I took a flight from Tampa, FL to Pheonix yesterday and then from there to San Diego. Last night I had charlie horses in both legs at once while I was asleep. I haven't had one in a long long time. Could it be from sitting on the plane so long?
2007-09-26 12:18:30 · 4 answers · asked by blueskylvr1983 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Sitting definitely causes part of the problem, but the biggest problem is the air in the aircraft is very dry and causes dehydration.
'Charley-horses' 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 the minerals they are losing on a daily basis. You must drink beyond your thirst to get the benefits of hydration.
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.
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. Afterwards massage an analgesic cream into the area. You will start feeling better very quickly.
Take 500mg of calcium and magnesium every evening. This will help stop the cramping.
2007-09-26 12:57:59 · answer #1 · answered by Cherokee Billie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started getting a few really painful charlie horses at about 20 weeks! I would wake up with this awful cramping up and down my calves and the pain wouldn't fully subside until a few days later. It is helpful to stretch your calves before going to bed and avoid pointing your toes, especially when you feel the pain coming on. Instead, you should flex your feet and treat your legs to a massage --or have your partner give you one! I've found that doing some gentle yoga moves also helps, but unfortunately, I had to stop doing that for a few days because of a virus that made me nauseaus every time I touched my toes.
2016-05-19 03:28:38 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not know. I get the same thing from walking a lot and I call them Charlie Mules.
2007-09-26 12:27:05 · answer #3 · answered by tercentenary98 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That, and possibly because you were dehydrated.
2007-09-26 12:22:48 · answer #4 · answered by fuzzykitty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