There are some pains in life you can prepare for.
You know a paper cut will sting. You expect your arm to ache after a vaccination. Even knocking your shin on the coffee table comes with a few seconds’ warning.
But cramp? Cramp doesn’t believe in warnings.
It waits until you’re in the deepest sleep of the night before launching what feels like a full-scale attack on your calf muscle. One moment you’re dreaming peacefully, the next you’re sitting bolt upright in bed, desperately trying to straighten your leg while making noises that would wake the neighbours.
If you’ve ever been caught hopping around the bedroom at three o’clock in the morning while your partner pretends not to laugh, welcome to the club. You’re certainly not alone.
Almost everyone experiences cramp at some point in their lives. Some people get it after exercise, others while swimming, and many never see it coming until it strikes in the middle of the night.
The strange thing is that something so common still leaves many people wondering, “Why did that happen?”
The honest answer is that we don’t always know.
People often blame a lack of magnesium or potassium. Bananas have almost become the unofficial treatment for cramp. While mineral deficiencies can sometimes play a role, they’re actually far from being the main cause for most people.
Our muscles are remarkably clever. Every movement you make—walking, smiling, climbing the stairs or simply picking up a cup of tea—is controlled by tiny electrical messages travelling from your nerves to your muscles. Usually the system works perfectly.
Occasionally, however, those messages seem to get their wires crossed. Instead of relaxing after contracting, the muscle stays switched on. The harder it tightens, the more painful it becomes. It’s a bit like someone holding down the accelerator in a car without letting go.
That painful knot in your calf is your muscle refusing to listen.
Sometimes there’s a reason.
You may be dehydrated after a hot day or a long walk. Perhaps you’ve pushed yourself harder than usual at the gym. Maybe you’ve spent hours gardening, decorating or standing at work without realising how tired your muscles have become.
Ironically, doing too little can also be the culprit. Sitting for hours watching television or working at a desk can leave muscles stiff and unhappy. Our bodies were designed to move far more than many of us do today.
As we get older, night cramps also become much more common. Many of my older patients have described them as the one thing they dread most about going to bed. Imagine finally getting comfortable after a long day, only for your calf to seize up so painfully that you’re suddenly pacing around the bedroom in your pyjamas.
Fortunately, most cramps settle quite quickly.
The instinct is often to rub the muscle, but stretching it usually works even better. If it’s your calf, straighten your leg and gently pull your toes towards your face. It may hurt for a few seconds, but as the muscle begins to relax you’ll often feel the pain melt away almost as suddenly as it arrived.
Once it’s over, don’t be surprised if the muscle feels bruised the next day. It has, after all, just done a workout it never volunteered for.
Can you stop cramps happening altogether?
Not always.
But you can certainly reduce your chances.
Drink enough water, particularly during hot weather. Stretch before and after exercise. If you suffer from night cramps, a gentle calf stretch before climbing into bed may help. Keep active during the day, and if your job involves sitting for long periods, make a point of getting up every hour or so.
If your cramps become frequent, are affecting your sleep, or are accompanied by muscle weakness, swelling or numbness, it’s worth speaking to your doctor or pharmacist. Occasionally they can be linked to medicines or underlying health conditions that need investigating.
For most people, though, cramp is one of those strange little reminders that our bodies don’t always behave exactly as we’d like.
One minute your legs are carrying you through life without complaint. The next they’re staging a protest at three in the morning.
Our bodies can certainly have a wicked sense of humour.
Until next time, look after yourself, keep moving, and if you happen to see someone hopping around their bedroom in the middle of the night, don’t laugh too hard. Chances are, it’ll be your turn sooner or later.
The Daily Durian (zaynp100@yahoo.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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