Leg cramps are a common and often painful malady that can occur for various reasons. The causes can range from a harmless charley horse to the possibility of a more serious condition like a blood clot. The action to take to find relief will, of course, depend on the cause.
Muscle Spasm (Charley Horse)
A muscle spasm can occur for a variety of reasons, including dehydration, overuse due to exercise or labor, holding your leg in the same position for an extended amount of time, or certain medications like diuretics or statins, which can lower your fluid and mineral levels. To treat a cramp due to muscle spasm, you can elevate your leg to allow proper blood flow. You can also try massaging the area gently, drinking plenty of fluids, walking on the affected leg or taking an over-the-counter medication like acetophenamin if needed.
Injury
Another common cause for leg cramps is injury by either working out too hard and tearing a muscle or tendon or shin splints from repetitive motions like running. The best course of action in this case is to stay off your feet until the pain has subsided and wrap your leg with a bandage. Pain medication can be used if the pain is prolonged or highly uncomfortable. If you believe you have broken or sprained your leg, visit your doctor for further instruction.
Inflammation
You leg may cramp due to inflammation caused by arthritis or gout. This will occur around the knee, and you may notice swelling. For pain, take a medication like Aleve or Tylenol that has been approved for arthritis pain, stay off the leg until the pain has lessened or subsided, and apply a cold compress to get rid of swelling.
Prevention
To prevent any of these maladies from affecting your life, try the following tips to keep your muscles and joints healthy.
• Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, especially water.
• Warm up before any exercise or physical exertion.
• For arthritis pain, talk to your doctor about long-term medications that may help. Also, discuss taking a vitamin D and/or calcium supplement to strengthen your bones and joints.
Rare Occurrences
Blood clots are another possible cause for leg cramps. They usually accompany another illness or the use of certain medications and are most common in those who have been on long-term bed rest. In the instance of a clot, your doctor will have to prescribe medication created for the purpose of removing clots or, in severe cases, perform an invasive procedure to remove the clot. To prevent getting a clot, move your leg so that it isn't in the same position for too long and get up to walk around when and if you can. Talk to your doctor about ways to prevent a clot in the event that you are not well enough to get out of bed.
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