Cramps In The Calf Muscles: How To Help Yourself?

Cramps in the calf muscle & ndash; a problem that worries many. Cramps often occur at the most inopportune moment. In such cases, it is important to properly provide first aid in order to get rid of unpleasant sensations as soon as possible.

Cramps in the calf muscle are a problem that worries many. Often muscle spasms occur at the most inopportune moment. In such cases, it is important to properly provide first aid in order to get rid of unpleasant sensations as soon as possible.

Calf muscle cramps: what are their main causes?

A muscle spasm is a sudden muscle spasm that causes severe pain. Pain in calf muscle spasms can be sharp and very strong.

During a convulsion, a person feels an excessive load on the muscle due to its strong contraction. Sometimes a calf muscle spasm also contracts the muscles of the foot.

The causes of a calf muscle spasm can be very different. This is the accumulation of an excessive amount of lactic acid, and impaired blood circulation, and hypothermia, as well as dysfunction of the nerves responsible for the work of the muscle. These phenomena can be temporary, for example, when sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable position.

In some cases, calf muscle spasms indicate serious pathologies, for example, epilepsy, hypokalemia (low level of potassium in the body), tetanus and other diseases. However, most often, convulsions disturb a person during excessive physical exertion, during pregnancy and obesity.

Massage and heat are the first aid for cramps in the calf muscles

If the convulsions are not characterized by severe pain, then at first you can cope with them with the help of simple massage and thermal procedures. Start with a massage. Massage the affected leg with light stroking movements. There is no need to press on the muscle and knead it hard. Movements should be a little more intense stroking.

After the massage, the leg should be well wrapped to keep warm. In combination with massage, as well as ointments, heat perfectly copes with pain during calf muscle spasms.

 

Painkillers and muscle relaxants to help with convulsions

If you often suffer from calf muscle cramps, then your first-aid kit should contain special analgesic ointments based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for example, benzocaine, procaine, camphor. The active substances contained in the ointment penetrate the skin, contributing to the relief of painful sensations.

If the convulsion lasts more than 10 minutes, you can use muscle relaxants. At the same time, it is worth noting that these drugs begin to act 20-30 minutes after their use.

All of the methods listed above for eliminating calf muscle spasms (massage, heat, drugs) are aimed at eliminating the pain sensation during spasms. If you have convulsions often, you should definitely consult a doctor, because such a symptom may indicate the presence of some diseases that require treatment. In such cases, calf muscle spasms will completely disappear after treatment of the underlying disease.