What Causes Severe Leg Cramps At Night?

Posted on Tue, 8 Sep 2015

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

Tue, 8 Sep 2015 Answered on

Wed, 7 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My legs cramp violently at night - especially my calf muscles. My knees hurt - walking up the stairs is painful - just sitting or laying they throb. I had gastric bypass surgery over 8 years ago and developed serious absorbton problems - calcium (taking Prolia), vit d, very anemic, etc. I have had 3 surgeries with infection for an internal strangulated hernia, then 2 incisional hernias. I can deal with all this stuff, but not the throbing and cramping and often times just plain pain in my knees, legs and thighs. I have gained weight - am now 147-150 lbs.

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please check your calcium and vitamin D levels.

Detailed Answer:
Good day.
Noted your concern. sorry to hear about your symptoms. The cramps could be due to several reasons. Calcium and vitamin D deficiency Is the commonest cause. I know that you are taking calcium and vitamin D. However, it is good to recheck calcium and vitamin D levels.
May I suggest following tests.
Fasting calcium, albumin,electrolytes, vitamin D, Fasting blood sugar, Vitamin B12.
Besides, avoid dehydration which is another cause of cramps.
Knee pain could be due to excess weight.
Could you please let me know the results of blood tests.
Regards
Binu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar