Muscle cramps

[Zen]

tonic water is horrible.
Take the pills.

[jesvetmed]

My gyenocologist and I had a very similar conversation this week. She says that recent studies are showing that Vitamin D3 is becoming quite the talk for a lot of neuro-muscular troubles, and especially as an important possible treatment for fibromyalgia.

When I told her about my calves cramping all the time she suggested trying more Vitamin D3. The normal recommendation currently is 1000 units daily, but she suggested going as high as 2000. Toxic at 10,000 so don't overdo it!

Everyone else here made very good points, and if you are working out a lot the sodium will be very important to replace.

I have the same symptoms you do, and have tried all that you have.

tonic water is horrible.

ZEN: You are doing it wrong... add the gin and limes!

Good luck and let us know if you figure something out.
Jes

[ima_bleeder]

I don't typically have muscle cramping issues, but when I started increasing my mileage/saddle time, especially in the heat, I suddenly did. I've gotten into the habit now of dropping a Nuun tablet into my water when I ride. It doesn't have any extra sugar, and gives me the little bit of extra electrolyte boost (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium) that I need when I'm riding. I find that normally the rest of the time I can just eat a normal healthy diet, and I'm fine. Once in a while I can feel that I'm craving, and I "pre-load" myself before the ride.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My gyenocologist and I had a very similar conversation this week. She says that recent studies are showing that Vitamin D3 is becoming quite the talk for a lot of neuro-muscular troubles, and especially as an important possible treatment for fibromyalgia.

When I told her about my calves cramping all the time she suggested trying more Vitamin D3. The normal recommendation currently is 1000 units daily, but she suggested going as high as 2000. Toxic at 10,000 so don't overdo it!

She's suggesting vitamin D because D helps you absorb calcium more efficiently. That's precisely why they add vitamin D to milk. The calcium may help your muscle cramps. So it can't hurt to take extra calcium supplements WITH your vitamin D.

[FreeBird]

Wow! I'm overwhelmed with the response. I have some questions and then definitly some things I will be trying.

First off, I've only been riding 3 months and I ride a mountain bike. It's completely wrong for me given I ride the road and I log in about 70 miles a week. That may not sound like much but I have no stabilization on my knees and hip pain also. I will be looking in the near future for a road or hybrid bike and asking opinions, but I'm getting off track, sorry. (See, you can tell I'm a newby!!)

As far as my worst disablility (muscle cramps) I'm curous what a Nunn tablet is. (From Stephanie, formerly Ima Bleeder, who I can relate since I am 'Crash'!) Also when you said you occasionally 'pre load', before a ride. Is that carbs, and what kind?

It looks like i need to increase my sodium, more milk and vitamin D and Calcium. I do wonder if I should do this all at once, or one at a time?

[Eden]

As far as my worst disablility (muscle cramps) I'm curous what a Nunn tablet is. (From Stephanie, formerly Ima Bleeder, who I can relate since I am 'Crash'!) Also when you said you occasionally 'pre load', before a ride. Is that carbs, and what kind?

Nuun ( www.nuun.com ) is a tablet that you drop into your water. It dissolves and puts a little flavor and some electrolytes in there. It's got sodium, potassium, vitamin C, riboflavin, calcuim and magnesium. The cola flavor has some caffeine.

It does not have huge amounts of any of these, so you don't have to worry about overdosing yourself. It also does not have any sugar or carbs, so you're not getting a lot of calories along with your electrolytes.

Personally I like it more off the bike than on. While I certainly use it on the bike, I've never been a cramper. I do however get headaches if I drink a lot of plain water, so I like to add Nuun to some of what I drink to avoid that.

[Zen]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...i=&safe=images

[Kano]

Nuun ( www.nuun.com ) is a tablet that you drop into your water. It dissolves and puts a little flavor and some electrolytes in there. It's got sodium, potassium, vitamin C, riboflavin, calcuim and magnesium. The cola flavor has some caffeine.

Eden --- I picked some of this up lately after getting the headaches you mentioned when I was drinking lots of plain water on hot afternoon rides. First time I used it, I offered DH a taste. Got a kick out of his reaction: that stuff tastes like armpit sweat!

