Foo - Calf cramps that seriously hurt!

Even the next day :( .. Damn! Any suggestions as to how to get rid of it apart from more stretching?

Massage. Those roller or stick massagers work really well but a rolling pin works in a pinch. :)

put a hat on, and then use the rolling pin method.

I've had some brutal ones. The worst is when you're lying in bed after exercising (of one type or another) and you're just about to fall asleep when .... BAM you're hit with a wicked Charlie Horse.

No I don't have any ideas on how to avoid them or get rid of them ... aside from stretching.

Eat a banana a day? Potassium deficiency issues can cause cramps like that.

I get these a little when I am focusing too much on ankling or wear f%#$ed up shoes (softened soles, cleat position off, etc.).

Maybe try to stretch out before the next hard ride and relax the joint while pedaling?

put a hat on, and then use the rolling pin method.


Massage. Those roller or stick massagers work really well but a rolling pin works in a pinch. :)

Yeah I did the Foam roller yesterday. .Hurt like mofo everytime I passed over that spot.


I've had some brutal ones. The worst is when you're lying in bed after exercising (of one type or another) and you're just about to fall asleep when .... BAM you're hit with a wicked Charlie Horse.

No I don't have any ideas on how to avoid them or get rid of them ... aside from stretching.

I have never had them this bad. I think I might resort to some amount of salt in my drinking water the next time I am doing some hard exercise.

Eat a banana a day? Potassium deficiency issues can cause cramps like that.
I hate bananas! But maybe hit the multivitamin and moar gatorade

I get these a little when I am focusing too much on ankling or wear f%#$ed up shoes (softened soles, cleat position off, etc.).

Maybe try to stretch out before the next hard ride and relax the joint while pedaling?
Yeah I tweaked a bit with my aero position before the race. could be that.

pinch of salt and some honey in your water should help.

Yep - I get it when I either drop my heel too much at 4-5:00 or try to pull up too hard or too abruptly at 7-8:00. I think having the cleat too far forward exacerbates that (for me, at least). The general rule of thumb , of course, is never mess with equipment or position before a race or major event...but even the top dudes (and dudettes) do that, so who can say?

I get these a little when I am focusing too much on ankling or wear f%#$ed up shoes (softened soles, cleat position off, etc.).

Maybe try to stretch out before the next hard ride and relax the joint while pedaling?

+1. Wearing ill fitting shoes or standing too long in shoes with no support like some western boots will do that. Pgoat is correct is saying that relaxing with a joint can help. :)
Ernest

Yep - I get it when I either drop my heel too much at 4-5:00 or try to pull up too hard or too abruptly at 7-8:00. I think having the cleat too far forward exacerbates that (for me, at least). The general rule of thumb , of course, is never mess with equipment or position before a race or major event...but even the top dudes (and dudettes) do that, so who can say?

Yeah my problem with the clip on aero-bars is that I cant pedal out of the saddle, while climbing or accelerating, like I usually do because the hand-rests hit against my knee. I have to keep my ass back and pull up a lot with my my hamstring and calves which was when I first felt the onset of cramps.

That may be a big part of what caused it.

I had one of those in my bad leg when I woke up the other day. Ouch!

Massage. Those roller or stick massagers work really well but a rolling pin works in a pinch. :)

Pressure on the way up - not down. Going down bursts capillaries.

Sounds like you need electrolytes.

Eat a banana a day? Potassium deficiency issues can cause cramps like that.

+1. :thumb:

nanners ftw.

Lots of slow stretching worked for swimming soreness. Thoes calves get banged up when you kick off of the wall 500+ times in a practice. Hold for 3 X 30 Sec. Each calf seperatly. Each rep should stretch further.

Doctor x sez: Quit being a pansy, pansy.

Oh, and inject this directly into your eye twice an hour.

i typically eat 2 bananas every morning...

STFU where S eguals soften.

Even the next day :( .. Damn! Any suggestions as to how to get rid of it apart from more stretching?

Fix your nutrition and hydration issues.

If your nutrition/hydration(and bike fit) are where they should be, I've found that Gabapentin helps prevent the cramps and pain, that my back injury creates.

It works for me, but it sounds like you're having fit issues.

Yeah my problem with the clip on aero-bars is that I cant pedal out of the saddle, while climbing or accelerating, like I usually do because the hand-rests hit against my knee. I have to keep my ass back and pull up a lot with my my hamstring and calves which was when I first felt the onset of cramps.
That'd be it.

Fix your aerobars.

I can't eat nanners, so I have to get by. Try eating broccoli and strawberries (probably not at the same time). Also, coconut water can help out a lot.

