Night Cramps & Restless Legs
If you’ve ever been jolted awake at 3 a.m. by a painful cramp or kept awake by restless leg movement, you know from experience that these are not minor inconveniences.
Night cramps and restless legs can significantly disrupt your sleep quality and leave you feeling drained and unproductive the next day. While these symptoms might seem unrelated to vein health, they often indicate an underlying vein disorder that needs professional care.
Dr. Louis Prevosti understands how venous insufficiency manifests through symptoms like these. He specializes in treatments that address the root cause behind the symptoms so you can restore your comfort, including consistently improved sleep quality.
What Causes Night Cramps and Leg Cramps at Rest?
The exact mechanism by which venous insufficiency causes leg cramps is not known. We do know that when the one-way valves in the leg stop working properly, venous blood pools in the leg veins. Venous blood is de-oxygenated, and it gets even more de-oxygenated when it is stagnant. As you may know from playing sports, muscles cramp when they cannot get enough oxygen. Lactic acid builds up and causes the burning cramp. It is possible that a similar action occurs at rest with venous insufficiency.
Interestingly, leg cramps from venous insufficiency usually occur at rest, especially at night, and usually do not occur when walking or exercising. This is because the active calf muscles pump the pooled, deoxygenated blood out of the leg. (In rare cases, venous disease can cause severe cramps when walking. This is called venous claudication and is usually caused by occlusion of a deep vein by a blood clot in addition to venous insufficiency.)
Arterial blockage, or peripheral artery disease (PAD), can also cause leg cramps. Leg cramps due to PAD occur when using the leg muscles, such as walking, and the cramps subside at rest. This is the opposite pattern of leg cramps from venous insufficiency, which occur at rest and get better when you walk. This detail of diagnostic differentiation is an example of what you gain by being evaluated at Prevosti Vein Center.
Restless Leg and Venous Insufficiency. What is the Connection?
There are several theories as to the mechanism that causes restless leg syndrome, although no one knows for sure why it occurs. We do know that restless leg syndrome can be caused by venous insufficiency. We also know that venous insufficiency causes inflammation in the surrounding tissue. It is possible that the inflammation affects or irritates the nerves. At night, when we are not using our legs, the irritated nerves may fire, causing involuntary motion of the legs.
We also know that the increased venous pressure can cause an increased amount of interstitial fluid (the clear fluid in between the cells) to be produced. When we lie down at night, the venous pressure drops back to normal, and the body works on draining the excess fluid out. It is possible that this causes electrolyte shifts that induce nerve and muscle fiber activation.
Dr. Prevosti’s extensive diagnostic experience enables him to accurately identify the often complex set of factors contributing to these nighttime symptoms. Through precise diagnostic ultrasound techniques performed in his Canton office and a thorough medical history review, he comprehensively evaluates the underlying venous insufficiency problem.
This includes taking into account each patient’s risk factors for venous insufficiency, such as the following:
- Family history of vein disorders
- Female gender
- Prolonged standing or sitting at work or at home.
- Multiple pregnancies
- Age-related valve deterioration
- Previous blood clots or vein injuries
How Are Night Cramps & Restless Legs Treated?
Dr. Prevosti offers comprehensive treatment options designed to address the venous insufficiency that often causes chronic nighttime leg symptoms. His minimally invasive approaches target the source of the problem rather than just managing symptoms.
- Radiofrequency ablation uses controlled heat energy to seal malfunctioning veins, reducing pressure and improving circulation that can eliminate cramping and restless sensations.
- Endovenous laser ablation precisely treats damaged veins using targeted laser energy, restoring proper blood flow and reducing the venous pressure contributing to nighttime symptoms.
- The VenaSealTM closure system uses a specialized adhesive to seal the treated veins without using heat. After being sealed, the treated veins fade away as the body naturally processes them out.
- Varithena is an FDA-approved foam that is injected into varicose veins. The foam is a sclerosing agent, meaning it causes the veins to close in on themselves, after which the body redirects blood flow through healthier vessels.
These minimally invasive procedures are performed in Dr. Prevosti's comfortable Canton office using local anesthesia. Most patients experience progressive improvement in their nighttime symptoms within weeks of treatment.
Experience Specialized Vein Care at Prevosti Vein Center
Don't let night cramps and restless legs rob you of quality sleep any longer. Dr. Prevosti's exclusive focus on vein disorders means you receive highly specialized and compassionate care that addresses the root cause of your symptoms. Schedule your consultation today.