Leg cramps at night: what to do, how to treat?

Despite the high prevalence of nocturnal calf cramps, it is not entirely clear why some people have cramps and others do not. Currently, many interventions are available to prevent nocturnal calf cramps (e.g., quinine, magnesium, and muscle stretching, strengthening, and splinting), but neither drug therapy [ 1 ] nor physical therapy [ 2 ] have demonstrated adequate efficacy and safety.

Treatment of leg cramps at night depends on what pathology is detected. For this, correct diagnostics and determination of the etiological factor are very important. Only knowing the cause of the pathology, you can take appropriate measures to eliminate these causes and normalize the changes that have occurred in the body. Thus, cramps often occur as a result of magnesium deficiency in the body and the corresponding changes that are associated with a violation of mineral metabolism.

If the cause is, for example, a disruption of normal brain functioning, the essence of therapy is to normalize its functional activity. In case of pathology of the muscular system and musculoskeletal system, it is necessary to undertake appropriate therapy, as well as introduce means of therapeutic exercise and restorative therapy, including manual therapy, massage. In most cases, therapy is long-term, continuous. It depends largely on the adequacy, activity and characteristics of the course of the pathological process.

The therapy is mainly drug-based. Sometimes the complex treatment includes appropriate physiotherapeutic methods, folk remedies, homeopathy. In the event that autoimmune diseases are detected, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used; cytostatic immunosuppressants.

Treatment is mainly etiological, that is, aimed at identifying and then eliminating the cause of the pathology. Symptomatic therapy is also used, but it is less effective and is most often considered auxiliary. A prerequisite for successful therapy is the inclusion of manual therapy, massage, therapeutic exercise, breathing exercises, and physical activity in the daily routine. It is best to use therapeutic exercise, hatha yoga, and qigong. Swimming is useful because it effectively relieves hypertonicity, relaxes tense muscles, and tones weakened muscles. [ 3 ]

What to do?

What to do to eliminate cramps can only be answered by a doctor after a full examination of the body has been conducted and the cause of the cramps has been identified. You can only provide emergency care on your own, the essence of which comes down to symptomatic therapy, relieving the cramp itself and temporarily alleviating the condition. First, you need to include manual interventions (rubbing, kneading the affected area), which will provide access of blood and oxygen to the site of the cramp. This will immediately relieve pain and relax the muscle. Second, you need to take an anticonvulsant or antispasmodic.

The therapy almost always includes special anticonvulsants, anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants. Physiotherapeutic procedures include various thermal procedures and electrical procedures. If the cramps are accompanied by pain, appropriate painkillers are used. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most widely used, as they relieve pain as quickly and effectively as possible. Their mechanism of action is that in addition to their actual anti-inflammatory action, they also have an antipyretic and analgesic effect.

Remedies for Leg Cramps at Night

Various medications are used to treat leg cramps that occur at night. The most effective means of relieving cramps is the use of various anticonvulsants.

The simplest remedy used for mild, superficial cramps that occur episodically and are not long-term, paroxysmal, is No-shpa. So, it is recommended to take a course of it, one tablet 2-3 times a day (regardless of the presence or absence of cramps). The course of treatment is 10-14 days. And also take an additional 2 tablets directly at the moment of cramp occurrence. It is worth noting that at the moment when a cramp occurs, this place should be well massaged, first using light stroking, then deeper kneading and rubbing.

For more severe and prolonged convulsions, carbazepam is used. The optimal dosage is 3-5 mg/kg of body weight. It is recommended to take a course of treatment, on average 14-28 days. Tablets should be taken 2-3 times a day.

Ketorolac is also recommended to be taken in a concentration of 60 mg per day. This dosage can be divided into 2-3 times per day. The drug relieves tension, allows to normalize the functional state of muscles, conductivity of nerve impulses, and relieves pain quite effectively.

The strongest remedy that helps to cope with convulsions is trometamol. It is used at 60 mg/day, 2 times a day. It is recommended to take it only on the recommendation of a doctor, and also strictly adhere to the dosage, do not exceed it. This is due to the fact that the drug causes numerous side effects.

Ointments for leg cramps at night

For leg cramps that appear or intensify at night, various ointments are used. For example, troxevasin gel helps well; it is used 2-3 times a day, regardless of whether the cramp is bothering you at the moment or not. Also, ointment is additionally applied directly at the moment when the cramp occurs (rub the affected area).

