Charlie Horse
Today in the wee hours of the day I was awoken by a fresh sensation: Charlie Horse pain. Anyone who's ever gotten that sudden muscle cramping burst of concentrated pain in their lower legs in the middle of a great night's sleep knows just how bad this sucks. I tried to look up some information about the causes of the Charlie Horse, but I don't think everyone agrees on their cause just yet. I read that calcium and potassium deficiency can contribute, but I don't think mine was caused by that. It's been about 3 years since I last had one so I suppose I was due. When the ole charliehorsenator strikes you, all you can do is clench your teeth, rub your leg, and count the minutes till the pain goes away. Which is exactly what I did. Then a few hours later, I had to get myself up and hobble to work =(. I guess it could always be a whole lot worse. TGIF.
A cramp can be quickly defused with active stretching of the affected muscle. Cramps in the calf muscle can be defused by outstretching the leg, pushing the heel downward, and pointing your toes toward your head. Standing up with most of your weight on the ball of the foot on the cramping side will also stretch the [calf] muscle and diffuse the pain. If you feel a cramp starting, this will usually stop it from becoming more painful.
Can you imagine being in clinical tests to determine the cause of Charlie Horses? Or having recurring muscle cramps? Grrrrrrggggg, just thinking about it makes my poor calf hurt =(.
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January 10th, 2006 - 23:20
i agree with you.. my leg is sore for days after i get one, i get 2-5 a night and my poor leg is so sore right now and i been trying for years taking more vitaims and that doesnt help.. my doctors have no idea what causes them and tells me to just rub and walk out the pain they must not know the pain!
June 9th, 2009 - 02:45
ive gotten them so bad i scream.but the only thing ive found that helps is drinking pickle juice.i might not taste plesent but it really helps you should try itt.
August 23rd, 2009 - 15:00
I got sone so bad (right leg only) sitting in the DDS chair and they had to stop and wheel me out in an office chair on casters to the parking area where they called my son to pick me up. How embarrassing is this? I had 2 more since and for the life of me do not know why. The soreness after the extreme attack lasts for 4-5 days.
January 13th, 2006 - 04:27
DUDE, I had the pleasure of experiencing this last night! I hate how since you’re still kinda in the middle of sleeping, you don’t have enough motor control over your leg muscles to actually relax them (to stop the pain), thus prolonging the charlie horse indefinitely. I think my leg muscles were totally clenched for a good 2 minutes or so while I was mentally screaming at myself to wake up and stop it!
January 31st, 2006 - 13:40
charlie-horses are the worst. and the pain it leaves for days afterwards is a reminder of how horrible the experience was. Usually when i get a charlie-horse one night, i get a second the following night, so i wrapped my leg up and went to bed. i dont know if this really helps but i didnt have a second attack. *sigh of relief*
my friend told me next time i feel one coming on, to stretch my leg out straight and point my toes up. if you do this soon enough you can avoid it. Problem is, when you sleeping you dont know its going to hit until it does..and that leaves you with nothing to do but wait for it to end.
I was told by another friend if you get up and stand on the leg while experiencing a charlie-horse it will go away. Walk it off kinda deal. Thats next to impossible to do, at least thats what i think. k done.
February 4th, 2006 - 09:17
Here I am at 8am on the internet searching for causes and what to do for charlie-horses…. both my fiance and I woke up from a dead sleep at 4:30am today with charlie-horses in our right calves. Same time, same day, same place! We were both moaning and trying to stand on the leg while massaging the calf. It’s also occured a couple times during intimate moments! That made us laugh and wince at the same time.
February 4th, 2006 - 15:57
A charlie horse during an intimate moment would be pretty bad…
February 10th, 2006 - 18:38
I had one last night all I could do was moan.I was laying in bed watching tv about 10pm & all of the sudden I felt it coming.It took a few hrs for some of the pain to completely subside & couldn’t walk on it for a few hrs either. I was thinking mine was caused from working all the time on my feet & then having 10 days off,it was that night after a 7-3 shift that I got it. And before experiencing this one I really didn’t get them until I started working.Now sometimes they are in my feet…. those suck too. I was told it was not enough potassium.My daughter used to get them all the time too she is now 17 but at 13-14 and 15 she almost had them daily,some say growing pains.
