Calf Cramp (Charley Horse)
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Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Jul 3, 2024
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Muscle cramps
Cramps in my feet
Spasming of the muscles in my feet
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- Foot cramping
- Leg cramps
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Try Free Symptom QuizAbout the Symptom
Leg cramps are episodes of sudden pain in the muscles of the leg caused by an involuntary contracting (shortening) of the leg muscle.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Fever
- Disorder of consciousness
- Seizure attack
Possible Causes
Generally, Calf cramp (Charley Horse) can be related to:
- Leg Cramps
Leg cramps are episodes of sudden pain in leg muscles caused by involuntary contractions (shortening) of the leg muscle. Most leg cramps happen in the calf muscles and, less commonly, in the feet and thighs.
- Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is a kind of nerve damage that can happen in people with long-term diabetes. High blood sugar can harm nerves all over the body, mainly in the legs and feet.
Muscle Cramps of All 4 Limbs
Limb muscle spasm is the involuntary contraction of muscles in the limbs, often caused by various underlying conditions.
- Osteoporosis
- Dialysis Disequilibrium Syndrome (DDS)
- Lumbar Vertebrae Disk Herniation
- Diabetes Mellitus
Hyperuricemia
- Neuropathic Pain
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Calf cramp (Charley Horse) may be related to these serious diseases:
- Heatstroke
This is a life-threatening emergency where the person's body temperature is dangerously high and they display neurological abnormalities. This occurs when the body fails to regulate its temperature properly. It can be caused by the surrounding environment (heat, moisture) or internal factors (dehydration, strenuous exercise).
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Have you experienced leg cramps lately?
- How long have you had leg cramps?
- Have you experienced leg cramps before?
- How much do your leg cramps affect your daily life?
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Try Free Symptom QuizFAQs
Q.
Why Do I Get Leg Cramps When I Stretch in Bed?
A.
Leg cramps during stretching in bed, often referred to as nocturnal leg cramps, can occur due to several factors, including muscle fatigue, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and certain medical conditions. Understanding these causes can help in managing and preventing cramps.
References:
Allen RE, Kirby KA. Nocturnal leg cramps. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Aug 15;86(4):350-5. PMID: 22963024.
Brown TM. Sleep-Related Leg Cramps: A Review and Suggestions for Future Research. Sleep Med Clin. 2015 Sep;10(3):385-92, xvi. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.05.002. Epub 2015 Jun 14. PMID: 26329449.
Monderer RS, Wu WP, Thorpy MJ. Nocturnal leg cramps. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2010 Jan;10(1):53-9. doi: 10.1007/s11910-009-0079-5. PMID: 20425227.
Grandner MA, Winkelman JW. Nocturnal leg cramps: Prevalence and associations with demographics, sleep disturbance symptoms, medical conditions, and cardiometabolic risk factors. PLoS One. 2017 Jun 6;12(6):e0178465. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178465. PMID: 28586374; PMCID: PMC5460850.
Find Similar Symptoms
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References
Charley Horse - WebMD
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/muscle-spasms-cramps-charley-horse
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
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