| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 3:50:52 AM | How many of you get charlie horses in the middle of the night? I just spent the last 30 minutes trying to get rid of TWO of them. Was sitting up and screaming in pain (literally going "No! Ahhh! No no no no!!!") with a cramp in both my calves. The left proved to be far more serious than the right in that it took about 20 minutes for me to be able to even move the leg off the bed. I spent that time with the foot on the bed, knee bent forward, putting weight on it to stretch out the calf muscle.
I'm almost certain the cause is that I'm dehydrated because of the heat although I have had them in winter.
When do you normally get them and what do you find has helped either prevent or treat them when they occur? I tried massaging the muscle but wow! Did that ever effing hurt! Now I'm scared to go back to sleep  | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 6:30:13 AM | I had a horrific one last week while talking to a fellow POF'er on the phone,... he talked me through it and I was in such agony I can't remember exactly what it was I did but OH BOY IT WORKED...... I'll ask him and find out for you. I think it involved straightening my leg ( which was almost impossible) and pushing up as hard as I could with my foot against my other one. I'll get back to you asap. Good luck and keep hydrated and drink MILK, leg cramps are often also caused by lack of calcium.!
Hey X32 IARO are you reading this hon??? | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 6:41:42 AM | I had one once a few months ago…it comes with age…lol There are no known reasons as to why it happens … some suffer through this on a regular basis.
Proper stretching after your walks or running helps….I’ve not had another. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 7:18:57 AM | Proper stretching as said before does seem to work best
Calcium supplement or drinking milk is supposed to prevent them, but that maybe an "old home remedy"
That reminds me,
used to have a horse named Charlie,
started out as a pain, but with some tlc he became a friend
may he graze happily in the great plains of eternity... | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 7:24:33 AM | Hot weather, dehydration and low electrolytes (potassium and calcium) can cause those.
Gatorade or equivalent in evening could help prevent or the old remedy of a banana and glass of milk before bed. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 7:44:12 AM | I used to get horrible charlie horses when I was pregnant. The best way to relieve them is to put your foot flat up against the wall or foot board of your bed and push!
I learned to eat a banana and drink a glass of milk before bed | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 9:27:07 AM |
I used to get horrible charlie horses when I was pregnant.
Ditto!!
I did too, every time! That's how I knew I had forgotten to take my calcium supplement!
Milk does not work as well for those of us who are sensitive to dairy products.
The trick is to find a good quality one (supplement).
Good luck!
MN | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 10:04:07 AM | Quick relief: pickle juice. Will stop the cramping almost immediately. Pro sand volleyball players carry it around when they play.
**skulks back to Colorado** | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 10:35:59 AM | Yes, I get them about every 3 or 4 months. I think staying hydrated and keeping your electrolytes balanced (minerals that regulate important functions such as the heart and circulation) is key. Calcium seems to be the mineral of most importance.
When this happens to me, I just throw my leg over the edge of the bed and let the blood flow back into my let. It works. However, I have had a few lately that have left a sore spot in the back of my leg the next day. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 11:26:23 AM | Listen to Sweet. It's all about the fluids and those electordoohickeys. Used to get them all the time especially when we played back to back games during the summers of Ontario. The type of weather we are getting now is what we dealt with for the months of Aug and Sept,,,,but wayyyyyyy worse humidity. Nothing better than getting a cramp on a bus full of wing nuts coming home from a long road trip. Wasn't much sympathy given from those that watched someone lying in the aisle screaming bloody murder. We used to lay on our backs,stretch the legs, and then let the trainers try to rub er down. Way back when trainers told us to eat tomatoes????? Think it was something about the salt????????
Water, water, water. And try,,,I say try, to stay away from the beers. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 3:02:51 PM | | Stretch your legs before bed, then give your calves a massage and no more spasms. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/29/2009 4:04:16 PM |
calcium supplement!
Milk does not work as well for those of us who are sensitive to dairy products.
I drink milk regularly so was surprised to receive the recommendation I take a calcium-magnesium supplement. I've been taking them for about a year now and have to admit I've not had a Charlie horse leg cramp since. I did get them occasionally prior to taking the supplements. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/30/2009 7:29:44 AM | I have very muscular calves ( some part has to be) and suffer from them particualrly in the middle of the night, tense up like a golfball. Found that relaxing, bending the toes slowly upward, and massaging the area works.. And definately lots of gatorade as a preventer.
Had a cramp in my left one a few years back while doing a sporting event, tried to get rid of it quick, pressed my toes against a tree, and pushed to stretch it out, only pushed a little too hard and tore the calf muscle in 1/2.................so umm be careful when stretching it out. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 7/30/2009 3:48:13 PM | | I had a horse named Charlie once! Yup my leg hurt when he kicked it! Just put ice on it! Never happened in the middle of the night though!! | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 8/13/2009 6:36:01 PM | I don't know what I did, or did not do, to bring it on but I had one helluva of a Charlie horse early this morning. I was trying to get back to sleep, stretched my legs and ooowwieeee.
So much for drifting off to sleep again. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 8/13/2009 8:51:39 PM | | I had one the other night that just didn't want to go away! Weird thing is that afternoon....I had a HUGE bruise right where the charlie horse was. Never had that happen before. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 8/14/2009 2:17:31 PM | Charlie. Charlie. Wake up Charlie. Let's go to Candy Mountain. Yeah Charlie let's go to candy mountain.
Love that cartoon online. Totally super awesome to the max. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 8/16/2009 5:12:48 PM | | Calcium-magnesium supplements apparently work best when taken at bed time. Makes sense and works very well. | |
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| Charlie Horses
Posted: 8/16/2009 7:43:30 PM | ^^^That is absolutely right mezza-luna! It does work very well especially at night-time.
It is very surprising to hear how many people are having leg cramps!
MN | |
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