Suggest Treatment For Severe Leg Cramps That Are Frequent And Last For A Long Time

Posted on Sat, 30 Jun 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 30 Jun 2018 Answered on

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 Last reviewed on

Question : My wife is shaving severe leg cramps , not just at night. They are getting more frequent and last longer. She has begun taking magnesium and potassium supplements, and she has stopped taking the vitamin d supplement. Today she got a cramp in her shin area while swimming in the pool. She got another one while riding in the car this morning. No pain meds take the pain away. They are getting more and dmore frequent and last for 10 to 15 minutes.

Answered by Dr. Shinas Hussain (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Seems like POVD.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

As per your description it seems like your wife is having something called peripheral occlusive vascular disease(POVD). It is due to lack of blood supply to your lower limb mostly due to plaques and occlusion of vessel lumen. It’s quite common among elderly.

Other possibilities are peripheral neuropathy due to weakness of nerves as in case of prolonged diabetes. Rare differentials like DVT (deep vein thrombosis) have to be ruled out even though it is unlikely.

Get an arterial Doppler done to assess the blood supply to your lower limbs. You can start dugs like cilastazole. Check your blood cholesterol level and start on statins if it is elevated.

In severe cases vascular surgical intervention may be needed.

Consult a vascular surgeon and get evaluated.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D