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charlie horses

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Posted 5/26/2011 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
I have been having an issue with charlie horses in my calves and small toes. The calves are one thing, I've had them on many occassions before but the small toes is something altogether different. It usually happens on days I do a lot of walking. If I am laying in bed and stretch my legs and feet out, my 4 little toes will cramp and freeze. It doesn't hurt like the calves do but it is a bit irritating and makes me wonder......?

Is there a vitamin or suppliment that is good for charlie horses? I have heard that potasium can be good for that but I eat bananas all the time. Are there other suggestions?

Posted 5/26/2011 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
Are you wearing good walking shoes? That really makes a difference on the muscles that you use when you walk. I hope that the charlie horses go away. My husband has to take quinine when he gets cramps like that. It is the only thing that makes them go away. It usually happens when he doesn't drink enough water during an active day. We have been hunting morel mushrooms and we do a lot of walking. So, I do believe that when your potassium is depleated it happens. Maybe some supplements. Maybe the bananas aren't enough.

Best wishes to you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 5/26/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I just came back from my doctor and leg cramping was one of the things we talked about. He had my blood work in front of him and he said everything looked o.k. I just get the cramps occasionally so he isn't worried. He did say there is a herbal supplement for leg cramps that he recommends. He said the health food store would carry it. He said it acts like quinine but it is something different and he said it would be safe for me to take. He is a diplomat and a primary care doctor so I feel confident in him. I don't think I will take the supplement unless the cramps become more frequent. And I would never would take any supplement without talking to him first.
Posted 5/26/2011 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
My feet and ankles ache a good bit. My PC suggested magnesium, which helped.
Posted 5/26/2011 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Denita,

I used to get this all the time. Thankfully now it is only occassionally. My toes would become "crippled" as I used to say. They would just get stuck because of the Charlie Horse. It would hurt to much to move and try to walk it off so my husband had to learn how to massage it out for me. I especially get this on my right leg where I had ankle surgery about 8 years ago. You're right though, stretching it out causes it to happen.

I also have heard potassium is good to preven them and quinine. I used to try to drink a small cup of tonic water for the quinine when it was acting up - I say try because I HATE tonic water!

Good luck! I hope they calm down a bit.
Posted 5/26/2011 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
I get charlie horse's too. Alot. Have since childhood. I remember, the day my house burned down when I was 12, I didn't hear the flames at first because I was busy prying my fingers off the play doh I had just squeezed when I got a charlie horse in my hand. Yikes!

Now they seem only in my legs, and predominately my left leg. I had one just yesterday when hubby and I were .... well, you know. LOL Hubby took it in stride, thank heaven.

I was once told eat alot of bananas and it would help - but I can tell you that hasn't done anything. (bananas have alot of potassium) I put a bananas in a bowl of cereal every single day with no change. I'll have to check into the quinine idea.
Posted 5/27/2011 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Magnesium supplements has been a miracle drug for me. Look up magnesium deficiency. I have fewer cramps in my body now.
Posted 5/27/2011 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
I have to agree with angel and myself09, magnesium has been my wonder cure. I used to get muscle spasms in my legs and feet almost every night. Since I have been taking magnesium I very rarely have them anymore and if I do get one it is nowhere as severe as they used to get. Good luck hope you find something that helps.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 5/27/2011 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
I think I am going to have to try the magnesium or quinine too. In the past few years, I have been getting horrendous cramping in my calves but primarily in my left foot. My little toe actually sticks out sideways. Just yesterday I had that "pre-cramp" feeling so I had to be careful to not make it come out in full force. So painful!
Posted 5/27/2011 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
thats it for me too. I don't actually get the charlie horses because I can feel them trying to cramp and I do everything I can to stop it. I only get the actual cramps in my four smaller toes. Its kinda funny to look at. they splay out in four different directions and stay there until I rub them.

I am going to get the magnesium and give it a try. I should have done this a long time ago but I take so many meds and suppliments now. I'm just being stubborn about adding another one. And, I will continue to eat the bananas (not hard to do - my favorite).
Posted 5/27/2011 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
I take magnesium but still got charlie horses.  But, when I was diagnosed with osteoporosis, I was told to take 1,200 mg of calcium with D.  Once I started on the calcium, the cramping stopped!  I did a check, and yes, lack of calcium can cause cramping!  You might want to give this a try, too.

 

Sherrine

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