Causes of nocturnal cramps of the calf muscles at night. How to relieve convulsive spasm of the calf muscle. How to get rid of myoclonic seizures. Why does he cramp his legs at night? Effects

According to statistics, 75% of people of any age have experienced leg cramps. If in some people this phenomenon happens in very rare cases, then in others, convulsions are a sign of a chronic disease and accompany them all their lives.

Consider what is the cause of leg cramps and why they often occur at night. We will find out what cramps cause calves in pregnant women and how to relieve an attack.

There are many causes of leg cramps at night.

What is leg cramps and what causes it?

A cramp is an involuntary and unexpected contraction of a leg muscle that is accompanied by severe pain. Most often, a cramp reduces the calf muscle, less often - the toes. At the moment of contraction, the muscles are very tense and hard to the touch. When a muscle cramps, the patient is unable to step on the foot and tries with all his might to get rid of the unbearable pain. The causes of leg cramps are different - from severe muscle strain in athletes to a serious illness that causes muscle cramps.

The main causes of leg cramps:

• phlebeurysm;
• sedentary work or a sedentary lifestyle;
• lack of magnesium, calcium and potassium in the body;
• flat feet;
• trauma and brain tumors;
• long-term pregnancy;
• obesity;
• diabetes;
• exposure to very cold water;
• severe and sudden muscle strain;
• taking statins and diuretics;
• elderly age;
• wearing shoes with high heels.

Provoking factors can be alcohol intake and stress. In old age, the cause of convulsive contraction of the calf muscles at night is the loss of elasticity of the tendons of the legs.

What are the types of leg muscle spasms?

In terms of duration, convulsive muscle contractions are short and long.

On etiological grounds:

• Idiopathic seizures that appear in the elderly and in athletes after intense exertion.
• Secondary convulsions, the causes of which are diseases or physiological conditions.

Most often there are secondary spastic contractions of the calves of the legs caused by chronic diseases.

Convulsive contractions of the muscles of the legs with a deficiency of minerals

In the vast majority of cases of leg cramps, which is 75%, the cause of spasm of the calf muscle is a lack of magnesium, potassium and calcium, as well as B vitamins in the body. It is known that these minerals are involved in the transmission of impulses from nerve fibers to muscle tissue. With a lack of minerals, the impulse transmission is disrupted, as a result of which involuntary muscle contraction occurs. B vitamins directly affect the state of the nerve fibers through which impulses are transmitted to the muscles.

To eliminate the convulsive syndrome, it is necessary to compensate for the deficiency of minerals by taking magnesium-containing drugs:

• Magne B6 Forte, French or Russian production. The drug is available in tablets or ampoules for oral administration. It is recommended to take a tablet or ampoule twice a day during or after meals.

A drug that replenishes magnesium deficiency in the body

• Magvital 365 mg, Turkish-made drug is a powder packaged in sachets of 365 mg.

Before taking medications, you should do a blood test for the level of calcium, potassium and magnesium.

In addition to the use of drugs, it is necessary to revise the diet: it should include foods containing magnesium, calcium and potassium. Magnesium and potassium are found in buckwheat, bananas, walnuts, dried apricots, figs and prunes. Fresh fruits, legumes and grains are also rich in magnesium. Calcium is found in dairy products: hard cheeses, cottage cheese, milk. Cabbage also contains calcium.

Spasmodic contractions of the leg muscles with varicose veins

The cause of calf cramps is often varicose veins. The first signs of varicose veins of the legs appear long before the cramps. Spider veins on the legs are a characteristic conspicuous sign of varicose veins. With the development of the disease, the following symptoms appear: heaviness in the lower extremities, increased fatigue and swelling of the legs. In people with varicose veins, cramps in the calf muscle or toes often appear at night during sleep.

Night cramps in the muscles of the legs can occur with varicose veins

If you notice such signs in yourself, you should contact a vascular surgeon. Even an external examination of the patient gives the doctor information for establishing a diagnosis. If necessary, the doctor will conduct a blood coagulation study and determine the prothrombin index. In some cases, phlebologists prescribe dopplerography of the vessels of the legs. Doppler ultrasound allows you to diagnose spasms, stenosis or thrombosis of the vessels of the brain, lower and upper extremities.

With varicose veins, you can not massage the muscles of the legs.

Leg cramps and pregnancy

A frequent companion of pregnancy are leg cramps. Why do they develop during pregnancy? The causes of seizures are explained, on the one hand, by the lack of minerals calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are spent on the development of the fetus. Taking diuretics due to edema and vomiting during toxicosis of pregnancy also violate the mineral composition of the blood.

