Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) can cause aching legs at night due to high pressure in the veins and stagnant venous blood from sitting or standing all day. Proper daily leg elevation can help relieve this pressure. Nervousness and restless leg syndrome usually result in legs that feel heavy, jittery, and shaky.
Nighttime leg pain could be a sign of the worst form of PAD – critical limb ischemia (CLI). With CLI, the pain attacks in your legs or feet can persist for minutes to hours. Leg pain at night can be a sign of a serious condition, and only a healthcare professional can diagnose you with PAD.
Most leg pain results from wear and tear, overuse, or injuries in joints or bones or in muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine. Leg pain can also be caused by blood clots, varicose veins or poor circulation.
By lying on the side, you put pressure on the nerve root on your leg and then the pain. Normally our hips are tilted too far when we lie on the side. This causes our spine to curve and then pinch the nerve roots.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also called Willis-Ekbom Disease, causes unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them. Symptoms commonly occur in the late afternoon or evening hours, and are often most severe at night when a person is resting, such as sitting or lying in bed.
Drink plenty of fluids. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade, will often help leg cramps.
Some types of leg pain, especially if they're caused by a muscle strain or another less serious injury, may respond well to self-care measures and not require extensive treatment. But leg pain that's due to a more serious injury, or involves nerve or tissue damage, may require ongoing treatment or surgery to resolve.
Are you bothered by an almost irresistible urge to move your legs when you lie down or relax? If so, you may have restless legs syndrome (RLS), a neurological disorder. The tingling, aching, and itching of RLS can last for hours and prevent you from getting the sleep you need.
Side sleeping can also work, especially if you sleep with your knees slightly bent cradling a body pillow, adds Duncan. The extra support from the body pillow will help your leg muscles stay relaxed and in the proper alignment while you rest.
According to sleep experts, you should sleep on your side with your knees slightly bent to relieve low back pain. If the position feels uncomfortable, you can put a pillow between your legs, and your neck should have strong support too.
As per Vastu principles, the best direction to sleep are east and south directions so that the head is towards east or south while the legs point to the west or north.
If you're experiencing cramps at night, this could be from restlessness and turning over in bed. This triggers the muscle causing it to cramp. Interestingly, they can also be caused by a lack of movement, specifically if you hold a position for a long period of time.
Try over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve)
Leg Pain Can Indicate Risk for a Heart Attack or Stroke
Peripheral artery disease that causes leg pain can be indicative of heart issues. People that have PAD are at a higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack. This could be a sign that the coronary arteries are blocked and the blood flow is reduced.
It's used to help ease mild to moderate pain, including headache, migraine headache, muscle aches, period pain, toothache, and aches and pains caused by the common cold or flu.
If you need to tame the pain of a broken bone, sprain or bruising, a new study suggests you're best to reach for the humble paracetamol.
During the night, there is a drop in the stress hormone cortisol which has an anti-inflammatory response. There is less inflammation, less healing, so the damage to bone due to the above conditions accelerates in the night, with pain as the side-effect.
Claudication is a symptom of a narrowing or blockage of an artery. Typical symptoms of claudication include: Pain, a burning feeling, or a tired feeling in the legs and buttocks when you walk.
Increased risk of leg pain and numbness
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a complication that can develop when the arteries in your legs get too narrow due to buildup from high cholesterol levels. PAD can cause numbness and tingling in your legs or feet.