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A charley horse can be caused by a direct blow or sudden stretch of the muscle, but most of the time they’re caused by strain or fatigue during exercise.
Massage, a bath with Epsom salts, or a heating pad can relax the muscle. To fight pain, use an ice pack or take an over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or naproxen. In most cases, the charley horse will stop within a few minutes. But if you get them often and for no clear reason, tell your doctor.
7 Charley Horse Home Remedies
A deficiency of magnesium is the leading cause of muscle spasms, and it’s the leading cause of Charley Horses.
A DVT blood clot can cause a calf cramp that feels a lot like a charley horse. Like leg pain, the cramping sensation with DVT will persist and even worsen with time. It won’t clear up with stretching or walking it off like an ordinary charley horse.
“Charlie Horse” is a slang term, not a technical diagnosis. … Whether a kick, knee, punch or elbow to a muscle, a Charlie Horse is a painful blunt force trauma that can be very intense at the time of injury. If severe enough, the pain can last a few days and involve bruising and swelling.
These spasms are marked by uncomfortable muscle contractions. If the contracting muscles don’t relax for several seconds or more, the pain can be severe. Severe charley horses can result in muscle soreness that lasts anywhere from a few hours to a day. This is normal, so long as the pain isn’t prolonged or recurring.
A charley horse happens when muscles suddenly cramp or tighten, resulting in pain. The condition most typically happens in the calf muscle at the back of the lower leg. The sudden and uncontrollable spasm can often be brief, but it can last for several minutes or up to 10 minutes.
Muscle cramps, or “charley horses” as they are sometimes called, are extremely common and occur when muscles involuntarily contract and cannot relax. The most notorious sites for cramps are the calves, thighs and arch of the foot. Cramps in the hands, arms, abdomen and along the rib cage are also very common.
Heat will relax the muscle at first. Ice may be helpful after the first spasm and when the pain has improved. If the muscle is still sore after heat and ice, you can use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines to help with pain.13 мая 2019 г.
4. Using an Epsom salt bath may also help to relieve pain and possibly help with the prevention of a Charley horse. Epson salt has a high magnesium content.
Drink plenty of fluids. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade, will often help leg cramps.
Step 1: Get plenty of vitamin D-3, magnesium, potassium, and calcium (get tested for your blood levels of these and iron, too). Deficiencies are linked to cramping. From food and supplements aim for: –1,000 IU of D-3 daily.
Overuse of a muscle, dehydration, muscle strain or simply holding a position for a prolonged period can cause a muscle cramp. In many cases, however, the cause isn’t known. Although most muscle cramps are harmless, some may be related to an underlying medical condition, such as: Inadequate blood supply.