Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on February 6, 2012 at 2:20pm

I used to. Now they are gone. First I tried bananas because of their high potassium content, but I got tired of throwing out good bananas gone bad and the inherent fruit flies. Then I tried potassium gluconate; they are available in most grocery stores in the vitamin section. One pill per day. Bingo.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rich S on February 6, 2012 at 2:20pm

I get intense leg cramps if I stretch too hard when waking up in the morning but not after a long ride or work day. It'll almost always be my right calf muscle but sometimes the left. It's extremely painful when it happens and leaves me limping for the rest of the day. One of my friends is a runner and she gets the exact same kind of cramps when stretching too hard in the morning. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on February 7, 2012 at 7:19am

I have a kid so "bananas going bad" is basically impossible no matter how many I buy and how bumblebee they're looking when I buy them. So I guess the banana solution works well if you also have a howling all-engulfing food abyss handy.

Gene Tenner said:

I used to. Now they are gone. First I tried bananas because of their high potassium content, but I got tired of throwing out good bananas gone bad and the inherent fruit flies. Then I tried potassium gluconate; they are available in most grocery stores in the vitamin section. One pill per day. Bingo.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on February 7, 2012 at 8:00am

Are you drinking enough water?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on February 7, 2012 at 8:04am

I think you are on to something, I just kept drinking lots of coffee to keep me alert as I was programming and running the milling machines from 1am to 1pm.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

Are you drinking enough water?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on February 7, 2012 at 8:05am

Oh yea, That'll do it!

Juan said:

I think you are on to something, I just kept drinking lots of coffee to keep me alert as I was programming and running the milling machines from 1am to 1pm.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on February 7, 2012 at 9:06am

Sounds like dehydration- I used to get massive thigh cramping when I first started commuting by bicycle, and I realized I was only drinking coffee and/or soda throughout the day. Once I started drinking water (along with the coffee and soda), the cramps magically subsided. You don't have to give up your caffeine fix, just drink a glass of water with it and hopefully your cramping will disappear. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by igz on February 7, 2012 at 9:18am

other high moisture foods help as well, such as oranges and pickles.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by bk (aka: Dr. Mambohead) on February 7, 2012 at 10:53am

When you feel them coming on?... try lowering your ankle lower that your toes. Sounds odd but works like a charm.

Also? Tonic water (Quinine) helps lower leg cramps like magic! I have also heard it is good with gin.

Water, as suggested, But yeah I too have heard the popular fruit suggestions mainly take aim at potassium depletion, as GT has indicated.

I'm not a doctor but I have made people wait in a room and then again in a smaller room. 

Peace and Sprocket grease! -bk

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on February 7, 2012 at 11:00am

Btw,

Other foods like squash, potatoes, spinach, salmon & tuna are more potassium rich than bananas.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on February 7, 2012 at 11:20am

After all this great advice you will probably be cramp-free from now on. However, if you are laying down and feel your leg start to cramp - you can all laugh at me and call me insidious names, but it does work in about 15-20 seconds - bite on your upper lip with your lower teeth. The cramps dissipate .... one of those accupuncture things, methinks. Then drink some water and go get bananas, squash, potatoes, spinach, salmon and tuna and have a monstrous snack.

• ▶ Reply