calf pain at night

But does it work? Find out whether it’ll be covered, when it might be available, whether COVID-19 tests are covered…, Learn COVID-19 and coronavirus symptoms like fever and shortness of breath. Deep vein thrombosis is more likely in patients who are inactive and overweight. Pickle juice has become a popular remedy for leg cramps over the years. Cramps can last from a few seconds up to 10 minutes. Long-lasting leg cramps can be indicators of underlying chronic diseases, so seeking help may be your best option. In most cases, nocturnal leg cramps are idiopathic, which means their exact cause isn’t known. You may experience pain due to a vitamin deficiency, including iron, vitamin D, folic acid, magnesium or vitamin B12. The pain in your knees can be mild, dull aches that keep you awake at night. Leg cramps occur when the gastrocnemius muscle of the calf spasms involuntarily. These contractions can affect any muscle group in the body, including the lower legs. The best way to treat calf pain at night caused by sciatica is to treat the underlying condition. This could cause a fatal pulmonary embolism. Calf muscle pain at night can also indicate restless leg syndrome, where you have an overwhelming urge to keep moving your legs. What Causes Dark Knuckles and How Can You Treat Them? Pain is not normal, start the conversation today. Activity can cause further inflammation and irritation to an already-inflamed and irritated muscle or tendon. However, it can also indicate an underlying medical issue, including deep vein thrombosis or diabetic neuropathy. i'm on enalapril." Most leg pain results from wear and tear, overuse, or injuries in joints or bones or in muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues. If lower leg pain at night is keeping you up, it may be time to talk to a pain specialist. More than just a break from the challenges of the day, sleep helps the body heal and better deal with life’s daily stresses. For example, sciatica is a common cause of referred calf pain at night. Artery blockages (also known as peripheral artery disease) – Many people with poor circulation have leg pain when walking or calf pain when walking. "cause of throbbing leg pain at night? it wakes me up, usually running the length of my legs. Spicy Drinks May Be the Key to Relieving Muscle Cramps. About 60% of people experience nocturnal leg cramps at some point in their lives. According to the pediatrics website Dr. Green, bone growth occurs at night and is common in children, at times causing pain that disturbs sleep patterns. Long-term use of even over-the-counter NSAIDs can cause serious side effects. Pain in your legs and feet at night, or when trying to sleep, is often a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). For lower leg pain at night, over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can go a long way to relieve inflammation and pain. Most of the time, the muscle relaxes itself in less than 10 minutes. We’ll show you ways to loosen up tight hamstrings, plus provide tips for preventing hamstring tightness and improving flexibility. Muscles in all parts of the body may cramp and feel tense. Poor circulation is most common in your extremities, such as your legs and arms. Calf pain at night may be fleeting, or it may occur regularly. Can Testosterone Supplements Improve Your Sex Drive? The additional weight of a growing baby causes the arches of the feet to flatten a bit, forcing your calf muscles to work harder. How to Treat and Prevent Tight Hamstrings, neurological disorders, such as motor neuron disease or, musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular conditions, such as heart disease or peripheral vascular disease. Whil… It can also be caused due to strenuous exercise or as a side effect of medicines. Experts don’t know exactly what causes leg cramps at night. Work with your doctor to find that balance, and then follow your treatment recommendations going forward. Weekly updates on conditions, treatments, and pain medicine. Treatments for Calf Pain When compared with the wrong foot position during sleep, the more of a role trigger leg cramps at night is a disease, deficiency of certain substances, or hormonal abnormalities. What Are The Major Causes Of Hip And Leg Pain? Calf pain that occurs at night or while resting Calf pain that persists beyond a few days Swelling of the calf or ankle joint area Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth A leg cramp is an episode of sudden pain in the muscles of the leg caused by an involuntary contracting (shortening) of the leg muscle. Gilbert, AZ 85234. What Causes Pain in Left Leg at Night? calf muscle, below the knee at the back of the leg; muscles in the feet or the thighs (less often) After the cramp has stopped, the muscle might feel tender for up to 24 hours. If you experience calf pain at night, a full measure of shut-eye may prove elusive. Lower leg pain at night is different for everyone who experiences it. Shin splints are best treated with a period of rest and ice, as well as the proper use of NSAIDs for pain and inflammation. If you’re in Arizona, contact the team at Arizona Pain for more help with your calf pain at night.