How to treat muscle problems from drinking – The only proven remedy for muscle problems from drinking is to reduce or stop alcohol use. If you have minor muscle problems from a single bout of heavy drinking, your muscles may begin to improve within a few days. : A physiotherapist tells you how alcohol can affect your muscles, ladies
Contents
- 1 Why do my legs cramp after drinking alcohol?
- 2 Does drinking alcohol cause leg cramps at night?
- 3 Do bananas help with leg cramps?
- 4 What is the best vitamin for leg cramps?
- 5 Does vitamin B12 help prevent leg cramps?
Why do my legs cramp after drinking alcohol?
Alcohol Use Contributes to Muscle Cramps – The main job of your liver is to get rid of harmful substances in your body. Your liver considers alcohol to be a harmful substance and will, therefore, make it a priority to get rid of the alcohol in your bloodstream.
This fact means that other substances that the liver tries to get rid of may have to wait longer to leave your body than if you had not been drinking. When you exercise, your body produces a chemical called lactic acid which can cause cramps. Usually, your liver tries to get rid of the lactic acid. However, when you have been drinking, the lactic acid may take longer to leave your body because your liver is trying to get rid of the alcohol instead.
The lactic acid can then linger longer than usual and cause extra muscle pain and cramps.
How do you get rid of leg pain after drinking?
How To Treat Muscle Pain – If you have minor muscle aches from one night of heavy alcohol use, your muscles may begin to improve within a few days. However, there are cases where the effects of chronic alcohol use can cause severe damage and may not be reversible.
- The only proven remedy for muscle pain from alcohol is to reduce or stop drinking.
- In most cases, it has been found that quitting drinking alcohol can help reverse the effects of alcoholic myopathy.
- The effects of alcoholic myopathy take time to recover, but 85% of people who quit drinking will regain muscle strength and movement within 2 to 12 months and are fully recovered within 5 years.
If you or a loved one are experiencing muscle pains related to chronic alcohol use and think treatment is the answer, Healthy Life Recovery is here. Contact us today to learn more about our addiction treatment programs located in San Diego, California.
- Resources Whitten, Cheryl.
- How Chronic Alcohol Use Affects Your Muscles.” WebMD, WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/what-to-know-alcoholic-myopathy.
- How Alcohol Affects Your Body.” WebMD, WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/ss/slideshow-alcohol-body-effects,
- Simon, Liz, et al.
“Alcoholic Myopathy: Pathophysiologic Mechanisms and Clinical Implications.” Alcohol Research : Current Reviews, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5513686/.
Does drinking alcohol cause leg cramps at night?
Skip to content Sharp and painful leg cramps can cause unpleasant sleep disruptions. About 60% of people report experiencing nocturnal leg cramps. Nocturnal leg cramps — also commonly called charley horses — are painful, involuntary contractions of leg muscles during the night.
Although nocturnal leg cramps generally pass after minutes, they are unpleasant and can disrupt sleep enough to create problems. Usually, the calves and feet are most affected. Nocturnal leg cramps are more prevalent in women and older adults, but anyone can experience them. Nocturnal leg cramps are a distinct condition, but they are often misdiagnosed as restless legs syndrome (RLS) because both disorders involve uncomfortable sensations in the legs.
Although symptoms are similar, there are some key differences between these disorders. You may have nocturnal leg cramps if you are experiencing:
- Calf or foot cramps during the night
- Cramping that causes intense pain
- Sharp pain lasting less than 10 minutes
- Soreness lingering for hours or days
- Sleep disruption as a result of cramping
- Feeling distress around falling asleep
Even though restless legs syndrome also involves leg discomfort at night, its symptoms vary from those found in nocturnal leg cramps. RLS is characterized by the desire or urge to move your legs in the evening. Other symptoms can include:
- Unpleasant or painful sensations in the legs
- Discomfort that worsens in the evening or night
- Relief found by walking or stretching
- Sensations that worsen with lack of exercise or rest
Symptoms of nocturnal leg cramps and RLS often present in similar ways. Therefore, nocturnal leg cramps might be difficult for your doctor to diagnose. To help your doctor figure out what issue is causing your leg discomfort, track your symptoms and bring detailed notes with you to your appointment.