February 21st, 2006 - 18:25
Funny, I had a really bad charlie horse in my right calf last night.. and like with Susan, it was during a vigorous “intimate moment”. I get them occasionally… I had one just recently. I’m really keen to find the cause, but I do think it has something to do with blood circulation.
Susan, can you tell us a bit about you and your fiance’s lifestyles and eating and drinking patterns? I think the fact that you both had it at the exact same time has to be a key factor…and suggests maybe its something that you both do, eat or drink?
March 5th, 2006 - 10:10
I just had one last night so I was looking up causes and didn’t find anything to my satisfaction. I did, however, find one good cure: a naked lady to rub your leg. It doesn’t even matter how long after the incident the cure still works pretty good.
March 9th, 2006 - 13:19
I woke about about 5am with a charlie horse in my left calf, it hurt like a mother and all i could do to try to make it go away (which problem made it worse) was a sudden jump out of bed and then I am just laying face down for 5 minutes until the constant pain stopped. I have been trying to stretch it out all day, but my leg is still sore. First time a got once of these since I got one in both my calves at the same time on a stationary bike 2 years ago, that hurt like hell and I couldn’t put weight on either leg for about 2 minutes, ouch
March 9th, 2006 - 21:19
I get them yearly it seems and they always wake me up from a dead slumber. The pain is so intense I am forced to stand immediately, and it goes away very quickly, however it can be sore for days after the occurrence.
I don’t take vitamins but I eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables and I drink tons of water. It could be overuse as I carry a toddler and heavy loads of firewood regularly.
March 10th, 2006 - 16:54
I have been on the verge of a major charlie horse since Tuesday. I stretch my legs a lot while I sleep and I can usually wake up right before it hits, so I just quickly stop streching my leg. I think I am having mini ones because i am waking up every night in pain and have hardly been able to walk. On one hand I just want to get a really bad one to get it over with, on the other hand, I am scared because of how much they hurt! I swear, they must only last about a minute but it feels more like ten!
March 11th, 2006 - 10:20
I have cramps most every night. I’ve read things such as “your covers are too tight on your bed and that they constrict your muscles” and a lack of calcium and potassium, which everyone knows, but the other thing that I found is that a lack of magnesium or TOO MUCH magnesium will cause cramps. Also, i drink LOTS of water; over 100 oz per day and when you do this, you deplete your body of it’s sodium content.
I’ve tried drinking more at the beginning of the day so my body has time to replenish the sodium content, but I have NO SALT in my diet, so I guess that is out. I’ve also noticed though, that when I DO eat salt at night, I have them too. I’ve been taking magnesium supplements, which help, but last night I had a charlie horse in both of my inner thighs. About 6 inches down from my pelvic area. And let me tell you, YOU CANT STRETCH THAT AREA.
I am searching for that cure too, but maybe those of you who do not take magnesium supplements, can try it and see if the cramps decrease. I cant say they will go away, but at least you can try to get a few nights of uninterrupted sleep.
March 23rd, 2006 - 13:07
I just had one for the first time in years and it was the most painful experience ever. The worst of it all was that I got one in each leg!! All I could do was decide which leg was hurting me more and start rubbing. I must have used every curse word I knew.
March 23rd, 2006 - 15:29
I just got one last night it was 1:00 am and I was in a deep sleep. This was the worst one I ever got it seemed to last forever…I screamed and woke my husband and he started to rub my calf…eventually it went away. In the morning when I had to get up at 5:30 am I was in a deep sleep…bummer I had to hobble out of bed and put the weight on my left leg and hop into the shower to get ready to get to work. I wish there would be more info on this. After reading all of the above messages I guess we have to bare the pain and move on.
March 27th, 2006 - 21:45
Thank you all so much for sharing this wonderful and useful info. I was trying to find stuff on the web about Charlie Horse’s for my mom, who suffers from leg cramps, restless leg syndrome and yes, Charlie Horse’s. I was surpised at how LITTLE info on the web there was to be found on this topic. In fact, when I did my search I was coming up with things like Charlie’s Pizza, and whatnot. very odd. But I was so greatful to find you all tonight, you have helped me tremendously and I will pray for your relief and good night’s rest for you all. Take care.
