Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts
By Alyce Wilson
I woke up with a charlie horse two days ago and my leg is still stiff. I don't understand it.
In an effort to break the hold this stiff muscle had on me, I did stretches, I did aerobic exercise, walked my dog. Nothing helped.
A charlie horse is one of the worst pains that you can experience, especially because it strikes when you're sleeping. All of a sudden, I feel a severe muscle cramp in my leg as the muscle tightens up. It feels as if I've been zapped with an invisible taser. I wake up shouting in pain.
Of course, the more stressed out I get, the worse my leg seizes up. So while I'm in pain, I have to calm myself down until finally the intense muscle spasm releases.
I've tried everything since then to get my leg back to normal. I thought the stretches would help, the yoga. They didn't.
Yesterday, I tried putting a hot, wet washcloth over the muscle, to see if that would help. It didn't.
I woke up this morning, still hobbling. Did some stretches, took my dog for a walk. I can't figure out what to do. I guess it will just go away, when I stop thinking about it.
But more than getting rid of it, I want to know what causes it. What is it that suddenly, out of nowhere, in the middle of restful sleep, makes my leg seize up? Is it some random bad thought, or simple fate?
According to a web site that provides information about Charlie horses:
Muscles contract and relax over and over again (Restless Legs), but when a cramp occurs, the muscle locks in the contracted position (Charlie Horse) leg pain. When the muscle is irritated, it cramps to protect the area of difficulty. People who overuse their muscles during the day sometimes wake up at night with cramps. The best way to avoid a leg cramp is to warm up and stretch before and after exercise, and stay hydrated.
If stretching and drinking water doesn't help, they recommended a pain management wrap, which was, after all, what they are selling.
Other people seem to believe a combination of calcium and magnesium can help to address the potassium deficiencies that can cause a leg cramp.
Hmmm. I think I'm going to go get some calcium and magnesium and have it with lots and lots of water.
Moral:
Charlie horses are a pain.
Copyright
2003 by Alyce Wilson
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