Your legs carry the load of the entire body throughout the day. However, this load shouldn't cause leg pain, especially at night.
Leg pain at night can ruin your sleep schedule and make the next day unbearable. Almost 1 in 3 adults experience night-time calf cramping, due to which you aren’t productive anymore.
This article summarizes some important information about leg pain at night and how to get rid of it. Keep reading to learn all about it.
What Causes Aching Legs at Night?
Most of the time, it's hard to find the root cause of your leg pain at night. Most of the causes for achy legs are idiopathic, but here are some common causes:
Nerve Issues
A pinched or compressed nerve or spinal cord injury can put a lot of pressure on the nerves. This pressure can cause severe muscle cramps, especially at night when your body is at rest.
Sitting and Standing for a Prolonged Period
Constant sitting and standing for long periods can restrict blood flow and elevate the chances of painful legs in bed at night.
Muscle Fatigue
High-intensity workout is one of the major reasons for leg pain while asleep. Over-exercising can also make your legs achy at night.
Moreover, pregnancy and some medications can also be the reason behind this pain. Usually, in the second and third trimesters, women experience achy legs at night. On the other hand, side effects of some medications, including blood pressure drugs or diuretics, can cause leg pain while sleeping.
How to Stop Your Legs from Hurting at Night - 9 Home Remedies
Here are some ways to prevent your legs from hurting at night.
Proper Posture
A proper sitting posture is extremely important to prevent leg pain at night. People find it comfortable to cross their legs while sitting, but it is better to sit with both feet resting flat on the ground.
Weight Loss
Extra kilos can be burdening on the legs and cause pain while sleeping. An obese person will take longer to recover from a sprain or fracture. They will face difficulty moving during sleep, which can lead to some major problems along with achy legs.
Cold Packs
Cold packs are one of the easiest yet most effective remedies. It compresses the area that's causing pain and relieves it. Make sure to apply it for 20 minutes or more for effective results.
Exercises and Stretches
Gentle stretches and light exercises can help retain mobility and reduce leg discomfort. Make sure to consult a physiotherapist.
They will guide you more about some suitable exercises according to your condition and intensity of pain.
Epsom Salt Bath
A hot bath can reduce any type of body ache like magic. It serves as a muscle reliever. All you have to do is add some Epsom salt and immerse your legs for 15-20 minutes.
Foot Rest
Add a knee or leg pillow while watching TV or reading something. Put an extra pillow to keep your feet higher than your head. Giving rest to your feet can heal your leg pain and prevent further complications. As Dr. Smith once said:
“The condition usually starts with tiny tears in the plantar fascia where it attaches to the heel bone."
These techniques and minimal additions to your daily routine can help reduce leg paining while sleeping.
Dress Sensibly
Avoid wearing skiing jeans and high heels. This type of dressing can elevate your leg pain by compressing the nerves and making the achy legs worse while sleeping.
Turmeric
The use of turmeric powder is an effective remedy to relieve pain and inflammation. It has anti-oxidant content. Mix it with milk and consume it to recover from throbbing leg pain at night.
OTC Medicine
NSAID and other pain relievers can aid in reducing swelling or pain in the legs at night. Make sure to consult your doctor before taking any medicine.
Are Leg Cramps at Night Serious?
Although legs that ache at night can be very intensive and ruin your sleeping schedule, they are not typically serious. It usually happens when the leg muscles become tight and painful due to hectic routines and some bad habits. The use of painkillers and remedies can easily relieve your cramps.
Common Causes of Cold Feet and Aching Legs at Night
There are several reasons behind cold feet and achy legs. People living in cold climates usually face these problems every day. However, poor blood flow, dehydration, and deficiency of important minerals, such as iron, can cause cold feet and restless legs. Dr. John Winkelman says:
"The concern is that people are being started on medications first when iron might be a valuable treatment. It's simple, with relatively few side effects,"
Can Dehydration Cause Aching & Restless Legs at Night?
Yes, dehydration can cause discomfort and achy legs, especially at night. Dehydration can restrict blood flow due to the narrowing of veins and arteries.
This complication in flood flow can cause restlessness and throbbing leg pain at night. Make sure to consume at least 1 to 2 liters of water for blood's proper dilution and functioning.
Left Leg Pain at Night
Many reasons behind achy legs at night result in a restless sleeping schedule and fatigue throughout the day. Muscle cramps, tendon inflammation, pregnancy, or blood clots can cause pain.
Dehydration and poor intake of electrolytes and other nutrients can cause vasoconstriction, which can also elevate leg pain at night.
When to See a Doctor
Most of the time, leg pain isn't typically serious. Some remedies and OTC medications can easily treat them. However, sometimes leg pain can indicate something more serious and complicated. A fracture or deep vein thrombosis should get medical attention immediately.
Consult your doctor if you are experiencing constant pain at night, swollen legs, and some deformity.
Conclusion
Achy legs at night can ruin your lifestyle. It can cause restless nights of sleep and frustrating issues. You will lose your spark and productivity level due to such pain at night. Therefore, getting rid of it as soon as possible is important to keep your life on track.
We hope this article will provide you with all the important information related to leg cramps at night and you will try these remedies as mentioned earlier to get rid of your leg pain at night.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. We strongly suggest seeking the advice and care of a healthcare professional before starting any treatment.