Pregnancy Forum - charley horse in my shin

Pregnancy Forum > Pregnancy Forum > charley horse in my shin

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Q: charley horse in my shin

asked by: kaerbear on June 1st, 2007

Most Diplomatic Poster

I woke up this morning in excruciating pain. I had a charley horse in my shin that woke me out of a deep sleep and wouldn't go away. I've never had this happen before where it didn't just go away right away. My leg was spazzing out and it hurt so bad. My boyfriend was freaked out, I think he thought i was in labour. If labour pain is anything like this god help us all. Shocked

Has anyone else had this happen? Is there anything I can do to keep it from happening again? I think maybe it's from not getting enough water. ouch.

Replies(11)

Kia

replied on June 1st, 2007

Moderator

sounds like baby was laying either on your vena cava or your sciatic nerve.

try sleeping on your left side as this drastically reduces the pressure on your vena cava and also helps with sciatica as well.

Magical Logic

replied on June 1st, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

eat a banana. its probably from a lack of potassium.

musikmaker

replied on June 1st, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

I got the charley horses so bad a few weeks ago and my mom said to add more calcium to my diet. Well, it worked because since then I don't get them anymore. Everytime I got one my poor husband thought that someone was killing me! Also, point your foot upwards, if you point it downwards that just makes it a whole lot worse.

Kia

replied on June 1st, 2007

Moderator

chase4 wrote:

eat a banana. its probably from a lack of potassium.

A very valid suggestion and a very good solution.

pregnant or not a lot of women do run low on potassium from time to time and banana's are an excellent source.

onmyway_0x

replied on June 1st, 2007

Supporter

Maybe this sounds silly compared to the other replies.. but to me it sounds like a muscle spasm in your leg.. Confused

I get them really bad some nights...
All I do Is sit up (as hard as it may be) and put my foot flat on the floor , and I mean push it so it's flat, I don't know it helps me out!
I feel silly, but that's what I do so if It happens again just try giving that a shot!

ladylee70

replied on June 1st, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

I get those at least three times a week at night. It is so very painful!!!!
I haven't heard about the potassium thing and haven't been eating a lot of potassium. I will have to try that. It does seem to happen to me when I am lying on my back. I don't remember it ever happening while sleeping on my left side.

Kia

replied on June 1st, 2007

Moderator

onmyway_0x wrote:

but to me it sounds like a muscle spasm in your leg..

It is muscle spasms, also called cramps but these are commonly caused by pressure on the vena cava or the sciatic nerve, also low potassium or selenuim (I believe).
I do not know if it is safe in pregnancy but a common treatment if you suffer cramps when not pregnant is quinnine tablets.
quinnine can be found in indian tonic water and so this can also help relieve cramps. (although I personally don't like the taste).

[quote=Wikipedia"]Quinine and pregnancy
In very large doses, quinine also acts as an abortifacient; in the United States quinine is classed as a Category X teratogen by the Food and Drug Administration, meaning that it can cause birth defects (especially deafness) if taken by a woman during pregnancy. In the UK, the recommendation is that pregnancy is not a contra-indication to quinine therapy[/quote]

So I'd say ask your own doctor's advice first in the states, but in the UK you're OK to have a little drinkies of Indian Tonic Water - just don't go drinking it by the gallon!

mc4ever02

replied on June 1st, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Also, a bannana here and there will be fine. But call your doctor before you actually try to use supplements. I'm not sure how much is in your prenatals and I'm not sure what happens if you take to much.

onmyway_0x

replied on June 1st, 2007

Supporter

Kia wrote:

onmyway_0x wrote:

but to me it sounds like a muscle spasm in your leg..

So I'd say ask your own doctor's advice first in the states, but in the UK you're OK to have a little drinkies of Indian Tonic Water - just don't go drinking it by the gallon![/quote]

Oh I'm sorry...I'm such a dork. Will banana's also really help.. sorry for barging in on the post ... but my spasms are really bad some night's as well!

nickyandalan

replied on June 1st, 2007

Experienced User

I had my first one on tuesday! I was actually doin some kind of excerises to stop them and after i had such a painful one in my left leg it hurt sooooooooooooo bad! Evil or Very Mad

And my leg is still tender!

kaerbear

replied on June 1st, 2007

Most Diplomatic Poster

I did some reading up on it and it said electrolyte imbalance and dehydration can cause it. I had a banana and yogurt for breakfast for potassium and calcium and drank a bunch of water. I don't know where one would get magnesium from but I take prenatals so I guess I'll be okay. Thanks for all the advice. This is one of those pregnancy symptoms I wasn't expecting.

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