Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night (or even when I first wake in the morning) with an intense pain in my calf muscle. I can actually see the muscles spasming! It hurts so bad the I either have to bite down on the pillow to keep from screaming or squeeze my boyfriends hand really hard until it subsides... then when it feels better enough to walk it hurts for about 3 days after? What is going onn with me?????
2007-09-12 11:47:47 · 35 answers · asked by Vickey 3 in Health ➔ Women's Health
i've had that...and i know..the pain is horrific.
i call it a charlie horse..but yeah, it's a major muscle spasm.
i find if i've been working out alot, especially my legs and not cooling down properly or strething long enough, i sometimes get them.
I really don't think there's too much you can do, other than stretching, putting muscle run on, or getting active. sometimes being inactive and sitting down all day can cause it.
2007-09-12 11:53:53 · answer #1 · answered by Scooby 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Charley horse, and they are very painful.
When one hits when you are laying down, press the foot of the affected leg against the wall and push as hard as you can, it will help the cramp release quicker.
You can do an exercise to tone up the calf muscle. Take a towel and fold it in half length-wise. Place your foot in the loop created and pull back on the towel, not too hard, just enough so you can feel the pull of the calf muscle. Only do this a few times a day for each leg. You may still have cramps when you lay down, but they shouldn't be as intense.
I spent 25 years suffering from leg cramps. I rarely have them now, but when I do, I do the wall press with my foot.
Good luck.
2007-09-12 11:54:04 · answer #2 · answered by ripsgracie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like quite a few others have suggested, it sounds like a Charlie Horse.
Unlike quite a few others, I can't tell you what causes them.
I get them periodically, and have been told the cause lies in everything from dehydration to low potassium to suggesting that I'm not stretching enough.
If you have been having these frequently for an extended period of time, you may want to check in with your doctor.
However, I believe these are a fairly common ocurance and not something to really worry about.
That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. If you're desperate to be rid of them, you could try doing some research or talking to a nurse about what can be done.
And if I remember correctly, it sometimes helps ease the lasting ache to stretch lightly after the initial pain subsides.
I hope it doesn't last..
-Lioness
2007-09-12 12:14:40 · answer #3 · answered by lioness112649 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's just a muscle cramp. Don't just lay there and suffer! Fight back. If it's in your calf, jump out of bed as soon as you feel it coming on, keeping your legs straight, bend like you're going to touch your toes. Do it slowly and when you start to feel it easing up, hold the position for a bit. Slowly straighten up to see if it starts to come back again and if it does, bend again. Works for me almost every time.
Eat a banana about 1-2 hours before bed, it really helps.
2007-09-12 12:03:13 · answer #4 · answered by D J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That has happened to me. I spoke with my physical therapist and he explained that the reason I get these horrible muscle spasms is from not stretching. Even though I don't work out or I don't believe I strain my muscles to much my body still need to stretch in order to prevent this. Good Luck!
2007-09-12 11:54:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called night leg cramps and it happens.
Try immediately pulling your front part of your foot and toes upward with your hand so that you are stretching the calf muscle in the back. That should take of it quickly.
They make medicines that can prevent night leg cramps and they may be available withotu a prescription. Ask your pharmacist.
It happens more often in prenancy, oddly enough.
2007-09-12 11:52:17 · answer #6 · answered by Investor 2006 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you should drink plenty of water and the next time it happens hold your leg strait and bend your feet back so that your toes are pointing at you, say if you are laying on your stomach if you were to look down your toes should be looking back at you, you can also do it with your feet hanging off the bed, the pain will leave I use to get them all the time when I was pregnant and it always worked even after! GOOD LUCK
2007-09-12 11:59:56 · answer #7 · answered by Ms.Beauty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Muscle Spasm. It could be caused by a lack of potassium in your diet. Try eating a banana a day, a great source of potassium.
2007-09-12 11:53:19 · answer #8 · answered by poorkitty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About a billion people had some really good answers.
But to sum it all up:
-Eat things with more potassium(banana)
-As this is happening, to help the pain, grab the ball of your foot(the end with the toes,haha) and pull it back, while bringing your knee up. Just pull it back as hard as you can,and hold your breath. It does help. Trust me. That just helps make it pass much faster.
2007-09-12 14:27:22 · answer #9 · answered by revolution skies 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called a charlie horse. Stretch your foot up towards your shin when this happens.This will ease the pain. To prevent it, stretch before doing anything that will work your calf muscles.
2007-09-12 11:52:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