you know how when you stretch your legs in bed in the morning and you get a killer cramp in your calf? Some people say to rub the area hard to speed it up, but others say to leave it alone, which one is it?
212138
rub it; as a part-time personal trainer & former college athlete, trust me when I say I've dealt with quite a few muscle cramps! it also helps if you use something like Tiger Balm that heats the area and helps reduce the pain.
455008
You might have sprained or pulled the muscle. A nice massage might help.
256824
Like most recent athletic injuries, the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate) method of treatment, in the early stages, is most beneficial. Rest from the activity which caused the muscle strain allows for healing to occur. Immediately following the muscle strain, ice should be applied over the painful area for 10-15 min. Periodic icing (2-3 times per day) will help to control swelling and reduce pain. Heat should not be applied to the area during the first 3-4 days since this may increase swelling and bleeding within the muscle. An elastic wrap or compressive stocking may be applied to the area to assist with swelling control. If the compressive device causes increased discomfort or "pins and needles" in any part of your leg, its probably too tight. Lying down periodically with your leg elevated allows gravity to assist with your effort to control the swelling. \nThough some experts believe early stretching to be valuable, caution should be taken early on to avoid aggressive stretching (stretching beyond the point of mild discomfort) which may hinder healing. Gentle stretching and light resistive exercise during the first few days, will help to properly align the healing muscle tissue. Following exercise, the application of ice while maintaining a stretch, not only helps to control swelling, but also helps the muscle to maintain flexibility Within a pain-free range, walking, biking, and a chair/stool pull may be implemented during the first few days. Progress these exercises, using pain during or after activity as your guide, to running, sprinting, jumping, and full athletic competition. When beginning more advanced activities such as running, avoid quick starts and stops or other ballistic movements which can cause re-injury Remember to properly warm-up and stretch before participating in athletics, and then conclude with a good stretch The most effective stretching occurs when the muscle is warm from exercise and when the stretch is held for long duration (min 30 sec.).
456601
LEG CRAMPS\n\nWhat are LEG CRAMPS?\n- Cramp is a term often used to refer to a painful, involuntary contraction of a single muscle or a muscle group.\n- Leg cramps frequently occur in the legs of elderly patients and can be extremely painful.\n- Severe leg cramps my be followed by residual tenderness and evidence of muscle fiber necrosis, including elevation of serum creatinine kinase.\n- Cramps in the calf muscles are so common as to be considered normal, but more generalized cramps may be a sign of chronic disease of the motor neuron.\n- Complaints of muscle pain and muscle fatigue are among the most frequent symptoms offered by patients. The decision as to which patients require extensive diagnostic tests can usually be made by history, examination, and routine blood studies.\n- Muscle cramps can be particularly troublesome during pregnancy, in patients with electrolyte disturbances (hyponatremia), and in patients on hemodialysis.\n- Spasms (abnormal movements of muscle) may arise from abnormal electrical activity of the central nervous system (CNS) mediated via the motor neuron or occur within the motor neuron or muscle fiber itself.\n\nCauses of LEG CRAMPS\n- In many cases, it is impossible to determine the cause of the leg cramps.\n- Muscle cramps can arise from spontaneous firing of special nerve groups followed by contraction of certain muscle fibers.\n- Cramps that are recurrent and localized to one muscle group may suggest nerve root disease.\n\nTreatment of LEG CRAMPS\n- The decision to treat a patient with leg cramps depends on the severity and degree of impairment.\n- If the pain is mild and self-limiting, topical and/or oral non-prescription analgesics may be appropriate. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)\n- For more severe pain or if the pain is referred, the patient should see their physician for further evaluation.\n- Quinine Sulfate is usually the prescription drug of choice for leg cramps.\nAlternative names   \n\nPain - leg; Aches - leg; Cramps - leg \nDefinition     \n\nLeg pain is a common symptom and complaint. For more specific topics, see foot pain, hip pain, knee pain, muscle pain, joint pain, shin splints, and blockage of leg arteries.\n\nCommon Causes    \n\nLeg pain can be due to a muscle cramp (also called a charley horse). Common causes of cramps include:\n\nMuscle fatigue or strain from overuse, too much exercise, or holding a muscle in the same position for a long time \nDehydration or low amounts of potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium in the blood \nMedications such as:\nDiuretics, which can cause you to lose too much fluid or minerals \nStatins, which lower cholesterol \nAn injury can also cause leg pain from:\n\nA torn or overstretched muscle (strain) \nInflamed tendon (tendinitis) \nShin splints -- pain in the front of your leg related to overuse or repetitive pounding \nHairline crack in the bone (stress fracture) \nOther common causes of leg pain include:\n\nBlood clot (deep vein thrombosis) from prolonged bed rest \nAtherosclerosis (plaque buildup) that blocks blood flow in the arteries (this type of pain, called claudication, is generally felt when exercising or walking and relieved by rest) \nInflammation of the leg joints by arthritis or gout \nNerve damage -- common in diabetics, smokers, and alcoholics (symptoms include numbness, tingling, or a sensation of pins-and-needles) \nInfection of the bone (osteomyelitis) or skin and soft tissue (cellulitis) \nVaricose veins \nLess common causes include:\n\nSlipped capital femoral epiphysis -- usually seen in boys and overweight children between 11 and 15 years old, this refers to a separation of the ball of the hip joint from the thigh bone. It causes pain and growth abnormalities. \nLegg-Calve-Perthes disease -- poor blood flow to the hip that may stop or slow the normal growth of the leg. This condition usually affects boys between 4 and 10 years old. \nBenign tumors or cysts of the femur or tibia
298258
you have to have someone help you stretch your legs. for example have you and your friend sit on the floor in a sitting position with your legs open as far as they can open then you have to have your friend to put her legs in between yours and keep streching them as far as your legs can go. hope you understand this cause i think i'm better off showing you how it goes.
