What causes charlie horses? nd how do you get rid of them quick?

Question

I had one this morning , and i almost couldnt get up

Answer 1

Charlie horses are severe leg cramps. My mom used to get them every night her entire adult life and she's 65. Sometimes they're so bad, she screamed, cried and couldn't move until they were gone.

I've looked up several times on how to get rid of them and the only thing I've found that seems to work is eating a lot of potassium.
Every night before bed, my mom eats 2 bananas and hasn't had leg cramps in over 2 years. Plus, bananas are good for you in other ways, so it can't hurt to eat 'em.

Another thing I used to do to help her when I was a teenager and she would get them is, I'd run a washcloth under very, very hot water and then hold the washcloth directly on the part of the leg that was cramped, kind of massaging it into her leg. That helped a little, but bananas seem to do the trick.

Oh, also, if bananas don't work for you, try 800mg of Ibuprofen. (Advil) It's a muscle relaxer and works great for cramps.

Edit: One more thing: muscles cramp up because the paticular muscle isn't getting enough blood. Working the muscle with your hands and walking around a little might loosen up the muscle enough to let some blood flow in there...then it'll ease up.
Trust me, they suck...I know...I hated seeing my mom in pain and unable to sleep a solid night through because of them.
I feel for you and hopefully something I said will help you. :)

Answer 2

This is the first place your body targets when you are dehydrated. Drink lots of water! I recommend purified water and mineral water mixed 50/50. The mineral water is going to put back into the muscles what they are losing on a daily basis.

I suggest that adults and children drink 40 ounces of water per 100 pounds of body weight every day. Realize that exercise, ambient temperature, and state of health affect the water needs of your body. One tip for athletes: it is healthier to drink a sports drink or water than fruit juice, soda, coffee, or milk during competition or active training periods.

In the evening take a hot bath with 2c. of dissolved Epsom salts and soak for 30 minutes. Afterwards , if you have something shaped like a cylinder and made out of hard material (think of a large rolling pin you would use for pizza dough or something) place it under your leg and push down and roll it back and forth...this should massage the spasms out of your leg. It will hurt while you're doing it, but more so the type of pain that actually feels good, in the long run.

Answer 3

I've only ever gotten one and i'm unsure what causes them, but I stretched it out and it seemed to get rid of it but i was sore afterwards so i iced it. Maybe try stretches like standing up and touch your toes and then crossing your legs and doing the same to stretch out your lower back and hamstrings, as for the toes i'm not sure what to do, but if you've been getting them this long you might want to ask a doctor b/c it may not be charlie horses, it could be a pinched nerve or something from lying funny when you sleep.

Answer 4

Definition

A charley horse is the common name for a muscle spasm, particularly in the leg. Muscle spasms can occur in any muscle in the body. When a muscle is in spasm, it contracts involuntarily and does not relax.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Muscle spasms commonly occur when a muscle is over-used or injured. Working out when dehydrated or with low levels of minerals such as potassium or calcium can also predispose a person to muscle spasms.

Some spasms occur because the nerve that connects to a muscle is irritated. The classic example is a herniated disk irritating spinal nerves as they exit the back, causing pain and spasm.

Spasms in the calf commonly occur while kicking during swimming and can also occur at night while in bed. Upper leg spasms are more common with running or jumping activities. Spasm in the cervical spine (neck) can be a sign of stress.

Symptoms

When a muscle goes into spasm it feels very tight and is sometimes described as a knot. The pain can be severe and debilitating.

Signs and tests

Muscle spasms are diagnosed by the presence of tight or hard muscles that are very tender to the touch. There are no imaging studies or blood tests that can diagnose this condition. If the spasm is caused by nerve irritation, such as in the back, an MRI may be helpful to determine the cause of the irritation.

Treatment

At the first sign of a muscle spasm, stop your activity and try stretching and massaging the affected muscle. Heat will relax the muscle at first, although ice may be helpful after the initial spasm and pain has improved. If the muscle continues to be sore, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications may help with pain. In more severe cases, your health care provider may prescribe anti-spasm medications.

After initial treatment, the cause of the spasm should be determined to prevent it from recurring. If an irritated nerve is involved, physical therapy or even surgery may be necessary.

The most common cause of muscle cramps associated with sports activity is dehydration. Often, rehydration with water or sports drinks will resolve the cramping.

Expectations (prognosis)

Muscle spasms will resolve with rest and time. The outlook is excellent for the vast majority of people. Proper training techniques should prevent spasms from becoming a chronic problem. If an irritated nerve caused the spasm, more extensive treatment may be required and results are more variable.

Calling your health care provider

If you have a severe muscle spasm with uncontrollable pain, contact your health care provider for assistance. Even if your spasms are not severe, your health care provider can help you modify your exercise program to reduce the risk of spasms occurring in the future.

Prevention

Stretch to improve flexibility.
Modify your workouts to exercise within your capabilities.
Drink plenty of fluids while exercising and increase your potassium intake (orange juice and bananas are great sources of potassium).

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What causes charlie horses? nd how do you get rid of them quick?
I had one this morning , and i almost couldnt get up

Answer 6

Have you tried a Yahoo search for "restless legs syndrome" + causes + treatments (OR cures OR remedies)?

Answer 7

get up and walk around-it should go away in a minute.