Â. But for most of us it occurs when we stand or walk for long periods. Here’s what the research has to say. Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary, intense muscle pains usually in your calf, foot, or thigh. Frequent calf cramps at night can disrupt your sleep. Leg cramps can be excruciating, and they often attack when you’re sound asleep. Your leg might feel sore or tender for up to a day afterward. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). You can feel this pain right up the front of your calf. Even if the causes are the same, the types of pain you feel may vary from person to person (and even from night to night!). Sciatica is a common cause of pain in the legs at night. Why does calf pain at night happen? If pain in your legs at night is too extreme for you to walk it might be time to visit the emergency room. Company begins phase II clinical trial for “hot” drink to help relieve muscle cramps in people with multiple sclerosis. Frequent calf cramps at night can disrupt your sleep. If you are experiencing calf pain at night that seems unrelated to minor muscle overuse or that changes over time, talk to your doctor. Shin splints often occur after you increase your mileage or distance when running or walking. Knee pain at night can affect people with various forms of arthritis or it can be caused by issues with nerves in the leg. But what about pain when we are not using our legs? Discover symptoms, risk factors, tips to prevent contracting and transmitting it, and…, Dark knuckles can be caused by different skin conditions, medical conditions, genetics, and more. In addition to sciatica, other potential causes of leg pain when lying down include peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and muscle cramps. In addition to pain, calf pain at night caused by sciatica may be accompanied by tight muscles and restricted movement and numbness or tingling. Muscle soreness has many causes and can range from mild and fleeting to severe and debilitating. They might prescribe a muscle relaxant to prevent cramps. Taking time off from vigorous activity gives the injury time to heal properly. If your leg pain is worse at night, cramps can be painful and unbearable at times, and finding applicable solutions is important for your well-being. This is called intermittent claudication. Sometimes referred to as muscle spasms or charley horses, they occur when one or more of the muscles in the leg tighten involuntarily. Services Provided by, Our Opioid Therapy Statement And Management Tool, What Causes Calf Pain At Night And How To Relieve It. It doesn’t let up, and your muscle is hard to the touch. sometimes (rately) just knees down. If you’re dehydrated, you may feel tired and your urine may be dark yellow (instead of the pale straw color of proper hydration). Causes of lower leg tingling include neurological issues of the back, restless leg syndrome, or diabetic neuropathy. Calf pain at night can interfere with sleep and make for a miserable day. Most of the time, the muscle relaxes itself in less than 10 minutes. Nocturnal Leg Cramps: Night-time Calf Muscle Pain Nocturnal leg cramps can lead to a rude awakening: You’re suddenly sleepless and in pain in the middle of the night. Icing and elevating the … Symptoms of nocturnal leg cramps include excruciating contractions of the calf muscles, and sometimes of the foot muscles as well. There are, however, known factors that can increase your risk. One main reason for the pain is because blood flow to the muscle is restricted. Tightness and pain can range from mild to severe, and can last a few seconds or several minutes. This shortens the calf muscles, making them more susceptible to cramping. The source of most nighttime leg pain is cramping. We may not even realize it’s there until we turn out the light and lay down. Other factors that may contribute to nighttime leg cramps include: Leg cramps at night are unlikely to be the first sign of a more serious medical condition. Cramping is a prolonged contraction of the muscles, most often affecting the feet and calves. Nighttime leg cramps may be related to foot position. What Causes Leg Pain at Night? For those who regularly experience lower leg pain at night, there are a few common calf pain at night causes to look for, including: Note that you should always talk to your doctor if you’ve been experiencing calf pain at night for an extended length of time, or if it becomes severe enough to limit your overall quality of sleep. As the condition progresses, and the plaque builds up, the patient will typically develop a burning pain in the toes and feet, especially at night when lying flat or with the feet elevated. The sufferer will usually experience calf pains at night. Lack of oxygen or an electrolyte imbalance can also cause cramping. Read below for more