Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
You’re snoozing along, all peaceful and comfy in your bed, when suddenly –
Your toes curl back and touch your instep or your calf muscle tenses up as hard as a cannon ball. And boy, does it hurt!
Talk about a rude awakening… The cramps get worse, and you have to get out of bed and walk it out to get relief.
Sound familiar? It should if you – like me and around 60% of adults – have had nocturnal foot or leg cramps.
This common, mysterious pain happens when a foot or leg muscle gets involuntarily stiff and can’t relax.
The recurrent, painful tightening – known as a cramp or charley horse – usually occurs in the calf muscles and can lead to insomnia, especially if it happens more than once per night.
Usually the cramping subsides in a few minutes, but you’re left wide awake with a sore leg, wondering what caused the cramps and how you can make it stop.
“They tend to happen more frequently as we age,” says sports medicine specialist Caitlin Lewis, MD.
Foot and leg cramps can vary from just being a nuisance to being a painful and crippling experience.
By finding the triggers for your specific cramping situation and making some simple lifestyle changes, you can minimize the occurrence of foot and leg cramps and sleep undisturbed. Continue reading Get Rid of Painful Foot and Leg Cramps