Written by Brian Clista, MD | Reviewed by Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPHPublished on February 22, 2024 Key takeaways: It’s not clear why people develop leg cramps. Theories include dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and muscle fatigue. Some drinks can stop leg cramps when they start. These drinks include electrolyte drinks, coconut water, and pickle juice. There’s evidence...
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) develops silently, narrowing blood vessels until a shortfall in the supply of nutrients and oxygen causes cramps and leg pain, explained Dr. Faisal Aziz, chief of vascular surgery at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Pain with physical exertion is a classic, hallmark sign,” Aziz said in a Penn...
by Carmen Heredia Rodriguez Every morning, Britta Vander Linden dons compression stockings, a cumbersome process she calls “putting on my legs.” She relies on the garments to stand and walk without intense leg pain and swelling. That’s because Vander Linden, 44, was born with lymphedema. The condition affects the lymphatic system, a network of lymph...
By Jon Johnson Reviewed by Gregory Minnis, DPT Leg cramps at night, or nocturnal leg cramps, are common and can occur due to inactivity during the day, tired muscles, or certain medical conditions. Leg cramps, also called charley horses, are uncontrolled spasms in the muscles of the leg that may be painful. They typically occur in the calf muscles, though they may also...
By Charlotte Lillis Reviewed by Brenda B. Spriggs, M.D. FACP Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that mainly affects the joints. Stem cell therapy is a relatively new area of research that is showing promise in treating autoimmune conditions such as this. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the immune system mistakenly attacks the tissue that lines the joints, which can...
Multiple sclerosis causes many symptoms, including loss of mobility, fatigue, and pain. There are, however, lots of prescribed and natural remedies that can help lessen the impact of the pain. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often disabling condition that affects the central nervous system. There, it interrupts the flow of neurological signals between the...
Three times a week, Rita Driscoll steps onto a treadmill at a Minnesota hospital under the eye of a rehab therapist. She walks until it hurts—pushing her limits, walking faster and adding steeper inclines. The retired school aide has leg pain caused by clogged blood vessels. Until recently, monitored walking wasn’t an option for people...
