A doctor has shared a video of a patient experiencing extreme muscle cramps to remind people to stay hydrated and get enough important nutrients like magnesium.
Dr. Paul Wischmeyer, an anesthesiologist at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina, shared a video showing the “alien-like” cramp in his leg.
The shocking clip shows the unnamed patient’s leg writhing and collapsing, as if something is alive inside it.
Dr. Paul Wischmeyer, an anesthesiologist at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina, shared a video this week showing a patient suffering from an “alien-like” leg cramp
Leg cramps are usually harmless, but can indicate problems such as dehydration and magnesium deficiency
“Severe muscle cramps in my legs!! That calf is writhing like an alien,” Dr. Wischmeyer wrote.
He didn’t give details about the patient, but he used the video to urge people to drink plenty of water before and after a workout and get enough essential magnesium.
Leg cramps, also called muscle cramps, are involuntary contractions that can last from several seconds to several minutes.
These usually occur in the calf, foot or thigh. They can occur at any age or time of day, although they are most common in the middle of the night and disrupt sleep.
In addition, older patients are more likely to suffer from leg cramps, because tendons shorten with age, making the legs and other limbs less flexible.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, one in three adults over the age of 60 experiences nighttime cramps at least once every two months.
Pregnant women are also at increased risk, because pregnancy puts more strain on the muscles.
“They are very common and can be very frustrating for both the patient and the physician, in part because most cases of leg cramps are idiopathic (unknown cause),” Dr. Wischmeyer said.
‘Fortunately, they are usually harmless.’
A major cause, Dr. Wishmeyer noted, is not getting enough magnesium, an essential nutrient that works with calcium to regulate muscle contractions. Calcium triggers contractions, while magnesium helps muscles relax.
Without magnesium, muscles are more susceptible to cramps.
In addition to supplements, magnesium can also be found in various foods, such as spinach, nuts, avocados, seeds, peanut butter, and black beans.
Dr. Wischmeyer also said that dehydration increases the risk of leg cramps because it reduces blood volume and circulation to the limbs. This lack of blood flow can lead to fatigue and cramping.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, nighttime cramps can also result from prolonged sitting, standing, or walking on concrete floors and poor posture.
In rare cases, leg cramps may be a sign of peripheral neuropathy, a condition in which nerves are damaged and send abnormal signals throughout the body, resulting in numbness, pain, or weakness. The condition affects about 20 million Americans, though it is most common in older adults and diabetics.
“There is no specific medical treatment indicated for leg cramps, but several medications can be used. Calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem, are effective in treating nocturnal leg cramps,” Dr. Wischmeyer said.