps are common. The cause is not known in most cases. However, some medications and diseases sometimes cause leg cramps. Regular calf stretching exercises may prevent leg cramps. Quinine tablets may be advised as a last resort if you have cramps regularly. A leg cramp is a pain that comes from a leg muscle. It is due to a muscle spasm, which is when a muscle contracts too hard. It usually occurs in a calf muscle, below and behind a knee. The small muscles of the feet are sometimes affected.
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Leg Cramp A leg cramp is a sudden, uncontrolled contraction of a muscle. This type of pain is most commonly experienced in the lower extremity, and therefore often called a leg cramp or a charley horse.. Leg cramps occur when the muscle suddenly and forcefully contracts. The most common muscles to contract in this manner are muscles that cross two joints.
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Night leg cramps By Mayo Clinic Staff. Most of the time, no apparent cause for night leg cramps can be identified. In general, night leg cramps are likely to be related to muscle fatigue and nerve problems. The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant women also have a higher likelihood of having night leg cramps.
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- Quick Answer. The actual cause cramps in the legs and feet is not known, but it may be caused by conditions or activities such as overuse of muscles, dehydration, nerve compression, mineral deficiency and cold weather, according to Mayo Clinic. Cramps may occur while asleep, in the morning or during physical activity.
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Nocturnal Leg Cramps The exact mechanism is unknown, but the cramps are probably caused by muscle fatigue and nerve dysfunction rather than electrolyte or other abnormalities. Nocturnal leg cramps are associated with vascular disease, lumbar canal stenosis, cirrhosis, hemodialysis, pregnancy, and other medical conditions. Medications that are strongly associated with leg cramps include intravenous iron sucrose, conjugated estrogens, raloxifene, naproxen, and teriparatide.
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- What are muscle cramps? 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. A muscle cramp is also called a charley horse. Nighttime leg cramps are usually sudden spasms, or tightening, of muscles in the calf. The muscle cramps can sometimes happen in the thigh or the foot.
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Cramps in the Leg A leg cramp is a pain that comes from a leg muscle. It is due to a muscle spasm, which occurs when a muscle contracts too hard. It usually occurs in a calf muscle, below and behind a knee. The small muscles of the feet are sometimes affected. A cramp pain typically lasts a few minutes.
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What Causes Leg Cramps and How Can You Stop Them? Leg cramps - also know as night cramps or Charley Horse - are painful spasms that typically occur in the calf muscles. Leg cramps tend to jolt a person awake in the middle of the night, but can also strike in the daytime during physical activities such as running and cycling. Fitness can put strain on your leg muscles.
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Leg Cramps Leg Cramps. While it lasts, the pain from a leg cramp can be excruciating. Usually it goes away within a few minutes, though bad ones can cause lingering soreness. Typically, leg cramps affect the muscles in the calf (the large one is called the gastrocnemius) or along the sole of the foot.The best immediate response is gently stretching the taut muscles. With the calf muscles, you can do that by grasping your toes and then slowly pulling your foot toward you.ypically, leg cramps affect the muscles in the calf (the large one is called the gastrocnemius) or along the sole of the foot. The best immediate response is gently stretching the taut muscles. With the calf muscles, you can do that by grasping your toes and then slowly pulling your foot toward you.
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Muscle cramps or spasms (painful) (Leg), Muscle cramps or spasms (painful) (Shin), Muscle cramps or spasms (painful) (Calf) and Muscle wasting WebMD Symptom Checker helps you find the most common medical conditions indicated by the symptoms muscle cramps or spasms (painful) (leg), muscle cramps or spasms (painful) (shin), muscle cramps or spasms (painful) (calf) and muscle wasting including Low potassium (hypokalemia), Leg cramps, and Dehydration (Children).
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Scientists Explain 4 Things That Cause Leg Cramps (And How to Fix It) If you experience leg cramps that wake you in the middle of the night often, then read on to find out the causes and solutions so that you can get a restful sleep, pain-free. If You Get Leg Cramps Often, This May Be Why… A “charley horse,” or leg cramp, is a painful muscle spasm in your calf, thigh, or foot, according to WebMD. If you’ve ever wondered why people call it a “charley horse,” try to think of how you’d feel if a horse kicked you in the calf or thigh.
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- Nighttime leg cramps are a sudden intense pain in the thigh or calf. A cramp is a tight muscle that won't relax. They can be caused by mineral deficiency.
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- Foot cramps are caused by painful, intense, involuntary spasms of the muscles. They are usually short-lived but can be really unpleasant and recovery can take a few days. Foot cramps most commonly occur in the arch of the foot but people also complain of toe cramps and calf muscle cramps. They are often caused by fatigue, reduced levels of certain chemicals, hormonal factors and illness. Cramping can occur any time day or night and are often associated with exercise.
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Symptoms Causes of leg pain include: muscle cramps, dehydration or depletion of potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium, injuries, inflammation, nerve damage, and other conditions. You might have used or overused a muscle there in a way they weren't used to. Stretch calves regularly throughout the day and at night.