March 30th, 2006 - 10:24
I get charlie horses in my thighs and sometimes my ankles turn inward and cramp up I went to the doctor yesterday because I had several throughout this week and I was just sitting down and caught one however they don’t know much they are referring me to a neurologist I think they won’t know much either I have been suffering since the age of 12 im now 25 back then I went through radiation and it helped a bit, but that was temp. I need help becaus I don’t think neurologist is needed someone just need to do a study and find the cause because my lab work come back normal all the time and besides i’m a physical educator and you would think that i’m in tip top shape but im not!!!
March 30th, 2006 - 14:52
augghhh…I too was jolted awake by the intense tightening pain in my calf; I have not had a night Charlie horse, or any Charlie horse in years for that matter. What the heck causes that? What a shocker to wake up to. I work in a hospital and asked around about the cause, I heard the cause is somewhere between wearing high heels, low calcium and dehydration. I take calcium so I don’t think that’s it, I don’t wear high heels, maybe dehydration….I wouldn’t advice jumping to your feet during a Charlie horse, I went right to the floor. Not cool!! SO, I’ll drink more water and hope it won’t happen again too soon. Its comforting to know there are others out there with the same experiences!!!
March 31st, 2006 - 17:33
Hi…I suffered from one last night that rocked my world (in the bad way).
Here’s some info I found from the Mayo Clinic. I hope it helps!
Causes:
overfatigue and/or dehydration
overuse
injury
muscle strain
remaining in same position
inadequate blood supply to the legs – Antherosclerosis
nerve compression in the spine – Lumbar Stenosis (compression of lower end of spinal canal) – pain stops when sitting or bending forward
potassium loss due to use of diuretics
excessive sweating – uncommon cause
Symptoms:
sudden and sharp muscle pain, often in legs
distorted lump of muscle tissue beneath the skin
calf muscle pain during sleep
Possible Treatments:
Extend gently cramping muscle
compressing and massaging cramping muscle
hot bath or heating pad
cold may reduce spasm or relax muscle
contract the opposing muscles – i.e. leg cramp – flex foot until cramp lessens
Yoga – strengthen/balance the body, learn to relax
If interfering with sleep – consult doctor
April 2nd, 2006 - 03:40
So I’m pretty sure I just got one last night, the first one ever in my life. I’m a barback at a very big/busy bar in NYC. I’m constantly on my feet and carrying cases of beer etc…
I got off from work last night, home in bed around 7 a.m…. sometime during that sleep I awoke suddenly, after I believe i stretched my right leg, and there was a terrible pain in my right hamstring. It was this pulsating pain that absolutely killed. Lasted for I guess a minute, but that was 1 minute too long. Anything I can do to prevent these in the future?
April 3rd, 2006 - 15:42
hello I am 7 months pregnant and I have been getting them everynight for the past 2 weeks!! It is horrible to wake up from a charlie horse. My husband started to rub it but it hurt worse. Mine seem to go away when I just bare the pain and relax my leg completely until it goes away. When it starts to go away I can feel it like thumping!!! It feels like there is a fist in your leg ripping at your muscles!!! I think mine is from bad circulation and plus I work at an office. There is nothing you can do but deal with it!!! Trust me, I have had about 14 of them in the past two weeks and know that I can look forward to one tonight. Its in the same leg everytime and I kind of limp on that leg because that muscle has been soooo sore!!!
April 7th, 2006 - 05:17
i have a very hot electric blanket and i only get them in the night when its on which is allmost every night. When i turn of the blanket i dont seem to get them. Im tired of the excruciating pain but i would like to stay warm. *sigh*
April 9th, 2006 - 09:56
I’m a runner, but I seem to get a charlie horse more often when I haven’t run for a little while. I have also gotten them when I have been running and meet someone and start to have sex (I bet it’s related to tensing up and positions). It seems like changes in use patterns have an effect. I also sometimes have back problems. The one thing that I think completely prevents a charlie horse is a muscle relaxant. I use them for my back, and I have never had one while taking them (I take Flexeril). I don’t think this is a great ongoing solution, but I do find that they come in groups for a period of time and then go away so it may work for that. When it happens. it’s almost always while I’m asleep, and I wake up in pain, cursing. It generally helps to pull my toes back (opposite of pointing them). I do feel that they tend to happen when my toes are partially pointed in my sleep, but that’s hard to say for sure. Gregory’s comment (above mine), makes me wonder if there isn’t a correlation to have a cool room for sleeping, but I don’t think that has been a consistent factor for me. In general, I’d say that they occur with a change of pattern of calf exertion (increase or decrease, in running or sex, for me), and that once one happens, others are likely to follow for a period of days or a couple weeks.
