Calf Cramps - Page 2

07-04-2004, 06:21 AM

NYRides wrote:
> Does anybody have a quick fix for these? They happen to me in only
> occasionally, in the middle of the night, but it seems the potential is
> there EVERY night. I think the cause might be long rides followed by going
> to bed in an air conditioned room. I'll deal with avoiding them in due
> time, but, for now, I need to know what to do when it happens. MAN ,it is
> painful, and it can affect me for days afterward.

I've heard or read about many claimed remedies. All of the following
are serious, believe it or not.

Drink more water.

Be sure your electrolytes levels are high enough and balanced. Make
sure you get enough salt and enough potassium.

Take in more calcium. (Milk products, for example.)

Stretch the offending muscle frequently.

.... and on to the strange ones...

Pinch your upper lip _hard_. I've read about this, and had several
people tell me this really works for them. I've heard this only
regarding leg cramps, though, never another muscle.

Swallow a spoonful of mustard. This remedy was touted in a recent
newspaper article.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

07-04-2004, 06:50 AM

So the other posts about hydration, sodium and potassium are all right on
the money. I also had continuing problems (although lessened by the above)
and my massage therapist hit it on the head (and later confirmed by a
training friend who does Ironmans as well as seeing the results myself)...
Magnesium. That's the other key you need.

Try Cal-Mag capsules (Calcium and magnesium) The calcium aids the magnesium
absorption since magnesium is not easily absorbed, and also, sodium and
potassium can be replenished kinda quickly, but magnesium has to be built up
and maintianed, but will drop along with the sodium and potassium. (IOW, if
you ride a lot, take cal-mags daily)

Cal-Mag capsules, lots of leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, will keep those
mag levels up, and that WITH the sodium and potassium should take care of
those nasties.... That combo has worked like a charm for me.... Used to
get woken up in the middle of the night with calf cramps... no more...

Dave

"NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:V_SFc.7914$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].hcvlny.cv.net ...
> Does anybody have a quick fix for these? They happen to me in only
> occasionally, in the middle of the night, but it seems the potential is
> there EVERY night. I think the cause might be long rides followed by
going
> to bed in an air conditioned room. I'll deal with avoiding them in due
> time, but, for now, I need to know what to do when it happens. MAN ,it is
> painful, and it can affect me for days afterward.
>
>

07-04-2004, 06:50 AM

So the other posts about hydration, sodium and potassium are all right on
the money. I also had continuing problems (although lessened by the above)
and my massage therapist hit it on the head (and later confirmed by a
training friend who does Ironmans as well as seeing the results myself)...
Magnesium. That's the other key you need.

Try Cal-Mag capsules (Calcium and magnesium) The calcium aids the magnesium
absorption since magnesium is not easily absorbed, and also, sodium and
potassium can be replenished kinda quickly, but magnesium has to be built up
and maintianed, but will drop along with the sodium and potassium. (IOW, if
you ride a lot, take cal-mags daily)

Cal-Mag capsules, lots of leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, will keep those
mag levels up, and that WITH the sodium and potassium should take care of
those nasties.... That combo has worked like a charm for me.... Used to
get woken up in the middle of the night with calf cramps... no more...

Dave

"NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:V_SFc.7914$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].hcvlny.cv.net ...
> Does anybody have a quick fix for these? They happen to me in only
> occasionally, in the middle of the night, but it seems the potential is
> there EVERY night. I think the cause might be long rides followed by
going
> to bed in an air conditioned room. I'll deal with avoiding them in due
> time, but, for now, I need to know what to do when it happens. MAN ,it is
> painful, and it can affect me for days afterward.
>
>

07-04-2004, 06:50 AM

So the other posts about hydration, sodium and potassium are all right on
the money. I also had continuing problems (although lessened by the above)
and my massage therapist hit it on the head (and later confirmed by a
training friend who does Ironmans as well as seeing the results myself)...
Magnesium. That's the other key you need.

Try Cal-Mag capsules (Calcium and magnesium) The calcium aids the magnesium
absorption since magnesium is not easily absorbed, and also, sodium and
potassium can be replenished kinda quickly, but magnesium has to be built up
and maintianed, but will drop along with the sodium and potassium. (IOW, if
you ride a lot, take cal-mags daily)

Cal-Mag capsules, lots of leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, will keep those
mag levels up, and that WITH the sodium and potassium should take care of
those nasties.... That combo has worked like a charm for me.... Used to
get woken up in the middle of the night with calf cramps... no more...

Dave

"NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:V_SFc.7914$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].hcvlny.cv.net ...
> Does anybody have a quick fix for these? They happen to me in only
> occasionally, in the middle of the night, but it seems the potential is
> there EVERY night. I think the cause might be long rides followed by
going
> to bed in an air conditioned room. I'll deal with avoiding them in due
> time, but, for now, I need to know what to do when it happens. MAN ,it is
> painful, and it can affect me for days afterward.
>
>

07-04-2004, 06:50 AM

So the other posts about hydration, sodium and potassium are all right on
the money. I also had continuing problems (although lessened by the above)
and my massage therapist hit it on the head (and later confirmed by a
training friend who does Ironmans as well as seeing the results myself)...
Magnesium. That's the other key you need.

Try Cal-Mag capsules (Calcium and magnesium) The calcium aids the magnesium
absorption since magnesium is not easily absorbed, and also, sodium and
potassium can be replenished kinda quickly, but magnesium has to be built up
and maintianed, but will drop along with the sodium and potassium. (IOW, if
you ride a lot, take cal-mags daily)

Cal-Mag capsules, lots of leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, will keep those
mag levels up, and that WITH the sodium and potassium should take care of
those nasties.... That combo has worked like a charm for me.... Used to
get woken up in the middle of the night with calf cramps... no more...

Dave

"NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:V_SFc.7914$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].hcvlny.cv.net ...
> Does anybody have a quick fix for these? They happen to me in only
> occasionally, in the middle of the night, but it seems the potential is
> there EVERY night. I think the cause might be long rides followed by
going
> to bed in an air conditioned room. I'll deal with avoiding them in due
> time, but, for now, I need to know what to do when it happens. MAN ,it is
> painful, and it can affect me for days afterward.
>
>

07-04-2004, 06:50 AM

So the other posts about hydration, sodium and potassium are all right on
the money. I also had continuing problems (although lessened by the above)
and my massage therapist hit it on the head (and later confirmed by a
training friend who does Ironmans as well as seeing the results myself)...
Magnesium. That's the other key you need.

Try Cal-Mag capsules (Calcium and magnesium) The calcium aids the magnesium
absorption since magnesium is not easily absorbed, and also, sodium and
potassium can be replenished kinda quickly, but magnesium has to be built up
and maintianed, but will drop along with the sodium and potassium. (IOW, if
you ride a lot, take cal-mags daily)

Cal-Mag capsules, lots of leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, will keep those
mag levels up, and that WITH the sodium and potassium should take care of
those nasties.... That combo has worked like a charm for me.... Used to
get woken up in the middle of the night with calf cramps... no more...

Dave

"NYRides" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:V_SFc.7914$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].hcvlny.cv.net ...
> Does anybody have a quick fix for these? They happen to me in only
> occasionally, in the middle of the night, but it seems the potential is
> there EVERY night. I think the cause might be long rides followed by
going
> to bed in an air conditioned room. I'll deal with avoiding them in due
> time, but, for now, I need to know what to do when it happens. MAN ,it is
> painful, and it can affect me for days afterward.
>
>