Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a calf cramp is a gaze diagnosis.Since cramps usually occur at home and often at night, the doctor consulted later can usually no longer judge whether it was really a cramp or whether it is rather a pulling pain caused by e.g. reduced blood circulation in the lower leg. Neurological measuring instruments that check muscle function do exist, but it is difficult to find indications of nocturnal cramps. However, in the case of frequent calf cramps described by patients, a diagnosis can be started by the doctor.
This is mainly aimed at a laboratory examination and a detailed patient survey as well as some physical examinations. In the blood, calcium, potassium and sodium as well as magnesium and the creatine kinase value should be determined. If this is elevated, this indicates increased muscle cell decay.
A pronounced magnesium deficiency can also lead to muscle cramps. The patient survey refers mainly to sports activities, and appropriate training and overtraining. During the physical examination, the patient should be asked to stand on the toes, and the calf muscles should also be examined and palpated. Severe hardening of the muscle tone indicates a recent cramp or recurrent calf cramps.
Treatment measures
If a calf cramp occurs either suddenly during the day or during the night, the condition must be relieved as quickly as possible and the cramp must be released. There are several ways to do this. Since the muscles are in a completely unphysiological position in the case of a calf cramp, normal and accustomed muscle movement is usually not possible.
If you manage to bring the leg into your usual movement, the calf cramp will usually resolve itself. A successful measure, in case the cramp occurs during the night, is to stand up and walk around or to stand strongly with the affected leg. The vibrations, which continue upwards via the affected muscle, loosen the corresponding muscles.
Here too, the symptoms usually improve quickly. Even if the affected person stands on tiptoe, the calf muscles usually loosen suddenly and the cramp disappears. In any case, the hardened muscles can be massaged while lying down or standing.
The aim is to loosen the hardened muscles and bring them back into their normal, accustomed position. An often described simple exercise to quickly relieve calf cramps is to pull the toes towards the body and the heel away from the body. This position should be held for a few seconds.
The patient will soon notice the muscle loosening. A second exercise is to place the affected leg backwards, similar to a sprinter in the starting position and try to bring the heel of the affected leg to the ground. This position should also be held for a few seconds before the spasm will probably subside quickly.
If these measures do not help, you can also try to put a hot water bottle on the affected leg. The heat will increase the blood supply to the corresponding muscle and the hardening will be loosened quickly. The typical aching muscles that occur after a calf cramp can also be treated with a hot water bottle or with a pain gel.
Various active ingredients are available here, such as ibuprofen (doc ointment) or diclo-gel (diclofenac). The application can be done several times a day. An improvement can be expected after 2 days at the latest.
