Discussion
Lack of salt.
Exercising and not stretching afterwards.
Crampex tablets stop cramps coming on.
Stretching the muscles and a hot pack can help get the muscles loosened off.
Cold packs can help after exercise - however there are concerns over the ice baths that have been employed to combat cramp in athletes competing in events on over several days.
Exercising and not stretching afterwards.
Crampex tablets stop cramps coming on.
Stretching the muscles and a hot pack can help get the muscles loosened off.
Cold packs can help after exercise - however there are concerns over the ice baths that have been employed to combat cramp in athletes competing in events on over several days.
I get these quite often in my calf - either leg.
Apparently, it can help at nights if you either sleep with your feet on a pillow or put something at the bottom of the bed, to stop you stretching your toes forward when you're asleep.
Sometimes, I'm lucky and catch it coming on, so just get out of bed and walk round a bit. Other times, they can be really bad and hurt for a day or two afterwards.
You have to slowly stretch and work the muscle to get it to relax again but it does hurt like hell at the time.
Daft isn't it, you're advised to minimise your salt intake, yet take salt to help reduce the risk of cramp.
Apparently, it can help at nights if you either sleep with your feet on a pillow or put something at the bottom of the bed, to stop you stretching your toes forward when you're asleep.
Sometimes, I'm lucky and catch it coming on, so just get out of bed and walk round a bit. Other times, they can be really bad and hurt for a day or two afterwards.
You have to slowly stretch and work the muscle to get it to relax again but it does hurt like hell at the time.
Daft isn't it, you're advised to minimise your salt intake, yet take salt to help reduce the risk of cramp.
shep said:
Can you still walk? might be worth checking out. Bloke at work had cramp that wouldn't go away, could hardly move. He'd detached his achilles tendon from his calf!!
Yea I can still walk, I was limping earlier but I think I'm back to putting full weight on it again. Thanks everyone for the comments and to whoever posted this link - http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068794/.R2D2 said:
whoever posted this link - http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068794/
Edited by Tyre_Tread on Tuesday 30th June 17:32
Sometimes, tahnkfully not that often, I get woken up with a leg cramp like this. First rule I have found is not to let the leg fold up at the knee joint as it wants to do, but keep it straight and stretched.
Also stretch the foot upwards from the ankle and stretch the toes up towards the knee cap, basically stretching all of the muscles as much as you can.
The sooner you can do this the less the cramp gets hold in my experience, and sooner you go back to sleep.
Also stretch the foot upwards from the ankle and stretch the toes up towards the knee cap, basically stretching all of the muscles as much as you can.
The sooner you can do this the less the cramp gets hold in my experience, and sooner you go back to sleep.
I have had problems with my left calf like this on and off for the best part of a year now. I think it is related to my prolapsed disc problem which resulted in problems with my left calf muscle.
I understand how you feel, it is a horrible pain and does seem to get you at night. I have been wondering about what to do if it comes on again and have taken note of some of the replies on here.
My last spasm was in May, it woke me up at 3am! I leapt out of bed in absolute agony and tried to get the muscle stretched as soon as possible. It was so painful it brought a tear to my eye! Needless to say it spoils your sleep and goes on well into the next day.
Makes driving difficult!
I understand how you feel, it is a horrible pain and does seem to get you at night. I have been wondering about what to do if it comes on again and have taken note of some of the replies on here.
My last spasm was in May, it woke me up at 3am! I leapt out of bed in absolute agony and tried to get the muscle stretched as soon as possible. It was so painful it brought a tear to my eye! Needless to say it spoils your sleep and goes on well into the next day.
Makes driving difficult!
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