Leg Cramps at Night: Causes, Pain Relief & Prevention

Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle pains usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as a “charley horse. ThinkyoumayhaveCOVID-19? Findoutwhereyoucangettested Needavaccineorbooster? Scheduletoday ComingtoaClevelandCliniclocation? Visitationandmaskrequirements Home / HealthLibrary / Disease&Conditions LegCramps Legcrampsarepainful,involuntarymusclecontractionsthatcanlastsecondsorminutes.Theyaffectyoursleep,exerciseroutineandgeneralqualityoflife.Someconditionsanddrugscancausethem,andthereareriskfactorsyou’llwanttoavoid.Whenacramphappens,tryflexingthemuscle,applyingheatoriceandmassagingthearea. Appointments866.588.2264 Appointments&Locations RequestanAppointment Overview SymptomsandCauses DiagnosisandTests ManagementandTreatment Prevention Outlook/Prognosis LivingWith LegCramps Overview SymptomsandCauses DiagnosisandTests ManagementandTreatment Prevention Outlook/Prognosis LivingWith BackToTop Overview LegCrampsatNight Whatarelegcramps? Legcrampsaresudden,involuntary,intensemusclepainsusuallyinyourcalf,footorthigh.Youmightalsoknowthemasa“charleyhorse.”Sometimesthecrampmaycauseyourlegtospasm–totightenuncontrollably.Althoughpainfultolivewith,crampsaregenerallyharmless. Whatdoesalegcrampfeellike? Alegcrampfeelslikeaclenched,contractedmuscletightenedintoaknot.Itcanbeseverelyuncomfortable,painfulorevenunbearable.Yourmusclesintheareamighthurtforhoursafterthecrampgoesaway. HowdoIstopalegcramp? Tryforcefullystretchingtheaffectedmuscle(forexample,stretchyourcalfmusclebyflexingyourfootupward).Jiggleyourleg,massageit,orforceyourselftowalk.Itmightalsohelptoapplyiceorheat–useaheatingpadortakeawarmbath.(Readthe“ManagementandTreatment”sectionformoretips.) Unfortunately,therearenopillsorinjectionsthatinstantlyrelievealegcrampwhenit’shappening.Thereare,however,waysthatmaypreventthecrampfromhappeninginthefirstplace(seethe“Prevention”section). Canyougetlegcrampsatnight? Legcrampsatnighthappenwhenyou’renotveryactive,orwhenyou’reasleep.Theymaywakeyouup,makeitharderforyoutofallbackasleepandleaveyoufeelingsoreallnight.Yearly,monthly,weekly,nightly–thefrequencyoflegcrampsdependsontheperson.Nocturnallegcrampscanhappentoanyoneatanyage,buttheyhappenmostoftentoolderadults.Ofpeopleoverage60,33%willhavealegcrampatnightatleastonceeverytwomonths.Nearlyeveryadultage50andolderwillhavethematleastonetime.Sevenpercentofchildrenwill,aswell.Approximately40%ofpregnantwomenwillexperiencelegcrampsatnight.Thereasonbehindthatisthoughttobethattheextraweightofpregnancystrainsthemuscles. Three-quarters(75%)ofallreportedlegcrampshappenatnight. Howlongdolegcrampslast? Aninstanceofalegcrampcanlastfromseveralsecondstoseveralminutes. Whogetslegcramps? Theolderyouare,themorelikelyyouaretohavelegcramps.Thisisbecauseyourtendons(thetissuesthatconnectyourmusclestoyourbones)naturallyshortenasyouage.You’realsomorelikelytogetthemifyou’reawoman.Upto60%ofadultsgetlegcrampsatnight,asdoupto40%ofchildrenandteenagers. Arelegcrampsasignofsomethingserious? Legcrampscansometimesbeasymptomofaserioushealthcondition.