Cramp..!!!

[Nige156]

Over the last few months iv started getting pretty severe cramps halfway through jobs. Mainly my forearms and shoulderblades, making climbing and finishing the job painful. Tried stretching before/during the job, pain relief and a small fortune on deep heat, but I'm still getting hands like Jeremy beedle after a few hours Does anyone else experience this and if so has anyone found a way of stopping or lessening the effects??

[Robert_S]

I think I read somewhere you need to drink more water as thats what causes cramp.

[Alinicoll]

I agree, drink water, lots of it. It`s too easy to not notice you are getting dehydrated when climbing. In some ways when it`s hot at least you notice you are thirsty. You can still get dehydrated when its cold too. If you go for a pee and it looks like beer at the end of the day then you need to drink more

[Pete Hart]

Prevention is better than cure I.e drink lots of water! But for when the cramp sets in try 'crampex' tablets (Not to be confused with women's sanitary products!!)

 

They are amazing and seem to do the trick for when I get bad cramp.

 

 

Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

[matthawh1966]

Iv alWays had cramp in my forearms and hands, only on the big trees when your in the tree all day and lots of climbing involved. I just stretch and work through it, not very Nice though.

[Old Mill Tree Care]

keep well hydrated and visit an Osteopath. If the later doesn't work, try another Osteo as they are all different.

[GardenKit]

Also caused by magnesium deficiency. Supplements easily available.

[TGB]

Muscular cramp can be caused by a loss of hydration and or salts. Make sure you drink enough, not merely at lunchtime but throughout the day. A sip or gulp here and there will do. There is the saying, that if you feel thirsty, you've gone over the point at which you ought to have taken so liquid. A little and often will do you good, especially when you consider, that a 10% drop in water equals a 40% loss in the body's ability to process nutrients and supply energy.

 

As to loss of salts, (and or a drop in magnesium & potassium) levels - make ensure you have some salt in your diet. You may not like the taste of very salty food but, you could get away with eating some processed foods, as they normally have plenty of added salt. I personally carry two water bottles in the car and one in the rucksack. But one of the car bottles contains 9:1 mix of light soy sauce, (plenty if salt in a tiny sip).

 

Potassium is found in many foods but tomatoes, especially fresh ones of rich in potassium. Magnesium is found in spinach, nuts, peas and unrefined whole grain foods amongst other foods.

 

A vitamin B complex is also good to have. I drink tonic water, though without the gin, as the quinine helps to relax muscles, (though some information sources say quinine should only be used to help counteract cramp, when all else has failed).

 

In short, if you don't want to drastically alter your diet. You could take:

 

•A daily multivitamin supplement & keep hydrated throughout the day

•Take a combined potassium & magnesium supplement & keep hydrated throughout the day

•Ensure you have enough dietary salts & keep hydrated throughout the day

•Take a vitamin B complex & keep hydrated throughout the day

•Take to the bottle of tonic

•And keep pre & post stretching the muscles

 

Note. If you already have high blood pressure. Don't overdo the fresh tomatoes, as a high potassium level, will make your blood pressure sky rocket.

[Arran Turner]

Drink more (camelbak)

stretch when you wake up/ go to bed. Before and after work

Deep tissue massage/ sports massage. once a month

 

well that works for me.

[StephF]

Muscular cramp can be caused by a loss of hydration and or salts. Make sure you drink enough, not merely at lunchtime but throughout the day. A sip or gulp here and there will do. There is the saying, that if you feel thirsty, you've gone over the point at which you ought to have taken so liquid. A little and often will do you good, especially when you consider, that a 10% drop in water equals a 40% loss in the body's ability to process nutrients and supply energy.

 

As to loss of salts, (and or a drop in magnesium & potassium) levels - make ensure you have some salt in your diet. You may not like the taste of very salty food but, you could get away with eating some processed foods, as they normally have plenty of added salt. I personally carry two water bottles in the car and one in the rucksack. But one of the car bottles contains 9:1 mix of light soy sauce, (plenty if salt in a tiny sip).

 

Potassium is found in many foods but tomatoes, especially fresh ones of rich in potassium. Magnesium is found in spinach, nuts, peas and unrefined whole grain foods amongst other foods.

 

A vitamin B complex is also good to have. I drink tonic water, though without the gin, as the quinine helps to relax muscles, (though some information sources say quinine should only be used to help counteract cramp, when all else has failed).

 

In short, if you don't want to drastically alter your diet. You could take:

 

•A daily multivitamin supplement & keep hydrated throughout the day

•Take a combined potassium & magnesium supplement & keep hydrated throughout the day

•Ensure you have enough dietary salts & keep hydrated throughout the day

•Take a vitamin B complex & keep hydrated throughout the day

•Take to the bottle of tonic

•And keep pre & post stretching the muscles

 

Note. If you already have high blood pressure. Don't overdo the fresh tomatoes, as a high potassium level, will make your blood pressure sky rocket.

 

You are a mine of information! Lots of helpful advice, started reading this thread as I too have started getting really excruciating cramps and not been able to work out why, will give these a try..thanks!