From the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, the enlarged uterus compresses the main vessels of the legs, causing insufficiency of their valves. Violation of the circulation of the lower extremities is manifested by the fact that a pregnant woman cramps her legs at night. In this case, you need to strengthen the diet with dishes containing magnesium, potassium and calcium. On the other hand, to improve blood circulation, you need to walk a lot and try not to sit for a long time. Even while sitting, you need to move your legs at the knee and ankle joints. On a long trip while sitting in transport, you can periodically squeeze and release the calves of the legs to restore blood circulation. If the calf muscle cramped, you need to sit down and put your feet on the cold floor.

Spasmodic contractions of the leg muscles in the elderly

The elderly are more likely to suffer from night cramps

Why do older people often get leg cramps at night? With age, factors accumulate that contribute to the development of leg muscle spasms. The most important points in the occurrence of seizures at night in the elderly:

• Violation of the circulation of the lower extremities due to atherosclerosis of the vessels.
• Often concomitant varicose veins of the legs.
• Violation of the absorption of minerals and vitamins by the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.
• A sedentary lifestyle that disrupts the circulation of the calves of the legs.
• Obesity.

In old age, the legs often cramp at night due to accumulated fatigue during the day. It is necessary to treat leg cramps based on its cause. In any case, enriching the diet with minerals and vitamins will reduce leg cramps. A more active lifestyle and weight loss are important conditions for successful treatment. Significant assistance will be provided by a course of treatment with Magne B6 Forte. If the leg cramps for a long time and in a dream, the right decision is to contact a vascular surgeon.

Leg muscle cramps after medication

What causes leg cramps after taking medication? Some medicines upset the balance of minerals in the body. Prolonged use of diuretics leads to a deficiency of potassium and magnesium. This causes a violation of the neuromuscular transmission of impulses, resulting in a contraction of the leg muscles.

Another drug that is responsible for the development of leg cramps is statins. With prolonged use, they contribute to the deposition of calcium on the inner wall of blood vessels and its compaction. The lack of elasticity of blood vessels over time leads to vascular insufficiency of the lower extremities, which is manifested by leg muscle cramps. In the instructions for use of Atorvastatin, side effects from the musculoskeletal system - leg cramps - are noted.

One of the possible side effects of statins is leg cramps.

First aid for leg cramps

In the event of a seizure in a dream, a person wakes up from such pain, so he must help himself to relieve the attack. You just need to know how to do it. With a cramp, simple measures help:

• If the leg cramped at night, one should sit up in bed, lower the legs and place them on the cold floor. Then get up and stand straight. In this position, blood circulation is restored and the cramp disappears.
• Sitting in bed, take a deep breath, grab your toes with your hand and pull them towards you, overcoming the pain. At the same time, you can swing your leg to the right and left. Thanks to the stretched calf muscle, the blood circulation of the calf is restored and the cramp stops.

"Unblocking" the muscle

• Stand facing the wall at a distance of 40-50 cm from it. Put your feet shoulder width apart. Lean your hands against the wall and, without lifting your heels from the floor, slowly lean forward and backward several times. This exercise is very powerful.

Minor leg cramps at night can be relieved by rubbing with warming ointments or apple cider vinegar. Suitable for rubbing and compresses vodka.

In conclusion, we emphasize that the causes of leg cramps are numerous. Most often, seizures occur due to a deficiency of magnesium, calcium and potassium. Spasms that occur at night and last for a long period require the consultation of a vascular surgeon.

Leg cramps are involuntary muscle contractions, usually accompanied by severe, unbearable pain. These reductions can vary in duration, prevalence, and intensity.

According to statistics, more than half of the people on the planet experience recurrent leg cramps. Moreover, this condition, to one degree or another, can disturb practically healthy people, regardless of their gender, age and nationality.

Varieties

There are two types of muscle spasms:

• tonic, which are accompanied by prolonged muscle tension;
• clonic, which is characterized by jerky muscle tension, alternating with relaxation.
• idiopathic leg cramps that occur without any reason;
• secondary leg cramps due to certain diseases or disorders.

The occurrence of idiopathic seizures can be due to a number of factors:

Secondary leg cramps appear against the background of the following circumstances:

• rest time after intense physical exercise;
• the second and third trimester of pregnancy, since during this period there is an increase in body weight, which leads to an additional load on the muscles of the legs;
• neurological diseases that control the muscles of the legs, affecting the nerves;
• certain bacterial infections;
• liver diseases, as well as poisoning with toxic substances, which contribute to the penetration of a large amount of toxins into the blood;
• fluid deficiency in the body.

