Why the leg cramps in the thigh - causes and treatment of cramps

Firstly, don’t give in to panic, and secondly, let’s easily and naturally understand the causes of this trouble - and the symptom, we sincerely hope, will leave you once and for all.

There are several theories to explain sudden cramps in the calf or thigh. Neurologists who studied the calf muscles of athletes came up with a new, but quite reasonable explanation: cramped legs are a protective mechanism. What does it mean?

Let's give an example. You are going for a run for the first time in your life. And, being an optimistic lady, we decided to run at least 5 km at a time. The fragment of the cerebral cortex responsible for motor activity doubts that the load will be unnecessary. But you still run.

The cerebral cortex is patient with the experiment for some time. But at the next moment the body comes to the conclusion: that’s it, screw it. The load is too much. Do you want to continue to strain your exhausted muscles? Okay, let's push ourselves as hard as we can! The calf or thigh muscle contracts to the maximum. And he refuses to relax. And this is a cramp.

Clinical picture

Some patients mistakenly attribute hip cramps to a separate disease, but this judgment is incorrect. This condition is an independent symptom indicating the presence of abnormalities or chronic diseases of the legs. Therefore, the description of the clinical picture of seizures is a very conditional concept - only those signs that are observed in most pathologies should be noted.

Expert opinion!

Knowledge of the anatomy of the leg will help you understand the symptoms of cramps. There are three groups of muscles in the thigh - anterior, posterior and internal. Typically, spasms are recorded on the back of the thigh - this is the biceps muscle, which is subject to maximum stress and is in a state of contraction more often than others. With serious deviations, other muscles can also contract; spasms can descend lower and provoke cramps in the leg below the knee.

Tightens the muscles in the thigh

The clinical picture of seizures is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Severe pain - noted at the peak of muscle spasm as a burning and bursting sensation in the muscles. Pain appears at the beginning of a cramp, gradually increases, reaching a maximum after a few seconds. The contraction gradually weakens, and aching pain is noted in the leg, which can re-provoke an attack;
• Numbness – noted in the area of ​​the thigh where discomfort is registered. It can occur before and after a spasm; the appearance of this symptom indicates a disturbance in nerve conduction;
• A feeling of heaviness in the legs is a harbinger of an attack in some patients. Before the cramp, there is aching discomfort in the thigh area;
• Weakening of the pulse - measured on the large popliteal artery, indicates its compression by spasmodic muscles. This symptom is observed if the inner thigh cramps or with a cramp of the biceps muscle;
• Changes in skin color have their own characteristics depending on the stage of the disease. At the beginning of the attack, the leg is pale, with a bluish tint, after which the skin turns pink;
• Impaired coordination of movements is recorded after a spasm, when the muscles of the legs have not had time to recover. The patient may limp, his legs become entangled, and he has an unsteady gait.

These are the most common symptoms of hip cramps. The clinical picture may be complicated by the presence of chronic pathology that aggravates the manifestations of spasms in the legs - this may be swelling, general weakness, interruptions in the functioning of the heart and lungs.

Associated symptoms of leg cramps

Why might there be pain in the buttock?

Let's consider the main causes of pain in the gluteal region:

• Buttock injury. Impacts or falls may cause bruises to the soft tissues of the buttocks, which are characterized by pain when sitting and pressing on the injured area. Movement also becomes painful. However, after a few days such pain usually goes away. Much more dangerous are dislocations or fractures of the hips or pelvic area. In such cases, the pain in the buttocks is unbearable, and any movement becomes impossible, and the only action in this case is to call an ambulance. There is also a type of injury such as a dislocation or fracture of the coccyx. With it, a person can remain able to work, but may also experience throbbing and sharp pain. Typically, with injuries to the tailbone, the pain intensifies with prolonged sitting and rising from a chair. May spread to the groin area.
• Improper execution of an intramuscular injection. Sometimes after an intramuscular injection in the buttock area, pain occurs that does not go away for a long time. This may be a consequence of damage to nerve endings, blood vessels, non-absorption of the drug, or infection with the needle. If you experience symptoms such as redness of the skin of the buttock at the injection site, throbbing pain, swelling, or hardening, you should urgently consult a doctor, as this can lead to the development of an abscess.
• Damage to the structures of the gluteal region. The following areas and components of this zone are susceptible to inflammatory processes: Skin. Due to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms, boils, ecthymas, and ulcers may occur.
• Subcutaneous fat tissue. With a disease such as panniculitis, infiltrates can form that compress the blood vessels and nerves inside.
• Muscle tendons. The pain is characterized by subsidence with lack of movement and intensification when walking.
• Sciatic nerve. Inflammation of the sciatic nerve - sciatica - occurs when this nerve is compressed. The pain is felt throughout the entire gluteal area and radiates to the leg, intensifies while sitting, and can “shoot through” while rising from a chair.
• Muscles. For example, a blow or incorrect injection technique can lead to hypertonus (persistent overstrain) of the piriformis muscle, which will compress the sciatic nerve and provoke sciatica.
• Bone. We are talking about a tuberculosis infection, purulent, benign or malignant lesion. Pain in the buttock may initially be mild, but develop greatly as the underlying disease progresses.

