I get a TERRIBLE charlie horse every night. I wake up like peralyzed with pain and I literally scream. I rub my leg and there's a huge knot when I rub it it makes it worse and it goes away slowly in like 5-10 minutes and quicker if i put liniment on it. Is this normal? Alot of my friends get them to just not as painful.
2006-12-09 15:30:28 · 12 answers · asked by that redheaded chick 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
Cramping is often a sign of a potaaium deficiency. Eating a banana now and again should help to alleviate the problem.
When you have a charlie horse there is a quick solution that really helps to ease the pain faster. With your leg as straight as you can get it, grab the toes and press/pull them backwards towards your shins. It reall does help, sometimes it hurts a little depending on the severity of the cramp, but it will help you faster than anything else.
2006-12-09 15:42:31 · answer #1 · answered by weazalus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I get like that some times.
There is something called Gout (I can't spell so I didn't spell that correctly) it comes from alot of things people call Fish or things being prepared near, with, around or deep fried in the same stuff as those Fish named things. This is a reaction some people have, It's like an allergy. In men it seems to make their feet [and legs] bloat up,.. some women have nasty allergic reactions and their whole bodies bloat [I'm just going by experience... any combo or severity is posible in either gender]. Anyways... it runs in my family but no doctor or anyone says anything when it's not the men. I have my feet bloat slightly and I get horrible charlie horses,.. some times for days. Noone ever warned me or went " AHHA.. you had fish today".
One thing that seems to help with Charlie Horses is increaseing Potassium. Potassium is found in Bananas,.. and that's the only source people tell you about. I found that eatting Calcium helps keep other things at bay. I found out one of the miracals for me, which is Wendy's Frosty, actually have Potassium in them on top of Calcium.
So you might adopt my horrible diet of trying to have a Frosty every day XD Well I use to anyways.
2006-12-09 23:43:59 · answer #2 · answered by sailortinkitty 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
A charlie horse is a muscle spasm. There could be several reasons for them e.g., medications, not enough fluid in your diet, nutrition deficiency. Try increasing your fluid intake and eat a banana every day to increase your potassium. Take a warm soaking bath before bed. If nothing works, ask your Dr.
2006-12-09 23:43:45 · answer #3 · answered by RBRN 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I found that pointing your toe will set one off. So don't let your toe drop while you are in bed. Raise your foot upward from the ankle then let it slowly relax. Do this before you get the cramp when you are going to sleep. If you feel the slightest tightening cramp starting. At the moment it starts flex your foot upward and hold until the tightening relaxes and subsides. Catch it quickly.
Make sure you are drinking enough water and you may be drinking to much caffeine products.
I would love to know if this helps you.
2006-12-09 23:48:00 · answer #4 · answered by SusieQ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it's not common. you're body is trying to give you the response of pain- because it doesn't feel right. You may have that restless leg syndrome condition, or something else just not allowing your legs to relax and rest at night to recover from the day. While at rest- your body is qoute supposed to be able to repair itself.
I would talk with a doctor about when it happens next what to do, or if there's anything you can take for it if need be to help your muscles relax. You can talk with a local herbalist if you wish and they can and will find a natural herb you can take just as good as most med.s.
And you could go talk with and get regular massages- ask them for whats called a myofasical release technique to do on your lower leg (gastronemis muscle or calves).
2006-12-09 23:38:22 · answer #5 · answered by answers4questions 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This sounds silly, but it worked for me. I was waking up suddenly with terrible charlie horses. I was told to put a bar of Ivory soap under my sheets at the foot of my bed. It worked. I have no idea why or how, but I'm not waking up suddenly anymore. You might be interested in trying it, it's harmless.
2006-12-09 23:41:29 · answer #6 · answered by channel9 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may be low on potassium, this causes stiff cramping in the legs and usually at night. Explain this to your MD or pharmacist to be sure, but I will bet that is what it is. Very easy to remedy, with certain foods like bananas, drinking Gatorade, or a vitamin supplement of potassium tablets which are very inexpensive, and they will work within a day or two.
2006-12-09 23:41:39 · answer #7 · answered by Quinn J 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
These can be caused by low potassium levels. Try eating a banana with breakfast every morning and see if that helps out. If the cramps continue,go see a doctor.
2006-12-09 23:41:07 · answer #8 · answered by S.A.M. Gunner 7212 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
~The cramp lasts way too long. Are you rubbing the cramp down to relax it?
It is normal, my daughter gets them in her calves. They're growing pains.
Try taking a low dose of potassium.~
2006-12-09 23:35:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
usually when i get a charlie horse, i just wait it out...for me it usually lasts about 45 seconds to 75 seconds....i don't rub it.
but as far as getting them every night, u might want to go to a doctor and ask them about it.
2006-12-09 23:34:32 · answer #10 · answered by SportsGuru 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