What Is a Charley Horse?
A charley horse is a muscle spasm — when a muscle instantly tightens up by itself. These cramps can occur anyplace in your physique. They’re frequent in your legs.
Charley Horse Causes
Issues that may set off a charley horse embrace:
Muscle cramps are additionally a aspect impact of some medication, reminiscent of:
- Furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), and different diuretics (“water tablets”) that take fluid out of your physique
- Donepezil (Aricept), used to deal with Alzheimer’s illness
- Neostigmine (Prostigmine), used for myasthenia gravis
- Nifedipine (Procardia), a remedy for angina and hypertension
- Raloxifene (Evista), an osteoporosis remedy
- Bronchial asthma medicines terbutaline (Brethine) and albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)
- Tolcapone (Tasmar), which helps deal with Parkinson’s illness
- Statin medicines for ldl cholesterol, reminiscent of atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), or simvastatin (Zocor)
Charley Horse Danger Elements
Sure individuals are likely to get charley horses extra typically:
Charley Horse Analysis
You don’t have to see your physician except you’ve gotten a charley horse together with one among these circumstances:
Your physician will ask about your signs and medical historical past. They’ll additionally do a bodily examination. They may order blood exams, muscle exams, or MRI exams to search for a well being situation that may trigger cramps.
Charley Horse Therapy
If you happen to get a charley horse in your calf or at the back of your thigh (hamstring), put your weight on the affected leg and bend your knee barely. Or sit or lie down together with your leg out straight and pull the highest of your foot towards your head.
For a cramp within the entrance of your thigh (quadriceps), maintain on to a chair and bend the knee of the affected leg. Pull your foot up towards your buttock.
Therapeutic massage, a shower with Epsom salts, or a heating pad can calm down the muscle. To struggle ache, use an ice pack or take an over-the-counter treatment like ibuprofen or naproxen.
Typically, the charley horse will cease inside a couple of minutes. However if you happen to get them typically and for no clear cause, inform your physician.
Charley Horse Prevention
To assist cease cramps earlier than they begin:
- Eat extra meals excessive in nutritional vitamins and magnesium.
- Keep hydrated.
- Stretch each day and earlier than train. Stretching earlier than train can assist forestall tight muscle mass. Every day stretching can assist with cramps attributable to different issues.
- Put on comfy sneakers.
- Restrict how a lot alcohol you drink.
- Ramp up your train slowly moderately than all of sudden.
- Don’t train proper after you eat.
- Don’t smoke.