Charlie Horse feeling in the stomach

I don't know if anyone is still checking this old thread, but this thread is the best I've found where there's lots of people suffering with this same problem.

I wanted to share what has worked for me, hopefully it will help.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE STOMACH CHARLIE HORSES REGULARLY

(please bear in mind this is just what I've found is helping me, I'm not a doctor, just sharing my experience)

1. Quit drinking coffee -- I noticed I started having far more regular attacks when I started drinking coffee. Since I quit coffee entirely, I still get attacks when I sit for too long, but I believe coffee and caffeine generally are massive contributors because among other things, it causes dehydration which causes muscle contraction.
   
   
2. Stop sitting -- notice how basically all of us get these attacks when we are sitting, or bending and straining (e.g. while picking something up or remaining in a squatting position for too long). Immediately after an attack, STOP SITTING. Get a standing desk. I'll go two weeks and not sit in a chair because I've found simply sitting, not even doing anything, can trigger off an attack. I think you can gradually re-introduce sitting for short periods, but I am always aware that when I'm sitting is when the attack will happen, and once it happens when I'm sitting, it is more likely to then happen at other times, like when I'm standing.
   
   
3. Straighten your torso -- when an attack happens, stand up and straighten out your torso (I'm sure many people have already figured this out). Arching your back and looking up at ceiling may help too. When I had my worst ever attack and the cramp just kept seizing up repeatedly for about 10 minutes, I found it was good to lay flat on the floor on my stomach and sort of press my weight gently down into the floor on the area of the abdomen where the cramp was happening, breathe. It will ease off. After a super bad attack, do not do anything that involves bending, certainly do not sit.
   
   
4. When it happens - LAY ON YOUR STOMACH. This is the only thing that works for me when I get the cramp. Lay on a flat surface with your belly pressed into it. The cramp eases off for me when I do this.
5. CBD Oil -- I'm still experimenting with this so I'm not certain it helps, but there are quite a few articles about how CBD oil helps with the calf muscle Charlie Horses, and CBD oil is a relaxant so it could help us.
   
   
6. Do you have hip or lower back pain? -- I have hip pain, and it's related to sitting. I found this great YouTube video which talks about the cause of these abdominal muscular spasms being related to problems with the muscles controlling the Hip and lower back. The guy has exercises you can do, he explains everything really well, I think the video is excellent and I'll be trying the exercises going ahead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-LCyk7xwRM&frags=pl%2Cwn
   >>>Think about seeing a physio if you have hip pain, as it may very well be what is causing the abdominal muscle cramping, due to the network of nerves in your spine that control the abdominal muscles.

I hope this can be of help to anyone suffering from this problem - it sucks so bad, the pain is some of the worst I've felt in my life. Don't lose hope guys.

UPDATE: May 2019 - I posted what I've found out here on reddit. I advise you guys search on reddit as there are lots more people over there dealing with adhesions and Charlie Horse in abdomen.

What doctor told me: If you have had any kind of abdominal surgery in the past, even if it was years ago, these Charlie Horse attacks could well be caused by adhesions. UPDATE ON THIS: Was told by a surgeon I saw that this is not adhesions, but a musculoskeletal issue that is helped only by massage and yoga, apparently.

RE: CBD oil - I found this did nothing for these Charlie Horses unfortunately. I've quit sitting altogether and have a standing desk. I don't bend and pick heavy stuff up. I can't cough/laugh/vomit or it will trigger it. I'm just trying to adapt myself to not triggering it off, and if I can go a month without it happening, then I am glad. It's been seriously effecting my quality of life though :(

Over 14 years ago I was a smoker and had terrible coughing spells, which lead to these charlie-horse like symptoms in my right side. And even though I quit smoking 14 years ago and I had do not have the coughing spells any longer I still get these in my right side if I twist or bend down. I am having my gallbladder out in a week and my doctor thought it could be spasms from that but I don't know after reading all these stories....I hope somone finds an answer to this...Good luck everyone