Leg Cramps
Certain medications may also make you more susceptible to cramping. These include:
Causes of Nighttime Foot Cramps and How to Get Relief
Foot cramps at night can be painful, but they are rarely cause for alarm. Certain lifestyle changes and stretches are usually all you need to resolve them.
A foot cramp can strike out of nowhere, waking you from a sound sleep. You may suddenly feel the muscles tighten or knot up from a few seconds to a few minutes at a time.
Up to 60 percent of adults report getting nocturnal foot cramps. Spasms may happen just once in the night or result in repeat episodes that lead to insomnia and lingering pain.
The good news is that these cramps aren’t usually a reason for concern. While they can be associated with certain medical conditions, like diabetes or hypothyroidism, stretches and lifestyle changes may help ease them or make them go away entirely.
Keep reading to learn about the potential causes of nighttime foot cramps and how to get relief.
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Sitting for long periods of time or otherwise being inactive may make the muscles in your feet more apt to cramp at night.
Sitting with poor posture may also inhibit blood flow to your feet or lead to nerve compression — two risk factors for developing cramps.
Your sleep position may also be a factor in circulation and nerve issues. Consider the following:
- Try examining how you sleep to see if it might be contributing to nighttime cramping.
- Sleeping with your feet pointing downwards may contribute to poor circulation.
- Try sleeping on your back or side with a pillow underneath your knees.
Working the muscles in your feet too hard may make them vulnerable to cramping.
The muscle fibers in your feet continually contract and expand to allow movement. If you do too much of an activity too soon, or work your feet too strenuously, you may experience fatigue in your muscles.
Fatigue depletes your body of oxygen and allows waste products to build up throughout the day. This buildup can cause cramping and spasms at night.
Wearing poorly fitted shoes or shoes without enough support throughout the day may tax foot muscles as well. Standing or working on concrete floors or other hard surfaces can have a similar effect.
The foot muscles work extra hard to support the weight of your body. Improper footwear may also impair the foot’s circulation, cutting off blood and oxygen, and producing painful spasms even when you’re off your feet.
Another possible cause of foot cramps at night is dehydration. You may not be drinking enough water during the day, or a bout of diarrhea or other illness may be dehydrating you.
Even exercising in hot weather can dehydrate you quickly, draining your body of precious fluids, salts, and minerals, such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
When your body gets low in fluids and electrolytes, your muscles become more vulnerable to spasms and cramps. You continue sweating and losing fluids while you sleep. This is why your foot cramps may arise at night.
Deficiencies in vitamins B-12, thiamin, folate, and other B vitamins may lead to nerve damage.
Magnesium and potassium deficiencies may lead to leg and foot cramps.
If you suspect you may have a nutritional deficiency, talk with a doctor or medical professional. A simple blood test can reveal your levels and indicate to your doctor if you need any supplementation or other treatment for underlying conditions.
Note that taking too many supplements may actually cause more harm than good, so see a doctor and get tested before adding supplements to your diet.
Drinking too much alcohol may lead to nerve damage and a condition known as alcoholic neuropathy. Symptoms include anything from muscle cramping and weakness to numbness and tingling in the arms or legs.
Heavy alcohol use may also contribute to dehydration and nutritional deficiencies in important B vitamins.
Just as with other nutritional deficiencies, lacking these vitamins may impair nerve function, which may worsen symptoms like muscle spasms.
People who are pregnant are more susceptible to leg and foot cramping at night, particularly in the second and third trimesters.
Researchers don’t know exactly why. Possible reasons may include:
- extra weight on the feet as baby grows
- dehydration
- nutritional deficiencies, particularly in magnesium
Medical conditions associated with nighttime foot cramping include:
- structural issues, such as spinal stenosis and peripheral arterial disease
- metabolic issues, such as kidney disease, anemia, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- other conditions, such as nerve damage, osteoarthritis, and Parkinson’s disease
Certain medications may also make you more susceptible to cramping. These include:
- blood pressure medications
- statins
- diuretics
- birth control pills
If you’re on dialysis, this can also make you more prone to cramping.
