How to Heal a Charley Horse

A muscle spasm in your leg, commonly called a Charley horse, occurs when the muscle is strained due to exercise or injury. The painful feeling usually lasts for five to 10 minutes. While a mild case of Charley horse can be addressed with a few simple steps, constant or long-lasting pain requires professional medical attention to relieve muscle irritation.

Things You'll Need

• Heating pad
• Cold compress
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)
• Salt tablets

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Instructions

• 1

  Stop any activity that strains the affected muscle. Sit in a comfortable position that allows the muscle to stretch, and massage the area around the muscle in a circular motion. The gentle motion of the massage reduces the intensity of the spasm which decreases the muscle pain.

• 2

  Cover the sore muscle with a heating pad set on low, or apply a warm compress to the area. Once the pain diminishes, apply a cold compress to the muscle to alleviate pain. An Ice pack wrapped in a T-shirt or a damp washcloth can also reduce the pain.

• 3

  Take one to two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) every 12 hours to minimize the pain from a Charley horse. NSAIDs are pain-relieving medications that reduce inflammation in the muscle and reduce the likelihood of the Charley horse reoccurring.

• 4

  Drink water with one salt tablet mixed in. Dehydration can cause muscle spasms because your body needs water to prevent cramps. Salt tablets replenish electrolytes lost during physical activity by supplying iodine and other minerals to your body.