Can dehydration cause leg pain?

The short answer to this is absolutely yes. Leg pain can be caused by dehydration, and this typically appears in the form of leg cramps.

Is there a difference between leg muscle pain and bone pain?

Bone pain typically feels deeper, sharper, and more intense compared to muscle pain, which is often described as a dull, aching sensation. Bone pain is usually localised to a specific spot, while muscle pain can be more diffuse, affecting multiple areas of the leg, such as the ankle, calf, and shin.

How to help with restless leg syndrome

Before bed, some advice would be to do some light workouts to get your blood pumping (only a bit though), begin avoiding caffeine as it will not help you at night. Another would be to go to bed when you need to go to bed, this means not lying down or sitting still for long periods of time, this includes the run up to bed time as your blood circulation will worsen.

Why do my lower legs hurt when I wake up?

As mentioned earlier, this could be due to a number of reasons, some including and not limited to: Inflammation, Muscle Cramps, Blood Clot, Gout and even sciatica.

Can arthritis cause leg pain at night?

Yes, unfortunately, arthritis can be particularly painful at night. This occurs because, when you're not moving around, your joints are less lubricated. Additionally, the effects of gravity can contribute to inflammation, and your joints may feel more fatigued after a day of activity.

Can diabetes cause leg pain at night?

Yes, certain types of diabetic neuropathy can cause leg pain at night. This often comes with symptoms such as numbness, burning, aching, cramps, and weakness that can spread from your feet or hands to your legs and arms.

Leg Pain & Cramps at Night: Treatment & Causes

By Tens Machine UK . Last Updated Friday, 9th August 2024

Leg Pains and Cramps can be caused by a number of issues, conditions and problems - from high intensity workouts to nerve problems, but it’s quite a common and annoying issue. Unfortunately these types of pains and cramps can cause issues throughout the day, but also interrupt our sleep patterns, especially if they’re happening quite regularly. .

Why do my Legs Ache at Night?

It can be quite hard to pinpoint the exact reason why your legs may ache or become painful during the night, as some leg cramps for example are called ‘idiopathic’ which means there is no known cause for the pain or aching.

There are some possible conditions, causes or issues that could cause your legs to ache, become painful or cramp up during the night, here are a few possible causes:

Bone Fracture - Not what you’d expect to be first on the list, however this could be a cause for a random pain. Hairline fractures, despite how small they are, can cause a fair bit of pain, especially during the night. If your legs are painful during the night and day, but also doesn’t settle whilst you rest, it is likely to be a fracture.
Muscle Fatigue - This one can cause cramps throughout the night or in one painful swoop, intense training or overworked muscles and lifting something heavy repeatedly throughout the day can cause leg pain and cramps. This is a typical cause for leg pain and cramps, and is very common.
Sitting or Standing for prolonged periods of time - Sitting down or standing for a long period of time can restrict your blood supply but also cause small periods of muscle fatigue. Both of these together will cause leg pain and leg cramps.
Inflammation of Tendons and Muscles - There’s a chance you may be experiencing inflammation of your tendons or muscles during the night, as your muscles are healing whilst you sleep.
Hydration - A little less sinister, if you don’t drink enough water throughout the day, it can lead to major issues with your blood circulation, which of course will lead to pain and cramps during the night.

Other possible issues or reasons could be blood circulation.

Blood Clots - Symptoms could include localised warmth and swelling, pain in your leg that’s throbbing, strange redness around a specific area and typically it affects only one leg. These blood clots typically occur when travelling on long distance flights (sitting for very long periods of time without any real movement), which is why a lot of passengers nowadays wear compression socks to encourage blood flow.
Vein Problems - The most common pinpoint for this is varicose veins which are; enlarged, swollen and twisted veins that are a major sign of poor blood circulation.

They have become a very common result of fluid retention issues - this basically means the veins are not working effectively, and over the course of a day or two, the pressure on the leg can increase and cause weakened vein walls and leaky values. This results in aching pains, a strange heavy feeling in your legs and can worsen during the night - especially for those spending most of their time on their feet.

Artery Disease - A far worse outlook compared to the points made above. When smaller quantities of your blood are making their way to your legs (poor blood circulation), this can typically lead to leg pain during sleep at night.
That being said, you can alleviate that pain quite quickly by hanging your leg over the side of your bed or perhaps just stand up for a minute or two, which sends larger quantities of blood through your legs to your feet.

Additionally, this type of issue typically affects those who are:

- Diabetics
- Elderly
- Obese
- Smokers
- Have high cholesterol
Osteoarthritis - A common condition that causes damage to the cartilage in your joints. Osteoarthritis pains can be worse at night in the knees, ankles, feet and hips.

Alternative Treatments for Leg Pain and Leg Cramps

Treatment and medicines can vary depending on the severity, whether it’s connected to health conditions or it’s associated with a short term to long term injury.