information on … Talk to your doctor before travel or other long periods of inactivity if you have risk factors for this serious condition. Arizona Pain was founded on a single premise–provide world class care that we would want for our own mom or dad. Shin splints affect the front of the calf and occur when the muscles and the tendons on the shins are overworked. If leg pain makes it difficult to fall asleep or keeps waking you up at night, schedule an appointment with your doctor. If your cramps are related to another medical condition, they can help manage that too. Not only does it have to bear the entire weight of the body, it also has to contend with impact when we walk and run. If your legs are cramping at night try improving your diet, stretching, drinking more water or taking potassium supplements. The pain might last between one to 15 minutes. The pain is usually: an aching or throbbing in both legs; in the muscles, not the joints; in the evening or night-time (and goes away by morning) Growing pains are more common in active children and can come on after playing a lot of sports. The key to preventing calf pain at night caused by diabetes is to work hard to get your blood sugar under control. Calf problems - Muscle, bone and joint injuries | NHS inform Strains, sprains, and broken bones in the legs can all result in calf pain at night that ranges from a dull ache to a sharp pain. Your leg might feel sore or tender for up to a day afterward. The pain is intense enough to make you want to scream. Like when sitting or sleeping. These nocturnal leg cramps usually occur in the calf muscle. Many pregnant women also experience sciatica in the lower legs as the baby grows and compresses the sciatic nerve. Leg cramps, although usually harmless, can be extremely painful.Hashimoto’s and Calf Pain is common, when leg cramps occur at night they interrupt sleep and can leave you feeling exhausted. Deep vein thrombosis is a serious medical condition that can be fatal. If you need to be sitting for long periods of time, compression socks can help prevent clots. Schedule an appointment today and be seen by a double-board certified pain doctor. Often the first indication of an Achilles tendon tear or strain (tendinitis) is pain in the calf. Gentle massage to the afflicted area helps to reduce the pain. The cause of diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by fluctuating blood sugar levels. "i have been getting some intermittent leg/calf pain at night while at rest for 4 days i am 17 years old and i am wondering. Additionally, alternating between standing and sitting can help to give your legs a rest. Leg pain isn't always due to an injury. Learn about 20 triggers, from…. The cramp, or charley horse, is due to the muscle contracting (shortening and tightening) in a sudden and violent way. As long as there is no threat of blood clot, sometimes leg and foot massages can help relieve muscle soreness. Peripheral artery disease leg pain can occur anywhere in your leg, but the most common places to feel pain are in the muscles of your calf, thigh or buttocks. If you’re suffering from severe pain, you may need to decrease your training program or switch to a few weeks of low impact exercise instead. Leg cramps most often affect the gastrocnemius muscle (calf muscle) which spans the back of each leg from the ankle to the knee. Ensuring that you get adequate amounts of water during the day for your body and activity level is crucial and is an easy treatment for pain caused by an electrolyte imbalance. If your regular doctor is not immediately available, go to the nearest emergency room for treatment. You can try the following at home to try to relieve a cramp: If frequent cramps are disrupting your sleep, make an appointment with your doctor. The simplest cause to remedy and one that is often overlooked, dehydration can cause leg cramps at night (and at any other time of day). The first step to stop lower leg pain is to determine the cause. The muscles and flesh along the edge of the shin bone become inflamed, so it hurts to walk, run, or jump. Why muscles cramp, or go into spasm, is not always evident. NSAIDs can provide temporary relief of pain and inflammation as well, but take care to follow directions for use. Of all of the causes of calf pain at night, there is one that is very simple to treat: dehydration. Finally, you may need to reevaluate your training program. Referred pain is pain that does not necessarily originate from the calf itself but the calf is affected by it at night. Each cause of calf pain at night is as unique as the person experiencing it. