Lingering Pain After Charley Horse: Is It Normal?
Do you ever find yourself sitting comfortably, lost in your own bubble? But then you stretch your legs, trying to get more comfortable, only to end up with a sharp pain radiating through your leg. The muscles in your calf start to cramp, toes curling into themselves, leaving you in a state of agony. These are all signs of a Charley horse, a painful feeling everyone has experienced at least once in their life.
Usually, though, you can ease the cramp by standing up and applying weight to the affected leg. This tends to soothe the muscles, calming them down. However, in some cases, people report feeling a lingering pain after getting a Charley horse. This is normal at times, but to ensure everything is in good health, it is better to consult a medical professional for help.
What is a Charley Horse?
A Charley horse is a muscle spasm or cramp that arises in the leg. It can also sometimes affect your feet, causing a chain reaction of extreme and uncontrollable pain. It often targets the calves and quadriceps, making it difficult to even sit or stand straight.
People often experience a charley horse after participating in physically exhausting activities such as sports, swimming, and heavy exercise. Although it is important to keep in mind that dehydration can also trigger a Charley horse since your muscles need hydration to function properly.
Is Lingering Pain After Charley Horse Normal?
Typically after a Charley horse subsides, the pain tends to linger. It can last anywhere from a few seconds to minutes and, at times, hours. However, the soreness slowly fades away on its own, leaving your leg as good as new. In case the lingering pain remains and doesn’t go away, even after a few days, head over to a rheumatologist or a medical professional to get your leg evaluated.
During a muscle cramp, the muscles contract only for a little while before being soothed into position, which is why feeling discomfort after time has passed is not exactly normal. Moreover, you should also pay attention to how often you’re getting a Charley horse. For instance, if the cramps are recurring and take a long time to go away, it could be an indication of something serious.
How To Get Rid of Lingering Charley Horse Pain
There are many ways to ease a Charley horse, but the best way to get rid of the pain is by putting your weight on the leg. Try gentle stretching exercises and walking around the room. This will allow the contractions to subside. If that doesn’t work, you can carefully massage the area, too, letting the blood circulate through.
At times, if the cramp is triggered by inflammation, an ice pack can work wonders as well. But if the pain is too intense, you can also take over-the-counter pain relievers to soothe the discomfort.
Closing Words
Lingering pain after a Charley horse is pretty normal as long as it goes away after some time. Although if the soreness remains and starts affecting your motor functions, contact Rheumatology Care at 832-532-9779 for more information. You can also drop by and visit us at 13688 Breton Ridge St, STE H, Houston, TX 77070, near Houston Kidney Specialists Center.