Charley Horse

Muscle spasms often occur when a muscle is overused or injured. Working out when you haven't had enough fluids (you're dehydrated) or when you have low levels of minerals such as potassium or calcium can also make you more likely to have muscle spasms.
Some spasms occur because the nerve that connects to a muscle is irritated. The classic example is a herniated disk irritating spinal nerves as they exit the back, causing pain and spasm.

When Sheri was about four years old, she decided to come to our room in the middle of the night. I usually sleep with my right leg up. Bent at the knee. That night, when I felt her on the end of the bed, I pulled back the covers and said, "Come on in" She stood to walk on the bed and slipped. Her little neck hit my knee. She cried a little but I held her in my arms until we both fell asleep.
The next morning when she woke up, she screamed in pain. She could not move her neck. We tried all sorts of things, Baby aspirin, Rest and finally I called the Doctor. I took her in immediately. He said she had a simple "Charley horse" in her neck. I saw nothing simple about it. It was painful. Horrible for a four year old.
As a doctor he had to question why this happened.
Where were you? Huh? it was like two in the morning I was in bed asleep.
How did it happen? she slipped and hit my knee with her neck.
Sheri was my active one. She was always bruised. ALWAYS.
Her kindergarten teacher even caller her Klutzy Sher, Not a good name but I was not the only one to recognize this in her.
So the doctor sent her back home with me assured I did not abuse her and assured me in a few days she would be fine, just rest the neck.
Did we ever rest the neck!!! We held it so she could rise to go potty, we held it so she could eat or drink, We piled all the big fluffy pillows we could behind her so she could at least set up.
I then enrolled Sheri in Ballet and tap dance classes to improve her grace.
Did it work, well the general walking through the house and falling improved but the Tom Boy ways did not leave her.
On another trip to the doctor, she was again bruised. He asked "Sheri How did you get those bruises on your legs?" Her answer, (after removing her finger from her mouth) "I jumped off a cut up tree." (meaning woodpile).
He looked at me I laughed and said, "Sheri is an outdoor person and she is referring to a woodpile."
I say Like Mama Like Daughter. I have lots of scars to prove my tom boy days.
Now on to the Charley Horse.


I don't know what I did or if I had to do something. My neck is so sore today. I had a hard time sleeping last night. I switched pillows numerous times, My neck hurt at night but I figured it was the pillow.
Nope, today I woke with a "Charley Horse."
All I can say is 'IT HURTS" It is sore to the touch. I do have disc out and pray to God that is not why it hurts. I have been told a simple sneeze can cause them to shift. I have not done any thing major, anything at all. I spent yesterday in the beauty shop and came home and worked crossword puzzles.
( I do that a lot)
I made a semi decent dinner and again got sick at my stomach. I made hamburgers. I swear it is the beef that makes me so sick.
So I sit here with a heat pack on my neck in 90 plus temp outside.
I just hope it goes away, I cant turn my head to the side, I have to turn my entire body.
Darn it.
(one positive, turning my entire body is good exercise)