Check up this week examines Leg Cramps
I suffer from severe cramps in my legs and feet.
I'm usually asleep when they strike and I find it very difficult to settle down even after they have gone.
Can you tell me what causes cramp?
Cramp is a painful spasm in the muscles, usually the calf muscles of the leg although it often occurs in the feet as well.
The cramp tends to make the muscle affected feel tense and hard, and it is almost impossible to consciously relax it.
Although most people will experience cramp at some time in their lives, some people seem to be more prone to the condition than others.
It is common in athletes, especially those involved in intensive running.
At 76 I can no longer be classified as an athlete, so why do I get them?
Many older people experience the type of cramp you describe.
It often comes on during sleep and the sudden severe pain results in the sufferer being rudely awakened. In addition to exercise, cramp can be brought on by long periods of sitting, standing or lying in an uncomfortable position.
It is thought to result from a build-up of a natural acid in the muscles. Less commonly, it can be caused by medical conditions such as hardening of the leg arteries, thyroid conditions, lack of salt in the cells and the side effects of certain drugs.
Is there anything I can do to stop them?
Usually cramp lasts for a couple of minutes and then resolves of its own accord.
It can be eased by firmly massaging the affected muscle and flexing the foot back towards you. If you can get someone to help you with this, all the better.
You could also try applying firm pressure on the webbing between the first and second toes. Your doctor may prescribe quinine sulphate tablets, but it may be worth trying a glass of tonic water before bed to see if it helps ward night cramps off.
Using some pillows at the end of the bed to keep the bedclothes from pressing on the feet may help, while stretching and relaxing exercises for the legs and feet before you retire may also help prevent this night-time scourge.