(Seethe“SymptomsandCauses”section.)Ifyouareconcernedthatyouhaveaserioushealthcondition,don’thesitatetocontactyourhealthcareproviderandreportyoursymptoms,includingyourlegcramps. Howcommonarelegcramps? Legcrampsareverycommonandnormal,especiallyatnight. WhatisthedifferencebetweenlegcrampsandRestlessLegsSyndrome(RLS)? Althoughbothnocturnallegcramps(legcrampsatnight)andrestlesslegssyndrometendtohappentoyouatnightorwhenyou’reatrest,restlesslegssyndromedoesn’tcausetheseverepain.Restlesslegssyndromeisuncomfortable,butnotagonizing.It’sacrawlingsensationthatmakesyouwanttomoveyourlegs.Whenyoudomove,therestlessnessstops,butthereisstilldiscomfort. SymptomsandCauses Whatcauseslegcramps? Somelegcrampshappenfornoknownreasonandtheyarecalled“idiopathic”cramps.“Secondary”legcrampsareasymptomorcomplicationofamoreserioushealthcondition.Theprimarycauseofidiopathiclegcrampsisupfordebate.Possiblecausesoftheminclude: Involuntarynervedischarges. Restrictioninthebloodsupply. Stress. Toomuchhigh-intensityexercise. Womenwhoarepregnantoftenhavelegcrampsduringthedayandatnight. Possiblecausesforlegcrampsatnight(nocturnallegcramps)include: Sittingforlongperiodsoftime. Overusingthemuscles. Standingorworkingonconcretefloors. Sittingimproperly. Legcrampsarenotlikelytocause: Brokenbones. Fainting. Nausea. Numbness. Whatmedicationsmaycauselegcramps? Drugshavesideeffects.It’spossiblethataprescriptionyou’retakingcouldbecausingyourlegcramps.Inthatcase,workcloselywithyourhealthcareprovidertodeterminetheprosandconsofthemedicationvs.itssideeffects.It’spossiblethatyourhealthcareprovidermaybeabletoputyouonadifferentmedicationthatdoesn’thavelegcrampsasasideeffect.Medicinesthathavelegcrampsasasideeffectinclude: Albuterol/Ipratropium(Combivent®). Conjugatedestrogens. Clonazepam(Klonopin®). Diuretics. Gabapentin(Neurontin®). Naproxen(Naprosyn®). Pregabalin(Lyrica®) Statins. Zolpidem(Ambien®). Othersmayinclude:Amoxicillin,bromocriptine(Parlodel),bupropion(Wellbutrin),celecoxib(Celebrex®),cetirizine(Zyrtec),chromium,cinacalcet(Sensipar),ciprofloxacin(Cipro),citalopram(Celexa),donepezil(Aricept),eszopiclone(Lunesta),fluoxetine(Prozac),IVironsucrose,lansoprazole(Prevacid),levalbuterol,levothyroxine,metformin,niconitisacid,nifedipine,rivastigmine(Exelon),sertraline(Zoloft),telmisartan(Micardis),teriparatide(Forteo®)andteriparatideraloxifene(Evista®). Whatmedicalproblemscancauselegcramps? Sometimeslegcrampshappentoyoufornoreason,butothertimestheycouldpossiblybeasignorsymptomofahealthcondition.Ifyouhaveanyofthefollowingconditions,it’spossiblethatyourlegcrampsarearesultofthatcondition.Alsokeepinmindthatifyoudon’talreadyknowifyouhaveanyoftheseconditions,yourlegcrampsmaybeasignthatyoudo.Alwaysconsultyourhealthcareproviderifyouthinkyourlegcrampsareasymptomofamoreseriousmedicalcondition. Legcrampscanpossiblybeasignoflifestylechoicessuchas: Alcoholism:Anaddictiontoalcohol. Pregnancy. Dehydration:Thelackofsufficientwaterinthebody.(Thissignisdebatedamongexperts.) Legcrampscanalsopossiblybeasignofseriousconditionsincluding: ALS(amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/LouGehrig’sdisease):Progressiveneuromusculardisease. Cardiovasculardisease:Heartconditionscausedbybloodclotsordiseasedbloodvessels.Also,coronaryarterydisease:Thenarrowingorblockageofthecoronaryarteries. Cirrhosisoftheliver:Scarringoftheliver. Diabetes:Adiseasethatpreventsyourbodyfromproperlyusingtheenergyfromthefoodyoueat. Flatfeet:Theabsenceofthesupportivearchinthefoot. Hypokalemia:Lowpotassiumlevelsinyourblood. Kidneyfailure(hemodialysis):Aconditioninwhichoneorbothkidneysnolongerworkcorrectly. Osteoarthritis(degenerativejointdisease):Thecorrosionofthecartilagethatprotectsyourbones.Also,lumbarcanalstenosis:Anarrowingofthespinalcanalinthelowerback. Parkinson’sdisease:Aneurologicalmovementdisorder. Peripheralarterydisease:Narrowingofthearteries.Also,peripheralneuropathy:Damageordysfunctionofoneormorenerves. Cancertreatmentslikechemotherapycancausenervedamage,whichmaycauselegcramps. Therearerumorsthatlegcrampscanalsobeasignofthefollowingconditions.Fortunately,thatisnotthecase.Legcrampsareunlikelytobeasignof: Labor(givingbirth). Lungcancer. Menopause. Multiplesclerosis. Legcrampsarenotlikelytobeasignofadeficiencyin: Alaninetransaminase. Albumin. Bilirubin. Calcium. Creatinine. Glucose. Magnesium. Zinc,vitaminB12orvitaminD. Whatarethewarningsignsthatlegcrampsarecoming? Unfortunately,legcrampshappenverysuddenly.Therearenowarningsigns.However,thereareriskfactorssuchaspregnancyandtheuseofmedicationsthathavelegcrampsasasideeffect. DiagnosisandTests Howarelegcrampsdiagnosed? Yourhealthcareproviderwillneedtoknowyourmedicalhistory,medicationsandadescriptionofwhatyou’reexperiencing.Bespecific.Reportyoursymptomstoyourhealthcareproviderandincludethefollowinginformation: Whenthelegcrampsstartedhappening. Whatyourpainfeelslike. Whenthecrampshappen(atnight,forexample,oraftervigorousexercise). Howlongthecrampslast. Anyothersymptomsyou’reexperiencing. Yourhealthcareproviderwillneedtotellthedifferencebetweenyourlegcrampsfromotherconditionsthatmayresemblethem: Claudication. Peripheralneuropathy. Myositis. Restlesslegssyndrome. Todistinguishthosedifferences,yourhealthcareprovidermay: Checkthepalpationofpulses. Evaluatephysicalsensationssuchaspinpricks. Testdeeptendonreflexes. Testthestrengthofyourleg. DoIneedtohaveanytestingdonetodiagnosemylegcramps? Blood,urineandotherroutinetestsarenothelpfulindiagnosinglegcrampsbuttheymayhelpidentifypreviouslyundiagnosedmedicalconditionsthathavelegcrampsasasymptom.Forexample,yourhealthcareproviderwilllikelyperformtypicaltestssuchastakingyourbloodpressure,andthatcanrevealcardiacandvascularrisks. Whatquestionsmightmyhealthcareprovideraskaboutmylegcramps? Tohelpyourhealthcareproviderdiagnoseyou,theymayaskthefollowingquestionsaboutyourlegcramps: Whendoyouexperiencethelegcramps? Howoftendoyourlegcrampsoccur? Howwouldyoudescribeyourlegcramps? Howlongdothelegcrampslast? Whatmedicationsareyoucurrentlytaking? Whatknownmedicalconditionsdoyouhave? Areyouconcernedaboutmedicalconditionsthatmaybecausingyourlegcramps? Areyouhavinganysymptomsofanothermedicalcondition? ManagementandTreatment WhatcanIdotomakelegcrampsgoawayiftheyhappen? Youwanttogetridofalegcrampthemomentitstrikes.Youmightbefinishingupanexerciseroutine,oryoumightbeawakenedinthemiddleofthenight.Inmomentslikethatthereare,unfortunately,nomagicalinjectionsthatcaninstantlyrelieveyourpain.However,thereareeightstepstotaketopossiblygetridofalegcramp: Stretch.Straightenyourlegandthenflexit,pullingyourtoestowardsyourshintostretchthemuscles. Massage.Useyourhandsorarollertomassagethemuscles. Stand.Getup.Pressyourfeetagainstthefloor. Walk.Wiggleyourlegwhileyouwalkaround. Applyheat.Useaheatingpadortakeawarmbath. Applycold.Wrapabagoficeinatowelandapplyittothearea. Painkillers.Takeibuprofenoracetaminophentohelpwiththepain. Elevate.Propupyourlegafterthecrampstartstofeelbetter. Whatkindsofstretcheshelpgetridoflegcramps? Trythisifyourcrampisinyourcalfmuscle:Whilestanding(orsittingwithyourlegunfoldedbeforeyou),straightenyourlegandliftyourfootuntilyourtoesarepointingatyourshin.Pullonyourtoesifyouareabletoreachthem.Youcouldalsotrywalkingaroundonyourheels. Whatmedicinesmayhelpwithlegcramps? Atthistime,thereisnorecommendedmedicationthatcanpreventlegcramps100%ofthetime.However,therearesomeprescriptionmedicationsthatshowalittleevidenceofpreventinglegcramps.Underyourhealthcareprovider’swatchfuleye,youmightwanttotrythefollowing: Carisoprodol(Soma®):Amusclerelaxant. Diltiazem(CartiaXT®):Acalcium-channelblocker. Orphenadrine(Norflex®):Treatsmusclespasmsandrelievespainandstiffnessinmuscles. Verapamil:Acalciuim-channelblocker. Whatvitaminsmayhelpwithlegcramps? Novitaminislikelytohelpwithalegcramp100%ofthetime.However,someexpertsdorecommendthatyoutakeavitaminB12complex. Doesquininehelpwithlegcramps? Quininewasthoughttoshowsomepromisewithhealinglegcramps,butitisnolongerrecommended.Therearepotentiallylife-threateningsideeffects:arrhythmias,thrombocytopeniaandhypersensitivityreactions. WhenshouldIgetmylegcrampstreatedattheEmergencyDepartment? Gototheemergencydepartment(ED)ifalegcramplastslongerthan10minutesorbecomesunbearablypainful.Alsogoifalegcramphappensafteryoutouchasubstancethatcouldbepoisonousorinfectious.Forexample,ifyouhaveacutinyourskinthattouchesdirt,youcouldgetabacterialinfectionliketetanus.Exposuretomercury,leadorothertoxicsubstancesshouldalsobereasontogototheemergencydepartment. Isthereasurgerythatcouldhelpwithmylegcramps? Atthistime,surgeryisnotrecommendedasacureforlegcramps. Prevention HowcanIreducemyriskofgettinglegcramps? Expertscan’tpromisethatyou’llneverhavealegcrampagain,buttherearesomestepsyoucantakethatmightreduceyourrisk! Makesurethatyoustayhydrated–drinksixtoeightglassesofwatereachday.Don’tdrinkasmuchalcoholandcaffeine. Adjusthowyousleep.Usepillowstokeepyourtoespointedupwardsifyousleeponyourback.Ifyoulieonyourfront,tryhangingyourfeetovertheendofthebed.Bothpositionscankeepyouinarelaxedposition. Gentlystretchyourlegmusclesbeforeyougotosleep. Keepblanketsandsheetsloosearoundyourfeetsothatyourtoesarenotdistorted. Wearshoesthatfityouwellandsupportyourfeet. Performfrequentlegexercises. Stretchyourmusclesbeforeandafteryouexercise. Experimentwithmildexerciserightbeforebed.Walkonthetreadmillorrideabicycleforafewminutes. Whatkindsofstretcheshelppreventlegcramps? Trythefollowingtopreventlegcrampsinyourcalves:Standaboutthreefeet(onemeter)awayfromawall.Leanforward.Touchthewallwithyourarmsoutstretchedwhilekeepingyourfeetflat.Counttofivebeforeyoustop,anddoitoverandoveragainforatleastfiveminutes.Repeatthreetimesperday. Outlook/Prognosis Canlegcrampsbecured? Legcrampsdon’thaveacureatthistime.Fortunately,therearestepsyoucantaketopreventlegcramps(seethe“Prevention”section)andmanageyourlegcramps(seethe“ManagementandTreatment”section). Canlegcrampsgetworse? Theseverityofalegcrampisdifficultifnotimpossibletopredict.Somepeopleseeimprovementwithpreventionandtreatmentplans,whileothersstruggle.Itispossiblethatyourcrampswillfeelworseandhappenmoreoftenasyouage. LivingWith HowdoItakecareofmyself? Comeupwithatreatmentplanwithyourhealthcareproviderthatincludesapreventionplanandanin-the-momenttreatmentplan.Ideasforapreventionplanincludeseveralactivitiesyoumaywanttodoeveryday: Exercise:Dolegexercisesduringtheday,andmild,briefwalkingorbikingrightbeforebed. Hydration:Drinkeightglassesofwatereachdayandavoidalcoholandcaffeinatedbeverages. Medicationsandvitamins:Takeallvitaminsandmedications(includingmusclerelaxants)exactlyhowthey’represcribedbyyourhealthcareprovider. Prepareyourbedspace:Keepaheatingpadandmassagerollernexttoyourbed. Shoes:Purchasesupportiveshoes. Sleepingposition:Experimentwithdifferentpositionstoseeifoneworksbetterthananother.Keepyourtoesupifyou’reonyourbackandhangyourfeetovertheendofthebedifyoulieonyourfront. Stretch:Stretchyourlegsbeforeandafterexercising,andrightbeforeyougotosleep. Yourin-the-momenttreatmentplancouldincludetheeightstepsmentionedintheManagementandTreatmentsection: Stretch.Straightenyourlegandthenflexit,pullingyourtoestowardsyourshintostretchthemuscles(usingatowelcanassist). Massage.Useyourhandsorarollertomassagethemuscles. Stand.Getup.Pressyourfeetagainstthefloor. Walk.Wiggleyourlegwhileyouwalkaround. Applyheat.Useaheatingpadortakeawarmbath. Applycold.Wrapabagoficeinatowelandapplyittothearea. Painkillers.Takeibuprofenoracetaminophentohelpwiththepain. Elevate.Propupyourlegafterthecrampstartstofeelbetter. WhenshouldIseemyhealthcareprovideraboutmylegcramps? Seeyourhealthcareproviderifyourlegcrampsareunbearablypainful,happenfrequentlyorlastforalongtime.Also,talktoyourhealthcareproviderrightawayifyouhaveanyofthefollowingsymptomsinadditiontolegcramps: Musclecrampsinotherpartsofyourbody. Significantpain. Swellingornumbnessintheleg. Changesintheskinofyourleg. Wakingupoverandoveragainwithlegcramps. Ifyourlegcrampsarestoppingyoufromgettingenoughsleep. Ifyouhavefluidabnormalitiesorelectrolyteimbalances. Seeyourhealthcareproviderimmediatelyifyou’reconcernedthatyourlegcrampsareasymptomofanunderlyingseriousmedicalcondition. WhatquestionsshouldIaskmyhealthcareprovideraboutlegcramps? Doyouthinkthatmylegcrampsareasymptomofanunderlyingcondition? CanyoushowmethebestexercisesIcandotostretchmymuscles? CanyoushowmethebestmassagetechniquesIcanusetohelpwithmylegcramps? Isitsafeformetotakemedicationformylegcramps?WhichmedicationsshouldItake? DoyourecommendthatIseeaphysicaltherapist,sleepspecialist,massagetherapist,orotherspecialist? HowcanIhelpmychildwhentheyhavealegcramp? ShouldIkeepaneyeoutforsymptomsotherthanlegcrampsthatmightindicateamoreseriouscondition? HowoftenshouldIcomebacktovisityouaboutmylegcramps? AnotefromClevelandClinic Legcrampscanbeunpredictableandagonizing.Theycanaffectyoursleep,yourexerciseroutineandyourgeneralqualityoflife.They’recommon–verynormal–and,fortunately,temporary,andtherearestepsyoucantaketomanagethem.Doyourbesttoavoidriskfactors,avoidmedicationswithlegcrampsasasideeffectandtakerecommendedpreventativemeasures. Ifyou’reconcernedabouttheseverityanddurationofyourlegcramps,orthinkthattheymaybecausedbyaseriouscondition,don’thesitatetocontactyourhealthcareprovider.Askquestionsandvoiceyourconcerns.Youdon’thavetojust“livewith”legcramps. Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Getuseful,helpfulandrelevanthealth+wellnessinformation enews ClevelandClinicisanon-profitacademicmedicalcenter.Advertisingonoursitehelpssupportourmission.Wedonotendorsenon-ClevelandClinicproductsorservices. 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