by 
alliii
ANSWERS: 27
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The recommended treatment as it's happening is to stretch out the muscle, which is contracting severely. For instance, if the calf is experiencing a charlie horse, straighten out the leg and flex the foot to stretch the calf muscle. If you can do this in the midst of a serious charlie horse, you're a stronger person than me. Before and after the charlie horse, keep your muscles well toned and stretched, and make sure you keep hydrated; muscle cramping is a sign of dehydration. Now, who knows why we call them charlie horses anyway?
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The actual spelling is charley horse. The term was originally baseball slang of unknown origin. I agree, the pain is pretty bad and the treatment is as Gideon stated. In addition, you might want to rub on some type of muscle cream or ointment for the soreness that results from the cramping.
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cramp can be caused by an electrolyte imbalance,try rehydrate fluids to prevent cramp,(before and after exercise)
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Well I writhe around and scream quite loudly but it doesn't seem to help much! LOL, actually if you can stretch the muscle during the spasm that helps. I have had my husband grab the tube of Icy Hot and start massaging it on my leg until the cramp stops.
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The muscle can become tetanic (in a situation for sustained contraction) for several reasons, which results in disturbance to blood flow leading to pain similar to that felt when performing abnormally large number of reps at the gym in one go. Stretching the muscle helps for immediate treatment, or rubbing very vigourously up and down the full length of the muscle with force. This helps it to relax, allowing blood flow to be restored. Longer term, replacing the fluid and electrolytes is essential, just water will not be as effective as a lack of electrolytes will be exacerbated. Try eating a banana to replace potassium and a glass of milk or other dairy product such as cheese in case the cause is low calcium.
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you don't bet on it in the second race.
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I read in a column in our local paper about some weird treatment for them. People actually put a bar of soap in the bed with them by where their cramp was and it actually helped them. I don't know personally if it works though.
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I use a pressure point for temporary relief. Then I add magnesium, potassium, and calcium to my diet as soon as possible.
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just treat him like any other horse.
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Treatment and avoidance Many books say massage and stretching. If you massage a cramping muscle you will certainly strain it; if you try to stretch a cramping muscle you’ll strain it some more. Do this: Place the cramping muscle in its shortest anatomical position. For the calf, this means bringing the foot back to your butt--the position in which the calf is least likely to remain in spasm because you have “told” the stretch proprio¬ ceptors the muscle is in its absolute resting position. As it relaxes, you can use gentle touch followed by gentler massage...a slow kneading to locate the sore spots. Then use ice alternating with low temperature moist heat to further relax the muscle and bring nutrients in...while flushing wastes out. Eat something with sodium and potassium; bananas and oranges work well. Take a tum or glass of milk for calcium; add an anti-inflammatory for pain. Diazepam and diphenhydramine can help, too.
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There are probubly many ways to treat or help a charlie horse but the best things that i've found (they hurt but they work) is stretching the muscle or also rubbing the painful spot with a bit of force to try and rub the charlie horse out. It works for me but it might not work for you. I hope this helps though. RaineOx
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Like it's in charge because it is. Until it passes I do whatever it wants me to.
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This is going to sound wierd, but it works. As soon as you feel the cramp coming on, pinch your upper lip as hard as you can until the cramp goes away. No joke!
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Stretching out your legs is key here. I also place a bar of soap at the end of my bed...and I am telling you right now, that it really does work. Not sure why either...it must send off something in the air that helps. Who knows...but, try it. It's not in your head that it works either, you can't hide the pain of a charley horse...ouchy!
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Keep hydrated (drink water) and stretch before and after a work out. Muscle cramping can also be caused by other medical issues such as nerve damage, back injury, and muscle disease. If you are having a constant problem is is important to see your health care provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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Several people on www.charlie-horses.com said that you should eat more bananas if you have problems with charlie horses.
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Wear socks to bed. My family discovered this and has passed the information around and none of us experience leg cramps at night again.
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I get these all the time ever since I became pregnant with my first child, six years ago. When I get a charley horse, I flex my toes UP (towards the ceiling). It hurts like crap for a second (but if you have a charley horse, you're already in a great deal of pain) but it relaxes the cramp much more quickly than it would on it's own.
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i usually just leave the charlie horse how it is and keep it still while i firmly massage the muscle that's cramping and after a bit it goes away. still hurts like crap any how while im doing it but it gets much better
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Stretch, drink more water and eat more potassium. (bananas)
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I walk them off. It goes away pretty quick.
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Kill them with napalm. Get it? Damn, that was horrible.
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First I roll around a little bit screaming and hollering then I rub the area like a maniac and after a few minutes I notice that it doesn't hurt as much.
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Leg, walk it off! Penis ,whack it off! LOL
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haha, i have a charlie horse in my calf right now. :/
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you can massage it, it will help also slowly strech it will work to but also after it goes away eat a lot of potassium(banannas)it will stop the cramps. P.S. sorry for speling banannanananas wrong.
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I seem to only get them while I am sitting or lying down. I will jump up and stand on it. Hurts like hell for a second, but goes away pretty quickly.
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