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What Is Causing Severe Leg And Hand Muscle Cramps?
Question: what is causing severe leg & hand muscle cramps or XXXXXXX horses ?
Dear patient,
There could be many cases of cramps or as popularly referred "charlie horses" (honestly don't know where the expression comes from!), but the most commonly seen in clinical practice are related to disorders or electrolytes involved in skeletal muscle contraction, namely potassium, calcium, and magnesium particularly in current weather when heat and dehydration can promote loss of these ions; less commonly, other metabolic problesm like hypoglycemia, accumulation of lactic acid after exercise, or medications could be involved. A visit to a provider with some basic blood work would certainly be the place to start.
Yours truly,
Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Cardiology
Mayo Clinic MN
There could be many cases of cramps or as popularly referred "charlie horses" (honestly don't know where the expression comes from!), but the most commonly seen in clinical practice are related to disorders or electrolytes involved in skeletal muscle contraction, namely potassium, calcium, and magnesium particularly in current weather when heat and dehydration can promote loss of these ions; less commonly, other metabolic problesm like hypoglycemia, accumulation of lactic acid after exercise, or medications could be involved. A visit to a provider with some basic blood work would certainly be the place to start.
Yours truly,
Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Cardiology
Mayo Clinic MN
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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