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Overcoming nocturnal leg cramps Leg cramps typically occur in the calves or in the feet, although I have also heard my patients complain of thigh cramps. The cramping may be so severe that it wakes patients from their sleep and can last from seconds to minutes. Some patients complain of nightly cramping while others may only experience cramping occasionally.
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- Dehydration is the excessive loss of fluids in the body. Low levels of calcium and potassium may also cause muscle cramps, since both minerals contribute to healthy muscle function. Low blood supply to your legs and feet can cause cramping in those areas when you exercise, walk, or participate in physical activities. In some cases, a medical condition can cause muscle cramps. These conditions include: 1  spinal nerve compression, which can cause muscle cramps in your legs when walking or standing. 2  alcoholism. 3  pregnancy. 4  kidney failure.
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- According to the Mayo Clinic, the following is what causes leg cramps: -Dehydration -Muscle overuse -Muscle strain Repeating a particular motion for a long period or standing in one place too long may also lead to cramping ... In some cases, leg cramps are caused by chronic ... Main cause of leg cramps www.lifescript.com/health/briefs/m/main_cause_of_leg_cramps.aspx. b> Muscle cramps develop when a muscle involuntarily tightens and will not relax, causing sharp, intense pain. ... The main cause of leg cramps is muscle overuse. Other, less common causes of leg cramps include: Dehydration; Muscle strain or injury; Lack of the minerals potassium ... What causes leg cramps at night www.lifescript.com/health/briefs/w/what_causes_leg_cramps_at_night.aspx.
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- Muscle cramps are caused by overuse of a muscle, dehydration, stress or fatigue. But if calves cramp painfully when you're trying to sleep, or a muscle often locks up for no apparent reason, the root cause is a faulty chemical signal from the nervous system that tells the muscle to contract.uscle cramps are caused by overuse of a muscle, dehydration, stress or fatigue. But if calves cramp painfully when you're trying to sleep, or a muscle often locks up for no apparent reason, the root cause is a faulty chemical signal from the nervous system that tells the muscle to contract.
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Calf & Leg Pain Calf pain can be caused by a strain or tear in the muscles due to injury or overuse. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, any muscle in the calf or leg can become dehydrated or be affected by low levels of potassium, sodium, calcium or magnesium in the bloodstream and become painful.onsiderations. Some leg and calf pain can indicate a serious condition called peripheral artery disease, or PAD. These symptoms are severe muscle cramping in the hips, thighs or calves. PAD can be caused by a buildup of plaque in the blood vessels which lessens circulation to the legs.
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Leg Cramps A deficiency of potassium or calcium can cause leg cramps. To this effect it is important to increase the intake of foods high in potassium and calcium such as bananas, oranges, strawberries, dried fruit, fresh orange juice and grapefruit juice, beets, spinach, mushrooms, fish, and beef.
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When Should You Worry About Leg Cramps? Also, when the blood supply to the leg muscles is compromised, specifically from a build-up of cholesterol plaques in the arteries, the muscles will cramp. The cramping of the calves during exertion is something called claudication, which heralds the presence of peripheral artery disease, or PAD.
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Calf Cramps While Running or Biking Calf cramps can develop if you overuse the leg muscles and they become fatigued during excessive biking or running. It can also occur if you strain the calf muscles with sudden jerky movements or by not properly preparing your body for exercise.efining Muscle Cramps. The cramp can occur in all or just part of the muscle. Photo Credit Maridav/iStock/Getty Images. A muscle cramp is a sudden and intense contraction or spasm that can develop in any muscle group, including the calf.
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How to Avoid Leg/Foot Cramps in Bed Four Parts:Cramps and your health statusStretching and positioningWarmthDiet and supplementsCommunity Q&A. A leg cramp is a pain that comes from a muscle in the leg. It is due to a muscle spasm which is when a muscle contracts too hard. It usually occurs in one of the calf muscles, below and behind a knee, but painful spasms can occur in the ankles, shins, and the quads (the big muscles of the thigh).
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Why Do My Calf Muscles Cramp When I Run? This differs a bit from calf pain from causes other than cramping that results in muscle spasm. Exercise-related cramps are likely caused by muscle fatigue and may involve the Golgi tendon bodies, which normally fire to inhibit the muscle from contracting too hard. If the Golgi body fatigues, the nerve input to the muscle is overstimulated and the muscle cramps.
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The Triggers There are certain activities that make you more prone to lower leg cramps. These include exercises that rely heavily on the leg muscles, such as recreational running, weight training the legs, or sports that require a lot of running. Some experts say that muscle fatigue is the leading cause of leg cramps.
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- Introduction. Leg cramps are a common and usually harmless condition where the muscles in your leg suddenly become tight and painful. It usually occurs in the calf muscles, although it can affect any part of your leg, including your feet and thighs.