Etiology

For cramps to appear, pathological disorders must form, as a result of which the muscles of the leg begin to contract independently without control of the nervous system. All causes of thigh muscle spasm are divided into two large subgroups - physiological and pathological.

On a note!

The main cause of most seizures is a lack of potassium, calcium and magnesium. A deficiency of these microelements leads to impaired excitability and contractility of the most stressed muscles.

Physiological reasons

Under these conditions, there are no chronic pathologies in the body, and deficiency states are temporary. Their development is caused by minor disturbances that do not go beyond critical values. The main physiological reasons are as follows:

• Lack of vitamins;
• Pregnancy and lactation;
• Period of active growth;
• Elderly age;
• Poor nutrition;
• Sedentary lifestyle;
• Bad habits;
• Psycho-emotional stress;
• Physical overload, jogging.

In the latter case, cramps occur after training, which often bothers professional athletes. A deficiency of important minerals develops due to increased consumption due to prolonged exhausting loads.

Pathological causes

In this case, the cause of cramps in the thigh is the presence of a chronic pathology, due to which blood circulation in the legs or metabolism in the body is disrupted. Muscle cells begin to “starve”, and cramps gradually appear.

Such diseases include:

• Varicose veins;
• Atherosclerosis of leg vessels;
• Thrombosis and thrombophlebitis;
• Venous insufficiency;
• Diabetes;
• Leg injuries;
• Inflammation of the hip joint.

Attention!

Getting rid of seizures for these reasons is more difficult than for those with physiological abnormalities. Consultation with relevant specialists and adjustment of the treatment program is required.

Physiological and pathological causes of cramps in the thigh muscles

At-risk groups

Based on an analysis of the causes of leg cramps, risk groups are identified, being in which increases the likelihood of developing the disease. These include:

• Young mothers;
• Teenagers;
• Athletes;
• Office workers;
• Elderly people;
• Drivers, taxi drivers;
• Sellers.

Particularly dangerous are professions in which there is an alternating load on the legs and long rests, replacing each other.

When is it time to see a doctor?

If you suffer from cramps every 2-3 months, you can get checked for varicose veins, but there is no need to panic. This is how simple fatigue can manifest itself. Give up heels, stretch your legs more often and stay static less. It should help.

In the case when cramps occur regularly, it is better to go to a therapist (or maybe even a surgeon), donate blood for biochemistry and carefully follow the recommendations.

Also, as you know, legs can cramp in cold water - and this is not an indicator of the disease, this is a relative norm. Also, keep in mind that cold is a relative concept. For some it’s fine in an ice hole, but for others it’s cool even at +25° C.

Alexander Nadezhdin, elite trainer of the World Class fitness club network:

“I’ve been working as a trainer for many years and I can say with confidence: sooner or later almost every gym goer experiences cramps in their calf muscles. If it is irregular, there is no need to panic. You need to do stretching exercises. The better you stretch and warm up before training, the less chance of trouble. Do lunges with a slope, just bends - belly to hips, legs bent. Remember that as you exhale, the elasticity of the muscles increases: bend, exhale, stretch.

If you do catch it, you need to increase blood circulation in the lower part of the body as quickly as possible. An intense massage, stretching exercises (if possible), and throwing your legs up on the wall (lying down, of course) are also suitable.

If you exercise more and more intensively, you cannot do without mineral supplements. It's like with cars: a sports car requires different maintenance than a regular car. When the load increases, microelements such as potassium and magnesium will be lacking - I guarantee it. This means that seizures will occur more often. So, consult with your trainer which complex of vitamins and minerals you should choose based on the intensity of the load.

Mikhail Kolodinsky, rescue diver:

“They say that if your leg cramps in the water, you can drown.” Don't believe it! From a physiological point of view, even if both of your legs are cramped (although for this you need to break your spine) and one of your arms falls off, you can swim to the shore on your remaining arm. You can drown with a cramped leg only if you give in to panic.