477937
You could be getting an infection from a bug bite or scratch- if the redness or swelling starts to travel up your leg go to the ER.  If not, you can probably wait until tomorrow- then call your doctor in the morning- tell his nurse what is going on and go from there.  He may just call in an antibiotic cream to the pharmacy for you to pick up or he may want to see you.\n\nI did not read your question right when I answered a minute ago-- if you cannot move your ankle and it is red, warm and swollen, you need to go to the urgent care or er now- you may have a septic joint... better to get it checked out- sorry.\n\nIf the redness and swelling is around the bite only- that is normal- it is just the body's natural reaction... put some triple antibiotic ointment on it- thanks for clarifying.
93682
Cramping while swimming is common because in most strokes you are pointing your toes. This requires you to tense up your calves. Most common way to prevent cramping is to be properly hydrated. Drink water throughout the day and keep a water bottle at the edge of the pool. Drinking some sports drinks prior to practice will help. Warm-up then stretch before entering the pool, then again in the pool. I was told that by pressing the small, left cleft under your nose will quicken the relief of leg cramps. It's supposedly a pressure point.
544217
You may have a potassium deficiency. I used to get Charlie horses all of the time and I was told this was the reason why. Banana's are high in potassium so you can eat those or get a good vitamin and take daily. Also as soon as you feel one coming on get up and walk immediately and it will keep it from hitting you so hard but you have to get up before the muscle tightens so tight that you can't walk so be quick. Walk through the tightness, don't tip toe through it or it will cramp all the up just as bad as it would have if you didn't get up at all.
663838
Plantar fasciitis can often originate in the calf muscle because it is too tight.  I know one orthopedist who recommends holding a calf stretch for 10 minutes - quite painful, then goes numb and finally stretches.\n\nTry Dr Scholls sports orthotics before going for custom ones.  If the Dr Scholls works, the custom may then be worth it.\n\nI have seen lots of success with a special sock called 'The Strassburg Sock' - helps to stretch the calf and plantar fascia while you are sleeping.  It think they have a website and you can buy it inexpensively without a prescription.\n\nUse a soda bottle filled with water and frozen to roll under your foot.  Should help to relieve the pain and give it a stretch.  Avoid walking on cold floors - can make the plantar fascia spasm up.\n\nAsk your doctor for a referal to a good physical therapist - we can use other methods to help you.\n\nGood luck!
172426
Its a cramp caused by lack of potassium\nSolution: Eat bananas. They are full of potassium
145284
Pain in the calves could be relieved by regular stretching after cardio workouts.  You may also be developing a bone spur due to repetitive stress or have strained the calf muscles.  If they are strained they need some rest, icing, antiinflammatories and a trip to the doctor (you should see the doctor anyway to find out what is wrong).  Are you running on large inclines?  This may contribute to pain in the calves.  Continuing to run while the calves hurt may just be worsening the injury - so get it checked so you can get back to working out!  You may have also upped the intensity of the runs too much too soon, which is causing injury to the calf/Achilles tendon or even the lower tibia (bone in lower leg).  It may be good to tone it back and up the intensity more slowly.  Again, see a doctor (there's an underlying theme to my answer...).  Good luck bud!
74674
I would use a heating pad and massage. You can avoid this by warming up before stretching or exercising. Drink a lot of water.
674087
I agree with all the other answers. I used to get horrible cramps, the kind that made me want to passout, I found that Tylenol menstrual/Midol or any pain reliever, doing some light jogging, and a heating pad after my jog worked really well. Even though exercising seems like the last thing you want to do, getting those muscles working helps loosen them up so that you don't have that "cramping" feeling. That's why as another person suggested "orgasms" help because they cause the muscles in your uterus to move and loosen or uncramp. Good luck!
334742
It will help strengthen the area but not really stretch it.  Sciatic nerve pain is readiating from the back so stretching the calf will not help.
47897
It could be a muscle cramp\nwho knows
450352
Try eating a banana. These are good for muscle cramps. They are high in potassium.
569248
You can go to the doctor and they inject a saline solution right into the area where they occur.  It is a temporary measure but if you wish them hidden for the summer it may help.  ride a stationary bike, that helps circulation.  sitting with your legs up may feel good after a long day at work but you still need the blood pumping the blood a little more energetically after the abuse we put them through a long day.