When it’s time to go to sleep, having leg pain during the night can make it challenging to rest well. Nighttime leg pain is a common issue for many people, and can cause sleep conditions. During the day, you may not feel as much leg pain because you’re hectic and active, so you might likewise wonder why your leg pain is even worse in the evening. Here are a few conditions that might make your legs hurt more at bedtime.
What Causes Legs Hurt at Night?
While some leg pain happens during or after activity, restless leg syndrome happens when your legs are resting. People with agitated leg syndrome frequently feel experiences of crawling, creeping, hurting, burning, tugging or pulling. Typically, people feel better by moving their legs. Between the agitated leg discomfort and the leg movements to enhance it, sleep disturbances are common.
Currently, there are no recognized cause for restless leg syndrome. However, scientists think that it might be caused by an imbalance of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine assists provide messages to control muscle motions.
While there’s no recognized cause, there are risk factors that make you more prone to developing the condition. These risk factors include heredity, pregnancy and aging. Restless leg syndrome can occur to anyone at any age, but it more frequently occurs as you age. In addition, women are more likely to establish it than men.
| Name of Cause | Description of Cause | Method to Get Rid of |
|---|---|---|
| Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) | PAD occurs when arterial pathways in the legs are narrowed, reducing blood flow. This can cause leg pain and cramping. | Lifestyle changes (exercise, diet), medications to improve blood flow, and in severe cases, surgery. |
| Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) | RLS is a neurological disorder that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs, often accompanied by unpleasant sensations. This can be particularly noticeable at night. | Lifestyle changes, iron supplements if iron deficiency is present, and medications such as dopamine agonists or anticonvulsants. |
| Muscle Cramps | Sudden and involuntary contractions of muscles often cause sharp pain, typically arising from overuse or dehydration. | Staying hydrated, stretching before and after exercise, and ensuring adequate electrolyte intake. |
| Peripheral Neuropathy | Nerve damage outside of the brain and spinal cord, often due to diabetes, leading to pain, tingling, or numbness in the legs. | Managing underlying conditions, medications to relieve pain, and potentially physical therapy. |
| Spinal Stenosis | The narrowing of spaces within the spine which can exert pressure on the nerves, causing leg pain when lying down or at night. | Physical therapy, medications, and in some cases, surgery to relieve pressure on the nerves. |
| Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) | The formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, typically in the leg, leading to pain and swelling. | Blood thinners to prevent clot growth and to reduce the risk of the clot moving to the lungs, as well as compression stockings. |
| Osteoarthritis | Degeneration of cartilage in joints can lead to stiffness and leg pain, often worsening at night when the body is at rest. | Pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications such as weight loss. |
| Varicose Veins | Enlarged, swollen, and twisting veins, resulting in aching and uncomfortable legs when laying down or at night. | Compression stockings, exercise, leg elevation, vein procedures like sclerotherapy, laser treatment, or surgery in some cases. |
See also: How to Get Rid of Cramps in the Foot.
Why Legs Hurt only Nighttime?
Legs cramps in the evening can happen at any time and can be extremely painful. The pain typically begins in the calf, however it may take place in the feet or toes too. These types of leg cramps might wake somebody up from a sound sleep, and may last up to 10 minutes.
To stop nighttime leg cramps, you may have to extend the calf muscle, withstand correct the leg and carefully pull your toes upward. The muscle may feel tight or knotted. Sometimes massaging the calf after the cramp is over may help.
Leg Cramp Causes
- Sitting for long periods of time
- Over-use of the muscles
- Basing on or dealing with concrete floorings
- Sitting improperly
While living with leg pain that worsens at night is tough, understanding your condition assists you handle your pain, so you get more rest. If you presume leg cramps, agitated leg syndrome or are having difficulty sleeping due to leg pain, call your doctor. You and your doctor will interact to detect and treat your leg pain.
It happened to me that I wake up in the middle of the night, when I try to fall asleep again, I have cramps in my left leg and so almost every day! And I started to go for a massage, and now I have no cramps))