Leg cramps at night can range from an occasional, mildly annoying discomfort to a severe painful cramp most nights. When you’re wondering how to treat leg cramps at night, you are wise to visit a specialist before writing these symptoms off as an inconvenience. In Brooklyn, you have access to the best vein and artery doctor in NYC at the Downtown Vein & Vascular Center. You find effective treatment for leg cramps at night, as well as a host of other vein and artery problems.
What Are Leg Cramps at Night?
Leg cramps at night are sudden involuntary spasms during the night that cause intense pain in your leg. They may last several minutes and most often affect your calf or foot muscles. Also called nocturnal leg cramps, these spasms can be very painful.
Many different causes can trigger leg pain, such as overuse or injury. Sometimes, leg pain is related to circulation problems, vein conditions or artery disease. Whenever you’re experiencing leg pain that concerns you or if you’re trying to find out how to treat leg cramps at night, find the best vein and artery doctor at the Downtown Vein & Vascular Center, serving all of Brooklyn and greater New York City.
How Are Leg Cramps at Night Described?
A leg cramp that happens at night is sometimes called a charley horse. The pain that you experience during a cramp can be excruciating. Those that have leg cramps at night often describe the pain as:
- Debilitating
- Unbearable
- Tight
- Knotted
- Clenched
- A muscle that’s hard to the touch
The movement of the leg during a leg spasm is involuntary, and you may have difficulty getting it out of a painful position. Your muscles may hurt for hours, even after the cramp has passed. Nocturnal leg cramps aren’t the same as restless leg syndrome, which is the urge to move your legs at night. Restless leg syndrome can be uncomfortable, but isn’t agonizing.
Read more: Why You Should Never Ignore Leg Cramps
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Compassionate Care
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What Causes Leg Cramps at Night?
There are multiple possible causes of leg cramps at night, including:
- Varicose veins
- Venous insufficiency or arterial insufficiency
- Peripheral artery disease
- Neuropathy
- Dehydration, which is the most common cause of leg cramps
- Metabolic problems, such as kidney disease, thyroid disease or anemia
- Side effects of some medications, such as diuretics, cholesterol-lowering drugs or blood pressure medicine
Your risk of having leg cramps at night increases if you’re over the age of 50, if you’re pregnant or if you abuse alcohol. Sometimes, there’s no clear cause for sudden leg contractions during the night.
If you have an underlying health condition, such as diabetes or kidney disease, treatment of these conditions may reduce the frequency or intensity of your leg pain. Having leg cramps at night or ongoing leg pain both day and night can impact your ability to sleep, which reduces your quality of life. Contact the medical professionals at the Downtown Vein & Vascular Center for an evaluation. Dr. Sobolevsky and his team have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating pain in the lower extremities.
Downtown Vein Treatment Center
480 Court Street, Ste 101
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 787-5559
