During the second and third trimesters, you may have painful leg cramps, particularly at night or while sleeping. The calf muscles are most often involved. These are usually painful and extremely discomforting. They can affect any age group of persons, but are more commonly found among the elderly people. You may also have a jumpy feeling in your legs. Complaints of muscle pain and muscle fatigue are among the most frequent symptoms offered by patients. The decision as to which patients require extensive diagnostic tests can usually be made by history, examination, and routine blood studies. Not only are leg cramps discomforting but also painful. Spasms (abnormal movements of muscle) may arise from abnormal electrical activity of the central nervous system (CNS) mediated via the motor neuron or occur within the motor neuron or muscle fiber itself. This type of pain is most commonly experienced in the legs, and therefore often called a leg cramp or a "charley horse." The cramps are harmless and do not indicate a serious disease is present. Leg cramps generally occur in the calf muscle, the hamstring and the quadriceps. The duration of a leg cramp ranges from less than a minute to several minutes at times.

Causes of Cramps in the Leg

The common Causes of Cramps in the Leg :

Rigorous exercises
Dehydration
Muscle fatigue due to overexertion
Side effects of certain medications
Excess weight
Reduced supply of blood
Hormonal imbalance
Nerve and muscle diseases

Symptoms of Cramps in the Leg

Some Symptoms of Cramps in the Leg :

Muscle tenderness
Severe pain in leg
The discomfort is relieved by local massage, movement, or heat
Not able to move the leg till the cramp lasts
Recurrent awakenings from sleep associated with painful leg sensations
Sudden nighttime calf (or foot) cramps

Treatment of Cramps in the Leg

The decision to treat a patient with leg cramps depends on the severity and degree of impairment.
Quinine Sulfate is usually the prescription drug of choice for leg cramps.
If the pain is mild and self-limiting, topical and/or oral non-prescription analgesics may be appropriate. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
For more severe pain or if the pain is referred, the patient should see their physician for further evaluation.
Take over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
The most common and usually the most effective treatment for leg cramps is daily stretching of the affected muscles.

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