Leg Pain at Night: 16 Lower Leg Cramps Treatment Options

(If you want to get rid of pain that is not caused by leg cramps, please see my special note at the bottom of this page. Surprisingly effective.)

This series on leg pain at night may be the most complete information on relief and prevention of night leg cramps you've ever read. And I meant to post these articles on my website last week.

a woman experiencing leg pain at night

But then I got frustrated. Why?

Because night leg cramps are such a common problem. People are suffering. And there just doesn't seem to be any one answer that solves the problem, especially from conventional medicine.

So I decided to really research the topic of leg pain at night, caused by leg cramps, even more than I already had...and leave no stone unturned.

I looked through stacks of books on alternative health. I visited forums. I read the medical journals. I searched all over the Internet for products that might help. I investigated homeopathy, acupressure, massage, nutrition supplements, and foods.

Here are the first 5 of the 16 total lower leg cramps treatment options I came up with. Hope they help you.

#1: When leg pain at night strikes, use
pressure to relieve the pain in 12 seconds

Here's a technique recommended by Ralph R. Stephens, a licensed massage therapist and instructor of neuromuscular therapy and sports massage at Ralph Stephens Seminars.

"With your hands, find the center of the cramp—the area of maximum pain and tension. With your loosely clenched fist, the heel of your hand, or your thumb, press into the center of the cramp, exerting enough pressure to cause pain but not so much that it's excruciating. The pain should be 5 to 7 on a 10-point scale. Hold the pressure for 8 to 12 seconds. The cramp will often vanish by doing nothing more than this exercise."

#2: Pinch yourself for pain relief

This one sounds weird. It's an acupressure technique that supposedly works great. It comes from Patrice Morency, a sports injury management specialist in Portland, Oregon, who works with Olympic hopefuls.

When the night leg cramp strikes, grab your upper lip between your index finger and thumb, and squeeze for 30 seconds.

#3: Control your diabetes. Plus, here's a natural approach...

Night leg cramps can sometimes be associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This disease can also lead to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which can cause leg pain at night.

So working with your health care professional to control your blood sugar is essential.

Let me add this. When I was searching all over the Internet for information on nocturnal leg cramps, I came across an interesting natural product that helps support healthy blood sugar levels.

It may decrease the dangers of diseases diabetes causes.

If you or someone you know has diabetes, you will find reading about this nutrient-rich health aid quite helpful.

Click here for information on this advanced natural supplement for people with diabetes. (Link opens a new window.)

And be sure to read the customer comments tab as well as the excellent article on diabetes under the health concerns tab.

#4: Stretch the calf muscle before bed

In my article on nocturnal leg cramps, I showed you evidence of why calf-stretching exercises over several weeks do not work to prevent leg pain at night from muscle cramps.

However, conventional medicine still continues to recommend stretching out those calf muscles. Maybe it will help you.

Therefore, for five minutes before you go to bed every night, do this simple exercise. Stand about three feet from a wall. Place your hands on the wall, feet flat on the floor. Lean towards the wall and press your heels into the floor and feel the muscle stretch.

If you have an exercise bike or treadmill, ride or walk for five minutes. Do it slowly, just a little warm-up, because vigorous exercise before bedtime may keep you from getting to sleep.

#5: Shake and jiggle

When you're hit with painful night leg cramps, get up and walk around. Or shake and jiggle your leg as if you're trying to get a spider off of it.

In the next article on dealing with leg pain at night from leg cramps, we'll look at six more leg cramps treatment options. (See the more information section below.)

Special Note: Here's an excellent resource 
if you suffer from pain

Back pain...sciatica...knee and leg pain at night...joint pain...and numerous other pains can cause sleepless nights.

And pain can ruin your daytime life too.

Now you can get relief from pain without creams, drugs, pills, or surgery.

Dr. Maggie Phillips is one of the world's leading experts on easing pain. Click here to see her surprising techniques for controlling pain.

Be sure to scroll through the entire page to get the full benefit of her unique, scientifically-proven system.

References

  1. Leg Pain. Medline Plus. U.S. National Library of Medicine.

  2. Alternative Cures. The Most Effective Natural Home Remedies for 160 Health Problems. By Bill Gottlieb.

  3. Harvard Health Letter. April 2005.

  4. Harvard Health Letter. December 2004.

  5. The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II. By Sid Kirchheimer and Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books.

  6. Sleep. By J. Paul Caldwell, MD

Here is more information you will find helpful

Night Leg Cramps Treatments: 6 More Options

Stop Leg Cramps at Night! My Final Five Leg Cramp Relief Options

Nocturnal Leg Cramps: Can They Be Prevented?

What Causes Leg Cramps at Night?

What is the Best Mattress for Back Pain?

Where to Buy the Best Best Bed for Back Pain

Return From Leg Pain At Night To Sleep Disorders Home Page

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