Nocturnal leg cramps can occur for as short as a few seconds, and they usually do not last longer than 10 minutes. You may feel soreness or reduced strength in your legs the day after your cramps. Stretching your calf or foot during the cramp may help relieve some of the intense pain. Leg cramps can be distressing and painful.
Experiencing pain during the night can disrupt sleep. The exact causes of nocturnal leg cramps are unknown. However, there are some factors that may increase the chance of experiencing leg cramps during the night. Medications: Some medications, like diuretics, steroids, and antidepressants, are associated with nocturnal leg cramping.
Talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking if you experience leg cramps during the night. Pregnancy: Leg cramps are a common experience in pregnant women, although some professionals consider pregnancy-related leg cramps different from nocturnal leg cramps. Researchers are unsure if this leg cramping occurs due to pregnancy itself, or because of a lack of blood flow in the veins as a result of pregnancy.
Magnesium supplementation has been shown to reduce leg cramping in pregnancy, but you should talk to your doctor before beginning any new supplements. Dehydration: Not drinking enough water during the day can result in dehydration. Dehydration causes muscle weakness and cramping,
- Nocturnal leg cramps in particular are not associated with dehydration, but drinking water is still important.
- The exact amount of water you need to drink each day depends on your body weight, activity level, medications, and local climate.
- Standing for Extended Periods: Being on your feet for long periods of time can increase the risk of experiencing nocturnal leg cramps, making leg cramps a problem for people who must stand while they work.
Taking breaks from standing and setting aside time to elevate your feet may help. Exercise: Exercising at the gym or through team sports may lead to muscle cramps. When muscles are fatigued or overworked, they can be more susceptible to cramping. Exercise-associated muscle cramps may be mistaken for nocturnal leg cramps when they occur at night. Although the exact cause of nocturnal leg cramps is unknown, there are ways to reduce the likelihood that you will experience them. Typically, leg cramps do not indicate a serious health problem. However, if you are experiencing frequent leg cramping, you should reach out to your doctor.
You may be able to reduce the likelihood of experiencing leg cramps through: Hydration: Staying consistently hydrated throughout the day may help reduce the frequency of muscle cramps, since dehydration can cause cramps. Though some research suggests that nocturnal leg cramps are not caused by dehydration, it may help to drink water during long periods of outdoor activity or strenuous activity.
There is also research to suggest that drinking pickle juice during a cramping episode helps inhibit the cramp quickly. Stretching: Doing some stretching or yoga before bed may help you reduce both the frequency and intensity of nocturnal leg cramps. Research suggests that engaging in a stretching routine before bed helps reduce cramps and leg pain after about six weeks.
Baths: Some people claim that taking a bath helps relieve their nighttime cramps, though further research is needed. An epsom salt bath in particular could help reduce muscle pain, Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate. An epsom salt bath could increase your magnesium levels, which may help relieve leg cramping.
Massage : Massaging your calves or feet before bed may help you reduce cramping during the night by relaxing the muscles in your legs. If you have limited mobility, consider asking a partner to help. Heel Walking: Some people find that walking on their heels helps reduce nocturnal leg cramping.
- If you wake up in the middle of the night with a cramp in your calf, try getting up and walking on your heels.
- Although this type of walking helps release the tight calf muscle, research has found that it is not as effective as stretching during a leg cramp.
- If you are experiencing cramping in your feet and calves frequently during the night that does not go away with changes in lifestyle or diet, consult your doctor.
In many cases, the cause of nocturnal leg cramps is unknown. Some leg cramps could indicate a more serious underlying disease, however, including:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cirrhosis
- Kidney disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Narrowing of the spinal canal
- Nerve damage in legs
- Circulation disorders
Discussing your symptoms and concerns with your doctor can help you determine the best course of treatment. Thanks for the feedback – we’re glad you found our work instructive! If you’re ready for more, sign up to receive our email newsletter! Your privacy is important to us. Was this article helpful? Thanks for the feedback – we’re glad you found our work instructive! Submitting your Answer. Written By
Do bananas help with leg cramps?
Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on March 06, 2022 Muscle cramps happen when your muscles tense up and you can’t relax them. While painful, usually you can treat them yourself. Exercise, dehydration, and menstruation are common causes. One way to stop cramps is to stretch or massage your muscles and to eat enough of these key nutrients: potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. You probably know that bananas are a good source of potassium. But they’ll also give you magnesium and calcium, That’s three out of four nutrients you need to ease muscle cramps tucked under that yellow peel. No wonder bananas are a popular, quick choice for cramp relief. Like bananas, sweet potatoes give you potassium, calcium, and magnesium, Sweet potatoes get the win because they have about six times as much calcium as bananas. And it’s not just sweet potatoes: Regular potatoes and even pumpkins are good sources of all three nutrients. Plus, potatoes and pumpkins naturally have a lot of water in them, so they can help keep you hydrated, too. One creamy, green berry (yes, it’s really a berry!) has about 975 milligrams of potassium, twice as much as a sweet potato or banana. Potassium is important because it helps your muscles work and keeps your heart healthy. So swap out mayo on a sandwich with mashed avocado, or slice one onto your salad to help keep muscle cramps away. They have a lot of fat and calories, so keep that in mind. Legumes like beans and lentils are packed with magnesium. One cup of cooked lentils has about 71 milligrams of magnesium, and a cup of cooked black beans has almost double that with 120 milligrams. Plus, they’re high in fiber, and studies show that high-fiber foods can help ease menstrual cramps as well as help control your blood sugar and lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol, These fruits have it all: loads of potassium, a good amount of magnesium and calcium, a little sodium, and a lot of water. Sodium and water are key because as you exercise, your body flushes sodium out with your sweat. If you lose too much water, you’ll get dehydrated, and muscle cramps may happen. Eating a cup of cubed cantaloupe after a workout can help. They’re about 90% water, so when you need foods that hydrate, a cup of watermelon will do it. Since it’s a melon, it’s also high in potassium, but not quite as high as others. It’s a natural source of electrolytes like calcium, potassium, and sodium. It’s good for hydration. And it’s packed with protein, which helps repair muscle tissue after workouts. All of the above can help protect against muscle cramps. Some athletes swear by pickle juice as a fast way to stop a muscle cramp. They believe it’s effective because of the high water and sodium content. But that might not be the case. While pickle juice may help relieve muscle cramps quickly, it isn’t because you’re dehydrated or low on sodium. They’re rich in calcium and magnesium. So adding kale, spinach, or broccoli to your plate may help prevent muscle cramps. Eating leafy greens also may help with menstruation cramps, as studies show eating foods high in calcium can help relieve pain from periods. One cup of refreshing OJ has plenty of water for hydration. It’s also a potassium star with nearly 500 milligrams per cup. Orange juice has 27 milligrams of calcium and magnesium. Choose a calcium-fortified brand for an extra boost. Like beans and lentils, nuts and seeds are a great source of magnesium. For example, 1 ounce of toasted sunflower seeds has about 37 milligrams of magnesium. And 1 ounce of roasted, salted almonds has double that. Many types of nuts and seeds have calcium and magnesium as well. Sometimes muscle cramps are the result of poor blood flow. Eating oily fish like salmon can help improve it. Plus, a 3-ounce portion of cooked salmon has about 326 milligrams of potassium and 52 milligrams of sodium to help with muscle cramps. Not a salmon fan? You also could try trout or sardines. Tomatoes are high in potassium and water content. So if you gulp down 1 cup of tomato juice, you’ll get about 15% of your daily value of potassium. You’ll also give your body hydration to prevent muscle cramps from starting. Generally, women need about 11.5 cups of water a day, and men 15.5 cups. But this doesn’t mean you should chug water. The water you get from other beverages, plus fruits and vegetables, counts, too. Before you reach for a sports drink, know this: You only need these sugary electrolyte beverages if you’re doing high-intensity exercise for an hour or more.
What is the best vitamin for leg cramps?
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process, Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm? Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence? Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. A potential cause of leg cramps is a vitamin deficiency, though research into this is ongoing. Vitamins B1, B12, and D may help relieve them, along with potassium and magnesium.
Why do my legs hurt so bad after drinking?
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process, Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm? Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence? Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. What is Alcoholic Neuropathy? Alcohol can be toxic to nerve tissue. People who drink too much may start to feel pain and tingling in their limbs. This is known as alcoholic neuropathy.
