> Instant Leg Cramp Relief. Get It Now !

Read more about the various causes and treatment methods of night leg cramps in greater detail.

Also called charley horse, with this cramping the commonly affected areas of the body are the calf, foot and the thigh. Although referred to as nocturnal leg cramps, they can occur at any time of the day or night.

Night leg cramps are not chronic and may last for about 10 minutes with possible soreness after they are gone.

These cramps are not gender specific and they might affect both men and women equally and apart from people who are more than 50 years of age, small children are also affected at times.

Some Remedies For Nocturnal Leg Cramps

Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, indulging in stretching exercises, wearing shoes which give proper support and maintaining a proper posture while sleeping, are some of the preventive measures that can be followed in order to reduce the frequency of nocturnal spasms.

Causes Of Nocturnal Leg Cramps

There are no such definite causes of nighttime leg cramps, however, based on assumptions and possibilities, there are some cases that have been linked with these cramps. These include overuse or overexertion of muscles, sitting in the same place for a long period of time or sitting in an improper posture and dehydration. Being dehydrated is considered as one of the causes of  cramps generally, as there is not enough water for transporting vitamins, minerals and other substances throughout the body.

Leg cramps while sleeping have been found to be common among expecting mothers and elderly, probably due to poor blood circulation in their limbs. People with a sedentary lifestyle are also vulnerable to leg cramps and they become prone to this disease if they do not maintain enough consumption of water for the body to remain hydrated. Nocturnal leg cramps have also been found common among people who have deficiencies of calcium, potassium and magnesium.

Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, Parkinson’s disease, endocrine disorders and medications such as contraceptive pills (birth control pills) have also been hold responsible for the occurrence of  leg cramping at night.

How To Treat Night Leg Cramps?

It has been found that people suffering from leg cramps and spasms increased the level of potassium in their diet and seemed to have reduced the frequency of cramps. Some examples of potassium rich foods are bananas, apricots, nectarines, dates, grapes or raisins, beans, the cabbage/broccoli family of vegetables, oranges, grapefruit and its juice, pork, lamb, potatoes and corn, saltwater fish (like tuna), tomatoes and tomato juice.

> Instant Leg Cramp Relief. Get It Now !

Pain from leg cramps, that might occur suddenly, after getting up from the bed, can be relieved by applying a hot compress and massaging the cramped muscles. Even soaking the affected leg in warm water reduces the pain to a great extent.

Another cure for leg cramps is the exercise of holding your toes to stretch your calf muscle. Pull them towards your knee and extend the leg straight out. This is an effective exercise which can be followed before going to bed and after waking up. While you are doing this exercise, you will feel the effect in the back of your calf muscles. Stretching the legs and Achilles tendons on a regular basis shows major improvements in leg cramps treatment.

The calves, when toned and well stretched, are less prone to developing cramps. For this, exercises such as ‘toe-ups’ and ‘wall stretches’ are helpful.

Being aware of such cramp treatments, comes in handy at times when there are less chances of getting any medical aid

However, in serious cases, where the pain becomes unbearable, a doctor should be the first point of contact. He is the one who can pinpoint the causes and provide the right remedy.

By Rajib Singha

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Is restless leg syndrome a rare and difficult to condition or a simple dietary deficiency that can be quickly remedied?

Do you have restless legs syndrome?  Maybe you just think you do thanks to the advertising savvy of pharmaceutical companies who make millions exaggerating this rare condition.

Restless Legs Syndrome: Forget the Media Hype

They’ve been so successful, that it’s become an epidemic in a population of restless yet inactive people who may really just be suffering from a common mineral deficiency.

I’ll discuss that deficiency with you in just a moment.  But first, I’d like to explain why you should avoid if at all possible the popular prescription drugs that are being marketed to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS).

The main RLS drugs fall under the category of tranquilizers, sleeping aids and pain relievers — substances that are highly addictive and are only masking the true problem.

The worst of the batch is Requip (ropinirole) which plays with your brain chemistry in the way drugs for Parkinson’s disease and ADHD do — by increasing or decreasing your production of dopamine (which regulates most of your bodily functions).

In fact, Requip is so powerful, it is often prescribed to lessen the effects of Parkinson’s disease.   “Hallucination” is listed under significant adverse effects of the drug.

Here’s what you really need to know about RLS but will not learn from any TV commercial.  The most common cause is usually a simple deficiency of the mineral magnesium in the muscle cells. Treating restless leg syndrome can be a natural process

Magnesium is the key component that allows cells to absorb other minerals like calcium, iron and potassium that are needed by your muscle cells.  Magnesium also allows your muscles to relax and even combats insomnia. These are three darn good reasons why this miracle mineral makes an easy solution for RLS.

One hundred years ago the average person consumed 500 mg of magnesium a day through their diet. Thanks to modern soil depletion, the average person is lucky to get 150 mg through food alone. Unless you’re juicing bunches of collard greens each day, supplementation is the best alternative.

I recommend taking magnesium in three forms:

Magnesium Citrate Powder: This may not absorb as well as the other forms but it still offers its own unique benefits. It also tastes the best. You can find a powdered drink mix called Natural Calm at most health food stores.  It can be added to water for a fizzy soda-like drink sweetened with organic stevia.

