Charlie Horses

I've been getting these terrible charlie horses for a few weeks now, they hurt like hell, Now both my calfs are sore and it hurts to walk. Anyone else experiencing this?
XOXOXO
BOTB

Re: Charlie Horses

Yes, I've gotten 3 this week. Eat bananas..they say it helps!

Re: Charlie Horses

Yes, but haven't gotten a full fledged one yet. When I feel them coming on, I stretch out my leg, but heal first. Push out your heal, and it will stretch them out.

Re: Charlie Horses

I had one the other night and i was in extreme pain. Of course, I read in the baby book about blood clots. I freaked out but it didn't happen again.

Re: Charlie Horses

they're pretty unavoidable during pregnancy. definitely make sure you have enough potassium and calcium.... and also water. apparently, dehydration can also increase their frequency.

My OB said, though, that doing all of that will only minimize them... there's no way to eliminate them

Re: Charlie Horses

I've had 2 really bad ones and a bunch of little ones. I'm most prone to them when I'm first waking up and stretching. The first really bad one I woke up screaming and FH straightened out my leg and it was better. I had one last Friday that was out of control. Same beginning, but when he tried to straighten my leg it didnt work. It ended up being sore and hurt to walk through yesterday!

Re: Charlie Horses

I've had three in the past few weeks, they're awful....I tried bananas, calcium and water..didn't help

Re: Charlie Horses

I suffered with these throughout my second trimester. I found that drinking some gatorade before bed and lots of water during the day was the only thing that helped.

I know how bad they hurt and am happy to report that they should get better!

Re: Charlie Horses

I had this...eat a banana a day and drink plenty of water.....so you can be in the bathroom even more.

Re: Charlie Horses

Luckily, I haven't gotten one yet. I do take calcium supplements, I wonder if that has something to do with it.

Re: Charlie Horses

I mentioned to the nurse that I work with that I woke up in the middle of the night a few times with a charlie horse. She suggested increasing my calcium intake. It's worth a try.

Re: Charlie Horses

Happened for the 1st time last night and it hurt like hell!! It started in my calf and went up to my thigh and @ss!! 2 hrs later it happened in my other leg! My left leg is still sooooo sore!!! I hope this isnt a sign of things to come- i won't be able to deal with this every night!!

Re: Charlie Horses

yes!!!!!! only in my calves and when I am laying down and stretch, it hurts like hell

Re: Charlie Horses

This is one of the few things I HAVEN'T gotten during this pregnancy...but as neener said above, the BEST way to control them is to stop them before they get really bad. For me, one of the triggers is when I stretch while laying down and I point my toes. NEVER stretch your legs by pointing your toes!!!

If you do feel one coming on, you have about a 3 second window to stop it...quickly flex your feet as far back as you can, and hold it for at least 30 seconds. Since my friend taught me that trick, I haven't had a full-fledged charlie horse in years.

Re: Charlie Horses

I got them around the same time... ate bananas... it lasted for about a week, and a few weeks later (now at 25 weeks) noticed them sneaking up on me a little again.

Re: Charlie Horses

Yep, I had them alot, especially in the 2nd tri. I made sure I ate more potassium and stretched as often as I could.

Re: Charlie Horses

Thanks girls! It's nice to know so many of you share my misery!!! lol
XOXOXO
BOTB

Re: Charlie Horses

I've gotten them from time to time at night.

Re: Charlie Horses

Yup, they wake me up at night. It's really awful!!