curing leg cramp

[wannabehippie]

yesterday as i was putting on my boots to go shovel the snow, i got a terrible pain in my calf. it felt like someone either stabbed me with a knife or shot me. i was in agony for about 10 minutes, unable to stretch it out or put weight on it. finally the pain subsided and i was able to go shovel.

but today the calf is very sore, especially when i am walking on it.
anyone know what caused this and have a possible cure.


peace
david

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

I had similar incidents and this winter here has been relentless. I find out its not always a muscle thats cramping, but sometimes more prolonged painful ones like that could be ligaments that are being strained and pulled in such a way that they can hurt. I did the same thing the other day, laced up my hiker boots and the back of my calf and my back thighs constricted in such a way that it made me fall to the floor and try to maneuver a way to keep it from hurting me more. Could be anything really....the body is a fickle thing!

[breeze]

If this continues, have your potassium level checked...
first sign of low potassium is leg cramps!

[wannabehippie]

actually thats what i did too. the when the pain hit, i tried to keep on my feet, but decided to fall down. the only slight relief i got was when i put the bottom of my foot against the stairs, but not press on it hard.

since you say it could be a ligament, could it also be a tendon (ie the achilles?)

peace
david

[breeze]

(BTW, that was from nurse worry-wart!)

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

Miss Breeze is the resident nurse here...lol I just know that sometimes I cramp up and get some weird muscle twitches sometimes....pretty weird feeling those too! They always tell you to stretch out before a 'workout' but I cant begin to tell you that sometimes thats not the best policy. Sure muscles are cold and need to be warmed with movement, but sometimes you can just be walking along and you get attacked! lol I'm sitting here now with a quad muscle near my kneecap thats been twitching on and off now for a few hours...lol Driving me crazy!

[isobar]

Sounds like a bad muscle spasm. Putting on boots is an awkward position for the leg and foot to be in and then the pressure of shoving it into the boot. It's not unlike us women and heels.

Maybe stretches beforehand, lotsa fluids, and I forgot what vitamin helps with muscle cramps. Oh well, just take 'em all!

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

lmao someone's gonna OD on Vitamin K now along with the rest! lol

[wannabehippie]

well as the bearer of a bad knee, but as one who still works out fairly regularly i try to stretch out beforehand. but a cramp in my left leg from putting on a boot?

and as far as the pottassium goes, my parents mentioned that too (they are aware of it cause my dad is on diueretics for high blood pressure and gets leg cramps sometimes, indicating he has to eat a banana but this felt worse than just a cramp. i have had cramps while playing softball or flag football, but this was like someone shot me in the back of my calf


peace
david

[breeze]

LoL....worrying...

B viitamins...they really help!

[Amanzi]

Being a dancer, I know only too well what leg cramps can do to you. If you can feel it coming on sit with your legs stretched out in front of you and lean forward (very gently!!!!!) Also eating a banana can prevent leg cramp. Lack of salt can cause muscle cramps as well. If you have damaged a ligament or pulled the muscle itself remember RICE (rest, Ice, circulation, Elevation) Gentle massage in circular motion can ease and release the cramp increasing blood flow and improving circulation to the area.

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

wow Amanzi..impressive! I get a cramp when I'm making love to....... ah nevermind...lol thats a whole other ballpark! heehee

[pojo]

LOL Rob...

I guess I'm not the only one that gets calf cramps. I'm a swimmer and I get them after I'm done swimming (yes I do stretch before hand). I get the same "I can't stretch my leg feeling due to the immense pain" sensation in my calf during the spasms. Thankfully, I haven't had any in the pool or when I'm teaching swimming lessons. But I know how to stretch and massage the muscle to relax the pain away. One thing that I do is slowly stretch my foot, that usually works to relieve the pain. (It hurts for a minute, but it slowly goes away)

[StormCrazyIowan]

You know, I have never had that happen when I was doing anything, I get spasms and cramps in my legs/feet when I sleep(I toss and turn though)! I'll wake up and about scream it hurts so bad and I just try to stay still until it goes away, hasn't happened lately though thankfully!

[pojo]

You know, I have never had that happen when I was doing anything, I get spasms and cramps in my legs/feet when I sleep(I toss and turn though)! I'll wake up and about scream it hurts so bad and I just try to stay still until it goes away, hasn't happened lately though thankfully!

That sucks too!!! Been there done that! 4am wakeup one morning due to a calf cramp

[JQ Public]

Actually i had a major leg cramp y-day! I dunno what happened i was sitting on the floor "indian style" ironicaly enough and everything in my right leg from the knee down cramped like crazy. I don't know what happend but its never done that before. I'm too young to have this be happening already! Hope your leg is better!

[breeze]

LoL, JQ, I USED to be able to sit Indian style...arthritis won't
let me, now...I'd get stuck and look like a screaming pretzel!

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

I have never gotten a cramp unless it was after like running or something...but then your muscles tend to snap back into place once you're done...thats why ya have to stretch and cool down after a workout as well.

[wannabehippie]

my calf area still hurts when i walk, but now it is more of the type of pain you get from a hard workout or slight pull.

nothing like the pain i was in last week.


peace
david

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

I got a nasty cramp in my quadriceps once climbing up 45 stories in a building in Philly once.......I about took a brodie down 2 flights when that one hit! lol