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.
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