Leg Cramping Specialist

What is leg cramping?

Leg cramping is an involuntary muscle contraction that causes intense pain. These muscle contractions can happen when you’re sleeping, working out, or going about your daily routine.

When your muscle cramps, it contracts into a tight knot that can cause unbearable pain for a few seconds or a few minutes until the muscle relaxes. You can massage or stretch your muscles to help ease the tension and the pain.

What causes leg cramping?

In most cases, leg cramping is harmless. But it can also be a symptom of an underlying vascular problem that disrupts blood flow to your leg muscle. These problems include:

• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Venous insufficiency
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Leg cramping can also be caused by nerve compression in the lumbar (lower back) spine, stress, or low potassium in your system.

When should I seek medical help for leg cramping?

Leg cramping is usually an acute condition, meaning it comes on suddenly and tends to go away on its own. If leg cramping causes other symptoms, like leg swelling and pain, an exam is needed. Schedule a visit with the team at Sarasota Vascular Specialists if you have chronic or long-lasting leg cramping.

Leg cramping, along with these other symptoms, can be signs of a vascular problem. You’ll be at greater risk of developing a vascular disease if it runs in your family or you have a history of diabetes or high cholesterol.

How is leg cramping evaluated?

The team at Sarasota Vascular Specialists completes thorough evaluations and advanced diagnostic tests when you come in with complaints of leg cramping. The state-of-the-art vascular practice has an on-site vascular lab and angiography center.

During your exam, your board-certified provider reviews your symptoms and your medical and family histories.

To confirm or rule out a vascular problem, the team completes a physical exam and runs several diagnostic tests, including:

• Ankle-brachial index (ABI), comparing the blood pressure in your arms to your ankles
• Vascular ultrasound
• Diagnostic angiogram (X-ray of your blood vessels)
• Blood work

After your exam and testing, the team talks with you about their findings and develops a treatment plan to ease the leg cramping and improve your health and well-being.

To find out what’s causing your leg cramping, call Sarasota Vascular Specialists today or schedule an appointment online.