Having a magnesium, potassium, or calcium deficiency can contribute to leg cramps, however, your medical history must be taken into account before you consider using any over-the-counter supplements. If nothing else, it will help your bed smell nice! There does not seem to be any harm from using a bar of nice smelling soap if you have a strong urge to try it under your bedsheet. Quinine has potential side effects such as severe bleeding and heart arrhythmias. Remember that a mere 2 ounce shot of the juice may contain a few hundred milligrams of sodium, so anyone with heart disease, hypertension, or renal insufficiency should exercise caution. It is possible that the protons in pickle juice use this mechanism to help alleviate the discomfort.
One Harvard study described an ion channel called TRPV1 that activates the spinal column and inhibits the firing of nerves to dull the pain of cramps. There is scarce scientific data to back these claims. There are numerous old wives’ tales about home remedies from drinking pickle juice, using quinine, to the use of a bar of soap under the bedsheet to fend off charley horses. There are some easy ways to help prevent charley horses including staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, avoiding excessive sugars and caffeine, and avoiding overexertion. Numerous causes of charley horses have been described in the medical literature including muscle fatigue, dehydration, mineral deficiency, and poor circulation (venous insufficiency).ĭuring the initial stages, it is a good idea to gently massage the affected areas and use over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen. The dreaded charley horse is reported to affect up to 60 percent of adults who have reported the presence of nocturnal leg cramps in the form of a painful spasm, tightening of calf muscles, and twinges. Since the 1880s, the slang word lingered and is now commonly used to describe a sudden tightening or contracting sensation that lasts a few seconds to several hours and can be painful as well as debilitating. The picture of the limping horse was so deeply entrenched in memories of the ballplayers that they started referring to each other as “charley horse” if they pulled a leg muscle or developed any minor impairment in their legs. According to one source, there was a lame horse named Charley whose work was to help move things around a baseball park.
There is a debate about the origin of the nickname. For instance, hearing that several of my patients have “charley horses”, it was only natural for her to request one… “Dad, I would like one (charley horse) too!”Īlthough charley horse is a commonly used term for cramps in the leg, typically in the calf muscles, I was curious to learn about the origin of the term. I am certain that the stories of numerous patients have impacted her. Perhaps she sees the difference that our work has made in the lives of many including her teachers who came seeking care. Some rightly said that children are like mirrors they reflect all that they see and hear. I am still trying to find similarities between the two professions to better understand what led to this “slight” change in the career path for her. My 9-year-old daughter recently had a major change in her career plans, from wanting to be a mermaid to being a Physician.
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