Funny -- I thought it was pretty good! A bit salty maybe, but yummy!

Karen in Boise

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

First time I used it, I offered DH a taste. Got a kick out of his reaction: that stuff tastes like armpit sweat!

You should ask him how he knows what armpit sweat tastes like.

[NbyNW]

I used to get charlie horses pretty frequently. In addition to paying attention to electrolytes, salt, bananas, all the stuff above -- I also got into the habit of stretching my calves before bed.

Also, if your sleep position allows, try not to leave your feet in a pointed position as you fall asleep. For example, if you sleep on your stomach, you could scoot down and hang your feet off the foot of the bed. I think the idea is to not leave the muscles in a contracted position if there is a likelihood of cramps.

Sometimes the charlie horse just comes on all of a sudden with no warning, but after I tried the stretching and trying not to point my feet, I started to feel a few twitches before the full-on cramp. Sometimes the twitches wake me up before the muscle totally cramps up, and then I can quickly try to stretch the muscle/rub it before the cramp gets too bad.

[Zen]

This

She's suggesting vitamin D because D helps you absorb calcium more efficiently. That's precisely why they add vitamin D to milk. The calcium may help your muscle cramps. So it can't hurt to take extra calcium supplements WITH your vitamin D.

and this

If you are craving salt (the salsa and tortilla chips you mention), your body might be trying to tell you something.
... The longer I work in healthcare, the more convinced I am that our bodies usually send us out clues about the cause or solution we should be investigating.

are indisputable pieces of advice.

Drink lots.

Calcium, sodium, and potassium are the three electrolytes responsible for firing a muscle neuron. Remember this from anatomy class ?

[Kano]

He's a BOY, Lisa (granted, a sorta old boy) -- probably don't want to know how he'd know what armpit sweat tastes like!

Aside from being warm by the time I got around to it today, I didn't notice any "armpit flavor" in the bottleful I had with me on this afternoon's ride!

But I'm not very keen on warm water of any kind...

Karen in Boise

[Eden]

He's a BOY, Lisa (granted, a sorta old boy) -- probably don't want to know how he'd know what armpit sweat tastes like!

Aside from being warm by the time I got around to it today, I didn't notice any "armpit flavor" in the bottleful I had with me on this afternoon's ride!

But I'm not very keen on warm water of any kind...

Karen in Boise

Which flavor do you have? Cola is my favorite(I am a bit of a freak.... last year when it was getting near 100 here I was making NUUN -soycream floats), followed closely, I think, by Berry. I burned out on lemon lime flavored stuff a long time ago, due to it being the most prevalent sports drink flavor out there... so I don't buy that one. The new Ginger-citrus is awfully good though - and nice on the tummy if you are feeling queasy.

[ima_bleeder]

Which flavor do you have? Cola is my favorite(I am a bit of a freak.... last year when it was getting near 100 here I was making NUUN -soycream floats), followed closely, I think, by Berry. I burned out on lemon lime flavored stuff a long time ago, due to it being the most prevalent sports drink flavor out there... so I don't buy that one. The new Ginger-citrus is awfully good though - and nice on the tummy if you are feeling queasy.

I drink mine a little diluted when I'm riding, and I thought the Cola and Berry flavors were kind of nasty diluted, so I stick with the Lemon Lime now. Boring, I know, but it doesn't bug me. I'll have to try the Ginger Citrus though. That could be pretty good.

Another option is Elete, which probably does tastes like armpit sweat. It's "flavorless", so all you taste is the salt. In small doses, hardly noticeable. But don't drink it straight.

[Kano]

Which flavor do you have? Cola is my favorite(I am a bit of a freak.... last year when it was getting near 100 here I was making NUUN -soycream floats), followed closely, I think, by Berry. I burned out on lemon lime flavored stuff a long time ago, due to it being the most prevalent sports drink flavor out there... so I don't buy that one. The new Ginger-citrus is awfully good though - and nice on the tummy if you are feeling queasy.

I picked up some of the ginger citrus and the berry to try first. I've only tried the ginger citrus one so far, and it's a nice flavor - cold, anyway. Warm, to me, nothing tastes real good!

Nuun floats, eh? interesting idea!

Karen in Boise