How to Stop Leg Cramps Immediately?

August 17, 2024

Are your leg cramps pulling you down from getting a fit body? If yes! So, I have written this blog for you.

Leg cramps are those intensely painful leg pain that frequently makes life difficult, interfere with our everyday activities, and leave us bedridden.

Unfortunately, we all have faced this severe pain in our leg once in our lifetime. Can you revisit that moment? Yes! It has changed your expression to a wince. I know none of us like this feeling.

Some of you must be facing twisting and tightening of leg muscles that may wake you out of deep sleep. Even if you've ever had one, you'll understand what I mean. It feels like someone has taken each end of your muscle and twisted it into a new shape.

Most oftenly, the elderly people in the house are the most likely to complain about leg pain and request that we massage them. Do you or someone you know complain about frequent leg pain and discomfort?

Leg cramps are most commonly felt in the calves, but they can also occur in the feet or thighs.

This pain usually does not occur while walking or doing any work, but rather when we wake up in the morning. Our legs appear to be disconnected from our bodies. Do you want to know why this part of the body hurts so much more than others and how to stop leg cramps immediately?

In this blog, I will discuss what causes leg cramps, what are the signs, and how to avoid them.

Signs and Symptoms of Leg Cramps

A leg cramp is an uncontrolled and sudden tightening of one or more muscles in your leg. That uncontrollable and unwelcome tightness can cause major pain and make it almost hard to use the affected area of your leg.

The majority of leg cramps start from the pain in the calves. It runs from the back of your knee to the back of your heel. It is possible, however, to have cramping and tightness in the front of the leg.

How to get rid of leg cramps?

The good news! Most leg cramps go away on their own within around 10 minutes. The bad news is that the pain and tightness caused by a leg cramp can stay for up to 24 hours. However, there are a number of home remedies for leg cramps that can help you in leg cramp treatment. I will mention those tips later in this article.

Causes of Leg Cramps

Poor Circulation of Blood

The main cause of leg cramps is poor blood circulation. The heart is the organ responsible for blood circulation in our bodies; yet, our feet and calves are the furthest away from the heart, which causes an imbalance in blood circulation. You may be thinking what causes poor circulation? Right!

Diabetes and cholesterol can both cause poor blood circulation. You should be careful that diabetes medication might develop neuropathy (the sensation of tingling in your hands and feet) since diabetes medicine weakens our nerves. [1] That is why diabetic patients have their feet amputated or their injuries do not heal quickly because the nerves cannot supply the blood to those parts of the body. Nerve Pain Relief with R-Lipoic Acid supplement is a quick way for leg cramps treatment which stops neuropathy and reverses the damage in your nerves.

Nerve Pain Relief with R-Lipoic Acid

If you are taking cholesterol or blood pressure medicine, stop it immediately. Why?

Because of the blood pressure and cholesterol medicine can result in irritation, and headaches and affect our brain. Instead of it, start to take healthy fats like desi ghee, beans, and legumes which will help you increase good cholesterol in your body. You can also watch my video on the dangerous side effects of cholesterol medicine.

A Blocked Artery

A blocked artery in your body can also result in leg cramps. Peripheral Artery Disorder is a disorder that affects the vessels that supply blood to the legs and feet. [2] It is caused by the shrinkage of nerves and blood vessels in the legs. This reduces blood flow, which can harm nerves and other tissues. This condition happens when fatty material which is known as plaque accumulates on the walls of your arteries resulting in shrinking them. The artery walls also tighten and cannot expand to allow more blood flow when needed.

Electrolyte Imbalance

Muscle cramps can be caused by an electrolyte imbalance, such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. To contract and relax muscles, the body uses these minerals and they are very essential for muscles to work.

A mineral imbalance can reduce blood flow to the muscles, and a lack of certain minerals, such as magnesium, can interfere with muscle function and cause leg cramps. [3] Therefore, it is really important to maintain the magnesium levels in your bloodstream. There is a very effective source of magnesium, that is my supplement which helps you in getting rid of your cramps.

Pregnancy

Leg cramps are a common symptom of pregnancy's third trimester, especially in the evening. In this case, a vitamin shortage, changes in blood circulation, or the added weight of the baby on the leg nerves could be the cause of the pain. [4]

Too Much Calcium in the Diet

Leg cramps might also result from consuming too much calcium. I once treated a patient whose child used to experience leg cramps at night. I recommended that they give their child a magnesium salt bath at night. But the cramping continued to happen. When I asked them how frequently their child drank milk, they replied that it was three to four times each day. I advised them to reduce their dosage. Why?

Calcium, an important mineral that assists in the relaxation of your muscles, may be found in milk. However, Your muscles may twitch or cramp if you consume too much calcium. More importantly, too much calcium can harm your heart muscle.

Home Remedies to Stop Leg Cramps

Stay Hydrated

Drinking adequate electrolytes can help you reverse the effect of dehydration and can help prevent muscle cramps before they even start. [5] Muscle cramps can result from dehydration, so ensuring that you get enough liquids throughout the day might help prevent them.

Drinking liquids will assist the muscles to contract and relax. Your muscle cells are less strained when you maintain proper hydration.

Exercise and Yoga

Exercise is one of the finest ways to boost blood circulation in your body, which will help you manage leg cramps. Muscle stretching can also help prevent nighttime leg cramps. When a muscular cramp occurs, stop the activity that is triggering it and stretch it out. This is one of the most efficient strategies for getting quick relief from muscle cramps. It's also a good option to stretch before and after your exercise.

If there are older people in your house, it is obvious that they can not do the exercise or stretch. Due to lack of movement they might be having a weak heart. In order to boost their heart health you can give them CoQ10 which comes in the liposomal form and can be absorbed by the body easily.

Omega 3s

Omega-3 fatty acids are a natural treatment option for persons suffering from leg cramps and nerve pain. Omega-3 fatty acids in particular are known to be effective in reducing inflammation and thinning blood in the body. [6]

Consuming Omega-3-rich foods such as salmon, chia seeds, and flax seeds will help you thin your blood and minimise nerve pain. We cannot acquire enough Omega 3s from natural foods, therefore you can take an Omega 3 supplement.

Massage

It is important to massage frequently in order to prevent leg cramps. If there are old people in your home, you should give them a massage at home which can help them lose the tight muscles.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar can help ease leg cramps. I've received countless feedback from clients who were suffering from diabetes. They said that consuming ACV before bedtime helped them get rid of muscle cramps.

ACV can also help to reduce your pH and acidify your body. Cramping is a sign of being excessively alkaline in the body, thus decreasing your pH using apple cider vinegar can help. [7]

When to Worry?

If chronic leg cramping continues even after exercise and sufficient hydration and after following the tips mentioned above, or if you experience extreme discomfort, swelling, or skin redness, this could be a symptom of an underlying health problem.