Why does my leg seize up?

This happens occasionally, usually at night before falling asleep, my leg will seize up. Both my calf and hamstring become sold as a rock and my tendons behind my knee are pulled so tight it feels like they're going to snap. It usually lasts about a minute or two but the last time it lasted for almost 10 minutes. I've tried googling this and found nothing as far as other people experiencing the same problem. Has anyone ever experienced this or know what causes it?

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MaryJanine · 70-79, F

I thought I was the only one! Sometimes my leg will do the same thing and I will wake up out of a sound sleep with the feeling you describe.

Seriously...you may have arthritis. The best thing to do is treat it with a topical cream before you go to bed. like Vicks VapoRub, Icy Hot, Absorbine Jr., Cortisone-10, or Joint-Flex (my favorite). Rub one of these in the area of your leg before you hit the sheets, and be faithful about it every night. Also, take a very warm bath (not shower) before applying anything. The warmth of the bath water will help to loosen the tightening muscles in your leg.

This is what I do. It works for me, and I hope it does for you.