- In people with alcoholic neuropathy, the peripheral nerves have been damaged by too much alcohol use.
- The peripheral nerves transmit signals between the body, the spinal cord, and the brain.
- Thiamine, folate, niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, and vitamin E are all needed for proper nerve function.
- Drinking too much can alter levels of these nutrients and affect the spread of alcoholic neuropathy.
Fortunately, abstaining from alcohol can help restore your nutritional health. This may improve your symptoms and help prevent further nerve damage. However, some alcohol-induced nerve damage is permanent.9 Celebrity Alcoholics You May Not Know About
Is it normal to get cramps after drinking alcohol?
Cramps are one of the symptoms of alcoholic myopathy and is characterized histologically by selective atrophy of type II fibers.
Why are my cramps so bad after drinking?
During a woman’s menstrual cycle, prostaglandins trigger contractions in the female’s uterine muscle. The higher levels of prostaglandins can cause more extreme menstrual cramps. Alcohol increases prostaglandin levels, worsening period cramps.
When should I be worried about leg cramps?
You should seek immediate medical help if: The cramps last longer than 10 minutes and fail to improve, despite exercise.
What causes leg cramps in bed?
Most of the time, there’s no known cause for night leg cramps. In general, they’re likely the result of tired muscles and nerve problems. The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant people also are more likely to have night leg cramps.
- Idney failure, diabetic nerve damage and problems with blood flow are known to cause night leg cramps.
- But if you have one of these conditions, you probably already know.
- And you likely have symptoms other than just night leg cramps.
- People who take medicines that increase urine output might be more likely to have night leg cramps.
But it’s not known if there’s a direct link. Restless legs syndrome is sometimes confused with night leg cramps. But the conditions are different. The most common symptom of restless legs syndrome is the need to move the legs when falling asleep. Restless legs syndrome is usually not painful, and the symptoms last longer than do night leg cramps.
- Acute kidney failure
- Addison’s disease (adrenal insufficiency)
- Alcohol use disorder
- Anemia — a condition in which the body doesn’t get oxygen due to a lack of healthy red blood cells.
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
- Dehydration (which is when the body doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to work properly)
- Dialysis
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Lack of physical activity
- Medicines, such as those used to treat blood pressure problems and high cholesterol, and birth control pills
- Muscle fatigue
- Parkinson’s disease
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Pregnancy
- Spinal stenosis
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.
What foods get rid of leg cramps?
High-Potassium Fruits and Vegetables – Because many muscle cramps are related to electrolyte imbalance, foods that are high in electrolytes, like potassium, can be helpful in stopping them before the start. Though bananas are the most popular high-potassium food, other foods, including avocados, potatoes and leafy greens, also pack a potassium punch.
Can low vitamin D cause leg cramps?
Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Leg Cramps Specifically? – Fewer studies have observed the effects of vitamin D deficiency on muscle spasms or cramps. One small case series observed the association between vitamin D deficiency and concurrent episodes of pain and muscle spasms.
- Although the mechanisms are unclear, it’s been hypothesized that the imbalanced homeostasis of electrolytes, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, resulting from vitamin D deficiency could lead to muscle dysfunction and potential cramping.
- However, there is conflicting evidence that vitamin D plays a role.
Another small study published in 2017 evaluated whether the correction of vitamin D insufficiency relieved muscle cramps in postmenopausal women. The researchers found that vitamin D did not affect the frequency or severity of muscle cramps despite vitamin D repletion.
- This same study also found no relationship between muscle cramps and dietary or serum magnesium or fluid intake.
- They did, however, identify that serum albumin, higher potassium intake, and physical activity were inversely associated with the severity of cramps in the study subjects.
- Even though it is well established that vitamin D plays a role in maintaining blood levels of calcium and phosphate, there is not enough evidence to suggest that vitamin D deficiency causes leg cramps or that vitamin D deficiency correction will eliminate them.
BLOG: Is Vitamin D Deficiency Related to Depression?
Can low B12 cause leg cramps?