There are no specific treatments doctors recommend to treat overnight foot cramping. Instead, it’s best to treat its underlying cause.
If you exercise regularly, keep it up! Regular movement may help prevent leg and foot cramps in the day and night.
New to exercise? Speak with a doctor or medical professional for recommendations on a plan that may work for you. Try brisk walks around your neighborhood (wearing supportive shoes) or other low-impact activities to start.
Anecdotal evidence from a 2012 study suggests that a few minutes on an exercise bike or treadmill before bed may help with nocturnal leg and foot cramps.
Stretch and soothe your muscles
Be sure to stretch each day to keep foot muscles loose, especially before and after you get in a sweat session.
What if you’re having a cramp at night? Stretch your foot gently, but forcefully to relieve the cramp by flexing your foot and pressing down on your big toe.
Walking around and jiggling your leg may also help with both foot and leg cramps. Taking a warm bath or shower, or using ice may ease any lingering pain. Deep tissue massage may help in the long term.
Examine your shoes
Wear supportive shoes that are comfortable, especially if you walk a lot on hard surfaces.
The part of your shoes that help nest your heel in place is called a heel counter. Shoes with a firm heel counter may be better in terms of providing support throughout the day. Well-fitted, well-supporting shoes may also help you avoid nocturnal foot cramps.
If you’re having trouble or don’t find any comfortable shoes, your doctor may refer you to a podiatrist for custom inserts.
Drink more water
Experts recommend that men drink 15.5 cups and women drink 11.5 cups of fluids like water each day. Keeping your muscles hydrated can help prevent cramping.
A good rule of thumb is that your urine should be light yellow to clear. If it’s darker than that, consider drinking another glass of water.
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding may need additional fluid each day to meet their hydration needs. Speak with a doctor if you have concerns about hydrating your body.
Eat well and supplement
Eat a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. If you have a diagnosed deficiency, address it with your doctor’s supervision.
There are multiple studies that support magnesium supplementation as a means to help with cramping. Ask your doctor about dosage and brand suggestions. Supplements are available in your local grocery store, health food store, or online.
Foods rich in magnesium include:
- whole grains
- beans
- nuts
- seeds
- unsweetened dried fruits
Bananas and leafy greens may also help balance electrolytes.
Lower your alcohol intake
Limit alcoholic beverages, like beer, wine, and mixed drinks. These beverages can dehydrate you.
In the case of alcohol-related nerve damage, seek help if you’re having a hard time quitting drinking. Consider reaching out to your doctor, a friend, or a local support program.
Conditions like alcoholic neuropathy can lead to permanent and progressive nerve damage. Early treatment is key in preventing this.
Practice self-care
You may be able to prevent nocturnal foot cramping with some simple self-care practices:
- Untuck the covers from the foot of your bed before you go to sleep so that your feet aren’t confined.
- Take a warm bath before bedtime to relax your muscles.
- Practice some light stretching throughout the day so that your muscles aren’t tight before bed.
Essential oils
You may also want to try massaging some topical essential oils onto your feet before bed. Oils such as geranium, chamomile, coriander, and ylang-ylang oils have anti-spasmodic properties .
Aromatherapy with lavender or mint scents may also provide a calming sleep environment, which could decrease cramping.
During pregnancy
Let your doctor know if you’re experiencing nighttime foot cramping (or any severe muscle cramping) during pregnancy. While many of the same self-care measures may help you, your doctor can provide additional guidance.
Stretch your foot when a cramp strikes and elevate your legs to keep cramps at bay. Staying active, getting a massage, and taking a warm (not hot) shower or bath may also help.
Remember to take your prenatal vitamins each day to prevent nutritional deficiencies. Your doctor may recommend a magnesium supplement if the cramping is keeping you from sleeping.
You may find that the cramps go away on their own after you deliver your baby.
Foot cramps tend to go away on their own with home treatment, such as stretching or lifestyle changes, like drinking more water.
Talk with a doctor or medical professional if your cramps are causing severe discomfort, or if you notice any swelling, redness, or other changes to the foot or surrounding structures.
