| |
Nocturnal Leg CrampsIntroduction -
Nocturnal leg cramps also called leg cramps, muscle tightness of the leg, muscle hardness, nocturnal leg pain, or Charley-horse are painful, unpleasant sensations occurring due to tightness or tension in the muscles, usually the calves or sometimes in the feet or the sole of the feet during sleep. These may last for a few minutes.
These are usually seen in the elderly and among pregnant women.
Symptoms of Nocturnal Leg Cramps -
The most
common symptoms are painful sensation in the legs or calves, awakening frequently from sleep, discomfort in the legs.
More about Nocturnal Leg Cramps -
Leg cramps during sleep usually are a result of tightness in the muscles and inactivity or exaggeration of a normal muscle reflex. When person turns or changes position in his sleep, the calf muscles are contracted and the tendons are stretched. When this happens the nerve stretch receptors in the tendons are stimulated to send a message to the spinal cord for contracting the calf muscles. As a result, the muscles remain contracted for a longer time causing the cramps. Nerve damages caused by nerve pinching, muscle damage, partial obstruction of blood flow to the legs, abnormal mineral or hormone levels are some other causes leading to leg cramps.
Prevention / Treatment -
Grasping the toes and pulling them towards you, stretching the calf muscles help in reliving the pain caused due to nocturnal leg cramps. Regular stretching of muscles and exercises also helps. If they are not of serious types, cramps during the night can be prevented by exhausting the stretch reflex before going to bed, by stretching the calf muscles, by doing the wall pushups.
Stretching exercises like "runner's stretch" and "stair stretch" for 30 seconds help. "Runner's stretch" is leaning against the wall, stepping forward, and leaving the back foot flat on the floor. "Stair stretch" is standing on the edge of a stair, holding a banister and dropping the heels
Using a heating pad for 10 minutes before sleeping also helps.
Quinine is also effective in treating the cramps. Doctors usually prescribe 1 or 2 pills to be taken before going to bed. Pregnant ladies have to consult the doctor before using them as they are said to cause miscarriages and birth defects. They may also cause headache, chest pain, nausea and asthma.
Cramps after sex
One should speak with the practitioner about what sexual positions are safest as your pregnancy progresses. For instance, after the fourth or fifth month, a pregnant woman shouldn't lie flat on her back during sex, because it could put too much...
How to get rid of cramps
Generally a muscle contracts when it is used, then stretches out when the motion is completed or when another muscle moves in the opposite direction. But if a muscle contracts with great intensity with no stretching out again, you feel the pain of a...
Cramp relief
The first thing we generally think when the cramps start is "DRUGS!" Painkillers are the most familiar way to take the edge off cramps. Drugs in particular for your period, like Pamprin and Midol are a combination of pain relievers like those above...
Menstrual Cramps
About Menstrual Cramps - Menstrual cramps - mild or severe - occur before and / or during the menstrual period and are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, headache, dizziness or lightheadedness. These may begin 2 or 3 days...
Ovulation cramp
If one is trying to get pregnant, the time you'll be most fertile begins one day prior to the day you ovulate and lasts for three days after you ovulate. Ovulation is the procedure by which your body releases one or more eggs from your ovary. If the...
|
|
|
|
|
- Cramps