Magnesium Oil: This is a combination of supersaturated magnesium chloride in distilled water. You can massage this into your legs. It’ll absorb through the skin into the muscles. Good sources of magnesium oil can be found at www.globallight.net and www.magneticclay.com.

Angstrom Liquid Ionic Magnesium: Scientists have found that minerals enter cells through extremely narrow channels about 5 billionths of a meter wide. We normally would rely on plants to break magnesium down to this size. The company www.123minerals.com however, uses a process that breaks down magnesium into a highly absorbable form to enter these narrow channels. Usually one 75-mg dose of angstrom magnesium will have the same effects of 750 mg of citrate.

You can’t overdose on magnesium (unless you have kidney failure problems) so take as much as feels good for you. If you’re prone to loose bowel movements, get most of your magnesium through the oil and the angstrom minerals. If you’re prone to constipation, you may prefer to focus on the citrate powder which has a slight laxative effect.

Your body was built to move and your mind to think. Sitting in front of the TV watching ads for RLS inspires neither physical fitness nor mental creativity. No wonder people are restless! Dose up on magnesium, get plenty of exercise and participate in projects that challenge you mentally.  My guess is you won’t need any prescription drugs for RLS

Carolyn Dean, MD, ND is The Doctor of the Future and the author of 18 health books. She’s the medical director for the Nutritional Magnesium Association. You’re invited to receive a free subscription to her Doctor of the Future blog, join a 48-week Future Health Now! wellness program or schedule a telephone consultation at www.DrCarolynDean.com

How to Get Millions of People to Buy Into a Rare Problem

You can even find the non-profit Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation online at www.rls.org. But their obvious focus seems to be on increasing awareness of a condition “which severely affects the lives of millions of individuals.”

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movement disorder are characterized during waking by an irresistible urge to move the legs while awake, and involuntary leg movements while asleep. For people with a family history of RLS

Restless Legs Syndrome: A Common Cause of Painful Legs

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a prevalent and underdiagnosed condition characterized by: • An urge to move legs due to unpleasant sensations. described as “creepy-crawly,” internal itch or pain. • The urge to move legs increasing 

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Although night leg cramps are quite a common occurrence their cause is still a matter of debate and can be the result of different causes at various times.

Yet there are a few common themes, such as doing too much stretching too quickly or prolonged sitting or in response to deficiencies in diet or certain side effects of some drugs. It is also believed that cramps can occur as a symptom or side effect of cetain diseases like diabetes, hypoglycemia, arteriosclerosis or an underactive thyroid gland.

Other suggested causes include problems such as poor circulation where the muscle isn’t receiving a good blood supply or enough oxygen, a pinched nerve or cramping as the result of an injury.

Here are a list of remedies for leg cramp relief. Simply select and click on the ones that appeals to you.

•  Natural Cramp Relief Remedy 

•  Quinine For Cramp Relief  

•  Vitamins for leg cramps 

•  Hypnosis for a good night’s sleep

•  Deep relaxation for muscle cramp relief

Leg cramps can also be quite common during pregnancy and this is oftenbecause of the added weight being borne by the legs, or the muscles becoming more tired than they would normally pre-pregnancy or a mineral deficiency as more is used up for the growing foetus. As the uterus expands during pregnancy it may also put pressure on the nerves that run down into the legs and lead to cramping.

Leg cramps can result in quite sharp and severe pain, most often in the calf muscle as the muscle goes into uncontrollable spasm and suddenly contracts very tightly. The pain is acute but only lasts a short time, usually no more than a few minutes (which can feel much longer when you are suffering!) and sometimes you may be left with tenderness in the affected area for some time afterwards.

The trouble is, when this happens regularly and most usually at night, waking you up from sleep, it can become quite distressing and can affect your whole day by being fatigued, even though the condition itself is not serious or life threatening.

Some of the prescription drugs that seem to be associated with cramping include water tablets or diuretics, penicillamine and nicotinic acid. Deficiencies in diet might include not having enough potassium, calcium or magnesium which can result in an electrolyte imbalance, not enough vitamin E or A and even simply not having enough water, so becoming dehydrated.

Regular cramping seems to be relieved by making sure you take enough moderate exercise and doing some stretching, increasing your intake of essential minerals and vitamins, making sure you drink plenty of water and stay well hydrated and relaxing the muscles with massage or a warm bath. Sometimes when the cramping is severe and persistent, quinine is suggested as a treatment but this may involve unpleasant side effects such as dizziness or blurred vision.

Here are some related posts that may be of further interest:

What Causes Leg Cramps In Pregnancy And What You Can Do About It?

Remember that if your muscle cramping is constant, pain is persistent, or if you notice swelling in your leg, call your doctor. These could be signs of a blood clot which needs immediate medical attention. Blood clots, if left untreated …  

Underlying Causes and Treatments for Stomach Bloating

If you have muscular aches, LEG CRAMPS, headaches, irregular heartbeat and water retention (including bloating and swollen feet/ankles) this could easily be a factor. I have had poor luck with potassium pills if for no other reason than the ones in the store contain so little potassium. … The only thing I can recommend in this regard, should the earlier methods fail, is to start a medical journal about what foods you eat, when you eat it and how you feel later. 