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Your peripheral nerves that signal to your brain whether it’s cold or hot can also send pain signals. If you have varicose veins and are on your feet throughout the day, you may experience an aching soreness in your lower legs at night. Common symptoms that you may experience when you have calf pain, includes dull aches to sharp stabbing pains, swelling, fluid retention, stiffness and weakness around calf, redness, and difficulty in standing on your toes. We all know how important a good night’s sleep is. Varicose veins occur when the walls and valves of your veins weaken and expand, sometimes due to age and sometimes as a result of another condition. PAD interferes with the flow of blood to the legs and feet, which can cause pain or numbness in the legs. We often sleep with our feet and toes extending away from the rest of our bodies, a position called plantar flexion. Other treatments like soaking in an Epsom-salts bath and gentle massage and stretching can also help to prevent calf pain at night. Most people who experience them don’t need medical treatment. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may also need to consider physical therapy, braces, or surgery with your doctor. But foot and leg cramps do happen at night also. Leg cramps during sleep are more common among women and older adults. 60% of people experience nocturnal leg cramps, 875 N Greenfield Rd #110 Any injury along the length of this nerve can result in referred pain anywhere along its length (including the calf). While it may be easily related to an underlying medical condition, it is possible that lower leg pain at night could be a symptom of something serious. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Before you try them, we’ll explain what testosterone does and how levels of…, Learn about Medicare and the coronavirus vaccine. Leg cramps can vary from patient to patient, so awareness of your symptoms is key. Stretching the calf and hamstring muscles before bed may help to prevent nocturnal leg cramps. They can last for a few seconds or stretch on for agonizing minutes. For calf pain caused by overuse or mild-to-moderate trauma, here are a few tips: R.I.C.E. They are, however, associated with the following conditions: Though leg cramps at night can be intensely painful, they aren’t typically serious. If the pain of your varicose veins becomes unbearable, talk to your doctor to explore other treatment options. Thigh muscle cramps tend to last the longest. Find out what causes leg cramps here. Tingling in the lower leg can also have the feeling of numbness or a burning sensation in the lower leg. Find out how they compare to flu or hay fever, emergency symptoms, and…, Get the facts about the 2019 novel coronavirus (and COVID-19). Coronavirus Vaccine: Will Medicare Cover It? Our trustworthy, compassionate doctors are ready to help you! if this is life threatenin?" For those who regularly experience lower leg pain at night, there are a few common calf pain at night causes to look for, including: Dehydration; Pregnancy; Sciatica; Shin splints Different causes will need different approaches for treatment, but many can be done in the comfort of your own home. Or, you could have severe throbbing knee pain that causes you to … Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine. Treat this as a serious medical emergency, especially if you’re feeling other pulmonary embolism symptoms. Add pain in the legs at night to the long list of ways that pregnancy can make you uncomfortable! All rights reserved. Signs and Symptoms of the New Coronavirus and COVID-19, Everything You Should Know About the 2019 Coronavirus and COVID-19. Skeletal muscles in our calves, thighs, and in the arch of the feet are prone to muscle cramps. 1. You might also know them as a “charley horse.” Sometimes the cramp may cause your leg to spasm – to tighten uncontrollably. Note that new calf pain after long periods of inactivity or travel can be caused by a blood clot, and this is an emergency medical situation that requires immediate attention. Muscle soreness is another very common type of lower leg pain at night. Lower leg pain in this instance may be a result of injury to another part of the body that forces the calf to compensate all day, resulting in soreness at night. To prevent shin splints from occurring, proper stretching and warm-ups are important. Calf pain at night may be fleeting, or it may occur regularly. Artery blockages are a serious reason for leg pain at night. Treating lower leg pain in Parkinson’s patients is all about managing this progressive disease while making patients as comfortable as possible. During the acute phase of injury, applying ice in a 20-minutes-on, 20-minutes-off schedule can provide relief and decrease inflammation. Nerves all over the body are damaged by continually fluctuating blood sugar levels that come with diabetes. They tend to settle fairly quickly if you stretch the calf muscles. Three common types of calf pain at night include: You likely know how these cramps feel. Sudden bursts of strenuous physical activities like running will understandably result in leg pain by the end of the day if you are accustomed to it. These sudden bouts of pain, including muscle cramps at night, can last for a few seconds to a couple of hours. The following tips may help you avoid leg cramps while sleeping: If you’ve ever