You may also want to make an appointment if the cramps are happening frequently and don’t improve with changes to your routine.
Last medically reviewed on January 20, 2022
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- Alcoholic neuropathy. (2010).
peripheralneuropathycenter.uchicago.edu/learnaboutpn/typesofpn/toxic/alcohol.shtml - Allen RE, et al. (2012). Nocturnal leg cramps.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22963024 - Garrison SR, et al. (2020). Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8094171 - Grandner MA, et al. (2017). Nocturnal leg cramps: Prevalence and associations with demographics, sleep disturbance symptoms, medical conditions, and cardiometabolic risk factors.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5460850/ - Heghes SC, et al. (2019). Antispasmodic effect of essential oils and their constituents: A review.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6539827 - Kominiarek MA, et al. (2017). Nutrition recommendations in pregnancy and lactation.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5104202
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Leg Cramps
Leg cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that can last seconds or minutes. They affect your sleep, exercise routine and general quality of life. Some conditions and drugs can cause them, and there are risk factors you’ll want to avoid. When a cramp happens, try flexing the muscle, applying heat or ice and massaging the area.
Overview
Leg Cramps at Night
What are leg cramps?
Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle pains usually in your calf, foot or thigh. You might also know them as a “charley horse.” Sometimes the cramp may cause your leg to spasm – to tighten uncontrollably. Although painful to live with, cramps are generally harmless.
What does a leg cramp feel like?
A leg cramp feels like a clenched, contracted muscle tightened into a knot. It can be severely uncomfortable, painful or even unbearable. Your muscles in the area might hurt for hours after the cramp goes away.
How do I stop a leg cramp?
Try forcefully stretching the affected muscle (for example, stretch your calf muscle by flexing your foot upward). Jiggle your leg, massage it, or force yourself to walk. It might also help to apply ice or heat – use a heating pad or take a warm bath. (Read the “Management and Treatment” section for more tips.)
Unfortunately, there are no pills or injections that instantly relieve a leg cramp when it’s happening. There are, however, ways that may prevent the cramp from happening in the first place (see the “Prevention” section).
Can you get leg cramps at night?
Leg cramps at night happen when you’re not very active, or when you’re asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly – the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Nocturnal leg cramps can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult age 50 and older will have them at least one time. Seven percent of children will, as well. Approximately 40% of pregnant women will experience leg cramps at night. The reason behind that is thought to be that the extra weight of pregnancy strains the muscles.
Three-quarters (75%) of all reported leg cramps happen at night.
How long do leg cramps last?
An instance of a leg cramp can last from several seconds to several minutes.
Who gets leg cramps?
The older you are, the more likely you are to have leg cramps. This is because your tendons (the tissues that connect your muscles to your bones) naturally shorten as you age. You’re also more likely to get them if you’re a woman. Up to 60% of adults get leg cramps at night, as do up to 40% of children and teenagers.
Are leg cramps a sign of something serious?
Leg cramps can sometimes be a symptom of a serious health condition. (See the “Symptoms and Causes” section.) If you are concerned that you have a serious health condition, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider and report your symptoms, including your leg cramps.
How common are leg cramps?
Leg cramps are very common and normal, especially at night.
What is the difference between leg cramps and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)?
Although both nocturnal leg cramps (leg cramps at night) and restless legs syndrome tend to happen to you at night or when you’re at rest, restless legs syndrome doesn’t cause the severe pain. Restless legs syndrome is uncomfortable, but not agonizing. It’s a crawling sensation that makes you want to move your legs. When you do move, the restlessness stops, but there is still discomfort.
Symptoms and Causes
What causes leg cramps?
Some leg cramps happen for no known reason and they are called “idiopathic” cramps. “Secondary” leg cramps are a symptom or complication of a more serious health condition. The primary cause of idiopathic leg cramps is up for debate. Possible causes of them include:
- Involuntary nerve discharges.
- Restriction in the blood supply.
- Stress.
- Too much high-intensity exercise.
Women who are pregnant often have leg cramps during the day and at night.
Possible causes for leg cramps at night (nocturnal leg cramps) include:
- Sitting for long periods of time.
