Charley Horse: Unraveling Symptoms, Causes

Charlie horse is the name given to unpleasant involuntary leg twitches/twitches, or muscle spasms, that occur in some people, especially at night.

The origin of the term is unclear, but one theory is that it comes from an informal American sports story about a lame horse. Another theory is that the name may also have come from the name of a baseball pitcher named "Charlie" who once suffered from severe seizures and had to give up the sport as a result. Suggests.

Symptoms:
Charlie Horse patients usually experience severe painful cramps in their legs, especially at night. Usually it wakes them up from sleep and is a very unpleasant sensation. A slight twitching is visibly observed under the skin of the calf. It can affect one side, but more often it affects both sides. Seizures usually go away on their own, but in some cases they last for a long time and can jeopardize your sleep.

Cause:
The pathophysiology is unclear, but it has been hypothesized that central motor neuron/nerve hyperexcitability or spontaneous discharges or currents in peripheral motor nerves may be the cause. Therefore, the origin may be at the center or at the periphery. Athletes who overwork their muscles while playing or training, take amphetamine drugs, consume too much tea or coffee (caffeine), or take diuretics, cholesterol-lowering drugs, or statins may experience cramps. You may experience it.

Additionally, it is common in patients with diabetes, uremia or kidney disease, liver disease, and thyroid disease. Heat stroke and prolonged exposure to sunlight can also cause severe muscle spasms.

Treatment options:
Symptoms can be quickly relieved naturally or with gentle stretching. For more serious problems, painkillers or muscle relaxants may be needed. For chronic, recurrent conditions, vitamin E and levocarnitine preparations can help provide long-term symptom relief. If the usual measures do not solve the problem, you may need to consult an orthopedic surgeon or doctor.