Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with a painful leg that needs to be stretched out, or have you ever suddenly had a cramp or muscle spasm? “Charley horse” is the common term for cramps and muscle spasms, according to MedlinePlus.
Charley horses can occur anywhere in the body, but they usually affect the leg muscles. A charley horse causes the muscle to contract, and it is difficult to get the muscle to relax. Charley horses can cause uncomfortable tightness and severe pain.
What Causes a Charley Horse?
You could get a charley horse if:
- You have an injured or overused muscle
- You have low amounts of calcium or potassium in your body
- You are dehydrated
- You are exercising
- A nerve connecting to a muscle is irritated
- You are experiencing stress
If you get a charley horse in your neck, it could be due to stress. Meanwhile, if there is no other possible cause, charley horses in your upper leg can be affiliated with jumping or running and charley horses in your calf can be affiliated with running or swimming.
What Should I Do If I Get Charley Horses?
If you get a charley horse, you can stretch and massage the muscle that is hurting. You can also apply heat to make the muscle relax and ice when your pain has lessened.
If you are dehydrated, drink water or sports drinks. Salt tablets can also help in extreme cases.
You should make an appointment with your primary care provider or a sports medicine provider if:
- You have frequent charley horses
- Your charley horses are accompanied by severe pain or weakness
- Your charley horse does not stop and spreads throughout the body
Your provider will conduct a physical exam to evaluate your muscles and try to determine the root cause of the problem. Your provider could also order an MRI if they feel the spasms could originate from irritated nerves.
Your provider may recommend that you take ibuprofen to reduce prolonged pain, or you may get an antispasm medication prescribed if you frequently have spasms.
In severe cases, physical therapy or surgery may be needed to correct the underlying issue.
What Can I Do to Prevent Charley Horses?
To try to prevent charley horses, you can:
- Regularly stretch your muscles to increase flexibility
- Avoid overusing your muscles or continuing to use them in injuries
- Stay hydrated throughout each day, especially while exercising
- Eat and drink potassium-rich items, such as bananas and orange juice
- Eat and drink calcium-rich items, such as milk, cheese and yogurt
- Find ways to relieve stress
- Exercise regularly without overdoing it and complete a variety of workouts
What is the Outlook?
Charley horses are common and most people will only have them occasionally, especially when taking steps to prevent them. If you have frequent charley horses and other treatments are needed, these treatments are usually effective, but effectiveness can vary.
UofL Health Can Help
UofL Physicians – Primary Care offers nearly 50 practice locations in Louisville and the surrounding area. Call 502-588-4343 to schedule an appointment.
UofL Health – Sports Medicine has expert orthopedic physicians who have specialized training to address all aspects of the musculoskeletal system: bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. They can help athletes recover and get back in the game with optimal performance. UofL Health also has Sports Medicine Urgent Care at UofL Health – Medical Center Northeast, which provides after-hours care of sports injuries of all types.