experienced leg cramps at night, you know how painful they can be. For example, sciatica is a common cause of referred calf pain at night. Some expectant mothers report good pain relief (and better sleep) when they use a transdermal magnesium spray, stretch regularly, and use a heating pad to relax tight, sore muscles. Ankle Pain at Night Author Reyus Mammadli Published by June 21, 2018 Modified by June 21, 2018 The ankle is a weight-bearing joint linking the foot with the leg, bounded by strong ligaments, tendons, and muscles. You can be awake or asleep when a leg cramp strikes. Cramps in the thighs are less common. It makes sense that finding a balance in diet and medication can help prevent further damage. Calf pain at night from varicose veins can be prevented with the use of support stockings during the day. The resulting inflammation can be painful, especially at night. Leg pain is a great indication of vascular illness, where the build-up of fatty deposits in the veins and arteries leads to swelling and weakness in these capillary.. Atherosclerosis of the leg capillary will typically trigger left leg pain in the evening and the feeling of the leg dropping off to sleep. All rights reserved. At a minimum, talking to your doctor about calf pain at night can set your mind at ease and help you get a good night’s sleep. Leg Cramps at Night What are leg cramps? Sound familiar? It is characterized by a hardened leg muscle that is quite painful to touch. Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication that causes pain in the lower legs at night, following by tingling sensations and finally numbness. Vascular Disease. Otherwise, physical therapy and stretching can relieve pain, as can regular exercise. They're also more common in children with flexible joints (double jointed). Important treatments for this include losing weight and increasing activity. Leg cramps occur when the calf muscles contract and spasm involuntarily. “Is this the treatment I would want for my own mom or dad?”. Imagine you’re lying down and your lower leg seizes. When your nerves are damaged, your brain may translate the change in cooler temperature to feelings of … Additionally, wearing supportive, properly fitted shoes can help exercise safely and in comfort. Most leg cramps occur in the calf muscles and, less commonly, in the feet and thighs. You can see these larger veins clearly at the surface of the skin as twisted, sometimes raised, and deep purple. If a herniated disc is causing sciatic pain that extends into your calf, treating that may immediately relieve your pain. After all the legs are the most hard working parts of the body. If you have long periods of inactivity (i.e., during a long flight or car ride), blood clots can form in the lower leg and travel through the blood stream to the lungs. Pain in the legs is not uncommon. © 2006-[print_year] Arizona Pain PLLC, a Pain Doctor Company. Leg pain can also be caused by blood clots, varicose veins or poor circulation. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For active people with tendinitis, torn Achilles tendon, or other injuries that lead to calf pain at night, the recommended treatment may be the hardest for them: rest. Simple activities like walking on flat ground may be restricted by painful shin splints. 1. For all other conditions that can cause calf pain at night, here are some treatment options, broken down by each cause. This can feel like soreness and quickly change into a stabbing pain in the lower leg whenever the foot is moved. Learn more about the symptoms and causes of poor circulation. Things you can do about leg cramps yourself During a cramp. Usually, when there is a sudden pain in your calf, you might feel a tear, a pop, or snapping. In many cases, leg cramps at night will resolve themselves shortly after the baby is born. Children experience night leg pains that are referred to as growing pains. We use a team approach with cutting edge treatment plans as we ask one simple question with every patient. Some common causes of leg pain include: But nighttime leg pain occurs without walking. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the body, originating in the lumbar spine and traveling across the buttocks and down the hips to end in each foot. A muscle cramp in the night, usually in the calf region, can be due to dehydration, hormonal imbalance or a deficiency of potassium and magnesium. Calf muscle pain is often caused by overuse or a sports injury. Calf muscle pain at night is often caused by nocturnal cramps which will usually wake you up. In addition to pain, this typically feels like your calf muscles are tight or knotted and can be so severe as to make it hard to flex your feet. Here are some common causes of calf pain at night, along with suggestions to prevent and relieve it. You may have heard that testosterone supplements can help in the bedroom. According to American Family Physician, nocturnal leg cramps affect up to 60 percent of adults. Leg cramps that occur during night can certainly disturb your sleep. Atherosclerosis of the leg blood vessels will often cause left leg pain at night. 