Charlie Horse

5 mile · May 18, 2017

I can easily trek 1-2 miles on a given field hunt. I stay in pretty good shape, however a few times I get a charlie horse in the middle of the night, especially after a long late hunt. Sometimes both legs simultaneously. You talk about pain..oh man!

Anyone else get these after long hunts?

Tpmetal · May 18, 2017

5 mile said:
I can easily trek 1-2 miles on a given field hunt. I stay in pretty good shape, however a few times I get a charlie horse in the middle of the night, especially after a long late hunt. Sometimes both legs simultaneously. You talk about pain..oh man!

Anyone else get these after long hunts?

I used to get them playing sports all the time, make sure your drinking enough water as well as having enough electrolytes, and they shouldn't be a problem. If you dont have a way to absorb that water then its pretty useless drinking it. also a short walk and stretch before bed helps break up lactic acids which will help with soreness.

Skippy SH13 · May 18, 2017

5 mile said:
I can easily trek 1-2 miles on a given field hunt. I stay in pretty good shape, however a few times I get a charlie horse in the middle of the night, especially after a long late hunt. Sometimes both legs simultaneously. You talk about pain..oh man!

Anyone else get these after long hunts?

Often a sign of calcium, potassium, or magnesium deficiencies. A vitamin should alleviate that. I used to get them, now I take a daily multi-vitamin and don't.

Cheers!

Skippy

dirtykneese · May 18, 2017

Sounds like a few of us had the same thing.
My Dr. told me to drink water and Gator Aid. The GA puts all that good stuff back into your body. If I am out for a long time, I carry a small cooler. Two bottles of GA and a bottle of water. Candy bars too. No beer until I get home for the night.

KEN

5 mile · May 18, 2017

Tpmetal said:
I used to get them playing sports all the time, make sure your drinking enough water as well as having enough electrolytes, and they shouldn't be a problem. If you dont have a way to absorb that water then its pretty useless drinking it. also a short walk and stretch before bed helps break up lactic acids which will help with soreness.

Skippy SH13 said:
Often a sign of calcium, potassium, or magnesium deficiencies. A vitamin should alleviate that. I used to get them, now I take a daily multi-vitamin and don't.

Cheers!

Skippy

Recent physical came back normal, perhaps staying more hydrated, which I do carry water, and vitamins(which I do take)... maybe water w/electrolytes in them.

Ice Scratcher · May 18, 2017

X2 Magnesium will fix ya right up...

Almost everyone is critically low on magnesium...

Good luck!

<°)))>{

5 mile · May 18, 2017

Ice Scratcher said:
X2 Magnesium will fix ya right up...

Almost everyone is critically low on magnesium...

Good luck!

<°)))>{

I agree most are deficient in magnesium, its just not in our foods as it once was. Just as sulfur (MSM) isnt either.
Magnesium has hundreds of functions in the body.

From what Ive read the best way to get magnesium is topically since taken in pill form is somewhat ineffective.

Grumpa · May 18, 2017

Gator Aid will help if you drink it well before you go to bed. But if you wake up in the middle of the night with leg cramps GA won't help you. When that happens get up and go to the fridge and take a big swig of juice out of the pickle jar. I know it sounds nasty but it isn't that bad. Before you get back to bed the cramp will be gone and it won't come back. I spent many years as a martial arts instructor and I would get cramps after tough workouts. This worked for me every time.

Scooterjim · May 18, 2017

I know people who swear by storing their shoes upside down. It's probably just an old wives tale, but I have to wonder if shoes might gain a little more cushion upside down.

Ice Scratcher · May 18, 2017

5 mile said:
I agree most are deficient in magnesium, its just not in our foods as it once was. Just as sulfur (MSM) isnt either.
Magnesium has hundreds of functions in the body.

From what Ive read the best way to get magnesium is topically since taken in pill form is somewhat ineffective.

Many things aren't in our food like there once was..

They only put three things back in to the ground, N,P,K...

Nothing else...

All of our vegetables from the store are pretty much empty shells...