- Overusing the muscles.
- Standing or working on concrete floors.
- Sitting improperly.
Leg cramps are not likely to cause:
- Broken bones.
- Fainting.
- Nausea.
- Numbness.
What medications may cause leg cramps?
Drugs have side effects. It’s possible that a prescription you’re taking could be causing your leg cramps. In that case, work closely with your healthcare provider to determine the pros and cons of the medication vs. its side effects. It’s possible that your healthcare provider may be able to put you on a different medication that doesn’t have leg cramps as a side effect. Medicines that have leg cramps as a side effect include:
- Albuterol/Ipratropium (Combivent®).
- Conjugated estrogens.
- Clonazepam (Klonopin®).
- Diuretics.
- Gabapentin (Neurontin®).
- Naproxen (Naprosyn®).
- Pregabalin (Lyrica®)
- Statins.
- Zolpidem (Ambien®).
Others may include: Amoxicillin, bromocriptine (Parlodel), bupropion (Wellbutrin), celecoxib (Celebrex®), cetirizine (Zyrtec), chromium, cinacalcet (Sensipar), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), citalopram (Celexa), donepezil (Aricept), eszopiclone (Lunesta), fluoxetine (Prozac), IV iron sucrose, lansoprazole (Prevacid), levalbuterol, levothyroxine, metformin, niconitis acid, nifedipine, rivastigmine (Exelon), sertraline (Zoloft), telmisartan (Micardis), teriparatide (Forteo®) and teriparatide raloxifene (Evista®).
What medical problems can cause leg cramps?
Sometimes leg cramps happen to you for no reason, but other times they could possibly be a sign or symptom of a health condition. If you have any of the following conditions, it’s possible that your leg cramps are a result of that condition. Also keep in mind that if you don’t already know if you have any of these conditions, your leg cramps may be a sign that you do. Always consult your healthcare provider if you think your leg cramps are a symptom of a more serious medical condition.
Leg cramps can possibly be a sign of lifestyle choices such as:
- Alcoholism: An addiction to alcohol.
- Pregnancy.
- Dehydration: The lack of sufficient water in the body. (This sign is debated among experts.)
Leg cramps can also possibly be a sign of serious conditions including:
- ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease): Progressive neuromuscular disease.
- Cardiovascular disease: Heart conditions caused by blood clots or diseased blood vessels. Also, coronary artery disease: The narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries.
- Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of the liver.
- Diabetes: A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat.
- Flat feet: The absence of the supportive arch in the foot.
- Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels in your blood.
- Kidney failure (hemodialysis): A condition in which one or both kidneys no longer work correctly.
- Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease): The corrosion of the cartilage that protects your bones. Also, lumbar canal stenosis: A narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back.
- Parkinson’s disease: A neurological movement disorder.
- Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing of the arteries. Also, peripheral neuropathy: Damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves.
Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can cause nerve damage, which may cause leg cramps.
There are rumors that leg cramps can also be a sign of the following conditions. Fortunately, that is not the case. Leg cramps are unlikely to be a sign of:
- Labor (giving birth).
- Lung cancer.
- Menopause.
- Multiple sclerosis.
Leg cramps are not likely to be a sign of a deficiency in:
- Alanine transaminase.
- Albumin.
- Bilirubin.
- Calcium.
- Creatinine.
- Glucose.
- Magnesium.
- Zinc, vitamin B12 or vitamin D.
What are the warning signs that leg cramps are coming?
Unfortunately, leg cramps happen very suddenly. There are no warning signs. However, there are risk factors such as pregnancy and the use of medications that have leg cramps as a side effect.
Diagnosis and Tests
How are leg cramps diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will need to know your medical history, medications and a description of what you’re experiencing. Be specific. Report your symptoms to your healthcare provider and include the following information:
- When the leg cramps started happening.
- What your pain feels like.
- When the cramps happen (at night, for example, or after vigorous exercise).
- How long the cramps last.
- Any other symptoms you’re experiencing.
Your healthcare provider will need to tell the difference between your leg cramps from other conditions that may resemble them:
- Claudication.