There are also several options for leg cramps:

• nocturnal leg cramps;
• leg cramps;
• spasms of the calf muscle.

Causes of calf muscle cramps at night

More often than all other muscle groups, the cramp reduces the calf muscle. This is the most painful type of cramps of all existing types of spasms. Just before the spasm, a person may feel a slight pull on the muscle.

The cramp of the calf muscle itself is accompanied by a strong compaction and elasticity of the muscles, a strong tension of the leg at the site of spasm, and the inability to stand on the whole foot.

The most painful and very unpleasant are leg cramps at night. Sudden sharp pain leads to instant awakening and does not go away immediately. Most often this is due to an uncomfortable posture during sleep, when the legs are slightly bent at the knees, and the feet are lowered down.

Causes of calf cramps include:

• diseases of the lumbar spine;
• swelling of the legs;
• deficiency of trace elements and vitamins;
• tendency to varicose veins;
• atherosclerosis;
• the use of diuretics;
• exhausting sports activities and prolonged standing, which leads to chronic leg fatigue.

There are several causes of calf muscle cramps at night:

• period of pregnancy;
• disorders of the nervous system;
• muscle fatigue;
• taking certain medicines;
• diseases that reduce the natural blood flow to the extremities.

Causes of toe cramps

The toes cramp, usually suddenly and abruptly. You can pull one finger or several at once. This may happen due to the following reasons:

• violation of normal blood circulation in the feet,
• wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes
• lack of trace elements and vitamins,
• hypothermia of the legs.

Causes of frequent leg cramps

Sometimes leg cramps are episodic and do not require special treatment. But in some cases, convulsions quite often bother a person. This can be evidence of a number of serious diseases.

Possible causes of frequent leg cramps include:

• frequent stress and emotional stress;
• muscle fatigue;
• disruption of the nervous and endocrine systems;
• overweight.

During pregnancy

Almost every pregnant woman complains of occasional leg cramps. During this period, this is quite normal, which disappears immediately after the birth of the child. The causes of frequent leg cramps in pregnant women are:

• the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the vessels and nerve endings of the legs, which leads to circulatory disorders;
• overweight
• swelling of blood vessels and tissues caused by an increase in blood volume;
• change in hormonal status;
• increased need of the body for vitamins and trace elements;
• predisposition to varicose veins.

The child has

The occurrence of leg cramps in children is associated, most often, with the active growth and development of the whole organism. Leg cramps in children occur for the following reasons:

• flat feet;
• uncomfortable posture of the legs for a long period of time;
• hypothermia of the legs;
• vitamin deficiency.

First aid

There are several ways to help relieve a sudden spasm of the leg muscles:

• in anticipation of a spasm, the leg must be relaxed;
• during a cramp, it is necessary to pull the toe of the foot towards you, and after a slight weakening, pull it again;
• light massage of the reduced muscle using a warming ointment;
• it is necessary to pinch or prick the muscle affected by the spasm with a needle;
• after the end of the convulsions, to ensure the outflow of blood, you need to lie down a little with raised legs.

What to do if it cramps your legs

If leg cramps are caused by certain diseases or cause concern and anxiety due to their frequent occurrence, it is best to consult a doctor. But there are some ways to treat leg cramps at home, available for independent use.

• A proper diet, including a predominant amount of foods rich in potassium (poultry and fish meat, avocados, bananas), magnesium (green onions, parsley, dill, legumes, cereals, prunes, dried apricots, etc.), calcium (fermented milk products, cabbage, sesame seeds) and vitamin D (egg yolk, fish liver, milk, butter). A varied diet will help saturate the body with the missing vitamins and minerals.
• The right choice of shoes.
• Self-massage of the area of ​​​​the leg where the muscle is most often reduced.
• A contrast shower or foot bath before bedtime with the addition of decoctions of medicinal herbs with anticonvulsant effects (valerian, horsetail, mint). This procedure is especially useful for varicose veins.

A healthy lifestyle and maximum attention to your health will help to avoid such an unpleasant phenomenon as leg cramps.

Nocturnal calf cramps are a common occurrence in people older than middle age that manifest themselves at night during sleep, preventing proper rest.

