Charlie Horses

[TaraF]

I've been getting REALLY bad Charlie Horses in my feet right along the arch and lemme tell you, I've NEVER had so much pain from a CH before, and I've had them in my throat!! Most times that I am experiencing them I am actually waking in the middle of the night and will try to massage the cramp out, last night alone I woke up 6 different times (4 in the R. Foot and 2 in the L. Foot) I drink TONS of water so I definately know it's not being caused by Dehydration, and I had bloodwork done Friday to check my Potassium, Magnessium and Calcium levels and a few other things as well. Still waiting on those results but hoping it's not an indication of something more serious.

As I mentioned I try to massage the cramp out when it happens but I was wondering if there was anything else I can do that will stop it when it happens?? A warm compress perhaps??

[Kitty77]

Hi Tara, hope you can mention the charley horses to your doctor, good to see that you just had bloodwork done, the throat one is scary. Take care!

[TaraF]

Hi Tara, hope you can mention the charley horses to your doctor, good to see that you just had bloodwork done, the throat one is scary. Take care!

I did mention them to him which is why I ended up getting alot of bloodworl, it's also why I learned it can be an indication of something more serious, and coupled with the fact that my feet crack every time I walk has both of us concerened. I REALLY need to make an appointment with my Foot Dr because while I'm hoping it isn't, I'm thinking it may be what my Mom had last yr and that put her up in a boot for 6 months and she wasn't allowed to walk.

As for a charlie horse in the throat it's SCARY, it feels like you're choking and I found that massaging it a bit and then placing a heating pad on it seemed to work when they happened. I haven't tried a heating pad on my feet ecause that seems to happen in the middle of the night and I don't keep a heating pad near me or on so by the time it would heat up to try it on my feet I think it would be pointless.

[gameprogirl]

I used to get charlie horses in my feet as well, they are so painful, then for a whole day or two your foot and leg hurt like a bugger. Mine also happened in the middle of the night, I would wake up screaming and crying. I never found out what caused them. My Dr told me it was from dehydration, but like you, I'm not nor have I ever been dehydrated.

[Natalka]

I've dealt with them in my calves, particularly my right leg. However,
about a year ago, I would go through periods of having them in my feet - mostly the right - every few months. Could not find the cause, til I realized my husband had been watching me closely, lol!
When I'm sitting down, watching tv or on the computer, I tend to turn my foot outward, and kind of press on it and it's been causing strain on the muscles. After a while of doing it, it would show up as a charlie horse in the middle of the night - I'd be crying because it hurt so badly. When it would get bad, it would affect both the foot, ankle and up the shin - gosh it was awful.
So for about six months I went without having this happen again, then a few weeks ago it did - and sure enough, my husband knew that I'd been farting around with my feet again.
How to stop this? For me, being always cognizant of what I'm doing with my feet when I'm sitting - I just always tend to be on my tozies (just caught myself doing it now as I'm typing!), up on the ball of the foot, and to the side.

I'm pretty sure no one has understood this explanation except me. Suffice it to say, that I, too, knew it had nothing to do with dehydration or that other culprit - potassium.

Hoping you get things figured out!

[MrsSunshine]

i can't explain the throat thing. but wondered if you have restless leg syndrome.. and thats why your getting the CH in the night.. my Dad gets them. literally wore out his bed post..his feet are constantly going.

[Lynn49]

That's where I used to get them...on the top of my feet...SO painful!
I don't get them anymore: I stopped having anything with aspartame in it.
Stopped immediately.

When you get them, drink some salt water or lick some salt from a spoon...that should ease them....Ask your doctor for ...ugh...I can't remember the name of the medication my Mom used to take by prescription....but there is one to keep the pain away and it works absolutely every night it's taken. Quinine sulphate!!!!! That's what it is! Works miracles..if you take it at night, you'll never have that pain again!

Good luck. And stop taking in anything with aspartame.....I used to get them so often...and haven't had one in the past year since I stopped...Good luck...

[TaraF]

MrsSunshine, I don't have RLS although my DH does, it's horrible! I got all of my bloodwork back today and my Potassium, Magnessium and Calcium levels are all normal so it isn't that and it's also not what is causing my heart palpitations so after the Holidays my Dr wants to pursue 2 different possible culprits, my Neuralgia due to Diabetes or this POTS thing a few of my Drs are testing me for.

Lynn, aspartame doesn't surprise me!!!! The thing is the only time I ingest aspartame is when I have a Diet Ice Tea and that's not often at all. It's irritating/concerning because they literally came out of left field and also because they happen deveral times a day and many times during the night without fail.

[Kitty77]

Hi Tara, hope you get ride of the charly horses soon good to see the Docs are taking care of you!!

[princessjen]

I usually get them in my feet when I'm swimming. Ouch!

[lekate]

I get them in my left foot, I assume it's because I don't use the muscles properly (since I broke it and still don't walk quite right).

[Lynn49]

MrsSunshine, I don't have RLS although my DH does, it's horrible! I got all of my bloodwork back today and my Potassium, Magnessium and Calcium levels are all normal so it isn't that and it's also not what is causing my heart palpitations so after the Holidays my Dr wants to pursue 2 different possible culprits, my Neuralgia due to Diabetes or this POTS thing a few of my Drs are testing me for.

Lynn, aspartame doesn't surprise me!!!! The thing is the only time I ingest aspartame is when I have a Diet Ice Tea and that's not often at all. It's irritating/concerning because they literally came out of left field and also because they happen deveral times a day and many times during the night without fail.

Mmmmm...then it's not the aspartame....but please ask your doc for quinine sulphate pills...you'll never have that pain again. It was so hard to watch my 90 year old Mom with them..those took them away permanently for her and me When I discovered the aspartame link I didn't need them anymore...good luck Hon...

[Natalka]

Tara, I hope things have been okay with you in this regard.

I'm up right now, at 8 a.m. because I went to sleep after midnight, and woke up at 2 a.m. with absolutely horrid pain from these darned charlies in my right leg calf and foot. I cried and yelled, thank goodness for my husband who started to massage it out - even though that kinda makes it hurt worse at first - but he puts up with my blubbering and ignores me when I tell him to stop touching my leg! Then he makes me walk when I don't want to!

So, I've been scared to go back to sleep, because I know it will come back (always does a few more times). However, I'm going to have to because I feel all pukey now from getting so little sleep.
I have high pain tolerance, and this ranks right up there with the worst of it - gah, I just hate it!

[lecale]

.

[Lynn49]

I'm with Lynn on the quinine sulfate

When I went through my charlie horse thing a while back the doctor also suggested tonic water as it has a small amount of quinine in it

Lecale....so true....my Mom, in her 80s, had them every night and suffered so much, they brought her to tears. She told our doc, he prescribed the quinine sulphate pills, one each night at bed-time and she slept like a baby from that day on. Never a charlie horse again! Whenever I knew I was going to get one, or felt it start, I'd pop one, and ta-da! Relief!