Cramping Leg Pain Doctors in Dallas ? What Do Leg Cramps Mean?

Posted by jamessm2799 on December 21st, 2016

1 in 3 people over the age of 60 experience leg cramps from time to time, and over half of people over 80 have them regularly – every day or several times a week. The cramps themselves are sudden, painful contractions of leg muscles that can result in severe pain. Most such cramps only last a few seconds, but some can last up to 10 minutes, and the trauma from a serious cramp can be so powerful that the area remains tender for up to 24 hours.

What causes leg cramps?

Many cases of recurring leg cramps are idiopathic, meaning that the underlying cause is unknown. One theory is that when muscles are tightened for a prolonged period (such as during sleep), they become shorter, and tend to go into a spasm (cramp) when you try to move them. Some leg cramps can be caused by stress and by over-exercise. But there are other more serious causes of recurrent leg cramps, including chronic kidney failure, lead poisoning, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, and many other conditions.

Two of the most serious possible causes of leg cramps – especially if they occur during exercise (walking fast or climbing stairs) - are peripheral artery disease (PAD) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If your general practitioner suspects these as a cause of your cramps, he or she may perform a number of non-invasive tests using imaging technologies such as Doppler ultrasound, CT angiogram, or MR angiogram. If these early tests indicate impaired blood flow in either the veins or arteries of your legs, your GP may refer you to a more specialized DVT treatment center in Dallas such as MTV IR.

What can MTV IR do to treat cramps and chronic leg pain?

First, the best interventional radiology doctors in Dallas perform a number of more accurate assessments using the more sophisticated diagnostic tools at our disposal in our top liver radiation therapy center in Dallas. If we detect problems, we may then perform a diagnostic angiogram to get a closer look at the blood vessels supplying the legs. This may involve inserting a catheter into the groin or wrist and injecting an X-ray dye to help pinpoint blockages caused by blood clots (DVT) or atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Once the problem has been identified, a treatment plan is developed and discussed with the patient.

Fortunately, the advanced interventional radiology interventions we specialize in (such as angioplasty, stent placement, drug coated balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, drug coated stent placement, and thrombectomy) are remarkably effective at expanding the arteries or clearing blood clots. In most cases this allows the patient's legs to return to normal size if they have become swollen, and to reduce pain and cramping.

So if you experience chronic pain in your legs, or recurrent cramping, and your GP has been unable to provide a solution so far, give our cramping leg pain doctors in Dallas a call at 469-447-4008. They'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

About the Author:

The writer is an expert in the field of Revolutionizes Medical Image Management with focus on DVT Treatment Center in Dallas and Cramping Leg Pain Doctor In Dallas