A doctor has shared a video of a patient suffering from extreme muscle cramps to remind people to stay properly hydrated and get enough of vital nutrients like magnesium.
Dr. Paul Wischmeyer, an anesthesiologist at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina, shared a video showing the “alien-like” leg cramp.
The shocking clip shows the anonymous patient’s leg twisting and sagging, as if something were 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 they could indicate problems such as dehydration and magnesium deficiency.
“Bad cramps in my leg muscles!!! That calf is writhing like an alien creature,” Dr. Wischmeyer wrote.
He did not reveal any details about the patient, but used the video to urge people to drink enough water before and after exercise and get enough essential magnesium.
Leg cramps, also known as muscle spasms or cramps, are involuntary contractions that can last from a few seconds to several minutes.
They usually appear on the calf, foot or thigh. They can appear at any age or at any time of day, although they are more common in the middle of the night and disrupt sleep.
In addition, older patients are also more likely to experience leg cramps, as 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 will experience a night cramp at least once every two months.
Pregnant women may also be at higher risk, as pregnancy puts increased stress on the muscles.
“They are extremely common and can be very frustrating for both the patient and the doctor, in part because most cases of leg cramps are idiopathic (unknown cause),” said Dr. Wischmeyer.
“Fortunately, they are usually harmless.”
One of the main causes, said Dr. Wishmeyer, 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 prone to cramping.
In addition to supplements, magnesium can be found in a variety of foods, including 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 extremities. This lack of blood flow can lead to fatigue and cramps.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, night cramps could also be caused by sitting for long periods of time during the day, standing or walking on concrete floors, and having poor posture.
In rare cases, leg cramps can be a sign of peripheral neuropathy, a condition in which nerves are damaged and send abnormal signals throughout the body, causing numbness, pain or weakness. The condition affects about 20 million Americans, though it is more common in older people and people with diabetes.
“There is no specific medical treatment for leg cramps, but several medications can be used. Calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem, are effective in treating nocturnal leg cramps,” said Dr. Wischmeyer.