Ow<ow A Charley Horse Woke Me At 4 A.m

[daisy]

How do you get rid of charley horses in your lower legs? I used to have them wake me up early in the morning when I was on USM swim team back when I was 19. I would be in tears.

One woke me up at 4 a.m. I am not 19 anymore. I drank milk and orange juice. Also put asper-creme on it. It helped.

What do I do to prevent them? I am on my feet a lot lately.

[mac]

My husband gets them. He says bananas are supposed to help because they have potassium. Eat a banana before bed.

I'll never forget the first time I got a charlie horse. I was only about 9 or 10 and didn't know what it was or that it was best to stand up. It was excruciating. I remember thinking it felt like an alien under my skin trying to bust through.

I HATE those things! (Charlie horses, not aliens.)

[dollfus46]

How do you get rid of charley horses in your lower legs? I used to have them wake me up early in the morning when I was on USM swim team back when I was 19. I would be in tears.

One woke me up at 4 a.m. I am not 19 anymore. I drank milk and orange juice. Also put asper-creme on it. It helped.

What do I do to prevent them? I am on my feet a lot lately.

Bless your heart. Nothing hurts like a charlie horse. I'd think wet heat and rubbing it out along with muscle relaxers.

[dollfus46]

Yeah, Daisy, I forgot about potassium. Google potassium sources. Bananas are a good source. There are others you might have in the house now. I can't think before my coffee.

[Maggie-Doodle]

Daisy, your potassium is low...I take a pill daily for it. If you take any meds that reduce water retention in your body you especially need more potassium.... bananas, oranges, potatoes, brococcli are just some of the foods you can eat that will help... Hope you feel better soon...I know how bad charley horses hurt!

[Hermione]

Ouch! I still get those sometimes -- they're right about the potassium. Also, look at the kind of shoes you're wearing. You may need arch supports or inserts or lower heels. They do hurt like the devil.

[pEtAl mIsFiT]

i alway heard do the nanner things eat a three a week to keep them away but i was recently told you can get them if you don't drink enough of water?

[Maggie-Doodle]

Yep, I forgot about that...my doc mentioned that too! Of course I drink lots of water so I usually do forget to mention that.

[Remington]

My grandmother used to always say to never eat a banana before bedtime because it will give you nightmares. Don't know how true that is!

[Fishing Girl]

It has been a very long time since I've had one...Thank God. But my hubby gets them every once in a while...I have to massage his leg until it gets better.

I know they really hurt.

Hope you feel better.

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Electrolytes in your body are running low. The potassium is an important one but there are others as well... Salt for instance we need... Maybe in moderation but we do need it. Then there are others as well. Drink a sports drink such as gatorade or powerade... Too often we drink either sodas or diet drinks that have no nutritional value whatsoever. Fruits vegetables the more the merrier...

[Imapepper]

Gatorade always does it for me. I don't like bananas. I think it is just the texture of them.:eusa_sick

[birthdaybunnie]

I hate that, I jump out of bed and jump up and down to get rid of mine., If your potassium isn't low and you are not on Hypertenion meds etc...think fibromyalgia, or restless leg syndrome...It could be something that doesn't occur again, but pay attention to your body.

[mac]

To get it to go away right then, the only thing that works for me is to stand up and force the muscle to support some weight. It'll stop instantly. The worst thing to do is just lie there. It'll just keep on cramping if you don't stand up. When I was told to stand up to make it go away, I thought that would be impossible. How can I stand up when I'm busy screaming and writhing in pain? But the very next time I felt the first twitter of one starting, I was standing up on the balls of my feet in less than a second, and it works.

[ynotme297]

My grandmother used to always say to never eat a banana before bedtime because it will give you nightmares. Don't know how true that is!

why do they call them a charlie horse? did someone one time have a horse named charlie and he would get cramps? maybe if you put a charlie horse with a night mare, this would never happen, or maybe it would be worse. you could get hoof in mouth. yea, those damn things hurt. i use the dr. sholes jell pads in my shoes/boots and when you are on your feet a long time, they really help. i was always told that a glass of warm milk before bed would help reduce them. dunno

[daisy]

Thanks to all ya'lls help. I am on my feet, don't drink enough water, and take a fluid and blood pressure pill.

I do hop out of bed right away to get it to stop. I can't lay there in agony. I drank orange juice and milk--one after the other. Not a great combo, taste wise.