Leg cramping at night is an inconvenient and at times painful condition that can often affect one’s normal sleep pattern. Chronic nocturnal leg cramps affects many older men and women and may also be accompanied with muscle twitching, numbness of the leg after the cramps ease and weaker leg movements. In severe cases, it may also affect normal walking and can be extremely inconvenient if you wake up at night to visit the toilet.
Causes of Night Leg Cramps
Most leg cramps at night occur while you are asleep although it may affect you when you are lying in bed and awake. The exact cause of night leg cramps is unknown although it seems more likely to occur when overexerted and fatigued, in pregnant women, peripheral vascular insufficiency and diabetes. Dehydration is another common cause but would unlikely cause chronic nocturnal leg cramps. Certain drugs including hypertension medication, lipid lowering agents for high cholesterol levels and certain psychotropic drugs may also contribute to leg cramps at night.
Natural Treatment of Night Leg Cramps
- Use a homeopathic anti-inflammatory at bedtime which may help reduce muscle cramping and pain.
- Arnica oil may help to ease the muscle cramp and could be rubbed into the affected area before bedtime to prevent night leg cramps. Alternatively try a capsicin gel rub for quicker relief from muscle cramps.
- Keeping your legs and feet warm with woollen socks or a hot water bottle may offer some relief in reducing the severity of leg muscle cramps.
- Herbal remedies for insomnia may assist with reducing leg muscle cramps and prevent you from awakening in the middle of the night and breaking your sleep.
- Yoga before bedtime could be useful in stretching your calf muscles.
- If you are not suffering with any cardiac conditions, try slightly elevating your leg with a pillow. In cases of poor circulation to the legs, blood may pool in the lower leg and feet, eventually depleting of oxygen and causing cramps.
- Try drinking an electrolyte rich sports drink a few hours before bedtime to reduce dehydration which may contribute to muscle cramping.
- Certain vitamins and minerals like iron (especially if you are anemic), calcium and magnesium may also be useful and should be taken as an individual supplement rather than in a multi-vitamin.