What Was the Old Age Joke About Sleeping With ArtUritiswaking Up With Charley Horse?

I infinitesimal you lot're in your groove during a workout at the gym, finishing a walk effectually the block, or even sleeping like a baby when of a sudden you're doubled over with intense out-of-the-blue leg pain. Say hello to a leg balk.

Also called a "charley equus caballus," a balk occurs when the muscle involuntarily contracts and tin't relax. The calves and thighs are ii of the near common areas affected, although cramps tin strike your easily, arms, abdomen, and anxiety. They typically terminal from several seconds to a few minutes, and you can often feel a knot when you press the painful area.

Leg cramps can afflict anyone, just they are well-nigh common in the very young and old, people who are overweight, and athletes.

The reasons for leg cramps run a broad spectrum ranging from the harmless to things you really should get checked out. Dr. Clement Banda, medical manager at Physician Vein & Skin Specialists, is highly skilled in diagnosing and treating leg cramps and any underlying condition. Read on to larn about some of the reasons for leg cramps.

Overuse and Dehydration

Overusing or straining the muscle is the most common culprit, with not enough stretching before use oft serving every bit a contributing gene. Becoming dehydrated whether while working out in the heat or other reasons tin can irritate muscle cells and lead to cramps as well.

You can typically handle these situations with self-treatment, such as more stretching (including before bed with or without light exercise if leg cramps wake y'all) and making sure to drinkable enough liquids each twenty-four hours.

Medical Conditions and Medications

Pregnancy and certain medical conditions like diabetes and nerve, thyroid, or liver bug can increment the frequency of leg cramps, as can insufficient levels of electrolytes such equally potassium, magnesium, or calcium.

Painful muscle contractions tin too exist a side effect of dialysis and some medications similar diuretics.

A compressed or pinched nerve in the back or neck can experience like a leg balk with the pain increasing with greater distances walked.

Bereft Blood Supply

In some cases, leg cramps tin can be a sign of something more serious such every bit not enough claret reaching your muscles. Reasons that the complimentary catamenia of blood might exist blocked include:

A blood clot
Malformations
Tumors

Issues tin can also arise if you lot have arteriosclerosis. When healthy, arteries are elastic and flexible, only equally you age, your arteries tin can become potent, thick, and narrow. With less blood able to pass through your arteries, you may experience pain in your legs and feet when exercising. Typically, the cramps ease when yous terminate your conditioning.

Fortunately, there are treatments available. When he suspects poor blood menstruum, Dr. Banda typically does a colour duplex ultrasound to evaluate the health of your veins. Noninvasive with no prep or recovery time, this screening test uses sound-wave engineering science to create images of your legs' blood catamenia.

After carefully reviewing the results, Dr. Banda may begin by recommending that you lot wear compression stockings, lose weight if need exist, and practice to assistance improve blood flow. If these steps do not provide sufficient relief, he tin also perform one of several minimally invasive procedures to remedy the state of affairs.

Leg cramps are mutual and, therefore, piece of cake to dismiss, but if you feel them frequently and cocky-care doesn't seem to exist helping, exist sure to go checked out. Telephone call or click to book an appointment with Dr. Banda today.