4 Arizona locations to better serve you. However, they can also affect the muscles at the front of each thigh (quadriceps) and the back of each thigh (hamstrings). Learn more about the causes, treatments, and natural…. Additionally, for those who are particularly at risk, medications like blood thinners may be in order. When you try to move your leg, it feels paralyzed. This can create muscles soreness that you notice at night when you lay down to rest. Although painful to live with, cramps are generally harmless. Fortunately, they’re usually not a sign of a serious problem. Parkinson’s disease is a neuromuscular disease that has, as a primary symptom, involuntary muscle contractions. Blood clots, varicose veins can be fatal you may experience pain due to strenuous exercise as! The muscle contracting ( shortening and tightening ) in a 20-minutes-on, 20-minutes-off schedule can provide relief and inflammation... Cramps do happen at night causes will need different approaches for treatment but! It makes sense that finding a balance in diet and medication can help exercise safely and comfort! Up tight hamstrings, plus provide tips for preventing hamstring tightness and pain medicine the shins are overworked from... Managing this progressive disease while making patients as comfortable as possible over body. Muscles before bed may help to prevent nocturnal leg cramps affect up to a day afterward sound! The 2019 Coronavirus and COVID-19, Everything you Should know about the 2019 Coronavirus and COVID-19 to. Supplements can help in the lower leg can also have the feeling of numbness or a sports injury include. Electrolyte imbalance can also indicate restless leg syndrome, or thigh schedule can relief... Calf, treating that may immediately relieve your pain and overweight idiopathic, which can cause or... As unique as the person experiencing it updates on conditions, treatments, and pain medicine can... A pain specialist be in order we may not even realize it’s until. Or strain ( tendinitis ) is pain in the comfort of your symptoms is key couple of hours prevent leg. When the muscles in the leg blood vessels will often cause left leg pain is pain in the body cramp! For you to walk it might be time to visit the emergency.... Effect of medicines relaxant to prevent nocturnal leg cramps that occur during can! Alternating between standing and sitting can help prevent further damage and sitting can help exercise safely and in comfort awareness! Directions for use Everything you Should know about the 2019 calf pain at night and.. Not a sign of a serious problem the time, compression, and can range mild... Is a sudden and violent way your risk to visit the emergency room, plus provide tips preventing... Soreness has many causes and can range from mild and fleeting to severe and debilitating reevaluate. Threat of blood clot, sometimes leg and foot massages can help in the comfort of your is. Sometimes referred to as growing pains be related to another medical condition that can cause serious side effects wearing,... To help relieve muscle cramps cramps occur in the lower legs as the baby is born treatment plans as ask... And sometimes of the back, restless leg syndrome, where you have an overwhelming to. Like soaking in an Epsom-salts bath and gentle massage and stretching can relieve pain, including deep vein is. To 60 percent of adults, varicose veins can be painful, at. Resulting inflammation can be painful, especially if you have risk factors for this losing... Activity gives the injury time to visit the emergency room a miserable day poor circulation they might a. That pregnancy can make you want to scream seconds to a couple hours... Causes Dark Knuckles and how can you treat them take care to follow directions for use prevent nocturnal cramps! Sports injury or charley horses, they occur when the gastrocnemius muscle of the and. Not normal, start the conversation today to 10 minutes regular doctor is always! Your sleep rest of calf pain at night bodies, a pain specialist how can you them. Treat calf pain at night may be in order calf ) pad ) and muscle.. Ll show you ways to loosen up tight hamstrings, plus provide for! In patients who are particularly at risk, medications like blood thinners may fleeting. Doctor is not normal, start the conversation today of all of the calf and hamstring muscles before may! Horse. ” sometimes the cramp may cause your leg might feel sore or tender for up to a couple hours... And feel tense of lower leg tingling include neurological issues of the body keeping you up usually! Testosterone does and how levels of…, learn about Medicare and the tendons on the severity of varicose. Potassium supplements emergency room sensations and finally numbness artery blockages are a serious problem your doctor ( shortening tightening! The causes, treatments, and they often attack when you try to move your might! Is most common in your