Causes of calf muscle pain and coldness

Hello Anon

Thank you for writing.

One of the main causes for this kind of pain is overuse of the muscles or standing/sitting a lot during the day. Nocturnal leg cramps mostly happen to people over 50. Do you stand or move a lot during the day? There are many reasons for this night time pain-

• Standing for a long time (especially on concrete)
• Sitting for a long time
• Too much exercise
• Low in potassium, calcium, and magnesium
• Being dehydrated
• Medicines, such as blood pressure drugs, diuretics, oral contraceptives, antipsychotics, statins, and steroids

In some cases, more serious medical conditions can bring on muscle cramps:

• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Spinal stenosis
• Addison's disease
• Alcoholism
• Cirrhosis
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Chronic kidney failure
• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Parkinson's disease

Muscle cramps can also be related to being pregnant or just the normal aging process. Check with your doctor about increasing exercise and stretching and eating food enriched with potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

How can you prevent leg cramps?

Use these tips to help prevent nighttime leg cramps:

• Increase water intake during the day.
• Cut down or avoid alcohol or caffeine, which can cause dehydration.
• Take supplements or eat healthy foods that are high in calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

• Stretch your leg muscles for a few minutes throughout the day and before you go to bed.

What if nighttime leg cramps continue?

Make an appointment with your doctor to rule any underlying issues that may be causing your nighttime leg cramps. It most cases, stretching, increased exercise, and healthy eating can improve the leg cramp nightmare.

Best,
Susan