Escaping Mr. Charley Horse

Friday, March 29, 2019

I’m occasionally plagued with nighttime Charley horses, or involuntary cramps that suddenly seize leg muscles and make either moving or not moving the leg painful. The intense pain that lasts long nearly is impossible to control. I’ve heard of instant solutions for leg seizures, like putting into one’s mouth a some mustard, salt, pickle juice, or black molasses. I’ve saved restaurant packets of mustard in a nightstand drawer, but upon a Charley horse hit, the pain prevents my shifting around to reach that mustard. No telling how folks keep handy such as salt and pickle juice.

My best solution has been to suffer while trying to move my legs enough to get out of bed. Once standing on the pained leg, my weight seems to relax muscles enough to walk, and moving helps most. Charley horses aren’t frequent enough for me to dwell on ways to prevent them; and between seizures I forget they occur. But also, I’ve begun experiencing occasional hand cramps, where one or two fingers seize, stiffen, and feel slightly painful. It helps to wave vigorously and massage frozen fingers with my working hand.

Recently, while at my part-time job in Costco, I overheard customers discussing the benefits of consuming small quantities of unfiltered vinegar and claiming it eliminates their joint pains. I wondered if routinely swallowing some of the vinegar might prevent my leg and hand cramps.

As one of the customers suggested, I poured two ounces into a shot glass and tried to down the vinegar quickly. It’s a vile-tasting liquid that burned in my throat and irritated beyond. For a couple of nights, I tolerated this procedure. Meanwhile, I cringed with every glance at that waiting bottle in my kitchen. I wasn’t cramping, so was it working? Is that evening drink worthwhile?

Yesterday, while contemplating another go with the vinegar, I wondered if mixing it with a different liquid could make the drinking easier. But what to disguise it? And then, I remembered weeks ago stashing in the garage a couple of bottles that I brought home. I believe in the product, which was on sale, it’s supposed to help inflammation, increase strength, and reduce muscle soreness. But it has a very bitter taste.

Could combining two awfuls create a less-awful? That question was paramount as I poured a shotglass of vinegar into a cup of cherry juice. Closing my eyes, I quickly glugged, and yes!, the combo tasted less awful.

Whether I continue downing this combination will depend on non-recurrences of cramping, and particularly Charley horses. I’m not recommending to anybody this experiment with a possible home remedy; but if it prevents future cramps, I’ll share the news.

Dear Friends, Thanks for journeying with me to wherever. Diana