Muscle pain can be debilitating… Read about what the causes are and the methods for relieving them.

When 36 year old Aaron Powell, a software engineer by profession, woke up on Sunday morning and found that the muscles in his back and legs were killing him, he knew he would have to call it quits about joining his friends on the day long hiking trip they had planned. He knew what had brought on the pain in his muscles; he had been hauling furniture into the new apartment he had moved into, practically all through Saturday.

Muscle Pain Relief

While everybody experiences the occasional muscle pain or cramping some time or the other in their lives, for people who suffer from chronic muscle pain, it can be an incapacitating condition, with the quality of life deteriorating to a great extent. Muscle pain may be caused by a specific injury, or due to muscular spasms, or because it affects the soft connective tissues surrounding muscles such as tendons, ligaments, and fascia, or it could be as a result of a broader condition, like arthritis. It can range in intensity from aches that come on infrequently to disabling, chronic pain.

Usually, cramps and muscle pain are linked to overuse, physical exertion, injury due to exercise or dehydration and deficiency of essential mineral salts. In such cases, the pain tends to affect specific muscles, starting either during the activity or after it. Tension can also result in muscle pain.

In the United States, pain in the muscle is the second most prevalent reason for visits to the doctor. According to estimates, 80 percent of Americans experience muscle pain, of some type or the other, at some part of their lives or the other. People often push their muscles right to their limits, and sometimes even beyond that. If muscles are pushed to limits that are beyond their capacity, the fibers in them begin tearing.

In fact, severely overworked muscles can develop innumerable tiny tears. The body responds by repairing these small little tears, and this is what causes the familiar ache and tightness we feel when we get a muscle pain. While most of these just cause minor discomfort, others can result in permanent disability, especially when the back and neck are affected. While there are many therapies that can provide muscle pain relief, choosing amongst them is largely dependent upon the cause of the muscle pain, how severe it is along with its duration, and of course according to what the doctor prescribes or the patient chooses.

Prescription and Over-The-Counter Medicines
These medications, which include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, or Tylenol, are used to alleviate muscle pain. Certain nutritional supplements may also be advised in order to provide muscle pain relief. For instance, magnesium and calcium supplements are used for treating leg cramps that develop in the night. Enzyme therapy, containing bromelain, are also used to treat certain kinds of muscle pain.

Massage and Bodywork Therapies
Bodywork therapies are highly useful for providing muscle pain relief and restoring full body function. Massage, in particular, is often recommended to relieve tension and pain, which helps to increase blood circulation, thus bringing nutrients and oxygen to the muscles that are affected and also help to carry away toxic substances. If there is a strain in a muscle, a massage can prevent the shortening of the muscle while it heals.

Some of the other effective bodywork therapies are:
Reflexology: Pressure is applied to various reflex points on the hands and feet which helps the body to heal itself.

Shiatsu: This involves pressure applied with fingers to certain points on the meridians of the body, which improves circulation and eases pain.

Feldenkrais Method: In this method, new ways of moving the body helps to relax tense or cramped muscles.

Rolfing: Connective tissue and muscles are manipulated, which realigns the body according to the field of gravity.

Trained practitioners are required to perform these therapies.

Aromatherapy
In this therapy, essential oils from certain herbs and plants are used for muscle pain relief, along with any inflammation or spasms that may accompany it. The oils are usually applied with compresses or gentle massages. Some of them can also be added to warm bathwater. Some of the common essential oils used for muscle pain are: helichrysum, ginger, peppermint, marjoram, and thyme.

At-Home Remedies
At-home remedies like ice packs are also effective for relieving muscle pain, as are physical aides like wrist wraps and back braces, which hold bones and joints in their correct positions, thus helping to reduce strain being put on the affected muscles. Replacing lost mineral salts such as potassium and magnesium helps releive muscle cramps.

Exercises for Muscle Strengthening
Physical therapists or doctors also usually prescribe certain exercises, which help in increasing muscular flexibility and strength. A physical therapy course is also useful for educating patients about the importance of using ergonomic tools, like padded chairs, which help to reduce strain on muscles. Therapists also teach patients the correct ways of sitting, lifting, walking, or doing work that requires repetitive movements, in order to prevent problems in the future.

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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.

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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.

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Does potassium prevent muscle cramps? If so, it might be worth investing in a buch of bananas for those painful  nighttime leg cramps.

I’m sure you’ve had them. Almost everybody does. Those nagging, painful and sometimes excruciating  cramps in the middle of the night. They seem to come out of nowhere and when they hit, it’s like somebody’s taken a baseball bat to the bottom of your body. Well, fear not. The days of your night leg cramps may soon be over. This article is going to explain to you what causes these things and also give you a very simple cure for the problem. I have no doubt that after reading this, your night leg cramps will be a thing of the past.

But first, a story.

One night I was lying in bed. Suddenly, I felt the hamstring in my left leg start to tighten like you wouldn’t believe. At first it was a dull pain that turned into a sharp pain. It was so bad that when I got myself out of bed and headed for God knows where, I literally collapsed in the hallway and almost passed out from the pain. That was the last night I ever suffered with this problem because the very next day I started to do my research and this is what I discovered.

The experts are all divided on what actually causes night leg cramps, however, when digging real deep into this, I found something relating to alternative health that made sense. The general belief is that night leg cramps are caused by an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. In other words, there is a lack of essential elements in your body and it is this lack that is causing the cramps. I then thought about this and looked at how I was eating at the time. It made sense. But what was I missing. I wasn’t the greatest eater in the world. It could have been just about anything.

Well, upon further digging, and a little luck, I discovered that the one thing in particular that was causing this was a lack of potassium in my diet. Great, but how was I going to get that extra potassium? Okay, time to do more research. Well, to make a long story short, I discovered that bananas are an excellent source of potassium. Well, I wasn’t a big fruit eater, but I was willing to try anything. So, I started to eat bananas regularly. As a result, I haven’t had a night leg cramp since.

Now, there are other  contributing factors to night leg cramps that most experts DO agree on such as muscle overexertion, prolonged sitting, dehydration, pregnancy, diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, alcohol use and certain medications. But potassium is the one thing they say will make the biggest difference.

So go to the supermarket and pick yourself up a bunch. I think you’ll find a great improvement in your night leg cramps.

To YOUR Health,  Author: S. Wagner

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