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What are the Most Common Causes of Night Leg Pain?

A. Pasbjerg
A. Pasbjerg

There are a variety of issues that commonly cause night leg pain. Muscle cramps can be the result of hormonal changes, nutrient deficiencies, or dehydration. Restless leg syndrome, or RLS, can cause discomfort or pain when a person is resting, so it is frequently an issue at bedtime. Certain diseases such as fibromyalgia are known to often cause pain in the legs at night. Some other possible causes include diabetic neuropathy, blood clots in the legs, or just simple overuse of the legs.

One of the most common causes of night leg pain is cramping of the muscles in the thighs or calves, sometimes called a Charley horse. People may experience these types of cramps for a variety of reasons. Dehydration may cause the muscles to seize up, or the cramps may be caused by a lack of potassium, magnesium, or calcium in the diet. Hormone fluctuations can also be to blame; pregnant women often suffer from them, particularly in the second trimester, as do women who are menstruating. Pain in the legs at night can also be a side effect of some types of medication.

Applying ice may help relieve a charley horse.
Applying ice may help relieve a charley horse.

Restless leg syndrome can also cause leg pain at night. This is a condition where a patient may feel a variety of sensations, including aching, cramping, or burning in his or her legs. Since moving the legs relieves these feelings, patients often suffer most during the night while lying down.

Night leg pain can also often be the result of various diseases or disorders. Fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and sensitivity to pressure, may be to blame. Patients with Addison’s disease, which causes adrenal insufficiency, and Parkinson’s disease, which affects the central nervous system, sometimes feel leg pain at night. Arthritis and Plica syndrome can lead to pain in and around the knees.

Leg cramps are often caused by dehydration or vitamin deficiency.
Leg cramps are often caused by dehydration or vitamin deficiency.

Various other problems can also commonly lead to night leg pain as well. Patients with diabetes may experience pain at night due to diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage in their legs. People who’ve recently had issues such as heart attack or stroke may develop painful clots in their legs, known as deep vein thrombosis. Injuries to the cartilage, ligaments, or tendons that support the knees may be more painful at bedtime. Sometimes leg pain is simply the result of overuse, such as from strenuous exercise or standing for extended periods of time.

Discussion Comments

burcidi

I used to get cramps in my calves at night all the time. I still remember how painful they were. Ever since I added a multivitamin supplement to my diet, I haven't been getting them.

serenesurface

@turkay1-- It's true that children can experience knee and leg pain at night due to growing because bones often grow at night. But I think that pain usually occurs during growth spurts and not persistently for years.

I think you should see a different doctor and try to get to the bottom of it. It could be fibromyalgia or another pain disorder.

You might also want to review your diet to make sure that you're getting enough hydration and vitamins and minerals.

candyquilt
I've been experiencing both upper and lower leg pain at night time for at least five years. I'm in college now. My doctor always tells me that it's growing pains but I've stopped growing for the most part and I don't think it could be that.

Has anyone experienced these growing pains before?

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    • Applying ice may help relieve a charley horse.
      By: Marc Dietrich
      Applying ice may help relieve a charley horse.
    • Leg cramps are often caused by dehydration or vitamin deficiency.
      By: Leo Lintang
      Leg cramps are often caused by dehydration or vitamin deficiency.
    • Hormone fluctuations during menstruation can cause night leg pain in women.
      By: matka_Wariatka
      Hormone fluctuations during menstruation can cause night leg pain in women.
    • Physical therapy sessions during the day may help alleviate leg pain at night.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Physical therapy sessions during the day may help alleviate leg pain at night.
    • Sleeping positions may contribute to leg cramps.
      By: vgstudio
      Sleeping positions may contribute to leg cramps.
    • Restless leg syndrome may present with cramping and pain in the legs.
      By: kazoka303030
      Restless leg syndrome may present with cramping and pain in the legs.
    • A person should put two to four bars of soap in bed at night if he or she wants to use soap for leg cramps.
      By: ksena32
      A person should put two to four bars of soap in bed at night if he or she wants to use soap for leg cramps.
    • A lack of potassium, calcium or magnesium can cause leg cramps.
      By: stryjek
      A lack of potassium, calcium or magnesium can cause leg cramps.
    • Night leg pain can be a side effect of certain medications.
      By: Gabriel Blaj
      Night leg pain can be a side effect of certain medications.