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Calf Muscle Pain -  is generally self induced and is caused mainly by too much exercise especially related to stretching.

Calf pain varies from micro tearing of muscle fiber to complete tearing of muscle fiber. Although it is generally around only for a short time it can also lead to cramps which can be especially uncomfortable if they happen during the night

Calf muscles are located at the back of lower leg. Calf muscle pain is generally associated with a short time recovery and is curable. It is generally self induced and is caused by too much exercise or lack of following the proper methodology in exercise especially related to stretching.

It can also be related to a sudden loss of essential fluids and salts due to excessive sweating.

And this can lead to the causing of cramps which is again primarily related in the first instance  to an improper way of stretching related to exercise. But leg cramps can also arise over the longer term too and this is often related to diet or as the side effect of taking certain medications.

There are various  treatments available to remedy calf muscle problems

And there are various options for treatment to help relieve the pain

The calf muscle is made up of three types of different muscles, two of gastrocnemeius and one of the soleus. These muscles should be stretched tolerably while doing exercise and after exercise too.

Causes of Calf Pain
Generally sports persons have more chances of getting calf pain.

The games like basket ball, running, hurdles, long jump, rugby, football soccer etc, where stretching is necessary, may increases the chances of calf muscle pain. We may also come across cases of calf pain due to fatigue, overexertion and cold weather.

an improper way of exercise and stretching of muscles are the main cause of calf pain. Sometimes putting sudden stress on calf muscle when they are not ready for stress and a direct blow on the calf muscle can also lead for calf pain.

In spite of these, excessive running on steep hills, deficiencies in calcium, minerals, magnesium and dehydration are the other reasons of getting the calf pain. Also pain in the calf may arise as the result of a herniated disc or varicose veins and other medical conditions.

Symptoms of Calf Muscle Pain

1.Stiffness through exercise – Sometimes there is stretching with some micro tearing of muscle fibers which are known as Grade 1 muscle strains. These are easily curable after treatment of at least 3 weeks of duration. Sometimes stretching may lead to Grade 2 Muscle strain where you may find partial tearing of muscle fibers. They can recover within 2 months of duration.

2.A torn muscle – This is graded as Grade 3 Muscle strain in which there is complete tearing of muscle fibers. This recovery may take more than 3 months of duration.

3.Aching calves – This can be caused by varicose veins and are graded as Grade 2 Muscle strain.

4.Cellulites – This is also known as inflammation of subcutaneous tissues or of the skin and one of cause of calf pain.

Treatment for calf pain

When a calf pain is diagnosed, its treatment depends upon the severity of the calf muscle pain. The treatment may include the following steps in orderly manner depending on the strain:-

1.To give a complete rest to your lower legs without following the activities of strain on it. This can be continued until the pain and local tenderness of the muscle are gone. It may hardly continue for 1 to 2 weeks.

2.You can always apply some cold pack or ice to the calf area 3 to 4 times a day. Keep the ice or cold pack in a cloth or towel and apply it on your skin for at least 20 minutes each time.

3.If you see some kind of additional swelling around your lower leg you can wear an elastic compression bandage to reduce the swelling of the part.

4.You can try keeping your leg at little height than your heart as possible to reduce the swelling. You can find the difference in 24 hours.

5.If your swelling still remains and you still have the tenderness in the calf with a pain then you can better go for pain relief medications such as aspirin or acetaminophen.

6.If you are a sports person and wants to return back to your physical activity then it is always suggested to use heat. For rest of then do not try to use heat at least for 4 to 5 days.

7.When you feel like most of the pain and swelling is reduced you can start with slight stretching exercise for at least 5 to 6 times a day. Remember the thing that your stretching activities should not be beyond your limitations.

It is always true that you can only help yourself from getting calf muscle pain and the best way is to keep yourself fit and your calf muscle strong and ready for sudden physical stress!  For calf pain or leg cramps at night find a remedy here.

By Jayashree Pakhare

Pain, Pranayama

When you say “relax my calf muscles, relax all nerves holding my calf muscle” lying down after aerobics you should have sensed the muscle going limp and resting peacefully. The same way in pregnancy you say “relax my pelvic muscles

How a Chiropractor Can Help A Herniated Disc

Pain that runs down the back of a leg and into the calf, or pain that spreads to the buttocks regions. Often pain in just one leg, but sometimes felt in both. Weakness, tingling or numbness experienced in the legs or feet.

Painful Vericose Vein  What should I do

It hurts when I’m sitting, or lying down or standing, and it won’t stop and is making my whole calf ache. My dad is scheduling me an appt. with the Doctor, but I’m really scared that it could be something else. 

Pilates Leg Exercises For Strength And Flexibility

They not only help to elongate and tone the muscles of the thighs and calves but they strengthen and stabilize the muscles of the pelvis for better walking and less hip joint pain. Position: All of these exercises are positioned lying on your side with your hips and shoulders stacked on top of each other. The head rests on the bottom arm and the legs are piked forward about 10 degrees for better balance.

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