<°)))>{

Mud-puppy · May 18, 2017

Guys our age are supposed to take a small aspirin and drink a glass of water right before we go to bed...then get up at 3am and log onto the Forum! :laughing:

olfart · May 18, 2017

I have them on a pretty regular basis just from working around the farm. Yes, I drink plenty of water and GA, and I take magnesium tablets every night. When a bad cramp hits, the only thing I've found to help is a buffered salt tablet and a glass of water. Haven't tried the pickle juice, but that has salt in it, too, so may be the same effect.

Uncle Sam's Army got me started on salt tablets in 1959, and I've kept some in the kitchen cabinet for emergencies ever since. By the way, I don't have high blood pressure, so no problems for me there.

Ice Scratcher · May 18, 2017

I had a charley horse in my calf (the kind that wake you up and instantly get out of bed), last year, except this one was different.. It stayed, a big lump in my calf..

After dealing with the same pain for two weeks, many suggested I go to the ER and get checked for a blood clot.. They said everything checked out fine except for the constricted calf muscle.. Which I have to see a specialist for.. Didn't take the pain prescription from the doctor..

After two more weeks of hobbling around, a guy I know who is a runner (on purpose, for fun, not even being chased) suggested magnesium.. He said he had this same issue.. That night, bought and took some.. The next day it was almost totally better!

The next couple days back to normal, less cramping, and better than ever..

<°)))>{

Ice Scratcher · May 18, 2017

You get better sleep, and should feel better all around too.. I was really surprised how much better everything was, sleep, cramps, general muscle twitches..

Do not take before bed, unless you like dreams..

I just paddled 7 miles on lake Erie... And sometimes walk over 4 miles carrying/pulling 200lbs + of gear for ice fishing..

Performance demands the proper stuff,.. Many people might never know they are deficient, because they don't demand performance from their bodies, and never notice issues..

So in a weird way, they are some of the healthiest pains one could get, also the cheapest and easiest to fix..

Congrats on getting some good healthy pain for once lol

Good luck..

<°)))>{

5 mile · May 18, 2017

Ice Scratcher said:
You get better sleep, and should feel better all around too.. I was really surprised how much better everything was, sleep, cramps, general muscle twitches..

Do not take before bed, unless you like dreams..

I just paddled 7 miles on lake Erie... And sometimes walk over 4 miles carrying/pulling 200lbs + of gear for ice fishing..

Performance demands the proper stuff,.. Many people might never know they are deficient, because they don't demand performance from their bodies, and never notice issues..

So in a weird way, they are some of the healthiest pains one could get, also the cheapest and easiest to fix..

Congrats on getting some good healthy pain for once lol

Good luck..

<°)))>{

I do have mag caps, as I was taking them regularly awhile back.
Since I have them, might as well take them, thx for the heads up.

5 mile · May 18, 2017

Actually thanks to all that replied, I must be careful though..between pickle juice, magnesium and baby aspirin, I dont want to make myself into a battery. :shock:

IDXMonster · May 19, 2017

Also a spoonful of yellow mustard will stop the cramping almost immediately. I have had leg cramping issues for quite some time, being an ex rock drummer. I'd get home about 2-3 am and shortly afterwards get these HORRIFIC leg cramps. It's repetitive over usage that causes the problem most of the time. If you are not flexible, simply bending your leg the wrong way will give you muscle spasms. The common thread with pickle juice and mustard is...vinegar. Don't know HOW it works, but it does every time for me.
I quit drumming about a year and a half ago and haven't had nearly as many issues...the cramping is why I had to give it up after 27 years of on and off playing.
Good luck, cramps fuggin suck.

Tony (Michigan) · May 19, 2017

I used to get those in the middle of the night.
I now take Dr. Mercola's Whole Food Multi-Vitamins.
They must have enough magnesium because my cramps went away.

TexasLurker · May 19, 2017

My son played football in high school and he has 12" diameter thighs. He would get charlie horses from "the warm place". Doctor gave him potassium pills and told him to eat more bananas.

Charlie Horse

5 mile

Tpmetal

Elite Member

Skippy SH13

dirtykneese

5 mile

Ice Scratcher

Elite Member

5 mile

Grumpa

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Scooterjim

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Ice Scratcher

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Mud-puppy

olfart

Junior Member

Ice Scratcher

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Ice Scratcher

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5 mile

5 mile

IDXMonster

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Tony (Michigan)

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TexasLurker

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