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 …  

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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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Does your child complain of achy legs? If he is not sick or does not have a fever, he may have growing pains.

Growing pains are muscle aches children experience in their legs, usually late in the day and at night.

Child Leg Pain: It May Be Growing Pains

They typically occur between the ages of 3 to12 years of age or typically around a growth spurt period. It is not a disease, nor is there evidence that the process of bone growth causes pain. However, growing pains tend to cease when children stop growing. By the teenage years growing pains seem to stop.

Growing pains is thought to occur in 1/3 of all children. Usually the pain is in the front of the thigh, the calf muscles, and muscles behind the knee. Growing pains almost always occur in both legs.

Some physicians believe growing pains occur because children are very active and hard on their musculoskeletal systems while they are still growing. It is thought children experience growing pains at night due to the overuse of the muscles during the day. The pains usually start right before bedtime. However, some kids go to bed without any pain only to be awakened in the middle of night with aches. The pains normally go away by morning.

Growing pains usually can be relieved by daily stretching exercises and massages. Stretch the muscle by pushing the foot and toes upward as far as they will go and then gently massage the calf and upper thigh muscles. A moist heating pad may also help. Do this a few times a day. Continue the exercises even after the pain subsides in order to keep the muscles relaxed.

Some physicians suggest giving a glass of tonic water (quinine) before bed. While I do not know of any studies regarding its effectiveness, it won’t hurt to give tonic water a try.

Make sure your child is getting enough calcium, iron and potassium. Also make sure he is drinking plnty of fluids. This can help avoid any cramping associated with the pains.

Give your child ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Aspirin should be avoided in young children because of Reyes syndrome.

Call your doctor if:

If it happens every night it may be due to restless legs syndrome (RLS), a condition in which your legs feel extremely uncomfortable while you’re sitting or lying down.

Swollen joints which are hot to the touch or red and tender

Pain is in only one leg, limping

Movement increases the pain

Touch increases the pain

Fever, Unexplained rash

persistent pain, pain worsening over time, pain in the morning

pain associated with an injury

loss of appetite and weight loss

weakness, tiredness

uncharacteristic behavior

If you’re concerned about leg pain or discomfort that your child is experiencing, consult your doctor.

Author: Kaaryn Walker

Night Leg Cramps Relief For Adults

For relief of muscle spasms and cramps that are painful and keep you awake at night

Nocturnal Leg Cramps  Health

Have you ever had a leg cramp wake you out of a sound sleep? Not the best way to wake up! Why does this happen sometimes? Even when we sleep, our bodies are still in motion. We roll over, we fight for the blankets, we stretch. … “I am a current student taking Child and Adolescent Development in college and we were recently talking about children and vaccinations 

Hives And The Itchies

The poor guy itches almost constantly, and strangely enough (or not so strangely), the leg cramps have returned (bone pain). He’s such a trooper, though. He still wakes up (at least when he finally decides to give up on trying to sleep) with a smile on his face, giggling, and singing (or … Mastocytosis is a group of rare disorders of both children and adults caused by the presence of too many mast cells (mastocytes) and CD34+ mast cell precursors in a person’s body

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According to some experts, leg cramps are common in pregnancy possibly because there maybe some abnormal level or processing of electrolytes, essential elements and chemical substances, which are needed for the proper functioning …. Have you ever heard about growing pains in children? If you have a preschooler or a tween, you probably have heard your child complaining about this. Growing pains occur normally in children, and it can affect around 25 to 40% of children

Foot Pain is Not Normal In Children

The most common is when a child wakes up in the middle of the night with a leg cramp. This is commonly called “growing pains.” Growing pains should not be of concern if they occur infrequently. When it occurs, have the child stand and …

Technorati Tags: aches, achy, child, cramps, exercise, growing pains, growth, ibuprofen, kids, leg, massage, night, quinine, releif, spurt, symptoms, toddler, tonic water, what are

Restless leg syndrome, also known as RLS, is one of the most common neurological disorders. It affects about 10% of the population today. This disorder is mainly triggered when the affected limbs are kept in a still position for long periods of time. This can be while watching a movie, traveling in an airplane or even taking a long car ride.Whenever the leg is inactive for a period of time, or in a still position, this disorder is triggered.

This causes creepy sensations in the legs that feel as though something is crawling on the leg. This is also accompanied by twitching of the legs and can also be  accompanied by leg cramps . It is quite painful, especially when it happens in the middle of the night. RLS is a common cause for insomnia, since the person who is affected by the disorder has trouble sleeping through the symptoms.

These uncomfortable feelings can be easily corrected by moving the affected limb.In this case, moving the limb around can be helpful. This is the quickest way to get rid of the feeling. Often, those who sit in a single place for a long time, choose to get up from their desks and take a walk. In airplanes and car rides this disorder can be dealt with by rotating the ankles while sitting in the seat of the plane or the car. This improves the blood circulation and gets rid of the numbing sensations.

Another very good treatment that has been proven and prescribed throughout the years by many doctors is Quinine. This helps provide the victim with relief from the symptoms. Quinine has long been given to athletes as a muscle relaxant. This also helps in getting rid of all the cramps, or the pulls, that arise due to this disorder, and it also helps to provide relief from involuntary muscle spasms.

Quinine is also known to have many other attributes that make it a perfect choice as a treatment for restless leg syndrome. Quinine should be prescribed by a doctor who will set the appropriate dosage for the patient depending on the patient’s medical history. This includes the various effects of quinine on a person’s body.

Quinine is also taken as a prevention drug against malaria. Traces of quinine are often mixed with Vitamin E, and a counteraction is thus created for RLS treatment. Vitamin E is used because it promotes the flow of oxygen to the leg, which helps in  getting rid of cramps and other uncomfortable sensations that occur due to RLS. Patients who undergo Quinine therapy have reported having decreased RLS episodes. Over time, RLS symptoms can be managed through Quinine therapy.

Author: Brad Chase

Medication for Restless Leg Syndrome

While there is medication on the market for Restless Leg Syndrome, such as Tramadol, there are also natural ways to cure or alleviate Restless Leg Syndrome. Natural remedies have shown very promising results

Restless Leg Syndrome Sleep Disorder

A number of recent news stories and TV commercials have brought home the discomfort of Restless Leg Syndrome (normally known as simply RLS) to everybody. While of course those who have suffered with the disorder  

Restless Leg Syndrome

Shows example of a type of involuntary leg movement during sleep. Does anyone have any suggestions for stopping (curing) this motion at night?

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When I first heard the term “restless leg syndrome” years ago, I thought it was a joke. It’s not an uncommon reaction. 

Restless Arm syndrome

If these situations sound like something that has happened to you, you might be one of the millions of Americans who suffer from Leg Syndrome. Restless leg syndrome, also referred to as RLS, or Wittmaack-Ekbom’s syndrome.

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