My 9-year-old daughter recently had a major change in her career plans, from wanting to be a mermaid to being a Physician. I am still trying to find similarities between the two professions to better understand what led to this “slight” change in the career path for her. Some rightly said that children are like mirrors; they reflect all that they see and hear. Perhaps she sees the difference that our work has made in the lives of many including her teachers who came seeking care. I am certain that the stories of numerous patients have impacted her. For instance, hearing that several of my patients have “charley horses”, it was only natural for her to request one… “Dad, I would like one (charley horse) too!”

Although charley horse is a commonly used term for cramps in the leg, typically in the calf muscles, I was curious to learn about the origin of the term. There is a debate about the origin of the nickname. According to one source, there was a lame horse named Charley whose work was to help move things around a baseball park. The picture of the limping horse was so deeply entrenched in memories of the ballplayers that they started referring to each other as “charley horse” if they pulled a leg muscle or developed any minor impairment in their legs. Since the 1880s, the slang word lingered and is now commonly used to describe a sudden tightening or contracting sensation that lasts a few seconds to several hours and can be painful as well as debilitating.

The dreaded charley horse is reported to affect up to 60 percent of adults who have reported the presence of nocturnal leg cramps in the form of a painful spasm, tightening of calf muscles, and twinges. Numerous causes of charley horses have been described in the medical literature including muscle fatigue, dehydration, mineral deficiency, and poor circulation (venous insufficiency).

During the initial stages, it is a good idea to gently massage the affected areas and use over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen.

There are some easy ways to help prevent charley horses including staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, avoiding excessive sugars and caffeine, and avoiding overexertion.

There are numerous old wives’ tales about home remedies from drinking pickle juice, using quinine, to the use of a bar of soap under the bedsheet to fend off charley horses. There is scarce scientific data to back these claims. One Harvard study described an ion channel called TRPV1 that activates the spinal column and inhibits the firing of nerves to dull the pain of cramps. It is possible that the protons in pickle juice use this mechanism to help alleviate the discomfort. Remember that a mere 2 ounce shot of the juice may contain a few hundred milligrams of sodium, so anyone with heart disease, hypertension, or renal insufficiency should exercise caution. Quinine has potential side effects such as severe bleeding and heart arrhythmias. There does not seem to be any harm from using a bar of nice smelling soap if you have a strong urge to try it under your bedsheet. If nothing else, it will help your bed smell nice!

Having a magnesium, potassium, or calcium deficiency can contribute to leg cramps, however, your medical history must be taken into account before you consider using any over-the-counter supplements. It is always better to discuss with your Primary Care Provider to avoid any adverse interactions.

Although infrequent incidences of muscle spasms may not be anything to worry about, they are signs that the spasms might be more than a run-of-the-mill charley horse. Studies have shown that leg cramps at night are a very common manifestation of venous disease in the legs. Our veins are responsible for collecting de-oxygenated blood from the tissues and returning it to the heart and lungs, where the blood is replenished with oxygen and nutrients. Veins in the legs tend to fail more easily due to risk factors such as genetic predisposition, prolonged sitting or standing, pregnancies, and age. When some veins fail, the blood cannot flow through them effectively and starts pooling in the legs. In face of compromised blood flow, calf muscles are not able to function appropriately and cause cramps (charley horses) and restlessness (Restless Leg Syndrome).

I cannot emphasize enough the seriousness of repetitive muscle cramps. One of our patients, Sandra Dyer, has graciously shared her story. She and her husband came to us looking for answers after three visits to the hospital for severe leg cramps.

Like most chronic conditions, left untreated, the diseased (varicose) veins continue to worsen and may cause other complications such as swelling, skin discoloration, blood clots, poorly healing sores, infection, or bleeding.

Using modern technology, we are now able to easily seal the diseased veins with help of endovenous laser ablation, allowing you to return to normal activities, without any downtime. Treatment of symptomatic venous disease is typically covered by most insurance companies including Medicare and Medicaid.

If “charley horses” are visiting you at night, call 816-396-0245 to get back in the saddle or schedule a Consultation today.

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I’m a cardiovascular tech and I’ve had some leg and feet issues ever since I was about 18 years old. And so, throughout the years, I have tried to find what the issue was; what was causing the problem. That is when I learned about your clinic.

Many treatments that I have tried, we went into lab work to x-ray, we’re never able to find the problem in anything. I had waited several months, kind of let things go to see if my doctor would end up doing any more testing. That was another great reason whenever I came here for my consultation, that we were going to go further here. Once you guys did my ultrasound, that is when Dr. Gupta said that I had some issues and he wanted to try the treatment. I have a lot of relief in my legs now.

Once I was billed with my insurance, I was very surprised that there was little cost to me.

I was a little bit nervous whenever I made the appointment and we were going to continue with the treatment. But the more that Dr. Gupta explained to me with very great detail, I felt more and more comfortable, and I was ready to make the appointment and go further with it. My first impression that I had after Dr. Gupta had said that we were going to try the laser procedure, that I felt a little bit of relief and I had great hope that I would be able to be active again.

Actually, for the treatment – laser procedure – there was no pain, [a] quick recovery, and I also had quick relief of all of the symptoms that I was experiencing. I would say, once the recovery process – about after 3 days – I could tell a difference. I would say, give it about one week, and I felt a major relief. The main thing after the treatment that I can tell that has helped the most is I don’t feel as if I’m an elephant standing on two little feet. All the pressure is gone and the weight has come off of my legs. It feels extremely good!

During the laser treatment, I guess “mosquito bites” is a good example for [the initial numbing pin pricks]. They were small. There weren’t many. Once you had the complete numbing process, there was nothing that you could feel. During my recovery, after we had the treatment here at the office, everyone – the staff – helped me get my leggings on so I could leave, and I went on about my Friday evening to a painting class. There was no downtime.

[Before], it was just a lot of the restless leg. I felt like my legs were numb. I felt like I needed to get up, walk around, get some movement. There’s a lot of difference, anywhere from being in the car rides to just doing your normal activities, or me being at work just standing for long periods of time. [Now], a lot of it is gone.

Between Dr. Gupta and his polite bedside manner, and the staff – they’re great too, I’ve recommended and I’ve told people about your office. It’s a great place. Helped me a lot. I can say, Dr. Gupta will sit and talk to you and explain everything thoroughly to help you feel more relaxed about the treatment that you’d be having.

I have a feeling, if I would not have had the procedure done, that I would still be at home trying to avoid a lot of activities, not getting out there and doing as much as what I could be doing or what I had been doing, so, it’s just been a big relief to me.