The ointment travmalgon has proven itself well, it has a warming effect, eliminates pain and muscle tension, as a result of which the tone is significantly reduced, spasm and cramp are eliminated. Similar ointments that allow you to quickly eliminate spasm are dolobene, chondroitin, chondroxide, comfrey, meadowsweet, bee venom.

Vitamins

When cramps occur, it is necessary to take vitamins, since most cramps are directly or indirectly associated with a violation of vitamin metabolism, hypovitaminosis or avitaminosis. Also, quite often the presence of cramps indicates a lack of magnesium in the body. It can be taken separately, in the form of medications, or you can choose a vitamin complex (multivitamin complex), which will include magnesium. [ 4 ] Cramps, in addition, are often associated with a lack of vitamins A, E, PP. It is also imperative to have vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant, eliminates and neutralizes toxins, relieves the effects of hypoxia and oxidative stress that occur directly at the time of cramps. Therefore, it is recommended to take vitamins in the following daily concentrations:

• Vitamin PP – 60 mg
• Vitamin A – 240 mg
• Vitamin E – 45 mg
• Vitamin C – 1000 mg.

Physiotherapy treatment

Physiotherapy is usually used as an auxiliary tool, which is included in the complex therapy. Maximum efficiency is observed with combined use with medications, including anticonvulsants. Of all the methods of physiotherapy treatment, various thermal procedures have proven themselves to be the best, which allow you to quickly relieve spasms and inflammation, normalize the condition of the muscle frame, bones, and the entire musculoskeletal system. In second place in terms of efficiency are various electrical procedures, including electrophoresis, which allows you to deliver active substances directly to the site of inflammation, and also increases the electrical activity of muscles and nerve impulses. Due to this, muscles relax, normalize the physiological state of the muscles. Electrophoresis also allows you to quickly relieve pain.

It is recommended to alternate physiotherapy with massage and manual therapy sessions. Particular attention should be paid directly to the area that is regularly subject to cramps, as well as the opposite, symmetrically located area. During therapy, an important role is given to segmental-reflex massage.

Such methods as acupuncture, apitherapy (treatment with bee stings), hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches) also work well. One of the most basic methods of relieving cramps and spasms are various means of therapeutic exercise, without which it is impossible to overcome the cramps themselves and the pain syndrome.

A standard exercise should necessarily include elements of active and passive gymnastics, proper breathing. Breathing helps to normalize the condition of muscles, eliminates their overstrain, spasm. Accordingly, cramps occur less and less often, after which they cease to appear at all. It is necessary to use various sets of breathing exercises, even several times a day. They increase the oxygen content in the blood, normalize the level of metabolites, and also significantly reduce the content of metabolic by-products, toxins. Various procedures with water help to relax muscles and relieve excessive tension, spasms: swimming in the pool, aqua aerobics, Charcot's shower, hydromassage, jacuzzi.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine is usually used in combination with medication and physical therapy. This allows achieving the highest possible efficiency. Spasms and cramps can be quickly relieved with the help of ointments.

• Recipe No. 1.

Heat a mixture of sunflower, corn and olive oils in a ratio of 1:2:1 until it boils, then add a tablespoon of nettle leaves, elecampane, peppermint, burdock and black poplar to the heated oil. Mix everything thoroughly. Keep it under a closed lid for at least 2 hours, then apply it to the area that is most often subject to cramps, rub until completely absorbed. The frequency of application of the procedure is approximately 3-4 times a day. The duration of treatment is at least a week.

• Recipe No. 2.

Mix peach kernel oil, grape seed oil and sea buckthorn oil in a ratio of 1:2:0.5, add 2-3 drops of camphor, then mix everything. Add 1 ml of concentrated extracts of deadnettle, dill, marjoram, pansy. Mix everything thoroughly, then leave for at least 2-3 hours, apply to the affected area, rub until completely absorbed. It can also be applied under a compress. The duration of therapy is at least 7-10 days.

• Recipe No. 3.

Glycerin is used as a base. Add 2-3 ml of peony root extract, small periwinkle, and black nightshade to it. Mix it all, leave it for at least a day, and apply to the damaged area three times a day. The duration of therapy should be at least 15 days.

• Recipe No. 4.

To a mixture of castor and burdock oils in a ratio of 1:2, add 2-3 drops of essential oils: veronica officinalis and thuja, as well as 20-30 grams of pine needles, cones and needles of coniferous trees.

Herbal treatment

Herbal treatment is relatively safe, causes much fewer side effects, complications than traditional drug therapy. However, you should not take herbs without supervision. You should first consult a specialist who will suggest the optimal treatment regimen and duration.

It is recommended to take nettle as a decoction internally. It has an anti-inflammatory effect, thins the blood, due to which it quickly normalizes blood flow, relieves muscle spasm, improving its nutrition, accelerating the removal of metabolites and toxins from the body. To prepare a decoction, pour 2 tablespoons of the product with a glass of boiling water, insist for an hour.

Also, for the treatment of cramps, it is recommended to use a decoction of juniper as compresses, lotions. Apply in several layers, then tie for 2-3 hours. Healing usually occurs after 5-10 days. Juniper has also proven itself quite well in the composition of foot baths, hands, or other affected areas. It is also used as a means for complex medicinal baths.

Decoctions of the leaves of Veronica officinalis are no less effective. It is recommended to use them in the form of poultices. They are made daily at the same time. Gauze is soaked in the decoction and applied to the affected area. It is also recommended to cover the top with cellophane to create a "greenhouse effect". The course of treatment is 7-10 days.

Homeopathy

For complex treatment of seizures, it is recommended to use homeopathy. This is a relatively safe remedy, but it is important to take precautions. Otherwise, numerous side effects may occur. The most dangerous are considered to be deterioration of the condition, progressive seizures that occur not only at night, but also during the day. The duration of seizures, their frequency and frequency of recurrence may also increase. The main preventive measure was and remains the use of drugs under strict medical supervision, compliance with all recommendations.

• Recipe No. 1.

To prepare the ointment, take butter and lard, mix in a 1:1 ratio. Melt over low heat until completely dissolved, stirring constantly. Add about a tablespoon of celandine, wild pansy, birch leaves, nettle, and black currant to the resulting solution. Mix everything thoroughly and allow it to harden until a homogeneous mass is formed. Apply a thin layer to the area that is most often subject to cramps, rub in until completely absorbed.

• Recipe No. 2.

A lotion that is used to lubricate the area that is subject to cramps has proven itself well. The lotion is prepared on the basis of alcohol. To prepare it, take half a teaspoon of medicinal speedwell, plantain leaves, St. John's wort, and chamomile flowers. All this is poured with alcohol and infused for at least 3-4 days. Add 2 ml of camphor alcohol. Wipe the places that are most often cramped, on average 2-3 times a day.

• Recipe No. 3.

To apply to the affected area, use an ointment of the following composition: 1-2 teaspoons of chamomile flowers, yarrow herb, St. John's wort, marsh cudweed, pour 200 ml of boiling water, cover with a lid. Infuse until the decoction becomes warm. After this, pour in pre-melted butter, use to lubricate the area that is subject to cramps.

• Recipe No. 4.

To prepare a lotion for lubricating areas with cramps, take a teaspoon of immortelle, heather, white acacia and mulberry leaves, pour in about 500 ml of vodka or pure alcohol, then add half a teaspoon of ground calamus root (powder). Then add 50 ml of vaseline oil. All this is infused for at least 3-4 days, applied to the affected areas twice a day. The course of treatment is at least 28 days (a full biochemical cycle).

• Recipe No. 5.

To prepare a gel against cramps, use equal parts of a decoction of flax, wolfberry, club moss and Dutchman's pipe as a base. Take about 2-3 tablespoons of each component, pour in 50 ml of heated vaseline oil, add 10 grams of sea buckthorn oil, leave for at least 5 hours, apply to the areas that are subject to cramps in small quantities twice a day for 28 days.

Surgical treatment

In general, seizures are treated with traditional methods, but in some cases, for example, if they are a consequence of a congenital, genetic anomaly, progressive paralysis, surgical intervention may be required. It is also advisable to resort to surgical treatment if the cause of seizures is a tumor or venous thrombosis, especially if it relates to deep veins. Sometimes operations are done to treat arterial occlusion, with some injuries, blockages of blood vessels, with nerve damage by various mechanical or chemical factors. For example, minimally invasive intravascular surgery may be required.

Sometimes the cause of seizures is various brain damage, cerebrovascular accidents, then neurosurgery may be required, aimed at restoring brain activity, conductivity and blood circulation. This helps to normalize conductivity, innervation and blood circulation.

But there are also cases in which the pathology cannot be treated surgically.