What Causes Leg Muscle Cramps At Night?

Posted on Tue, 8 Apr 2014

Question: What causes leg pain and aching at night? I'm 73. in good health and fairly active, but do suffer from some arthritis, in neck. The pain eases after an hour or two when I get up.

Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer: MRI cervical spine may help. Detailed Answer: Hello, Leg Muscle cramps are very common in females my advise for you Take plenty of water, fluid intake will dilute toxins. Physiotherapy with ultrasound and Tens will help you, You can do exercises like swimming, riding stationary bicycle, but do not overexert yourself. Take potassium rich diet. Hot and cold fomentation to leg. Due to compression of nerve root there can be neck pain. Also there can be large disc bulge which is compressing over spinal cord. MRI cervical spine may help. Medication like methylcobalamine with neurotropic [like pregabalin] and analgesic will reduce neck pain; you can take them consulting your treating doctor. Some exercises which can be done after pain has reduced include- gradual neck rotation, touching your ears to shoulder, shoulder shrugging exercises. You may consult physiotherapist for further guidance. He may start TENS, or ultrasound which is helpful in your case. Some life style modifications to prevent pain- do some neck rotations, stretches, walk. Sit with taking support to your neck, do not use thick pillow in bed. Also check your vit B12 and vit D3 in your blood. Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries. Wishing you good health. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (1 hour later)

Thank you for your very quick and helpful answer. Just to get things clear in my head, in your oppinion it could be the arthritic neck causing the leg and back ache. Why does it come on at night when I'm resting? Its not cramp, its a heavy dull ache, legs, knees and lower back. My osteopath tells me I'm a "tight" person, and that causes the tension in my neck, high under my skull which affects sinus and causes headaches. I thought I had that under control, is this also connected to muscle tension, or basically, is it arthritis? Sorry to be long winded, it is so difficult to explain. I've had lots of blood tests recently because I also feel very fatigued, in my opinion for no reason. But everything is apparently fine. Again, arthritis can cause fatigue can't it?

Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Only arthritis may not lead to fatigue. Detailed Answer: Hello again, Night pain can be due to vascular occlusion, vascular constriction due to increased sympathetic activity in night. Nerve compression in cervical spine can lead to headache. It may be arthritis along with disc bulge leading to spinal cord compression. Arthritis may not lead to fatigue. Many of my patients get relief from fatigue by yoga pranayama and XXXXXXX XXXXXXX so you can also due that. Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries. Wishing you good health. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar