Identifying the cause can help deal with muscle cramps
Muscle cramps. They can be a real pain in the – any muscle.
These sudden, involuntary contractions or spasms usually happen during or after exercise. Other times, people suffer from muscle cramps when they are sleeping. They can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.
According to naturopathic doctor, Adrienne Wood, muscle cramps can be caused by several factors. Wood has been practising at her clinic in Windsor, N.S., for nine years.
She says muscle cramps have many possible causes. Some of the more common causes include dehydration, electrolyte or nutrient imbalances (consider calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium), medication side effects, exercise induced cramps or muscle injury, kidney disease, nervous system pathologies like neuropathy, nerve injury, Parkinson’s, metabolic issues like thyroid disease, diabetes, vascular disease and pregnancy.
The preventative treatment of muscle cramps depends on the root cause of the cramp, says Wood.
“I recommend speaking with your health-care practitioner to investigate the cause before treating, because … some of the causes are concerning and the cramps may be your body trying to tell you something,” says Wood.
Some of the causes of cramps are preventable, she says. She offers the following advice to help prevent muscle cramps.
1. Drink adequate amounts of water to prevent dehydration.
2. Eat a diet that is balanced
and will ensure you are getting the right amounts of nutrients and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Sometimes supplementation is helpful or necessary, she says.
Foods that are high in potassium include avocado, bananas and bran. Foods that are high in calcium include cheese, broccoli, and almonds. Foods that are high in magnesium include nuts, dark chocolate, and legumes.
3. Be sure to take care of your body before and after exercise to prevent injuries or excess strain on your muscles.
4. If you are pregnant, make sure you are working with your health-care provider to monitor your nutrient levels through bloodwork.
5. If you have existing diseases like diabetes, thyroid disease,
kidney disease, make sure you are working with your healthcare provider to monitor your nutrient levels.
6. Review the medications you
are on with your health-care provider to see if cramps are on the list of side effects.
If you are currently suffering from a muscle cramp, Wood
says there are few things you can do in the moment. Again, she says the treatment would be different depending on the cause of the cramp. It is best to speak with your health-care provider to discuss specific treatments for you. Generally speaking, in the moment you can:
1. Drink more water.
2. Drink a sugar-free electrolyte solution.
3. Massage the area gently.
4. Apply a magnesium gel or cream and gently massage it in.
5. Take an Epsom salts bath (Epsom salts are high in magnesium).
6. There are many herbs and remedies that can be helpful to take to ease a muscle cramp. Speak with a naturopathic doctor about a treatment that might be suitable for you.