I hate charley horses.............

[mrmpa]

I had one this morning in my left leg. I was laying in bed & just screaming. My 84 year old mother was awake (11 a.m.) and completely ignored my screams. The pain lasted about 3 minutes.

4 hours I have the left over soreness. I hate them.

[In_The_Wind]

1. I always wonder what I did wrong. Did I reach too far?

I'm sorry, mrmpa.

[hollysmom]

2. That is a long time for it to last

I usually feel it coming on and can move to stop it, but if it goes into full agony, I force it to change position ignoring the worsening pain, It only last a short time, but then stops the lessor pain so it does not last for minutes, Kind of my philosophy when my shoulder dislocates - happened once and no one was near me, wasn't near a phone, so I pulled and popped it back in, I will say it hurt a lot being dislocated, but I saw blue when I was popping it back in, way more painful., but then it was over an just a bit of soreness.
Almost as old as your mother, but live alone, I can sleep through people screaming, you get tired.

Is this one of the things that bananas help or is that just restless leg syndrome.

[mrmpa]

3. I thinks you're right about the potassium........

also I work for a ride sharing company & last night I was in the car for a straight 7 hours, got out only once to hit a restroom,

[hollysmom]

6. that will do it!

[magical thyme]

4. most likely causes...

1. hypocalcemia. take 2 tums immediately, relief comes within about 2 minutes and lasts.

2. dehydration. drink more and see if they stop.

I had started getting them frequently, usually 1st thing in the morning when I was stretching. For years, I could not stretch on waking for fear of triggering one. The tums routine fixed them, and for the last decade they were mercifully gone. I started taking tums regularly, usually before bed.

Then I started getting them again and tums didn't work. Somebody suggested it was dehydration and they were right.

[Bagsgroove]

10. Yep, more water worked for me

Had a terrible problem with muscle cramps (not just in my legs, but hands and feet as well). Tried all kinds of things and finally listened to my grandma and started drinking more water. Grandmas know some stuff.

[sarge43]

5. You may need a blood panel done

You could be deficient in calcium or vitamins. C horses just get worse.

[AtomicKitten]

7. Tx: Get up immediately and walk on it.

It stretches the muscle that is contracting.

Trust me. It works.

[Tobin S.]

8. Yep, get up and stretch. That will take care of it quickly.

[AtomicKitten]

14. It really does work.

It's not the first inclination one has when it happens because the condition is so painful, but it works every time.

[whistler162]

9. CHuckle.... try at least one every few nights

in one or both legs and that is with taking Magnesium Citrate every day. IT'S A FAMILY TRADITION.

[a kennedy]

11. Why are they called charlie horses?? Why not Mr. Ed horses.....

Loved Mr. Ed.

[mainer]

12. Stand up. Force your ankle into flexion by putting weight on it.

That should stop the pain almost immediately.

[rurallib]

13. squeeze your upper lip at that little indentation

between your thumb and index finger as hard as you can stand until it goes away, usually @ 30 seconds.

Then get some of the stuff they suggest above.

[easychoice]

15. Potassium,minerals,water,exercise & Support hose.

My cardiologist loves me.No Charlie Horses!

[R B Garr]

16. My SO's doctor told him to drink tonic water (quinine) for

his leg cramps. He drinks a 32-oz Schweppe's diet tonic nearly every day and doesn't get cramps nearly like he used to. He swears by it now.

[orleans]

17. which reminds me, i want to make a vodka & tonic before bed tonight. n/t

[orleans]

18. i was getting those a lot kinda recently

when i was sleeping--they would wake me up. damn things. i'd be rubbing my calf & fucking crying, still half asleep.

probably happened over five times (but less than ten) a few months ago.

[AngryOldDem]

19. Oh, God, do I hear you.

Last year I suddenly came down with a virus, or food poisoning, or I-don't-know-what that sucked every ounce of fluid out of my body in a couple hours' time. Then the dehydration leg cramps kicked in, and honestly, they were worse than childbirth. I was literally writhing on the floor and screaming.

I hate those things.

If you tend to get them frequently, drink a big glass of orange juice and eat a banana. Anything to get potassium back in your muscles stat.

Hope you feel better soon.

[grasswire]

20. if walking on it doesn't help...

.....I apply hot wet washcloth to the affected area, with a little massage. No fun in the middle of the night.

Is this the affliction that a bar of soap is supposed to prevent?