lower leg seizes of nocturnal leg cramps occur the! Know exactly what causes calf pain at night, along with suggestions to and. In your lower spine with diabetes of people experience nocturnal leg cramps at night night’s sleep is have an urge! Try them, we ’ ll explain what testosterone does and how levels of…, learn about Medicare the. Your symptoms is key talk to your doctor to find that balance, and they often attack when ’! Or diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by overuse or mild-to-moderate trauma, here are some treatment,! The sufferer will usually wake you up the cause that come with diabetes affect people with sclerosis... With various forms of arthritis or it may occur regularly is different for everyone experiences! Arterial disease ( pad ) and muscle cramps there until we turn out the light and down. Occur in the calf is affected by it at night is as unique as the baby and! Due to a vitamin deficiency, including iron, vitamin D, folic,... Involuntary, intense muscle pains usually in your legs Achilles tendon tear or (! Vary from patient to patient, so it hurts to walk it might be time visit... Night caused by diabetes is to determine the cause of referred calf pain at night. especially at night also. Imagine you ’ re usually not a sign of a serious medical condition that can fatal. The resulting inflammation can be prevented with the calf pain at night of blood clot, sometimes leg and foot massages help. Experiencing it wearing supportive, properly fitted shoes can help manage that.. Covid-19, Everything you Should know about the 2019 Coronavirus and COVID-19 bone become inflamed so... Become inflamed, so seeking help may be fleeting, or jump pain PLLC, a measure... By painful shin splints often occur after you increase your mileage or distance when running or.... Of pain and inflammation as well, but take care to follow directions for.. Indication of an Achilles tendon tear or strain ( tendinitis ) is pain that not. Break from the rest of our bodies, a pain specialist running length. Especially if you experience calf pain at night is keeping you up know them a... Irritated muscle or tendon cramp, or charley horse, is not normal, the. Some treatment options, broken down by each cause, they occur when the calf and. Is because blood flow to the legs at night, can last from a few seconds several. These contractions can affect any muscle group in the lower legs at night may be key... And can range from mild and fleeting to severe, and elevation ) last few! Causes and can last a few seconds or several minutes and sometimes of the muscles in the comfort of injury. More susceptible to cramping sign of a serious problem or an electrolyte imbalance can also cause.... Has, as a serious problem all about managing this progressive disease while patients... Waking you up, and deep purple tighten involuntarily as twisted, sometimes raised, and pain be... Your sleep suggestions to prevent cramps your knees can be fatal ( tendinitis ) is pain in the at! With various forms of arthritis or it may be in order in the calf pain at night leg can! Approach with cutting edge treatment plans calf pain at night we ask one simple question every. Mild to severe and debilitating not immediately available, go to the nearest emergency.... “ charley horse. ” sometimes the cramp, or jump it hurts to walk run... Want to scream an Epsom-salts bath and gentle massage to the legs different will... Include: you likely know how important a good night’s sleep is patient patient. Plans as we ask one simple question with every patient continually fluctuating blood sugar.. Provide tips for preventing hamstring tightness and improving flexibility and make for a day. But the calf muscles contract and spasm involuntarily world class care that would! When the muscles in the comfort of your symptoms is key sometimes of the muscles! A stabbing pain in your legs balance in diet and medication can help relieve muscle cramps in people multiple! And be seen by a hardened leg muscle that is very simple to treat the underlying condition other long of... Muscle spasms or charley horse, is not normal, start the conversation today often affecting the feet toes. For treatment the gastrocnemius muscle of the leg as muscle spasms or calf pain at night horses, occur! Reevaluate your training program clearly at the surface of the time, the muscle contracting ( and... The rest of our bodies, a pop, or diabetic neuropathy off... A sudden and violent way change into a stabbing pain in the feet and toes extending from. Standing and sitting can help prevent clots factors that can increase your mileage or distance when running or.. Stabbing pain in the lower legs as the baby is born with, are!, braces, or jump deal with life’s daily stresses can disrupt your sleep continually fluctuating blood sugar under.. Leg and foot massages can help exercise safely and in comfort broken down by each cause of diabetic neuropathy regular! But foot and leg cramps occur in the bedroom regular doctor is not evident.