Charlie Horses

[2monkeys]

Ok, I have been waking up with these incredibly painful charlie horses every morning or night. Sometimes it's both legs at the same time. I just scream! Also now that this has been happening my feet and ankles are really swollen which was never an issue before.

I eat bananas and drink a lot of water but I don't know what else I can do to prevent it. It's really happening a lot lately and it's just excruciating.

I also want to know what am I supposed to do for the rest of the day after it happens? Now the backs of my legs are totally bruised and won't straighten out ever. it's very hard to walk and almost impossible to go up and down stairs. So do I ice them or put heat on them? Anything to make this less painful.

[mreaves]

BRUISED?

Your legs are bruised? That dosen't sound quite right. I get leg cramps/charlie horses all the time, before and during pregnancy, and never have I gotten a bruise.
You may want to talk to or show your Dr. these bruises...
Heat relaxes muscles so you definitely do not want cold compress.
Can you do some stretches before bed?

[2monkeys]

They aren't bruised looking just bruised to the touch. I guess sore is probably more the word I was looking for.

[MelJ]

I really don't know what causes em or how to prevent them. I get them every night when I go to flip sides and my involuntary reaction is to stretch which triggers the charlie horse. I then jump up and walk it out. I've tried laying there and massaging it out but it never worked, but walking it out immediately helps ALOT.
Deffinately use warm heating pad if it's still sore and mention it to your dr as he may know a few tricks to keep them at bay.

[kallikj]

I just read something about getting charlie horses and to make sure you were getting enough of certain things.......calcium and potassium are the only two I can remember, I think there were like 4 or 5. I would ask your doctor if it's a result of certain deficiencies so you can concentrate on getting more of those vitamins/minerals. I really feel for you because I have only had it twice this pregnancy and it is SO PAINFUL!!

[maurak]

I am like Melissa, where in the middle of the night when I roll over, I tend to stretch. That stretch is what triggers mine. So, now I have learned the hard way, it I am going to stretch, it has to be with my upper body or just a very little stretch. It is like getting a yawn cut short, which isn't quite as satifying, but in the end it saves you a lot of pain. Mine also are tender to the touch for days. Although the massage yesterday did help it a lot! I don't know about you, but I end up sitting with a heating pad every night for my low back, so you might just want to relax your legs too before you hit your bed.

Good luck.

[jerandjenz]

ok..the streching is what has always gotten me, too. i am proud to say i haven't had any this pregnancy. i've made a conscious effort to flex my foot when streching to avoid the cramps...mine only happen when i'm pointing my toes straight out in front of me if that makes any sense.

when it happens you can immediately make it go away by pointing your foot upward on the affected leg..mind you this hurts like crazy right when you do it, but then relief will immediately follow.

good luck.

[kallikj]

I don't know about you, but I end up sitting with a heating pad every night for my low back

I do the exact same thing. The back pain is getting so much worse.

[mysticmama]

Funny but not really. I was just telling my husband the other night that the Charlie Horses have begun. They were excruciating my last pregnancy. I did try amping up the potassium last time but it really didn't do much. Like the others have said, try not to stretch those legs if you can. Sometimes you're sleepy and forget and wow, it's like an alarm clock.

Hope you have a better memory than me these days!

[Kittyjo]

I'll tell you what has really worked for me so you can try it if you like. Basically every night before I go to bed I drink a pint of chocolate milk (and, ugh, I HATE milk but I make myself drink it!) and I take 2 TUMS. That's actually a huge amount of calcium (more than your body can absorb in one go apparently) but it seems to work for me (plus it stops the heartburn waking me up which was the main reason I started doing it). On the nights I have forgotten to do it I get woken up all night by the cramps so it definitely works for me!

[BeccaCoug]

yeah - I've read lack of calcium can be the big culprit among other things...hope they ease up!

[Jacob+2mom]

Also have cramps in my calves, my doctor besides the other things mentioned told me to try a small glass of tonic water. It doesn't taste very good but it has been helping.

[maurak]

[QUOTE=Jacob+2mom;1365727]my doctor besides the other things mentioned told me to try a small glass of tonic waterQUOTE]


Perhaps that is why I have not had nearly as many as I have in past pregnancies. I LOVE gin and tonics and have been just drinking glasses of tonic with a lime- daily! I think it is so refreshing now that it is warm out again.

Thanks for the tip! I'll keep drinkin' 'em!

[mamatotwo]

I don't have anything to add...I just wanted to say I feel so bad you are having to go through this. I hope some of these suggestions help!
Debbi