Many get scared, begin to struggle, inhale water out of horror and foolishly go to the bottom. If you cramp your leg in the sea or lake, the easiest way out is this: turn over on your back, breathe deeply and row your hands towards the shore. Our legs dangle, relax, or terribly twist from cramps - we continue to breathe and, without breaking the pace, we swim.

Article on the topic

My leg cramped! A heating pad, ice and massage will help you cope with cramps.

If you are confident in the water, you can take the shape of a “bomb” (hanging in the water with your legs bent) and gently stretch your leg until it goes away. But in this case, a person will from time to time plunge under water and dive. And this method is suitable only for those who are friends with water, calm as a tank and able to hold their breath.

How to relieve a cramp in the thigh

If the patient is bothered by periodic spasms, you can try to eliminate them at home - classic folk methods will help stop attacks and relax the muscles of the legs.

To quickly relieve a cramp in the thigh, you need to:

• Relax your leg;
• Perform a massage;
• Take a warm bath;
• Stretch the muscles - if there is a cramp in the back group of thigh muscles, straighten your shin, pull your toe up, in the front - on the contrary, bend your shin. If there is a spasm on the inner surface or if several muscle groups are affected, relax the leg.

On a note!

If a severe attack occurs, you can resort to first aid for leg cramps, which is indicated to eliminate severe and prolonged spasms.

Methods for relieving hip cramps

Treatment

Let's consider what to do if your leg muscles cramp in your thighs. To influence the cause of the disease, it is necessary to replenish the level of potassium, calcium and magnesium - for this purpose, the doctor prescribes one of the popular drugs to the patient:

• Asparkam;
• Panangin;
• Magnerot;
• Magnele B 6.

These medications eliminate the manifestation of seizures within 1-2 months, depending on the degree of the deficiency condition. It is not possible to purchase the drugs on your own, since they are available with a doctor’s prescription.

If leg cramps are accompanied by pain, it is recommended to supplement treatment with the following:

• Troxevasin;
• Troxerutin;
• Venuron;
• Viprosal.

Treatment of cramps in the femoral leg can be adjusted by a doctor according to available indications - depending on the type of specific disease.

Strengthening methods

When using medications, the doctor additionally prescribes strengthening methods designed to enhance the effects of the drugs and enhance regeneration processes in the muscles.

Additional treatments for seizures may include:

• Physiotherapy - the most popular are electrophoresis, UVT therapy, laser treatment and warming procedures;
• Exercise therapy - therapeutic exercises will strengthen muscles, restore blood circulation and cellular nutrition;
• Massage - warming up will disperse toxins and waste, improve blood flow to the thigh area;
• Alternative Medicine – Acupuncture and manual therapy can be used to relieve seizures.

Also, during treatment it is necessary to adhere to a diet - foods should be rich in vitamins and microelements, and the diet should be fractional. You should not eat fats - they turn into lactic acid and provoke cramps.

Additional treatments for leg cramps

Prevention

If the patient managed to quickly cure seizures, it is necessary to create conditions to prevent their recurrence. It is advisable to adhere to the rules of prevention that will prevent relapses of the disease:

• Follow the diet - the diet should include vitamins and minerals necessary for muscles;
• Avoid physical overload - this will prevent overstrain of the leg muscles;
• Do therapeutic exercises, get a massage - doing exercises and warm-ups twice a week will improve blood flow in the legs and relieve muscle spasms;
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes - this will relieve the stress on your hips and prevent sudden cramps.

Compliance with prevention is an important part of the patient’s rehabilitation. To prevent recurrence of muscle spasms and exacerbation of chronic pathologies, it is recommended not only to follow the above rules, but to visit a doctor in a timely manner.

Cramps in the hips appear with a lack of potassium, calcium and magnesium. Deficiency can be caused by nutritional disorders, chronic pathologies, or increased consumption of minerals in the body. To compensate for the lack of microelements, you should take a course of special medications.

Life without microelements

The second theory (in many respects complementing the first) says: nerve impulses flowing from the brain to the calf muscles can “stumble” and give false commands because there are not enough potassium salts, magnesium, sodium and other trace elements in the blood.

Where do microelements go? Nutritionists know that food in the modern world has lost most of its nutrients. Chemical apples from Ecuador and cucumbers from Israel contain mostly water. Therefore, experts actively insist on vitamin and mineral supplements. In addition, salts are actively lost along with the liquid - for example, when you sweat on the beach or undertake the feat described above with jogging. When dehydrated, the risk of seizures increases significantly. Due to a lack of microelements, almost half of all pregnant women on the planet suffer from cramps, because they feed the fetus with all the best - and there is nothing left for themselves.