Charlie Horses while sleeping??

rac557 · January 2016

For the past week I've gotten Charlie Horses (calf cramps) in the middle of the night. Have to walk it off, but it remains sore for a few days.

Any one else have have this problem? Solutions? I'm wondering if it is not enough water or potassium.

dolewhipper · January 2016

I usually have a banana ever day since I get them a lot. I find if I don't have one for awhile they come back.

carcrashheart · January 2016

With my first pregnancy I learned that if I stretched my legs and pointed my toes I got the worst Charlie horses, even wth eating potassium. One was so bad I was trying not to scream and my FIL still thought I was going in to labor. Once I realized I couldn't point my toes they went away. Almost four years later and I haven't stretched and pointed my toes since because I'm too afraid.

Dubs1978 · January 2016

Ugh. Hate that feeling. One thing stupidly I find that helps, is right at the start of one I jump up and go jump up and down on the tile floor (my grandmother had told me to do that). Don't know why but it helps.

HMcDade1 · January 2016

Yep bananas and drink water before bed ! I used to get them all the time fresh out of nursing school working twelve hour shifts

TattoosandLace · January 2016

Bananas and water!

Taymiller · January 2016

H20

shaylalr · January 2016

I am getting them too! My leg has been sore for 3 days now after the last one. I am drinking coconut water for the potassium and increasing my water intake. I heard magnesium helps too so I am going to buy some today.

PugsandKisses · January 2016

Yep, a normal but crappy pregnancy symptom.

Singingmama10 · January 2016

I had the same realization as @carcrashheart . Whenever I would point my toes and stretch I got the worst charlie horse EVER! I would try and avoid that if possible

simplymizzj · January 2016

@carcrashheart @Singingmama10 What both of these ladies said about pointy toes and stretching. I did that the other night and ouch!! Never again...

quartz02 · January 2016

I had that with my last pregnancy (none yet for #2). I drank a little Gatorade before bed and then never had a problem if I did that.

DominiqueU · January 2016

My grandma sleeps with a bar of soap by her feet under the covers. She swears it prevents muscle cramps. Apparently, the idea is that something absorbs into your skin while you sleep.

Obviously, this is not medical advice, but crazy grandmas are helpful sometimes.

silvers626 · January 2016

Definitely more water. Lots of water. And a little extra potassium/calcium/magnesium won't hurt either.

BettyRu · January 2016

@carcrashheart and all.... My mother gave me the holy grail of leg stretching... As you know you cannot point your toes or........ OUCH... But you can stretch your legs with you toes pointing to the ceiling versus pointing out.... YOU ARE WELCOME

. It works, good stretch in bed, NO PAIN.

SparkySunshine · January 2016

@BettyRu yep! You want to do the OPPOSITE of stretch/point your toes. Bring your toes up towards your shin to stretch your calf muscle, when you point your toes it allows your calf muscle to contract MORE which makes it way worse

DobbysSock · January 2016

I hate this! I get them in my hips/thighs this pregnancy. Last pregnancy it was in my calves as well. I don't have advice that hasn't already been giving I just wanted to commiserate.

foxa319 · January 2016

I got one last pregnancy and oh man was it terrible! My calf hurt for days after! Drink coconut water! Hydrating and has so many good electrolytes! I still drink the coconut lemonade water and never had one since!

jlgriff11 · January 2016

The soap thing helped my mom. She used to get terrible leg and foot cramping because of a medication she was on. Maybe it was all in her head, but whatever helped, I say.

I don't get them much these days, but I remember the very first charlie horse I ever got, I was probably in middle school and we were on a trip to wet and wild. I woke up screaming and the girl sharing a room with me told me to get up and walk and I thought she was insane. No way I could walk like that! Wish I would have followed her advice so I could have walked the next day lol. Ah, youth.

As it is, someone once told me labor was like a charlie horse in your Uterus. This is terrifying.

spartyparty · January 2016

jlgriff11 said:

As it is, someone once told me labor was like a charlie horse in your Uterus. This is terrifying.

That's a pretty good description actually! Lol.

I used to get charlie horses constantly during 2nd and 3rd tri w/ my first. I mostly got them at night in bed. It would help if I sat up and swing my legs over the side of the bed. One time I got a charlie horse in both calves while walking to the door. I just collapsed on the couch. DH thought I was in labor bc they were so painful. Hoping I don't get them this time!

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