Discussion – We have described the disease spectrum of a number of patients who attended our outpatient clinic with possible vitamin B 12 deficiency in whom the diagnosis was either based on low serum vitamin B 12 levels, elevated biomarkers like MMA and/or homocysteine, or the improvement of clinical symptoms after the institution of parenteral vitamin B 12 therapy. Altogether, these cases show the considerable heterogeneity of vitamin B 12 deficiency. Not all cases were easy to recognize or diagnose. The most prevalent symptoms of vitamin B 12 deficiency are neurologic, such as paresthesia in hands and feet, muscle cramps, dizziness, cognitive disturbances, ataxia, and erectile dysfunction, as well as fatigue, psychiatric symptoms like depression, and macrocytic anemia.1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10 However, there is evidence that in the Western world as well as China, less than 20% of people with demonstrable low serum vitamin B 12 levels have macrocytic anemia.11, 12, 13, 14 Although the demonstration of low serum vitamin B 12 levels is considered diagnostic, there is a poor correlation between these levels and symptoms, 8, 9, 15 and even people with vitamin B 12 levels below 140 pmol/L may not have symptoms.16 This factor sheds a different light on the discussion regarding appropriate cutoff levels for serum vitamin B 12 and related parameters. Some investigators suggest that it is necessary to establish different reference cutoffs according to age and the applied analytic method.17 However, serum vitamin B 12 tests also may fail because many people with symptoms related to cobalamin deficiency may have serum vitamin B 12 levels above the lower reference level of 140 pmol/L.18, 19 Although several factors may be of influence, in a considerable number of cases this issue can be caused by the earlier use of oral supplementation with multivitamins or high-dose oral vitamin B 12 preparations.20 It has been reported that even a dose of 10 μg/d can increase vitamin B 12 levels to more than 200 pmol/L in elderly individuals (>65 years).21 Oral supplementation may increase the serum vitamin B 12 level but often not enough to replenish the vitamin B 12 levels in the tissues 21 unless very high doses (1000-2000 μg/d) are used.
Does vitamin B12 help prevent leg cramps?
Vitamin B complex. There is some evidence that taking a daily capsule containing eight B vitamins—B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), and B12— may prevent cramps.
Why does drinking give me cramps?
Answer from gastroenterologist : – Simply put, alcohol irritates your gut. Regular drinking can cause alcoholic gastritis, which includes symptoms like stomach ache, abdominal pain, hiccups, indigestion, loss of appetite, bloating and nausea. Alcoholic gastritis can be chronic or short-lived.
- Keep a drink log. Write down the day, time, type of drink and number consumed in a journal or on your phone. Tracking your drinking habits can help you pinpoint likely triggers or when you use alcohol to cope.
- Avoid alcohol-infused environments. It’s hard to avoid drinking when you’re hanging out at a bar. Suggest meeting for coffee or ice cream instead.
- Replace alcoholic drinks with booze-free alternatives. Sparkling water, soda, kombucha and juice are all better for your gut than alcohol. You can also find nonalcoholic beer and spirits online.
Alcohol use can cause lasting damage to your gut. Sometimes lifelong management is required, including medications, reparative surgery and avoiding certain irritating foods.
- Call for an appointment
: You asked, we answered: How can I stop stomach aches from alcohol gastritis?
When should I be worried about leg cramps?
You should seek immediate medical help if: The cramps last longer than 10 minutes and fail to improve, despite exercise.
Can drinking alcohol cause muscle spasms?
Alcohol causes muscle twitching and spams by interfering with the chemical messages your brain sends to your skeletal muscle, in addition to promoting dehydration and electrolyte imbalances responsible for involuntary muscle movement.
How long does alcohol neuropathy last?
Alcoholic Neuropathy Alcohol can have a toxic effect on nerve tissue, and alcohol abuse is a frequent cause of neuropathy. People suffering from alcoholic neuropathy may feel burning and tingling sensations in their feet, which may persist or may last from a few months to a few years.
- People with alcoholic neuropathy who stop drinking, may alleviate their current symptoms and prevent further nerve deterioration.
- Damage to nerves caused by alcoholic neuropathy, however, is usually permanent.
- Chronic alcoholism is often associated with malnutrition and nutritional and vitamin deficiencies, including B12, B1 (thiamin), folate and other B vitamins.
It may be hard to distinguish nutrition-related neuropathies from alcoholic neuropathy.