TL;DR: How to Relieve Severe Leg Pain at Night
Nighttime leg pain may have many possible causes, such as muscle cramps, nerve issues, or as a side effect of medication. To treat severe leg pain at night, experts recommend easing the pain with cold therapy, using topical treatments before bed like MEDISTIK, and adjusting your sleep position.
What Causes Leg Pain at Night?
If you’re experiencing leg pain during the night, it may be due to a variety of reasons, including nerve issues, injuries, muscle cramps, or joint problems. Muscle cramps, calf cramps in particular, are common and may be caused by dehydration or fatigue.
Leg pain at night could be a symptom of poor circulation caused by prolonged sitting or standing, or side effects of medications. Leg pain at night is also common in the later trimesters of pregnancy. Leg pain may also be related to pain in your feet or ankles.
How to Relieve Severe Leg Pain at Night: Expert Advice
As for how to relieve severe leg pain at night? We asked the experts.
Dr Matt says there’s a lot to consider in your pre-bedtime routine: “Cold therapy can provide local analgesia to the area. A 10-10-10 approach is often prescribed where an individual applies ice to an injury for 10 minutes, removes it for 10 minutes, and re-applies it for an additional 10 minutes. It’s important to place a barrier, like a towel, between your skin and the ice pack to avoid damaging the skin. Topical pain relief treatments, such as MEDISTIK, can be applied before bed to reduce the pain, too.”
Dr Janis agrees and adds, “You can also try putting a pillow or two under your leg to elevate it above your heart. This is done while lying on your back and helps to reduce swelling and pain. While your leg is elevated, flex your foot down and upwards to stretch the calf muscles. You can also stand up and walk around. Massage with an analgesic rub such as MEDISTIK may also help.”
When it comes to your sleeping position, Dr Matt recommends placing a pillow between the knees when side sleeping to avoid discomfort.
As for when to see a doctor? Dr Janis says, “If your pain gets worse or if your leg is red, swollen, cold or pale in colour, consult with a medical practitioner.” Dr Matt stresses, “Remember to check in with your healthcare provider if the night pain wakes you up constantly, or if it’s associated with night sweats/fever, weight-loss, lethargy, as they should rule out tumors, infections, and/or auto-immune diseases.”
Read more: When to Worry About Leg Pain
Key takeaways for How to Relieve Severe Leg Pain at Night
When it comes to relieving severe leg pain at night, our experts recommend these top three tips:
-
Use cold therapy and topical pain relief products before bed like MEDISTIK
-
Elevate and stretch the leg to reduce swelling and discomfort
-
Adjust sleeping position and know when to seek medical help
