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Waking up with aching legs – Waking up with aching legs can be causes by lifestyle factors – for example, long periods of walking or standing the previous day can leave legs sore. Poor sleep can also contribute to leg ache, as our bodies need a good night’s sleep to recover from any muscle soreness.

• Another possible cause of painful legs is poor circulation.
• While some medical conditions such as diabetes can lead to poor circulation, lifestyle factors such as sitting or lying in the same position all day can also contribute.
• If you have varicose veins, you might find you get experience leg pain and itching.

Varicose veins are caused by veins and valves that are too weak to efficiently and effectively pump blood through them, which can lead to these symptoms.

Why does my leg pain wake me up?

Causes of Leg Pain and Cramps at Night – It can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of our leg pain 3, Some leg cramps are ‘idiopathic’, which means they have no known cause 2, But there are several popular theories around the causes of calf cramps and thigh pain at night,including:

Muscle fatigue – too much high-intensity exercise is one of the most common links to leg pain, as overworking your muscles can cause them to cramp during the night 1 Nerve issues – a pinched nerve or spinal cord injury can put pressure on your nerves, causing muscle cramps in your legs 4 Sitting or standing for long periods – this can restrict blood supply, which can increase the chances of leg pain or cramps 2 Pregnancy – pregnant women often experience leg cramps at night, usually in the second or third trimester 5 Medications – leg cramps can be a side effect of certain medications, such as blood pressure drugs, diuretics and statins 3

Age can also be a factor, as the risk of leg pain and other pains at night increases as you get older 3,

Can anxiety cause leg pain?

How to Reduce the Leg Pain From Anxiety – When leg pain is caused by anxiety, it can be helpful to learn ways to reduce the anxiety and, in turn, the leg pain should dissipate. There are a few things someone suffering from anxiety-induced leg pain can do in the moment including:

• Regaining CO2 Balance Anxiety and panic can lead to hyperventilation, which occurs when one’s oxygen/CO2 balance is off. Hyperventilation often leads to leg cramping. Thus, in order to avoid this, a person must learn to slow down his or her breathing (on both the inhale and the exhale), and through taking deep-belly breaths.
• Distractions Because those with anxiety often exacerbate the intensity of the leg pain based on the common negative thought patterns, distractions can be a big help. Any type of distraction that consumes one’s senses (essentially distracting from the thoughts) could be helpful such as reading or calling a friend.
• Lying Comfortably While not a definite cure for leg pain, lying down for a few minutes and closing one’s eyes can be comforting and take some of the physical stress off of the legs. The comfort of laying somewhere soft may also be relaxing for your anxiety.

None of these are permanent fixes or cures, as anxiety is not something that is necessarily curable. Regardless, learning ways to manage one’s anxiety can help relieve the associated leg pain, and other symptoms so they do not have such a significant impact.

Can diabetes cause leg pain?

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox – Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you.

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You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. The exact cause of each type of neuropathy is unknown. Researchers think that over time, uncontrolled high blood sugar damages nerves and interferes with their ability to send signals, leading to diabetic neuropathy.

Poor blood sugar control. Uncontrolled blood sugar increases the risk of every diabetes complication, including nerve damage. Diabetes history. The risk of diabetic neuropathy increases the longer a person has diabetes, especially if blood sugar isn’t well controlled. Kidney disease. Diabetes can damage the kidneys. Kidney damage sends toxins into the blood, which can lead to nerve damage. Being overweight. Having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more may increase the risk of diabetic neuropathy. Smoking. Smoking narrows and hardens the arteries, reducing blood flow to the legs and feet. This makes it more difficult for wounds to heal and damages the peripheral nerves.

Diabetic neuropathy can cause a number of serious complications, including:

Hypoglycemia unawareness. Blood sugar levels below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) — 3.9 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) — usually cause shakiness, sweating and a fast heartbeat. But people who have autonomic neuropathy may not experience these warning signs. Loss of a toe, foot or leg. Nerve damage can cause a loss of feeling in the feet, so even minor cuts can turn into sores or ulcers without being noticed. In severe cases, an infection can spread to the bone or lead to tissue death. Removal (amputation) of a toe, foot or even part of the leg may be necessary. Urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence. If the nerves that control the bladder are damaged, the bladder may not empty completely when urinating. Bacteria can build up in the bladder and kidneys, causing urinary tract infections. Nerve damage can also affect the ability to feel the need to urinate or to control the muscles that release urine, leading to leakage (incontinence). Sharp drops in blood pressure. Damage to the nerves that control blood flow can affect the body’s ability to adjust blood pressure. This can cause a sharp drop in pressure when standing after sitting or lying down, which may lead to lightheadedness and fainting. Digestive problems, If nerve damage occurs in the digestive tract, constipation or diarrhea, or both are possible. Diabetes-related nerve damage can lead to gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach empties too slowly or not at all. This can cause bloating and indigestion. Sexual dysfunction. Autonomic neuropathy often damages the nerves that affect the sex organs. Men may experience erectile dysfunction. Women may have difficulty with lubrication and arousal. Increased or decreased sweating. Nerve damage can disrupt how the sweat glands work and make it difficult for the body to control its temperature properly.

You can prevent or delay diabetic neuropathy and its complications by closely managing your blood sugar and taking good care of your feet.

What are the warning signs of clogged arteries in legs?

Peripheral vascular disease; PVD; PAD; Arteriosclerosis obliterans; Blockage of leg arteries; Claudication; Intermittent claudication; Vaso-occlusive disease of the legs; Arterial insufficiency of the legs; Recurrent leg pain and cramping; Calf pain with exercise Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition of the blood vessels that supply the legs and feet. Arteriosclerosis of the extremities is a disease of the peripheral blood vessels that is characterized by narrowing and hardening of the arteries that supply the legs and feet. The narrowing of the arteries causes a decrease in blood flow. Symptoms include leg pain, numbness, cold legs or feet and muscle pain in the thighs, calves or feet. The arteries which supply blood to the leg originate from the aorta and iliac vessels.

What disease causes leg pain at night?

Most of the time, there’s no known cause for night leg cramps. In general, they’re likely the result of tired muscles and nerve problems. The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant people also are more likely to have night leg cramps.

• Idney failure, diabetic nerve damage and problems with blood flow are known to cause night leg cramps.
• But if you have one of these conditions, you probably already know.
• And you likely have symptoms other than just night leg cramps.
• People who take medicines that increase urine output might be more likely to have night leg cramps.

But it’s not known if there’s a direct link. Restless legs syndrome is sometimes confused with night leg cramps. But the conditions are different. The most common symptom of restless legs syndrome is the need to move the legs when falling asleep. Restless legs syndrome is usually not painful, and the symptoms last longer than do night leg cramps.

1. Acute kidney failure
2. Addison’s disease (adrenal insufficiency)
3. Alcohol use disorder
4. Anemia — a condition in which the body doesn’t get oxygen due to a lack of healthy red blood cells.
5. Chronic kidney disease
6. Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
7. Dehydration (which is when the body doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to work properly)
8. Dialysis
9. High blood pressure (hypertension)
10. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
11. Hypoglycemia
12. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
13. Lack of physical activity
14. Medicines, such as those used to treat blood pressure problems and high cholesterol, and birth control pills
15. Muscle fatigue
16. Parkinson’s disease
17. Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
18. Peripheral neuropathy
19. Pregnancy
20. Spinal stenosis
21. Type 1 diabetes
22. Type 2 diabetes

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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