Cramping

Tomhusker
Tomhusker Posts: 346 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
I've been cramping a lot lately and don't know why. I drink 12-16 cups of water daily and eat bananas a couple of times a day. In the past my muscle cramps were usually the result of not enough water and /or low potassium intake.

I am getting cramps in my side, in my rib cage, in my calf muscles and my shoulders.

I'm just now getting back into the "change of lifestyle" state of mind and have not started the exercise part yet, so I'm pretty sure it's not from over working the muscles.

Any ideas to help ease this stuff is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Replies

  • punchgut
    punchgut Posts: 210 Member
    Add some magnesium in, and that's a lot of water. Try magnesium citrate. If you can afford it, magnesium aspartate. Avoid magnesium oxide due to its poor bioavalability.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Reduce water to 8 cups a day. Add a good quality magnesium.
    Eat a potato or banana for some potassium.
  • kayeiam
    kayeiam Posts: 215 Member
    Have you checked your potassium lately? Make it one of your values on MFP food diary. If it is not low (should be 4700mg a day, MFP says 3500 a day) If it isn't the potassium, see your Dr and he will run some blood work
  • JustInTime13
    JustInTime13 Posts: 32
    I had a bowl obstruction becareful it's not that.
  • EmilyJackCO
    EmilyJackCO Posts: 621 Member
    I'm not trying to be too snarky, but this is the 3rd thread I've read this morning already where people *CLEARLY* aren't reading the OP. Really guys?! It's not that hard to take the original post into thought when responding to a question. It's really frustrating.

    It's NOT a bowEl obstruction if it's cramping in the legs and shoulders.

    And to the OP: I'm so sorry about this - it really sucks, I live with the same thing. Your water intake is good, I would keep it up at that level if you are comfortable at it. A couple of bananas is quite a bit of potassium and shouldn't hurt you, but if it's not helping with the cramps, I wouldn't push too far beyond that. I try to keep my potassium levels up with Gatorade and potatoes, but it doesn't help my severe cramps. I also take magnesium citrate. The potassium does help to offset sodium, so it's still a good thing.

    I get cramps everywhere, but especially in my feet and ankles. I also take magnesium - and I wish I could say that any of this helps. The only thing that *might* help me from time to time is stretching consistently. And of course, I haven't been, and it's affecting me. I work out a lot and I really push it, but it's not related. This has been a problem my entire life and no doctor has been able to solve it. I did have one pain doctor think that it might be related to my mom's seizure disorder & dad's epilepsy, along with my migraines. I don't buy that either, but anything's possible.

    So, my best tips for relief, as mine can last well over an hour:

    Soak in very warm water with epsom salts (or a compress if unable to soak, like your shoulders).
    Tiger balm to the affected area (I've tried Icy Hot & BioFreeze, but nothing is as good as good ole Tiger Balm).
    Stretching out the cramp or walking it out. Believe me, this can be painful and look really funny, but this, plus the Tiger Balm is the most effective for my foot cramps at 2am.
    Just gutting up and working through it - especially helpful when driving and there's nothing you can do.

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