- Peripheral neuropathy.
- Myositis.
- Restless legs syndrome.
To distinguish those differences, your healthcare provider may:
- Check the palpation of pulses.
- Evaluate physical sensations such as pinpricks.
- Test deep tendon reflexes.
- Test the strength of your leg.
Do I need to have any testing done to diagnose my leg cramps?
Blood, urine and other routine tests are not helpful in diagnosing leg cramps but they may help identify previously undiagnosed medical conditions that have leg cramps as a symptom. For example, your healthcare provider will likely perform typical tests such as taking your blood pressure, and that can reveal cardiac and vascular risks.
What questions might my healthcare provider ask about my leg cramps?
To help your healthcare provider diagnose you, they may ask the following questions about your leg cramps:
- When do you experience the leg cramps?
- How often do your leg cramps occur?
- How would you describe your leg cramps?
- How long do the leg cramps last?
- What medications are you currently taking?
- What known medical conditions do you have?
- Are you concerned about medical conditions that may be causing your leg cramps?
- Are you having any symptoms of another medical condition?
Management and Treatment
What can I do to make leg cramps go away if they happen?
You want to get rid of a leg cramp the moment it strikes. You might be finishing up an exercise routine, or you might be awakened in the middle of the night. In moments like that there are, unfortunately, no magical injections that can instantly relieve your pain. However, there are eight steps to take to possibly get rid of a leg cramp:
- Stretch. Straighten your leg and then flex it, pulling your toes towards your shin to stretch the muscles.
- Massage. Use your hands or a roller to massage the muscles.
- Stand. Get up. Press your feet against the floor.
- Walk. Wiggle your leg while you walk around.
- Apply heat. Use a heating pad or take a warm bath.
- Apply cold. Wrap a bag of ice in a towel and apply it to the area.
- Pain killers. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help with the pain.
- Elevate. Prop up your leg after the cramp starts to feel better.
What kinds of stretches help get rid of leg cramps?
Try this if your cramp is in your calf muscle: While standing (or sitting with your leg unfolded before you), straighten your leg and lift your foot until your toes are pointing at your shin. Pull on your toes if you are able to reach them. You could also try walking around on your heels.
What medicines may help with leg cramps?
At this time, there is no recommended medication that can prevent leg cramps 100% of the time. However, there are some prescription medications that show a little evidence of preventing leg cramps. Under your healthcare provider’s watchful eye, you might want to try the following:
- Carisoprodol (Soma®): A muscle relaxant.
- Diltiazem (Cartia XT®): A calcium-channel blocker.
- Orphenadrine (Norflex®): Treats muscle spasms and relieves pain and stiffness in muscles.
- Verapamil: A calciuim-channel blocker.
What vitamins may help with leg cramps?
No vitamin is likely to help with a leg cramp 100% of the time. However, some experts do recommend that you take a vitamin B12 complex.
Does quinine help with leg cramps?
Quinine was thought to show some promise with healing leg cramps, but it is no longer recommended. There are potentially life-threatening side effects: arrhythmias, thrombocytopenia and hypersensitivity reactions.
When should I get my leg cramps treated at the Emergency Department?
Go to the emergency department (ED) if a leg cramp lasts longer than 10 minutes or becomes unbearably painful. Also go if a leg cramp happens after you touch a substance that could be poisonous or infectious. For example, if you have a cut in your skin that touches dirt, you could get a bacterial infection like tetanus. Exposure to mercury, lead or other toxic substances should also be reason to go to the emergency department.
Is there a surgery that could help with my leg cramps?
At this time, surgery is not recommended as a cure for leg cramps.
Prevention
How can I reduce my risk of getting leg cramps?
Experts can’t promise that you’ll never have a leg cramp again, but there are some steps you can take that might reduce your risk!
- Make sure that you stay hydrated – drink six to eight glasses of water each day. Don’t drink as much alcohol and caffeine.
- Adjust how you sleep. Use pillows to keep your toes pointed upwards if you sleep on your back. If you lie on your front, try hanging your feet over the end of the bed. Both positions can keep you in a relaxed position.
