In the past few weeks I have heard more about leg cramping during prenancy. I am familiar with the "Charley Horse" and used to get them all the time, but really havent had a problem with them in years. Due to my familiarity, I was quite happy to hear they are a common pregnancy complaint that I have not had to experience...until Sunday night that is. Sunday night I had a nasty leg cramp in the middle of the night. In fact, it was so bad that today (Tuesday) my left calf still hurts. And thats not all - last night (Monday) I had one in the other leg. Now I am panicky ... if I got one each night and one in each leg, what happens tonight? Maybe that was just a freak occurance ... or perhaps my legs are going to take turns cramping each night for the next 11 or so weeks? (Lets hope it was the freak occurance option)
Cramping Causes
Wisegeek.com offers a long list of reasons/causes for the "Charley Horse" including:
1)Lack of balance in electrolytes.
During hot weather, people may be more prone to them if they are not taking in adequate fluids.
2)Low levels of magnesium and calcium.
If you suffer from charley horses frequently, you may be able to relieve a charley horse or even prevent them by taking a magnesium and calcium supplement right before going to bed. If you get one in the middle of the night, try taking a magnesium/calcium supplement at that time. Drinking a glass of milk before bed can also help.
3)Potassium imbalance
If you combine your glass of milk at night with a banana, you’ll go a long way toward preventing these cramps.
4)Frequent crampers may have deficiencies of essential minerals or more serious health issues.
See your doctor for more ideas on treatment, or to look for potential causes. Occasionally, when no specific health cause is found, doctors may prescribe muscle relaxants or tranquilizers to relieve a charley horse that does not respond to the methods for relief suggested above.
Cramping Relief
Parents.com suggests that when a cramp strikes you should "straighten your leg and gently flex your foot, with toes pointed up and heel down, to stretch out your calf muscle. Don't point your toes--this usually makes the pain worse. Massage the muscle with long, firm strokes toward your foot. If you still feel sore, apply a heating pad or warm washcloth."
Cramping Prevention
To prevent these leg cramps in the first place, Parents.com suggests that you "slowly flex and release your foot ten times before going to bed". For repeated or chronic leg cramps they suggest yo, wear support hose and avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time without a break.
Why Is It Called A "Charley Horse" Anyway?
Looks like the answer to this is up for debate. Wikipedia offers several theories:
- American baseball slang of the 1880s, possibly from the pitcher Charlie "Old Hoss" Radbourn who is said to have suffered from cramps.
- Another story mentions a horse named Charley that used to work at Comiskey Park, the Chicago White Sox's ballpark. In those days, an old, retired horse was often called "Charlie".
- The term may also reference Charlie "Bucket" McCormick, who was said to wander the streets of Altoona in the late 1800s and massage the calf muscles of the horses who would deliver bushels of rye to local Shriners. The Shriners used this rye for bootleg whiskey, and so the horses needed to have strong calf muscles to outrun the tax collecting authorities.
