muscle cramps, charley horses, muscle spasms
By timhinyy
@timhinyy (1653)
United States
May 5, 2009 7:09pm CST
were you ever in your bed and get one of those not sure what the proper term for it is my parents call it a charley horse. it's where my calf muscle completly locks up on me and is very painful.
does anyone have any tips to help with this?
my calf muscle completely knots up on me and its always when i am in my bed.
don't know what causes it, but i hate it.
any suggestions?
2 people like this
8 responses
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
6 May 09
I've always heard that being low on potassium causes charley horses in the calf. Drinking gatorade, eating potatoes and bananas are all good sources of potassium and should help prevent them.
2 people like this
@timhinyy (1653)
• United States
6 May 09
well as you know i have been driking the gatorade and it did not help me with this as it happened today. the worst part after it happens my calf will ache for a day or two afterwards. i believe i may have been overdoing it a bit with exercising and i maybe need to cut back a little on what i am doing. i don't need to be pushing myself too much and it may help as i may have fatigued my muscles a bit there and that may have led to the problem.
thanks for your response :-)
1 person likes this
@celticrogue (450)
• United States
6 May 09
This seems to be caused mainly by dehydration or electrolyte imbalance (especially low potassium or low calcium), although there are other causes. The total random instances usually will follow strenous exercises or walking long distances. Keeping yourself well hydrated will prevent charley horses. Once they strike, I find that standing and stretching the calf muscle brings relief.
2 people like this
@timhinyy (1653)
• United States
6 May 09
i have been doing alot of exercising lately, mostly walking, but i have been doing alot of it maybe a case where maybe i am pushing myself a little too much and my body's way of getting back at me. my fiance got this exercise system and i have been doing the running in place and the step classes and that alot of my legs and maybe i have been overdoing it a bit.
thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
6 May 09
the past several months I have been getting them frequently and one after another.
This morning it was in my calf - yesterday it was in my left foot - second toe.
sometimes I get them in my abdomen, that really hurts, and have had them in my hands. My father said the worst he ever had were in his facial muscles.
the only thing I know to do when one is occurring is to stretch the muscle, so if you are having one in your calf - flex that muscle to pull out the cramp.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1653)
• United States
6 May 09
wow i only seem to get them in either of my calves.
i have exercising alot lately using my legs doing alot of walking and i think i may have wore out my legs a little bit with all of that and it may be fatigue in my legs catching up with me and i may have forgot to stretch out before i did all of that so that may have helped cause the problem.
i can't imagine getting those in other parts of the body i mean the calf ones are bad enough.
thanks for your response.
@sxrxnrr45601 (1171)
• United States
6 May 09
It might be your Potassium level I would try to eat a few bananas a week! It might help if that does not help I would see a doctor! Good luck with it and Happy mylotting
2 people like this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
6 May 09
Have you ever thought of typing "Charlie Horse" into a search engine to see what it says? I think I heard something about potassium somewhere.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1653)
• United States
6 May 09
someone had mentioned something about eating bananas that might help. it seems to be fine today, but it is such a pain when it happens. i guess we all have little inconviences that we have to deal with. i took a break from my exercising yesterday to give my legs a rest so i hope that will help to take care of the problem as i think i have been overdoing it a bit exercising doing alot of walking and running.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
7 May 09
It sounds like you may not be stretching enough before and after your workouts.
@faeryoftheshire1 (558)
• United States
6 May 09
Oh I hate when that happens,it is so agonizing I don't no why it happens but I don't like waking up to it,sometimes it happens when I am walking I find flexing my leg helps ease it and it goes away.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1653)
• United States
6 May 09
the problem is when it happens in bed i am laying down so its hard to get to the muscle to try to rub out the cramp. it was really bad yesterday i mean the muscle in my calf was like in a knot and boy did it hurt and it was hard to reach it cause it hurt so much.
thankfully my lady was there to help me out.
i just have to make sure i take it easy and not overdo it with the exercise.
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
6 May 09
I was going to respond but you seem to have gotten the same advice I would have given you.
Keep stretching and take care.
1 person likes this
@berlong (227)
• United States
24 May 09
Two easy changes can help with this problem. 1) Drink more water throughout your day. 2) Consume more potassium rich foods!...
You can also try simple leg stretches before bedtime to help relax your muscles!
Good luck!
