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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Leg Pain In Calves And Interrupted Sleep?

Hello I am 51 female. I fall asleep for approx 1 1/2 hours to 2 1/2 then wake up most every night. My legs usually ache in the calves and feel weird. I am also usually agitated.It takes about 40 minutes for me to fall asleep again. Sometimes I will then sleep for a few hours maybe. 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Wed, 19 Oct 2016
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Neurologist 's  Response
Hello! There are many diagnosis which can explain complaints in the legs.
Restless legs syndrome is a condition characterized by the urge of moving the legs during the night, which disturbes sleep. The sensation that is relieved by the movement in general is not painful, but bothersome. It is almost always associated with anxiety disorder and agitation.
Neuropathy causes sensation complaints like pain and numbness. These symptmos are not alleviated by the movements of the legs. Those can be acquired or hereditary. In some aquired neuropathies the symptoms are more prominent at night, whe the patient is resting. Those may affect the sleep by difficulty in falling asleep as the patient is more perceptible to pain, tingling and numbness while in rest.
Another condition is nocturnal leg cramps. These are involuntary muscle contractions, which are painful and begin suddenly and occur more frequently at rest. In general these are unilateral, even if they are bilateral, are asymmetrical.
Radiculopathies may be associated with pain, cramps and sensation disturbances in the legs. The symptoms are present during all day, they do not worsen tipically at rest.
Vascular disease is another condition which need to be considered and excluded. These conditions (deep vein thrombosis or arteriopathies) may have edemas in the legs or cool extremities. The become worse with motion.
I suggest to see at first a neurologist.
Kind regards.
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What Causes Leg Pain In Calves And Interrupted Sleep?

Hello! There are many diagnosis which can explain complaints in the legs. Restless legs syndrome is a condition characterized by the urge of moving the legs during the night, which disturbes sleep. The sensation that is relieved by the movement in general is not painful, but bothersome. It is almost always associated with anxiety disorder and agitation. Neuropathy causes sensation complaints like pain and numbness. These symptmos are not alleviated by the movements of the legs. Those can be acquired or hereditary. In some aquired neuropathies the symptoms are more prominent at night, whe the patient is resting. Those may affect the sleep by difficulty in falling asleep as the patient is more perceptible to pain, tingling and numbness while in rest. Another condition is nocturnal leg cramps. These are involuntary muscle contractions, which are painful and begin suddenly and occur more frequently at rest. In general these are unilateral, even if they are bilateral, are asymmetrical. Radiculopathies may be associated with pain, cramps and sensation disturbances in the legs. The symptoms are present during all day, they do not worsen tipically at rest. Vascular disease is another condition which need to be considered and excluded. These conditions (deep vein thrombosis or arteriopathies) may have edemas in the legs or cool extremities. The become worse with motion. I suggest to see at first a neurologist. Kind regards.