A spasm is a spontaneous muscle spasm, accompanied by severe pain. A common location of manifestation is the legs (calves and shins). The convulsive contraction lasts for a few moments or minutes, causing the muscle to harden and deform. The sharp onset of convulsive contraction is accompanied by acute pain, relieved exclusively by painkillers. Pain lasts up to a day, reaching a peak at night.

Regular nocturnal seizures are the body's signal of the presence of a serious disease or abnormality.

Finding the cause is a sure step on the road to recovery. Nocturnal cramps of the calf muscles are a kind of indicator of the general condition of the body, the manifestation of which is a weighty excuse to see a doctor.

The main causes of leg cramps are:

• Non-systematic intense physical activity;
• Cold;
• Disruptions in metabolism;
• Diseases of the nervous system;
• Stress;
• Insufficient amount of minerals in the body;
• Abuse of alcoholic beverages;
• Excessive excitability of the neuromuscular system;
• Epilepsy;
• Varicose veins, thrombophlebitis;
• Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, flat feet;
• Side effect of taking medications (diuretics, statins);
• Lack of potassium, magnesium and calcium in the body;
• Diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, liver cirrhosis;
• Prolonged vomiting or diarrhea;
• Pregnancy;
• Improper nutrition;
• Endocrine system disorders, hormonal disruptions;
• muscle tension;
• Long stay in an uncomfortable position;
• Hidden leg injuries.

Often convulsive contractions of the calf muscles appear at night. During sleep, metabolism slows down, only the heart and brain work at a normal pace. Muscles are relaxed at night, the blood supply to the limbs slows down, leading to oxygen deficiency, causing convulsions.

To alleviate the condition during convulsive contractions, a special action plan has been developed.

Immediate Help

1. If the calf on the leg is seized by a cramp, you should squeeze it with an effort, press your finger into the center for half a minute. The method helps to improve blood flow to the muscle.
2. To relieve spasm, it is recommended to press firmly on the center of the lower lip for thirty seconds.
3. It will be useful to carry out a light massage in the calf area - stimulation of blood circulation.
4. Raising the leg up improves blood flow.
5. A sharp sharp spastic pain is relieved by a sharp injection into the affected area.
6. To relieve convulsive symptoms - pulling, stabbing sensations - hot and cold compresses are alternately applied.

• Training on sports simulators, a treadmill is suitable. Riding a bicycle in combination with gymnastic exercises for the legs will be useful.
• Regular muscle stretching, relaxing massage.
• Reduce the amount of diuretic foods in the diet, alcoholic beverages and coffee.
• Take magnesium and vitamin B12 supplements in moderation.
• Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration if strenuous exercise is expected.
• Eat foods rich in potassium. These are fish, tomatoes, grapes or bananas.
• Keep your feet warm at all times.
• Maintain normal weight, obesity is the reason.
• Control a disease that causes nocturnal muscle contractions (epilepsy, varicose veins).
• Wear comfortable shoes so that your feet do not hurt after wearing.

During the period of intensive growth and development in a child, as in an adult, nocturnal cramps of the calf muscles can appear. The phenomenon is provoked by the following conditions: flat feet in a child, hypothermia, lack of minerals and vitamins in the blood, a long stay in an uncomfortable position. The cause of the seizures is determined by the doctor. With regular convulsive attacks, the most likely factors are flat feet and a lack of vitamins.

Diagnostics

If leg cramps have become regular, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Convulsive phenomena are dealt with by therapists, in some cases by neuropathologists.

To determine the cause of seizures, a blood test is performed to determine if the patient has an imbalance of hormones or minerals. The state of blood circulation is diagnosed by measuring the pulse of the leg.

Treatment of calf muscle cramps

The phenomenon of convulsions is well studied by medicine, the appointment and the treatment process do not cause difficulties.

If doctors are unable to accurately determine the cause of seizures, the symptom is due to an insufficient amount of vitamins and minerals in a person’s blood. After examinations, Magne B6, Calcium D3 Nycomed, Asparkam, Calcemin Advance, Panangin, Mydocalm, Diphenylhydramine Hydrochloride, Aralen, Dilantin, Quinine Sulfate are prescribed. The listed drugs are indicated for use under the strict supervision of the attending physician and only after finding out the reasons that explain the cause of convulsive muscle contractions in the legs. No medicine guarantees the complete removal of the syndrome; moreover, it can cause complications in the body, negatively affecting the healing process.

Medicine allows with the use of physiotherapy sessions, reflexology, deep professional massage, which favorably affects blood circulation in the problem area.

If the calves are regularly reduced during sleep, in addition to drug treatment, it is strongly recommended to change the diet by adding more foods rich in vitamins: lean meat, liver, seafood, broccoli, honey, legumes, dried fruits, dairy products, nuts, herbs, bran. Please note that simply fat-free foods will not bring the desired effect, they lack a number of vitamins that help in the treatment of seizures.

Caused by low levels of hemoglobin. The condition is dangerous for the mother and child; to normalize the condition, appropriate medications are prescribed only by a doctor.

An additional reason for convulsions in pregnant women is a lack of calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are excreted from the body due to toxicosis, sometimes involving frequent vomiting. Involuntary contractions are observed in late pregnancy, which is associated with the peculiarities of the exchange of vitamins and trace elements between the female body and the body of the unborn child.

The uterus, greatly enlarged in size, presses on the inferior vena cava, the outflow of venous blood from the legs is disturbed, which causes a painful attack.

Preventive gymnastics against seizures

To get rid of night cramps, constant training and strengthening of the calf muscles are required. The following exercises have been developed for this:

• Sitting on a chair, place your feet flat on the floor and rest on them with effort from the inside, sit like this for half a minute, then pause for a few seconds, repeat again. The exercise is performed several times a day.
• Flexion and extension of the toes.
• Alternate walking on toes and heels.

Night cramps of the calf muscles do not pose a danger to human life, but cause pain and other discomfort. For the treatment of convulsive syndrome, the causes of occurrence are first established, then the doctor's prescriptions are followed without fail.

Hello, my dear readers! My today's article will be devoted to the analysis of the situation in which almost every person fell into - reduced the calf muscle. What to do in this case, how dangerous it is for human health and the main preventive measures for such cases, you will find answers to these questions in this article.

It is difficult to meet a person who, at least once in his life, has not encountered the problem of cramps in the calf muscles. In addition to a feeling of discomfort, a spasm also brings quite painful sensations. So what does this painful process that takes place in our legs look like.

A calf cramp is a kind of spasm caused by involuntary contraction of muscle tissue. Speaking in an accessible language, it looks like this: the muscle contracts sharply, but cannot return to a relaxed state on its own. The main problem is the sudden onset of a cramp, accompanied by a feeling of discomfort and pain in any leg.

Causes of seizures

It is often believed that leg cramps can be earned by swimming in cold water or torturing yourself to exhaustion on sports grounds is not entirely true. Yes, the listed factors are among the most common causes of seizures, but besides this, there are a number of other points that you should pay attention to:

1. Hypothermia - here the risk factor is not only cold water, but also corny insufficiently warm shoes
2. Incorrectly selected shoes - at this point, you should pay attention to the shoes that you use in everyday life
3. – deformation of the main arch of the foot leads to an incorrect redistribution of the load on the muscles of the legs
4. A large load on the muscles of the legs during the working day - this is usually typical for people whose specific work is associated with constant being on their feet
5. Lack of essential trace elements for the body
6. Stressful condition - often causes muscle tension, leading to convulsions
7. Pregnancy is a purely female “problem”, accompanied by an increased load on the legs

All of the above factors (we leave pregnancy out of the equation) are easily eliminated. It is worth noting that when selecting the necessary trace elements, you should not self-medicate, but you need to consult with a qualified specialist who will be able to select the necessary complex, taking into account the individual characteristics of the body.

If convulsions occur in a single amount, then this problem can be dealt with independently. Much more difficult is the situation in which cramps in the calves of the legs are regular. Usually, this indicates the following:

1. Leg vein problems (leg varicose veins)
2. Inflammatory processes in the body
3. Injuries received, not fully healed
4. Problems in the thyroid gland
5. Complex of neurological diseases

If you have problems of a similar nature, you should contact a general practitioner who will prescribe a set of necessary tests to find out the causes of the disease.

Options for emergency (momentary) help with leg cramps

The main advice in this situation is quite banal - try to relax as much as possible. If this does not help, then you should perform a series of actions that will help you relieve painful muscle tension:

• Straighten your legs, lift the reduced leg up, pulling the foot towards you as much as possible.
• Gently massage the calf muscles, paying special attention to the most painful part of the body. During the massage, movements should be done from the bottom up, from the heel to the knee.
• Raise your legs, put a roller or pillow under them. Hold your legs in this state for several minutes.
• One of the most radical methods is an injection into a cramped muscle with a pin or needle. The main thing is not to overdo it.

After you have coped with cramps, you should apply a warm compress for the legs or take a warm bath.

