Treatment for cramps in the arms and legs

Features of the treatment of cramps of the arms and legs are always associated with a specific pathology and are aimed at eliminating the root cause of the disorder.

In cases of severe seizures associated with a serious illness, or those that occur without an obvious cause, additional examination and more intensive therapy are prescribed. With a generalized problem, anticonvulsants are used - Primidon, Phenobarbital.

Based on the results of the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a complex treatment, depending on the cause of the appearance of cramps in the arms and legs . Therapy can cover several areas at once.

• Drug systemic treatment consists in the use of drugs corresponding to the underlying disease. The drugs of choice may be:
  • venotonics, angioprotectors (Troxevasin, Detralex);
  • analgesics, antispasmodics (Spazgan, Baralgin);
  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Acetylsalicylic acid, Ortofen, Ibuprofen);
  • muscle relaxants (Baclofen, Mydocalm);
  • vitamin and mineral preparations (Magne B ₆, Calcium D ₃  Nycomed, Asparkam, calcium gluconate, Askorutin).
• Drug local treatment involves the use of ointment, gel preparations that can improve vascular blood flow and relieve symptoms at the local level. Most often, external agents such as Troxevasin, Actovegin, Heparin ointment, as well as Menovazin, Lyoton are prescribed.

With febrile convulsions, antipyretic drugs are prescribed, with severe convulsive syndrome - a solution of diazepam, magnesium sulfate, furosemide. Such treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor, after a thorough assessment of the results of the diagnosis.

Do not think that any one medicine can save you from cramps in the arms and legs. Usually it is necessary to take a whole range of measures, which as a result produces the necessary effect, which consists not only in eliminating symptoms, but in affecting the underlying disease.

Detralex	Venotonic and angioprotective drug based on diosmin and hesperidin. Detralex is taken one tablet in the morning and one in the evening with food. The drug can be taken for a long time, up to three months.	Side effects are rare and are expressed in digestive disorders or neurovegetative disorders, which stop on their own and do not require additional therapy.
Spazgan	Combined drug with analgesic and antispasmodic effect. It is a combination of non-narcotic analgesic, myotropic antispasmodic and M-anticholinergic. Spazgan is taken one tablet twice a day, trying to maintain an interval between doses of 10-12 hours. The recommended duration of admission is no more than 4-5 days.	If the drug is taken in the recommended amounts, then side effects will not bother. In other cases, constipation, lowering blood pressure, dizziness, allergies, dry mucous membranes are possible.
Baclofen	Sufficiently strong muscle relaxant of central action. Baclofen is taken strictly according to the doctor's prescription, 5-20 mg three times a day, adhering to an individual treatment regimen.	The drug can cause side effects such as sleep disturbance and orientation, agitation, depression and paresthesia, accommodation disorders, tachycardia, chest pain, liver dysfunction, increased sweating, allergies, polyuria, etc.
Asparkam	Combined preparation, represented by potassium and magnesium aspartate. It is prescribed for potassium and magnesium deficiency in the body, 1-2 tablets three times a day, for 3-4 weeks.	Side effects occur infrequently and are expressed in the appearance of dyspepsia, lowering blood pressure, allergies, a feeling of a rush of blood.
Askorutin	A drug containing ascorbic acid and rutin. It is used for convulsions caused by increased vascular permeability, one tablet up to three times a day.	Side effects when taking Ascorutin are rarely found. An allergy to the drug is possible.
Heparin ointment	Ointment based on heparin and anesthesin, used for superficial thrombophlebitis, phlebitis. The agent is easily rubbed into the skin of the affected limbs 2-3 times a day.	Usually the drug does not cause side effects. An exception can only be an allergy to the components of the ointment.

Vitamins and trace elements

It is often possible to eliminate unpleasant cramps of the arms and legs by simply changing the diet, or by additionally taking multivitamin complex preparations. Many people notice that cramps ease or disappear altogether within 1-2 weeks after providing the body with enough vitamins and minerals. Which of these substances should be paid special attention to:

• Magnesium is one of the main trace elements that are prescribed to patients with convulsions. Magnesium is present in large quantities in kelp, beans, lentils, dried fruits, herbs, sprouted wheat.
• Calcium is an essential trace element that supports the growth of bone and muscle tissue. There is a lot of it not only in dairy products and cottage cheese, but also in hard cheeses, sesame, nuts, soybeans, parsley.
• Potassium is a necessary participant in most metabolic processes. It is found in foods such as fish, bananas, milk, chicken meat.
• Vitamin D is a whole series of fat-soluble vitamins that are not only synthesized in the body under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, but also come from food - for example, with butter and vegetable oil, sea fish, egg yolks.

If we consider pharmacy multivitamin preparations, then with cramps in the arms and legs, the use of such drugs is especially relevant:

• Complivit, Vitrum - universal vitamin complexes that help not only eliminate cramps, but also strengthen the immune system;
• Aquadetrim, Vigantol - allow you to make up for the lack of vitamin D;
• Magne-B ₆, Magnicum - provide the body with magnesium and pyridoxine;
• Calcium D ₃  Nycomed - contains the necessary components of calcium and vitamin D;
• Doppelhertz with potassium and sodium - restores the level of potassium and sodium in the body.

Physiotherapy treatment for cramps in the arms and legs

To eliminate cramps in the arms and legs, physiotherapy is widely used. For example, we are talking about such methods:

• Interference therapy is one of the methods of electrotherapy, in which two or more medium frequency alternating currents are used. The main focus of such treatment is to improve peripheral circulation, normalize the disturbed tone of the main vessels.
• Phonophoresis is a procedure that involves the introduction of active drugs into tissues using low-frequency ultrasonic waves. Phonophoresis allows you to save tissues from hypoxia, improves cellular metabolism, stimulates regeneration processes, eliminates edema, activates blood and lymph flow.
• Myostimulation is a method of rehabilitation therapy, which is based on electrical stimulation of nerve and muscle fibers. It is carried out by transferring current from the myostimulator to human tissues via electrodes. As a result, the function of muscles and other structures is optimized and restored.
• Massage - helps to activate blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, eliminate muscle spasms and soreness.
• Hydrotherapy is a complex water procedure that improves blood circulation, tones blood vessels, and helps to eliminate muscle spasms. Most often, contrasting douches and showers are practiced.
• Pearl baths imply thermal and mechanical effects of water and air bubbles. This procedure reduces excitability, calms the nervous system, eliminates pain and spasms, and restores the nervous regulation of muscles.

In addition to the above procedures, exercise therapy, electrotherapy, paraffin and mud applications help well.

Alternative Treatment

If cramps in the arms and legs are caused by a lack of fluid in the body, then the problem can be solved not only by drinking enough water. There is another, quick folk recipe: a cold towel dipped in a strong salt solution is applied to disturbing places - for example, to the legs.

In case of circulatory disorders in the limbs, hot compresses and lotions often help. You can apply a towel soaked in a hot herbal decoction, or simply in hot water. They also practice contrasting douches or showers, warm baths. With cramps in the arms and legs, you can dip the limbs alternately in hot and cold water.

If the problem concerns the legs, then it is recommended to regularly perform the following gymnastic exercises:

• lying on the bed, tense the muscles of the legs, pull the socks towards themselves and hold this position for 7 seconds, after which they relax;
• in a standing position, they cross their legs, then first they stand on the outside of the foot, then on the inside, etc.;
• sharply stretch their arms up, trying to stretch the area of \u200b\u200bthe spine, while standing on their fingers; hold the position for seven seconds, after which they roll onto their heels and relax.

With the frequent appearance of cramps in the arms and legs, you should definitely reconsider your eating habits. Often, spasms are provoked by excessive consumption of coffee, strong tea, and smoking.

Herbal treatment

To get rid of cramps, prepare such a herbal collection:

• shepherd's bag;
• wheatgrass;
• yarrow;
• mint;
• knotweed;
• nettle;
• goose cinquefoil.

All herbs are taken in equal amounts, mixed. Pour 100 g of the mixture with 200 ml of boiling water, insist in a thermos for half an hour. Next, they take a deep bucket, fill it with warm water, add an infusion of herbs and lower their legs into it. It is necessary that the disturbing places are in the water - for example, caviar. The duration of the procedure is up to 20 minutes. To fix the problem, it usually takes about ten procedures, which are repeated daily at night.

You can prepare another herbal mixture, which includes equal parts of the following plants:

• mistletoe;
• calendula;
• rhubarb (stems and leaves);
• yellow sweet clover;
• Red clover.

Take 1 tbsp. L. Collection, pour 1 liter of boiling water, stand for 10 minutes in a water bath, after which they insist another half an hour. Moisten a towel in the resulting infusion and apply to disturbing places without removing it for five hours.

In addition, inside it is recommended to use an infusion of chamomile, thyme: they are brewed and drunk like tea.

Homeopathy for cramps in the arms and legs

What can homeopathy offer for arm and leg cramps? As in other cases, homeopathic preparations are effective and safe, do not cause side effects and have practically no contraindications (with the exception of individual sensitivity to the components of the remedy). The difficulty is that the dosage of such a drug is determined only by a specialist in a personal consultation. In general, we can recommend the following homeopathic remedies:

• Sekale, Sulfur, Veratrum album - help with cramps in the calf muscles;
• Magnesia phosphorica - eliminates leg cramps, spasms;
• Stramonium - is prescribed for unilateral convulsions, numbness;
• Nux vomica helps with tactile cramps that occur when trying to touch, during massage, etc.;
• Veratrum viride - used for febrile convulsions;
• Argentum nitricum - helps with muscle twitching in the legs, after stress and anxiety;
• Cicuta virosa - relieves severe pronounced convulsions that appear against the background of helminthic invasions, neurological disorders, etc.;
• Plumbum - stops convulsive contractions of the extensor muscles, including strong ones, accompanied by pain.

Surgery

Surgical intervention may be recommended if convulsions are provoked by circulatory failure in the venous vessels, or in partial seizures due to the presence of a local convulsive focus. However, in both the first and second cases, the operation becomes only an extreme method if drug treatment is not effective enough and does not make it possible to establish control over the underlying disease.

With varicose veins, treatment usually begins with the use of medications (venotonics) and compression stockings or bandages. In the absence of the effect of the proposed therapy, the question of the intervention of the surgeon will be considered.