Anyone out there been having charlie horses recently?!
Question:
Anyone out there been having charlie horses recently?
The one's where you have to hop out of bed and try to get the muscle to unknot or your big toe get's stuck out in nowhere
Answers:
I havent had a charlie horse in awhile but I would get them alot, so i started wearing sock to bed.
Charley horses, or leg cramps, often strike the calf region at night, with no apparent warning. They are painful and disorienting. When a muscle cramps, it locks in a contracted position. This is the body's way of protecting it.
These agonizing cramps may be the delayed result of straining a muscle during exercise, or they could be the result of an electrolyte/mineral imbalance or other medical condition.
As for quick relief, this commercial site suggests you lie on your back and gently pull your leg up to your chest, keeping it bent at the knee at roughly 90 degrees. Or try stretching your calf by pulling your toes towards your knees.
The best way to prevent leg cramps is to stretch before and after exercise, keep yourself hydrated, and make sure you are getting enough minerals. Try drinking a glass of water and taking a TUMS or a multivitamin before you go to bed.
Preventing muscle cramps can be as simple as:
· regular exercise can help with circulation
· stretching of your muscles on a daily or nightly basis
· drinking eight glasses of liquid on a daily basis, preferably water
· eating enough foods rich in calcium and potassium; such as bananas, orange juice, potatoes and fresh vegetables
· cutting down on fatty as well as fried foods
· wearing elastic stockings throughout the day, thereby keeping the legs warm [This is especially helpful when one has varicose (enlarged or inflamed) veins.]
· wearing sock on your feet at night helps because when your feet are warm, your legs tend to stay warmer
Help when a muscle cramp comes on:
· place a heating pad on the cramped area
· soak in a warm tub of water
· have someone rub the cramp out, thereby warming up the area
· if it’s a leg cramp, try standing up and walking it out
· last resort would be a muscle relaxer