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Calf cramps at night

Night-time calf cramps are sudden, painful contractions of the calf muscle during rest or sleep. They often last seconds to minutes and may leave the muscle tender for a while. They are often harmless, but not all lower-leg pain is ordinary cramp. A swollen warm leg may indicate thrombosis, a cold pale leg may indicate a blood supply problem, and tingling, weakness or radiating back pain may suggest a nerve problem. Discuss recurring cramps, especially if you take medicines or have another illness. Do not start supplements yourself assuming they always help; the cause needs to be clear first.

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  • Night-time calf cramps are sudden painful contractions of the calf muscle during rest.
  • The cramp is often brief, but the muscle may remain tender afterwards.
  • Calf stretching and gentle movement often help immediately.
  • Recurring cramps can be associated with age, posture, overuse, pregnancy or medicines.
  • A swollen warm leg, cold pale leg, numbness or weakness does not fit ordinary cramp well and needs medical assessment.

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Further reading

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C
Calf painCalf pain is often caused by muscle cramp or injury, but a painful, swollen, warm calf may indicate deep vein thrombosis. New breathlessness, chest pain or fainting may indicate a pulmonary embolism and requires immediate help.
C
Calf muscle tearA calf strain is a sudden stretch or tear of a calf muscle, often during push-off, sprinting or jumping. Deep vein thrombosis, Achilles tendon rupture, a ruptured Baker's cyst and serious vascular or muscle problems can look similar. A newly swollen warm calf or pain without a clear sporting movement needs same-day assessment.
R
Runner's kneeRunner's knee often means pain on the outside of the knee from irritation around the iliotibial band. The term is also used for other overuse problems, such as patellofemoral pain at the front. Identifying the pain's location and cause therefore matters. Reducing load, temporarily adjusting sport and building back gradually often help. Not all knee pain with running is harmless: a fall, fever, a warm swollen knee, a swollen lower leg or inability to bear weight needs prompt assessment.