Leg cramps
Leg cramps
Leg cramps are common, and in most cases they're nothing to worry about. What happens is that a muscle in your leg suddenly tightens up on its own, causing a sharp, uncomfortable pain for a short while.
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
When to get help
Leg cramps might be a sign of a more serious health condition.
Speak to your GP urgently if:
- leg cramps last longer than 10 minutes and don’t get better when you start to move
- leg cramps develop after you’ve come into contact with a substance like mercury, lead or dirt that gets in a cut
If your GP is closed, phone 111.
Speak to your GP if:
- your leg cramps are affecting your quality of life
- you’re having frequent leg cramps
- your leg cramps are interfering with your sleep
- you also have numbness or swelling in your legs
- your leg muscles are shrinking or becoming weaker
Your GP will ask about your symptoms and examine your legs and feet. They may also ask if you have other symptoms, like numbness or swelling. This may be a sign that you have secondary leg cramps caused by an underlying condition.
In this case, you may need further tests, like blood tests and urine tests, to rule out other conditions.
Causes
Leg cramps sometimes happen for no clear reason (idiopathic). At other times, an underlying condition or specific cause can be identified (secondary leg cramps).
Idiopathic leg cramps
These may be caused by:
- unusual nerve activity during sleep
- too much strain on the leg muscles, for example during exercise
- a sudden drop in blood supply to the affected muscles
Also, tendons naturally shorten as a person gets older. This may explain why older people are especially prone to leg cramps. Tendons are the tough bands of tissue that connect muscles to bone, and if they become too short, they can cause the muscles attached to them to cramp.
Secondary leg cramps
These are caused by an underlying condition or another identifiable cause, such as:
- pregnancy, where the extra weight can strain the leg muscles and make them more prone to cramping
- exercise, since leg cramps are often felt while resting afterward
- neurological conditions, such as motor neurone disease or peripheral neuropathy
- liver disease, where a poorly working liver lets toxins build up in the blood, which can make muscles spasm
- infection, as some bacterial infections, like tetanus, can cause muscle cramps and spasm
- toxins, where high levels of poisonous substances in the blood, like lead or mercury, can cause leg cramps in some people
- dehydration, where low water levels in the body can lower salt levels and trigger muscle cramps in some people
Treatment
Treating leg cramps
Medication is usually only needed in persistent cases where cramping does not respond to exercise.
If you have secondary leg cramps, treating the underlying cause may help relieve your symptoms.
Leg cramps that occur during pregnancy should pass after the baby is born.
Treating cramps that occur as a result of serious liver disease can be more difficult. Your treatment plan may include using medications like muscle relaxants.
Medication
Certain medications have been known to cause leg cramps in a small number of people. If you develop leg cramps after starting a new medication, speak to your pharmacist.
Never stop taking a prescribed medication unless your GP or healthcare professional advises you to do so.
Stretches for leg cramps
Most cases of leg cramps can be relieved by exercising the affected muscles. Exercising your legs during the day will often help reduce how often you get cramping episodes.
To stretch your calf muscles:
- Stand with the front half of your feet on a step, with your heels hanging off the edge.
- Slowly lower your heels so that they are below the level of the step.
- Hold for a few seconds before lifting your heels back up to the starting position.
- Repeat a number of times.
Prevention
If leg cramps are a regular problem for you, gently stretching the muscles in your lower legs on a daily basis can help prevent them or make them happen less often.
It often helps to stretch your calves just before bed each night.
If you sleep on your back, try to keep your toes pointing upward. Resting a pillow on its side at the foot of the bed, with the soles of your feet pressed against it, can help hold your feet in this position.
If you sleep on your front, let your feet hang naturally over the end of the bed. This keeps them relaxed and helps stop the calf muscles from tightening up.
It also helps to keep your sheets and blankets loose rather than tucked in tightly.