- Gently stretch your leg muscles before you go to sleep.
- Keep blankets and sheets loose around your feet so that your toes are not distorted.
- Wear shoes that fit you well and support your feet.
- Perform frequent leg exercises.
- Stretch your muscles before and after you exercise.
- Experiment with mild exercise right before bed. Walk on the treadmill or ride a bicycle for a few minutes.
What kinds of stretches help prevent leg cramps?
Try the following to prevent leg cramps in your calves: Stand about three feet (one meter) away from a wall. Lean forward. Touch the wall with your arms outstretched while keeping your feet flat. Count to five before you stop, and do it over and over again for at least five minutes. Repeat three times per day.
Outlook / Prognosis
Can leg cramps be cured?
Leg cramps don’t have a cure at this time. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent leg cramps (see the “Prevention” section) and manage your leg cramps (see the “Management and Treatment” section).
Can leg cramps get worse?
The severity of a leg cramp is difficult if not impossible to predict. Some people see improvement with prevention and treatment plans, while others struggle. It is possible that your cramps will feel worse and happen more often as you age.
Living With
How do I take care of myself?
Come up with a treatment plan with your healthcare provider that includes a prevention plan and an in-the-moment treatment plan. Ideas for a prevention plan include several activities you may want to do every day:
- Exercise: Do leg exercises during the day, and mild, brief walking or biking right before bed.
- Hydration: Drink eight glasses of water each day and avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
- Medications and vitamins: Take all vitamins and medications (including muscle relaxants) exactly how they’re prescribed by your healthcare provider.
- Prepare your bed space: Keep a heating pad and massage roller next to your bed.
- Shoes: Purchase supportive shoes.
- Sleeping position: Experiment with different positions to see if one works better than another. Keep your toes up if you’re on your back and hang your feet over the end of the bed if you lie on your front.
- Stretch: Stretch your legs before and after exercising, and right before you go to sleep.
Your in-the-moment treatment plan could include the eight steps mentioned in the Management and Treatment section:
- Stretch. Straighten your leg and then flex it, pulling your toes towards your shin to stretch the muscles (using a towel can assist).
- Massage. Use your hands or a roller to massage the muscles.
- Stand. Get up. Press your feet against the floor.
- Walk. Wiggle your leg while you walk around.
- Apply heat. Use a heating pad or take a warm bath.
- Apply cold. Wrap a bag of ice in a towel and apply it to the area.
- Pain killers. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help with the pain.
- Elevate. Prop up your leg after the cramp starts to feel better.
When should I see my healthcare provider about my leg cramps?
See your healthcare provider if your leg cramps are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to leg cramps:
- Muscle cramps in other parts of your body.
- Significant pain.
- Swelling or numbness in the leg.
- Changes in the skin of your leg.
- Waking up over and over again with leg cramps.
- If your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep.
- If you have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances.
- See your healthcare provider immediately if you’re concerned that your leg cramps are a symptom of an underlying serious medical condition.
What questions should I ask my healthcare provider about leg cramps?
- Do you think that my leg cramps are a symptom of an underlying condition?
- Can you show me the best exercises I can do to stretch my muscles?
- Can you show me the best massage techniques I can use to help with my leg cramps?
- Is it safe for me to take medication for my leg cramps? Which medications should I take?
- Do you recommend that I see a physical therapist, sleep specialist, massage therapist, or other specialist?
- How can I help my child when they have a leg cramp?
- Should I keep an eye out for symptoms other than leg cramps that might indicate a more serious condition?
- How often should I come back to visit you about my leg cramps?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Leg cramps can be unpredictable and agonizing. They can affect your sleep, your exercise routine and your general quality of life. They’re common – very normal – and, fortunately, temporary, and there are steps you can take to manage them. Do your best to avoid risk factors, avoid medications with leg cramps as a side effect and take recommended preventative measures.
If you’re concerned about the severity and duration of your leg cramps, or think that they may be caused by a serious condition, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider. Ask questions and voice your concerns. You don’t have to just “live with” leg cramps.
