Charlie Horses from hell!

[nytemare]

Do you folks wake up with these buggers? I work a night shift and woke up in the middle of the day with an awful big charlie horse and I was in a mental stupor, still half asleep. When I finally came to my senses and the pain started to subside, I realized the only thing that I kept saying for about 5 minutes was "Fuck me, STOP, fuck me, STOP!"

I wonder if the neighbors heard...LOL.

[Kali]

1. potasium

take a multivitamin and eat a banana - also gatorade, plenty of water and sleep will help

[Spinzonner]

2. If you mean leg cramps

http://www.healthinkonline.com/modules/SelfCareWellness/wellAdvised.asp?artID=73&catID=1&catname=Children+and+Teens

and

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/48/132.cfm

I have actually used the pinch-the-lips technique and it worked.

OTC Legatrim for leg cramps used to contain quinine which had some effect, especially as a prophylactic but the FDA forced them to remove it from the product. Quinine is still in Tonic Water but probably not therapeutic levels.

http://www.wholefoods.com/healthinfo/quinine.html

[kc.ink]

3. you may need supplemental magnesium

In general, to get as much magnesium as possible in the diet, eat plenty of organic leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds every day. Adding green drinks to your menu will help you achieve a higher magnesium status. However, if you are suffering from the following symptoms you may need supplemental magnesium:

muscle twitches, tics, or spasms "Charlie horse" (the muscle spasm that occurs when you stretch your legs) insomnia or restless sleep stress back pain
headaches, cluster headaches, migraines stiff and aching muscles bones and joints that need continued chiropractic treatment weakness hypoglycemia
diabetes nervousness hyperactivity high blood pressure osteoporosis
PMS constipation angina kidney stones aging
depression heart attack irregular heartbeat attention deficit disorder aggressive behavior
chronic fatigue syndrome stroke anxiety confusion, muscle weakness hiccups
high-strung exhaustion from exercise seizures

The Calcium-to-Magnesium Ratio

Supplementing with magnesium must also take into account the balance between calcium and magnesium. Finland, which, from 1973 to 1999 had the highest recorded incidence of heart attack in middle-aged men in the world, also has a high calcium-to-magnesium ratio in the diet at 4 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium. 16-17 Americans in general have a high calcium-to-magnesium ratio in their diet and consequently in their bodies; the U.S. ratio is 3.5-to-1. Our dietary emphasis on a high calcium intake without sufficient magnesium and because of the excessive emphasis on women taking high doses of calcium for osteoporosis, we are creating more imbalance between the two minerals.

Some researchers predict that the American ratio of calcium to magnesium is actually approaching 6-to-1, yet, the recommended dietary ratio of calcium to magnesium in the United States is 2-to-1. Current research on the paleolithic or caveman diet shows that the ratio of calcium to magnesium in the diet that our bodies evolved to eat is 1-to-1. 18 In order to offset the deficiency magnesium induced by excess calcium and to treat the above 22 conditions, people may find it necessary to ingest one part magnesium to one part calcium in supplement form for a period of months to a year. Stabilization on a healthy diet including green drinks may be possible after that time.

The most commons sources of magnesium are oxide, citrate, glycinate, and malate. People use oxide and citrate if they suffer from constipation to take advantage of magnesium's laxative effect. Glycinate seems to cause little diarrhea and is the best choice for people who already have loose stools. Magnesium malate has been promoted for people with fibromyalgia to help break up lactic acid that seems to be part of the fibromyalgia picture.

Dr. Carolyn Dean is a medical doctor and naturopathic doctor. She is a writer, researcher, and health advocate. She is the lead author on Death by Medicine and a health advisor to yeastconnection.com and curesnaturally.com. She has written several health books including "The Miracle of Magnesium". Her Web site is carolyndean.com. The Miracle of Magnesium is written for both the lay public and practitioners. It is packed with hundreds of journal references that will convince doctors of the importance of magnesium and its efficacy in dozens of conditions--before reaching for the prescription pad.

http://www.nspforum.com/index.cgi?read=16120

[flamingyouth]

5. Yes, this is also good advice

Good link - thanks. :hi:

[flamingyouth]

4. Those things hurt like hell

Yes, I echo the previous posters - take some potassium.

Also, when you have the cramp (and this will hurt), point your toes downward, which will relieve some of the tension in the muscle. My massage instructor told me that, and when I tried it, I thought I would die from the pain at first, but it did relieve it.

Ugh, I hate those things.

[Gyre]

6. Bananas

Fat with potassium. Yes, they (CHs) suck. Soon they will be history for u.

Gyre

[Midlodemocrat]

7. Actually, if you point your toes upward,

perpendicular to your leg, the cramp goes away instantly.

[yellowdogintexas]

8. yes, point the toes up, like making a right angle with your foot and

the heel is the 90 degree angle.

Also, you can drink orange juice with 1/4 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp of sugar in it and that will help immensely, esp if you don't have Gatorade in the house.

Orange juice also has lots of potassium in it.

Point the toes out like a ballet dancer can sometimes actually cause this type of cramp.

They used to drive me crazy when I was pregnant

[flamingyouth]

11. Yes, you're right

I'm sorry - that's what I meant to say. :D

[nini]

9. point your toes up as far as your foot and toes will go

that will help stretch out the muscles.

and take potassium IF they occur often.


they do hurt like hell though

[TalkingDog]

10. Don't forget salt

My hubby plays B-Ball on Wed. evenings and used to wake up with horrible leg cramps.

I suggested he put a tablespoon of salt (we're crunchy, we use sea-salt, but table salt will do) in his half gallon of water.

He hasn't had a cramp in months.

The whole low salt thing is not necessarily good for everybody.