April 10th, 2006 - 04:13
So last night I woke up with a charlie horse in my right leg and slight aching in my left. My day consisted of sushi, which meant I drank probably about 5L of water, then a 3 hour game of ctf, which I hidden in the same spot for about 2 of those hours, remaining perfectly still. Well about 6 hours after the game, while I was sleeping it hit. Which makes me think the combination of sleep exhaustion, 25 hours awake, remaining perfectly still, and maybe I flushed my system out of something critical by drinking so much water.
On a funny side note, when I woke in that pain, I immediately rose punching everything around me and dented my wall. I thought someone was attacking me, the pain was so different and at such an unexpected time. It probably took a good 20 seconds before I realized I wasn’t in any danger.
April 14th, 2006 - 18:55
I have found a cure for a charlie horse, at least if dome quickly enough.
When I find the pain in one of my legs coming on, I reach down under my testicles [about half way between the anus and the scrotum] with my fingers and press quite hard. [I read somewhere where this could help.]
It definitely worked for me. The pain subsided and went away.
April 15th, 2006 - 20:59
Would it also work for someone without a scrotum???
April 17th, 2006 - 12:03
I awoke hands clenching the sheets as I realized…here we go again! Another charlie horse. I handled the pain by laying still and pointing my feet towards me, not away from me and it finally went away after 2 minutes or so. Got up, walked around, took a leak, and went back to sleep. An hour later… batter up!!! I got one in my other calf! Lucky me! Got up, walked around, took a leak, and came over to my computer (hobbling in both legs!) to try and find an answer!!!
I don’t get them frequently or regularly, however I do get them more than any other person I know. Why? Dunno.
Factors that may contribute to this problem: I don’t eat healthy, overweight, on my feet for 12-16 hour shifts as a restaurant manager, drink iced tea (a lot) and rarely ever a glass of water, pinched nerve in my back that compresses a disc, plantar fascitis in both feet, on occasion I get gout in my big toe, and get horrible sleep everynight tossing and turning (just spent $2500 on a new bedding “system” and still no relief). What does all this mean? If somebody was going to get these, it would be me!
I have not read above regarding how many others have a poor diet and I wonder what affect that has on the situation. Does anyone else go and take a leak right after they recover from this painful event? I actually received a good night sleep last night; maybe that is the reason I got the charlie horses…because a I was rest more than normal. I’ve heard about low calcium, magnesium, potassium, however in the past, I’ve taken these vitamins and guess what…still got ‘em.
Bottom line…it’s like this…nobody has the answer for this…just like Gout…and it sucks!!! We live in pain and then we die. At least I can look forward to a good nights rest then!
April 19th, 2006 - 12:23
I get Charlie Horses ALL THE TIME in my sleep….I think IF you are prone to them, you will get them with ANY pre-condition. ie: If the room is too cold during sleep, if you didn’t drink enough water, if you drank too much water and diluted any or all electrolytes, if any electrolyte is out of balance, if you over exercise, if you change the use of a muscle group. For example, I got one in my left arm from playing Bagpipes longer then usual, I got one in my calf from being uncovered with a fan on at night, I got one in my neck (pulling my chin to my right shoulder) from driving over 10 hours in one day, I got one in my shoulder from hanging wallpaper for 2 days, I get them in the calves when I work too many 12 hour shifts in a row at the hospital.
I think those of you who only get them in one muscle at a time are really lucky. I get them in the front of my leg too along the shin, so if I point my toe down to stretch that muscle, then my calf grabs ahold, then if I point my toe up to stretch the calf then the front shin muscle goes tight again like an overwound rubberband again…..no relief!
Maybe my “proneness” is due to a lack of something in my diet, but I’ve taken potassium supplements, magnesium supplements, calcium supplements, multi-vitamins, etc at different times trying anything to calm the pain, and I eat home-cooked healthy meals, but the pain still comes in the middle of the night, always during sleep.
Maybe some smart MD somewhere will read this and do some research to save us all by finding the little known “thing” we are all deficient in.
