Calf cramps while sleeping

Introduction Calf muscle cramps: The scientific name of cramps is muscle spasm, a spontaneous tonic contraction of muscles. In general, seizures can last for a few seconds or tens of seconds. The muscle spasms that occur in the calves and toes are the most common, and the pain is unbearable during the attack. Especially when the cramps are in the middle of the night, people often wake up. For a long time, they can not relieve pain and affect sleep. The easiest way to do this is to attack your thumb up and straighten your legs. If someone helps, it will work faster.

Cause

Calf cramps at night are related to the following factors:

(1) Fatigue: During the day, the amount of exercise in the leg is too large or excessively exerted, resulting in fatigue. The state of nighttime muscle tension is not improved, too much metabolites are not metabolized in time, and its stimulation can cause calf cramps.

(2) Cold: When sleeping at night, cold feet and legs can cause leg muscle spasms.

(3) Hypocalcemia: When hypocalcemia occurs in the body, the threshold of excitability of the neuromuscular junction is lowered, and the stimulation intensity below the normal condition can excite the nerve muscles, thus easily causing abnormal contraction, causing calf cramps . This situation is more common in pregnant women and the elderly who are deficient in calcium.

(4) Blood flow factors: For patients with leg varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis, if a certain posture is maintained for a long time while sleeping, the veins of the legs are compressed, the reflux is blocked, and the blood flow stagnates. When the blood stasis reaches a certain level, It can cause paralysis of the leg muscles.

an examination

Related inspection

EMG lift leg test

When sleeping, the feeling of discomfort or pain in the calf affects normal sleep. Pain can be very uncomfortable when cramps persist. Cramps usually disappear within a few minutes, but in severe cases can cause persistent soreness. Pre-ear sniper test (chrostek sign) and upper arm compression test (Trousseau sign) positive serum calcium is less than 2mmol / L, serum magnesium is less than 0.75mmol / L. Taking correct treatment can avoid the wrong judgment caused by one measurement at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, the daytime and nighttime status should be comprehensively evaluated. At the same time, when the patient is in a stable period, dynamic peak speed monitoring often indicates the change of the condition.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of calf cramps during sleep:

1, calf cramps: calf cramps, people in the north usually called "leg belly twist". Because the contraction or relaxation of the leg muscles during exercise can cause the blood vessels to be squeezed and the blood circulation of the legs to be accelerated, the metabolic products can be taken away in time. However, due to various factors, the metabolites may accumulate, and to a certain extent, the muscles will be strongly stimulated to cause contraction, thereby causing cramps in the calves.

2, calf muscle spasm after walking: calf muscle spasm after walking is a frequent occurrence. Due to excessive walking or running time, the muscles of the lower limbs are overworked.

When sleeping, the feeling of discomfort or pain in the calf affects normal sleep. Pain can be very uncomfortable when cramps persist. Cramps usually disappear within a few minutes, but in severe cases can cause persistent soreness.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.