Prevention measures

The main thing to pay attention to is the right choice of shoes. Your shoes should not be too tight; for the winter season, a sufficiently warm version of the shoe must be selected. Regular hypothermia of the legs is the first step to the appearance of cramps.

The next point to pay attention to is the time spent on your feet during the day. If the specifics of your job is to be on your feet for a long time, try to find time during the day for a little massage.

Give a few minutes of attention during the day to the calves, feet, toes and the problem of cramps will disappear from your life. At the end of the working day, do a contrast foot bath. Keep in mind that this option is only suitable for those people who do not have problems with blood vessels. Mint or valerian can be added to the induced water.

Perform a simple set of exercises to strengthen the ligaments:

1. Toes on yourself, hold for 10 seconds in this position, then straighten. Do this exercise several times
2. Get up as high as possible on your toes, and then drop sharply. Perform within 45-60 seconds
3. Light, jumping movements on the toes

Conclusion

You should also pay special attention to your diet. The occurrence of seizures usually leads to a lack in the body of trace elements such as,.

Milk, cottage cheese, legumes are perfect for replenishing calcium deficiency. Walnuts will help solve the problem of magnesium deficiency. Well, for replenishing potassium reserves in the body, fruits and fruits available to everyone are perfect.

For athletes and people actively involved in sports and physical culture, attention should be paid to maintaining the necessary water balance in the body. Avoid possible dehydration in the body, during training and sports, drink the required amount of water.

The implementation of the above tips will allow you to avoid pain and various kinds of inconvenience associated with the situation when you have reduced the calf muscle. Now you know what to do in this situation.

On this I say goodbye to you. I hope that the information obtained from this article will be useful to you. Subscribe to blog updates, share links to this and other articles with your friends. I look forward to your comments. See you soon!

Sincerely, Vladimir Manerov

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Infrequent or episodic muscle contraction is not a cause for concern. It can be caused by a slowdown in metabolic processes, a temporary deficiency of vitamins and trace elements, minor disorders of the circulatory system, dehydration or overexertion.

Frequent spasms of the calf muscles at night are considered pathology - the causes and treatment of this condition must be clarified at the doctor's office, after passing a series of tests, instrumental studies.

How does calf cramp occur during sleep?

The phenomenon under consideration (myoclonus) is a process in which muscle fibers are strongly and involuntarily tense without external causes. It quickly turns into a spasm, which is why the calf of the leg does not relax.

The cramp is accompanied by an intense pain syndrome due to the simultaneous infringement of several nerves located in the lower region of the limb.

What are the causes of cramps in the calf muscles at night?

There are 2 groups of factors that provoke the described problem. The first type includes causes that are not associated with serious diseases, easily treatable.

Here's why it can cramp your calf muscles at night:

• hypothermia;
• too bright light;
• lack of calcium, vitamin D and magnesium in the body;
• excess lactic acid in the muscles;
• excessive load on the legs;
• circulatory disorders;
• pregnancy;
• adherence to a protein diet;
• increased sweating;
• frequent stress;
• taking certain medications (antacids, insulin, diuretics);
• decreased muscle tone;
• low mobility;
• excess weight.

The second group of causes - diseases, a symptom of which is myoclonus. In this case, it is more difficult to find out why a cramp grabs the calf muscles at night, since the list of pathologies is long:

• phlebeurysm;
• hidden injuries;
• chronic renal failure;
• thyroid disease;
• radiculitis;
• chronic disorders of blood flow in the vessels of the legs;
• flat feet;
• hypoxia;
• Parkinson's disease;
• alcoholism;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• tumor lesions;
• spasmophilia;
• brain injury;
• inflammatory processes;
• severe intoxication;
• multiple sclerosis;
• neuroinfections;
• encephalomyelitis;
• viral diseases.

An accurate diagnosis can be made only after consulting a neurologist.

How to treat the causes and symptoms of night cramps in the calf muscles?

Emergency ways to eliminate spasm with myoclonus:

1. Rub your feet quickly with your palms.
2. Press the index finger into the center of the calf muscle for at least 20 seconds.
3. Massage the limb.
4. Stand on a cold floor or a wet cloth soaked in ice water.
5. Pull the leg towards you, holding the toes.

The well-known method also works effectively - to prick the calf muscle with a pin or needle, which must first be disinfected.

These tips help to cope only with the symptoms of pathology. To cure myoclonus, it is necessary to get rid of the disease that caused muscle spasms. Supportive measures are recommended: