In addition to muscle contraction and exercise, there are many causes of leg numbness.
Varicose veins, disc stenosis, drug side effects, etc. are also affected
In the expression of ‘a cramp in the leg’, which is commonly said, ‘a cramp in the leg’ means muscle spasm. Muscles such as calves and feet suddenly shrivel, causing tingling and excruciating pain.
Not a few cases of waking up with leg cramps that occurred during sleep as well as in daily life. These muscle spasms are involuntary contractions that occur in certain muscle tissues regardless of one’s will.
Involuntary contractions occur primarily in the skeletal muscles of the lower extremities, but can also occur in other skeletal muscles, such as the hands and abdomen, and involuntary non-skeletal muscles, such as stomach cramps.
Yoon Seung-jae, head of the Department of Neurology at Seran Hospital, said, “The most common cause of leg cramps is when you suddenly exercise without warming up or exercise at a higher intensity than usual.” If not continued, the risk of recurrence is low.”
However, if there is no special trigger such as exercise, other causes should be considered, and in particular, the majority of cases are caused by an underlying disease.
Possible causes include △peripheral blood circulation disorders such as varicose veins △back diseases such as disc or stenosis △metabolic diseases such as diabetes, chronic renal failure, and thyroid disease △peripheral neuropathy △electrolyte imbalance due to insufficient water or nutrient intake △ drug side effects, etc.
In addition, taking a cross-legged posture that stimulates the piriformis muscle inside the hip joint, and wearing leggings or tight clothes for a long time can cause cramps or numbness in the legs when nerves or muscles are compressed.
Among these, relatively common causes are peripheral blood circulation disorders such as varicose veins and peripheral neuropathy.
Varicose veins is a symptom that is noticeable on the skin as the pressure in the veins increases and the valves are damaged as the venous wall weakens, causing the blood to flow back to the heart.
In other words, as a large amount of blood stays in the veins, bumpy blood vessels are seen, resulting in lower extremity pain, muscle spasms, and lower extremity edema. The causes of varicose veins are elderly, female, pregnant, obese, and often occur in people who have a job that involves standing or sitting for a long time.
Varicose veins are treated by first trying conservative treatment, such as wearing compression stockings, and if there is no effect, remove the vein, which is the cause of varicose veins, through surgery.
Peripheral neuropathy is lesions of the peripheral nerves that extend from the brain and spinal cord to the arms and legs. When peripheral nerves are damaged, sensory nerve symptoms such as numbness and pain or motor nerve symptoms such as muscle weakness and muscle spasms may appear. There are many causes of peripheral neuropathy. It can be caused by trauma or local pressure as well as underlying diseases such as diabetes, and autoimmune diseases and congenital diseases can also cause peripheral neuropathy.
Since there are various causes of cramps, if the symptoms repeat without reason, it is necessary to find a hospital and receive appropriate treatment.
Director Seung-jae Yoon emphasized, “Many cases of leg cramps are ignored and neglected, but in the case of several recurrences, appropriate treatment is necessary because the vast majority of cases are caused by other underlying diseases.” Byung-moon Lee Senior Medical Reporter