All I know is some people are more prone than others….my 60 year-old husband has NEVER had one in his life! He offers to “rub” my muscles as they cramp….but my experience is that this is an added tension on an already screaming muscle…..likewise to standing on it during the cramp….OUCH! I would hit the floor, but my dad has been seen at 3 am doing a jig in the living room, and that is what works for him.
ALAS…..we are destined to pray for a good uninterrupted night’s sleep….which for me comes mostly in the summer, and when I have little stress.
April 20th, 2006 - 11:39
Just got the my first charlie horse…it’s been over 7 years. I work out at the gym almost everyday..and i’ve recently started a protein shake diet and all. Early this morning…WHHHOOOOOaaa, the pain in my calf literally had me speachless. Now im sitting at my desk at work massaging my poor leg.
I still intend on going to the gym to take some cardio classes..maybe the pain is just tension that needs to be flexed out
April 24th, 2006 - 01:26
I also get general leg cramping and Charlie horses that leave my toes hurting. I had back surgury 4 years ago and the left leg is weaker and that is the leg I generally get them in. However, I wake up with cramps in both legs more often than not. I am in my office stretching my hamstrings and calves as we speak. I know that I have some new nerve compressions in L5 = S1 and am not sure if this is related or not. I am a nurse and am on my feet alot walking miles everyday. It only bothers me when I am sleeping. I find that standing up does help take it right away. The problem along with the pain is sleep deprivation. I use heat, and Hot baths and stretching to keep it under control and yet some nights are worse than others. I do think that strengthening the muscles and strectching them is critical. Good luck to you all I know of what you speak.
April 27th, 2006 - 20:54
I woke up in the middle of the night with a charlie horse in my right calf and thought it was just a dream until I stumbled out of bed later on. They’re so painful! I heard that it helps if you stand up and press down hard with the leg that hurts but I once had a charlie horse in both legs so how would I even stand up. It had been almost a year I last had a charlie horse until the other night. I hope we all find ways to relieve the pain.
April 28th, 2006 - 13:10
Wow! I can definitely relate to all of these…I had a charlie horse cramp in my right leg about 2 nights ago, its not the first time, in fact at one point I got them fairly frequently, but thankfully this time it was only in one leg..but I, like many others who wrote here, am still sore in that leg! I don’t know what causes it, and like many others I have been trying to find more information about it on the web, but there seems to be nothing. I guess I can try and use some of the above suggestions and hope I don’t get another mid-sleep wake up for a while! Because it hurts..and I also wake up totally in pain and I want to scream, but I end up screaming in silence, trying to stretch it and then massage it! Thanks all for the info, I will have to give it a try.
May 2nd, 2006 - 15:05
i just started to get them in my back and have no idea how to prevent them….i need help!!!
May 7th, 2006 - 17:09
Hi, I’m probally younger than most of you, and i get them every ence in a while. In fack i had one last night, although in BOTH legs. I was camping and in a tent with my friends although they were all asleep. My guess is it was about 4in the morning and it hurt. It was like 2 min long. I get these sometimes and i don’t have any theory exept to hold on, close your eyes and wait for it to stop. Arg!
May 9th, 2006 - 10:59
Hi, I had a Charlie Horse last night in each calf muscle, both occuring at the same time. Like Melinda, above, I have just started a protein shake supplement in my diet. Wow…I was out of bed and stretching it off before I was even awake I think.
I have to get out of bed (and quickly) I would not be able to deal with the pain just lying there. It subsides much quicker if you get up and stretch it out…plus less pain the next day for sure.
I am going to eat two bananas today in hopes that it won’t happen again tonight!!!! (potassium)
May 10th, 2006 - 22:01
Bob’s comment about pressing on your perineum is interesting.
While I don’t get Charlie Horse’s at night, I do wake up with anal cramps, which is basically a charlie horse in your anus. It is the most painful thing I have ever encountered. In order to relieve these, you can press on your perineum by straddling the edge of a bathtub or sitting on a tennis ball, for example. Not very comfortable, but it does the trick.
I got a charlie horse this evening while playing tennis and so started looking them up. I got one in the fall while playing tennis that was so bad that my calf was seized up for an hour and i ended up with a huge bruise later on. Anyway, I play tennis all the time, so it is not just the activity that brings it on. For me, I think I am dehydrated and possibly am lacking sodium right now. I believe I was similarly dehydrated last time.