Here are some treatments, medicines and other possible solutions to help relieve pain and aching in your legs at night:

Massage - Using a Foam Roller, your hands or your partner's hands, massage out any knots in the muscles and ensure good pressure throughout the massage. This will help with increasing blood flow throughout the leg, reduce any buildup of lactic acid and reduce the chances of pain or cramps during the night. Typically people massage their legs for at least 2-3 minutes.
Applying Cold Therapy - Using an ice pack on the painful area of the leg can come with a number of benefits such as: reducing swelling, reducing inflammation and also reducing pain. There are a number of options on the market for that, such as Polar Frost Gel or Ice Packs for your Knees which you can also use for different parts of your leg too.
Therapeutic Ultrasound Machines - The 1 and 3 MHz Ultrasound machines are designed to give you all the benefits of a therapeutic ultrasound physiotherapy session. Helps reduce inflammation, Relieve Pain, reduce recovery time for injuries and more. It’s become a very popular option for those looking to reduce their pain and speed up recovery.
Medi-Boost TENS & EMS Foot Massager - The powerful TENS and EMS Machine has become an incredibly popular option for those looking to improve their blood circulation, reduce pain in their feet, knees and ankles but also reduce swelling fast. This device has become a popular pain relief for leg pains and cramps.
Anti Inflammatory Medication - Likely prescribed by your doctor, this type of medicine will help you with inflammation of the muscles and tendons during the night, resulting in reduced pain. Some people have been known to refuse this type of treatment due to possible side effects such as: Bleeding of the stomach and also gastrointestinal issues.

Natural Products that could help

Turmeric - this natural remedy when used over time has anti-inflammatory properties that can not only treat swelling and pains, but also arthritic and leg pains. Typically you apply a paste of turmeric and sesame oil to the affected area, or better yet, drink it through supplements. You can buy these at supermarkets around the UK.
Cherries - This super food contains anthocyanin and antioxidants, which in turn has anti inflammatory properties. It’s not recommended for those with diabetes due to it’s high sugar content, however for those who don’t have diabetes, you can drink it or take it via supplements.
Magnesium Supplements - Magnesium supplements have been known to reduce muscle cramps and leg aches during the night, however only take this under the guidance of a nutritionist or doctor.
Essential Oils - Lavender is renowned to help people fall asleep and relax the body. Lavender could also help relieve pain and reduce inflammation when applied to the affected area.

Should I be worried about my Legs Hurting?

Normally it isn’t necessary to see a doctor or go to A&E, however if your symptoms are causing your major discomfort and anxiety, we’d recommend speaking with your medical professional or doctor. There are times where leg pain can lead to or be something far more sinister, and at this point, if it’s very painful and you’re struggling, seek medical treatment immediately.

Seek medical attention if:

Your leg looks deformed and you cannot properly use it
It becomes numb or very weak
Both legs have swollen and you have breathing problems
The leg pain is gradually getting worse
The pain has come on very quickly with absolutely no explanation

Additionally, we’d recommend seeing your doctor or going to the hospital or you see any signs of infection or an onset of fever.

FAQ

Can dehydration cause leg pain? - The short answer to this is absolutely yes. Leg pain can be caused by dehydration, and this typically appears in the form of leg cramps.
Is there a difference between leg muscle pain and bone pain? - Bone pain typically feels deeper, sharper, and more intense compared to muscle pain, which is often described as a dull, aching sensation. Bone pain is usually localised to a specific spot, while muscle pain can be more diffuse, affecting multiple areas of the leg, such as the ankle, calf, and shin.
How to help with restless leg syndrome - Before bed, some advice would be to do some light workouts to get your blood pumping (only a bit though), begin avoiding caffeine as it will not help you at night. Another would be to go to bed when you need to go to bed, this means not lying down or sitting still for long periods of time, this includes the run up to bed time as your blood circulation will worsen.
Why do my lower legs hurt when I wake up? - As mentioned earlier, this could be due to a number of reasons, some including and not limited to: Inflammation, Muscle Cramps, Blood Clot, Gout and even sciatica.
Can arthritis cause leg pain at night? - Yes, unfortunately, arthritis can be particularly painful at night. This occurs because, when you're not moving around, your joints are less lubricated. Additionally, the effects of gravity can contribute to inflammation, and your joints may feel more fatigued after a day of activity.
Can diabetes cause leg pain at night? - Yes, certain types of diabetic neuropathy can cause leg pain at night. This often comes with symptoms such as numbness, burning, aching, cramps, and weakness that can spread from your feet or hands to your legs and arms.

Some Helpful Forums

There are forums on Reddit that could help for those struggling with Leg Pain and Aches at night, here are some we found:

By Paul Warburton . Last Updated Friday, 17th September 2021

At our company, we understand the importance of having access to the best medical equipment for your health and well-being. However, we also understand that the cost of medical equipment can be a significant burden, especially for those who need it most. That's why we are pleased to offer VAT relief on all qualifying medical equipment purchases. If you are purchasing medical equipment for personal use, you may be eligible for VAT relief. This means that you can save up to 20% on the cost of your purchase. To qualify for VAT relief, your equipment must be designed for use by someone with a chronic illness, disability, or other medical condition.

To Qualify for VAT Relief

To take advantage of VAT relief, simply select the qualifying items you wish to purchase and proceed to checkout. At checkout, you will be asked to provide some basic information about your medical condition and the intended use of the equipment. Once this information is verified, the VAT relief will be applied to your purchase. We are committed to providing our customers with high-quality medical equipment at affordable prices. By offering VAT relief, we hope to make it easier for everyone to access the medical equipment they need to maintain their health and well-being. If you have any questions about our VAT relief program or our products, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is always happy to help.

VAT Relief Program

It is important to note that our VAT relief program is in compliance with HM Customs and Excise Notice 701.7. This notice outlines the conditions under which medical equipment may be eligible for VAT relief, and we strictly adhere to these guidelines. We want our customers to have peace of mind knowing that they are receiving legitimate VAT relief on qualifying medical equipment purchases. If you have any questions or concerns about our compliance with Notice 701.7, please don't hesitate to contact us.