So I just thought I would let everyone know about my experience and what I have found to be the common factors.
Glad to find so many comments here.
May 12th, 2006 - 16:35
I just had my first CH last night about 5am was dreaming about a tense situation awoke sweating a bit whipped the covers off- BAM! mid-calf silver dollar size lump extreme pain rubbed it out in about 3 minutes. I take a ton of supplements so in my case I believe it was a combination of cold and lack of stretching. When I was in track we use to stretch the calf by keeping one foot at a time placed completely flat on the floor and leaning forward- you will feel the strain in your posterior calf- and holding it for a minute or more a few times.
Hope this helps.
May 14th, 2006 - 17:49
I’ve had night cramps as well as calf pai n for years. I used to be a pretty fair athlete. I take a quinine pill every night before I go to sleep, and I no longer have night cramps. You used to be able to get quinine pills over the counter, but no longer. (I was told that it can cause arithmia to some people, if the doses are too high = though it’s not common – but you do need to speak to your doctor). You can always drink some quinine water, but it doesn’t taste too hot, and I’m not sure one glass or so will do the trick.
May 23rd, 2006 - 14:46
Hey People I am 13 years old but i have a major problem! I get charlie horses and i dont know how to prevent them! Your Comments were great but i just came back from school and i feel a charlie horse comming along. I think i should go to a doctor. I need some help i am trying to move my foot alot and not trying to walk perfectly on it but it is kinda hard!!!! So one said try to eat a bananna and one said keep your leg straight if you can help me that would be great i feel it very close pray for me (that it doesnt happen) PEACE AND I WILL PRAY FOR YOU!
May 23rd, 2006 - 23:17
Last night i had a charlie horse, was sleeping like a log when I started dreaming that my leg hurt, woke up and BAM excruciating pain, fell out of the bed, my dog looked at me like what the hell is wrong, i screamed and said lots of cuss words, despite the pain knew i had to stretch it out and it went away after a minute or so… leg is still hella sore today, been messaging it, i don’t think there is any cause, or anything you can do to prevent them, my wife got them all the time when she was pregnant, but she doesn’t get them anymore, if anybody knows how to stop them please let us know!
June 2nd, 2006 - 14:58
I have suffered with leg cramps for years in the middle of the night, most recently inner thigh which are a lot of fun?!?!? My old remedy was to take Advil and press my leg hard on the wall with my leg or legs
After years of talking to doctors and getting the usual calcium, potassium speech, a retired nurse volunteer at my job said, Benadryl, it contains an ingredient that helps with leg cramps.
This has changed my life, it works for me! If I take Benadryl before I go to bed, I rarely get one. However, if I forget and they hit me, I take Benadryl, press my leg hard against the wall and within minutes they subside.
Needless to say, Benadryl beside my bed is my best friend because if I wake up and I can take another dose, I do it as a preventative but I usually only take it once, right at bedtime.
You might try it and see if it works for you
June 3rd, 2006 - 10:29
Recently, i have been getting charlie horses once a week, always inmy left calf and saturday morning around 4:30 am. I dance everyday, so is it possible that this problem is from dancing? Also, i have read peoples comments above and i do not have enough calcuim in my body doctors have told me, i have osteopenia could that be another cause?
June 5th, 2006 - 16:26
Hey all, I am pretty sure that the cause of these terrible occurances are a result of dehydration(lack of water) causing the muscles to cramp. But as I am no doctor I could be wrong but try taking down some glasses of water in the couple hours before you hit the sack or just drink enough water througout the day to begin with. It’s worth a try. Peace all!
June 14th, 2006 - 15:47
I have leg cramps or charlie horses quite often, in the last few months I’ve started having them once or twice a week. Sometimes my calf muscles…pulling my big toe on the leg thats cramping up toward my head usually stops calf cramps…usually. What are killer are the inner thigh cramps. I had thought I found a way to stretch them out, lay on your side, cramping side up and lift you leg that the cramp is in straight up, this was working great for me but last night a killer cramp hit my right inner thigh and my wonder stretch didn’t work, it did make the cramp a little less painful but it didn’t make it go away. As a nice bonus I got a calf cramp in the opposite leg and my right foot got a cramp across the top of it. I don’t know what the cure is but I sure wish someone would come up with something…my poor, long suffering husband wishes they would too, he’s so sick of being jerked out of sleep by a screaming wife.
June 14th, 2006 - 21:23
My husband has been waking up for the past few nights with cramps in both of his thighs…He stumbbles out into the living room and starts trying to relax and breath, it takes his breath away…It wakes me up everytime…they last for around 4-5 min, wich is pretty long for a cramp. A few people on here stated that they started drinking this diet stuff or something like it? That made me realize that my husband just started a whey protien diet, he’s very active and healthy. Maybe its this protein drink or something. But he’s also been removing a historic barn board for board, wich is causing his body to do things he normally wouldn’t do.. but the poor guy…I feel so bad for him…it makes me cry every time it has happened. Last night, as a last resort, I actually decided to pray while he was cramping, and the minute i did, the cramping pain stopped and he had no soreness today. Its basically the only thing I could think of and it worked!
June 27th, 2006 - 14:16
I just had one in the back of my right calf for 15 hours straight, hours before I went to sleep and hours after I woke back up, they were so bad this time my entire body contorted with every pulse.. I’ve gotten them before when driving, pain so bad all i could do was close my eyes and stomp my feet (ironically on the gas pedal). They definately suck, and I have a little routine I do to get rid of them cause I get them for extremely extended periods of time. First I drink a glass of water, I eat a big meal with red meat and veggies, I put it on a heat pad, then I walk around, then I cool it down with an ice pad. I dunno, I only get them when I exercise, which could go along with the theory above about switching use of the calf muscle from say, sex and sitting around to stretching and running. That routine abates most of the pain, and if you can get a good lady (or man if you’re female) to massage it, it doesn’t really do much to stop the cramp but it sure feels good and lessens the pain immensely.
Well, I hope you all do well.
June 28th, 2006 - 23:09
I just had one about a few minutes ago when I was sitting on my bed with my laptop on my lap. It was very painful because right when I thought the pain was going away, another came on and I started biting my pillow. I hope someone finds a way to cure these.
June 29th, 2006 - 10:44
I had one last night. My calf locked up and felt like a softball. Having once been a competitive swimmer getting charlie horses almost daily, here’s one thing to do: Try to touch your knee with your toes. The idea is to stretch out the calf so it can’t ball up. If you can, grab your foot and pull your toes towards your knee hard until the cramp releases. Then don’t point your toes back down for a long time (or else “it’s baaaaack”). If you can point your toes at your knees instantly when you feel one coming on, you might be able to prevent it from locking up, or at least be able to reduce its intensity.
Oh yeah… if you have one during sex, don’t say anything about it. She’ll look at your face, hear you scream, and think she gave you the best climax ever. A charlie horse will definitely help you last longer, too. Don’t ask me how I know this!
Now if I could just figure out what is causing them so often lately! Could it be blood pressure meds? (using diovan here)
July 6th, 2006 - 21:42
Water! thats all i have to say. What happens to a plant when its short of water? It crinkles and shrinks. For some of you this is probably what is happening to your muscles as a result of a lack of water. So especially when you exercise you should get lots of water to compensate for the loss of water through sweat. *Fact* The average human being needs at least 2 litres of water a day. (thats with minimal physical activity)
July 8th, 2006 - 08:11
I am 60 years old and have never had on going symptoms of charlie horses or leg cramps until recently. One persons suggestion about lack of water was interesting to me as I found that the common factor when I get them is that I have been mowing my yard, or exercising, and realizing that I have not had much water that day. I normally drink the minimum amount of water to keep from being dehydrated. Why I am getting them now, in this time of my life, I am not sure of. I have asked around about the antidote. Several people have told me to try pickle juice. Not very appealing, but neither was the pain that causes my feet, ankles to turn in and my toes to turn every direction. So to make this short, I tried it. I drank some water too, but also took the pickle juice, and I was relieved within 10 minutes of the pain. Did not get the pain during the night, which was common at bedtime.
May this will help you too. By the way, anyone know what in the pickle juice could help? Maybe vinegar?
July 11th, 2006 - 00:07
I hate it when I get them.. but the next time you do.. point your toes up.. or even have someone help you push your foot up.. it goes away instantly.