And, in the billion names of God, go get a real massage from someone who knows deep tissue. It'll help your calf out more than you realize.

Fix your nutrition and hydration issues.


Eat a banana a day? Potassium deficiency issues can cause cramps like that.

+1 and +1 again

I've had bad problems with this in past, and it's almost always resolved by potassium supplements. Get your salt balance right, and you can avoid a lot of this.

all right then. Massage it is I think. Banana is a no go but ill work on potassium and salts content. I have drunk more than 3 gallons of Gatorade since Sunday! It's still there today and was stiff in the monring. but the pain has dulled as the day has progressed.

all right then. Massage it is I think. Banana is a no go and I have drunk more 3 gallons of Gatorade since Sunday. It's still there today and still hurts but it has dulled as the day has progressed.

Call the Toyko Rose massage parlor, ask for Mei Lei. Tell her I sent you, you will be happy in the end.

Call the Toyko Rose massage parlor, ask for Mei Lei. Tell her I sent you, you will be happy in the end.

:roflmao:

:roflmao:

Why are you laughing? It was you that first told me about the place as I recall:innocent:

Or was it MV? I know it had to be one of you two.

Why are you laughing? It was you that first told me about the place as I recall:innocent:

Or was it MV? I know it had to be one of you two.

You promised not to tell!!!!!!


oops:innocent:

Tiger Balm Red or White Flower & massage, w/ all the sodium/potassium hints folks gave.

For those not into nanners, orange juice has as much potassium as a banana.

Although I drink Gatorade myself, it doesn't have as much potassium as athletes who sweat a lot (I'm one) really need.

For those not into nanners, orange juice has as much potassium as a banana.

Although I drink Gatorade myself, it doesn't have as much potassium as athletes who sweat a lot (I'm one) really need.
Ah good to know.


Tiger Balm Red or White Flower & massage, w/ all the sodium/potassium hints folks gave.
Ah Tiger Balm.. No Tiger bomb I think I have axe oil at home.

Just watch the relatively high Glycemic Index rating of OJ - I crash If i drink too much straight OJ (i cut it with water or seltzer). I know an Orange is lower GI than orange juice, but not sure if the potassium rating is affected?

have to figure something out for when bananas become extinct.

When bananas become extinct, dinosaurs will repopulate the earth. T Rex poo is great for treating cramps.

If the gatorade isn't doing it, just more water water water (and stretching; not just your calves so much, though, but rather the quads and hamstrings that pull on them).

When bananas become extinct, dinosaurs will repopulate the earth. T Rex poo is great for treating cramps.

K, Just so's we'll still have options...

If the gatorade isn't doing it, just more water water water (and stretching; not just your calves so much, though, but rather the quads and hamstrings that pull on them).

That's always worth a try. I also got some calcium/magnesium supplements from a chiropractor - he said it's good to take before/after hard events to blow out lactid acid - anyone follow that regimen?

I got a massage this eve. I think its only gonna get worse before it gets better.

I am actually wondering if its a pulled muscle at this point.

potassium deficiency
dehydration
magnesium deficiency

any and all of these can result in major cramps.

I got a massage this eve. I think its only gonna get worse before it gets better.

I am actually wondering if its a pulled muscle at this point.

maybe - or a sprain.

bottom line - if it hurts, try to rest it.

and ice it

I am actually wondering if its a pulled muscle at this point.The only solution is to surgically remove the muscle.

And keep injecting this into your eye, Hopalong.

Really bad cramps that won't go away are usually Magnesium deficiency. Take a magnesium supplement until it gets better. And yes, if you've let it cramp for a couple of days without resolving it you ARE likely to cause further muscle injury.

Take some magnesium and DON'T let it go on.

Anthony

and watch out the next time you race - don't snap too hard with the accelerations (might re-injure?)

this was my first massage ever and Talk about reaching into the pain cave, that massage hurt like a mofo. I didn't know my body harbored this many stressed and painful muscles. The leg feels more mobile. Let's see how tomorrow feels. I am going to add some mg suplement in addition to my multi-vit which only has 20% dv.

And pgoat, I got no more races till next season and I am laying off running till next week and will limit out of saddle and hard efforts

cool - It's just real easy to re-injure it if you go out hard as soon as it feels better. You'll prolly be fine if you ease back in once the pain goes away.

Massages - I get 'em when ever I can afford it (none this year, alas!:(). They can actually hurt like a mofo. Some people have really beat me up...

the BEST massage I ever got was from this little tiny woman, maybe 5'1", looked very young too. (Minds out of the gutter, boys:notamused:). I took one look at her and figured she'd never have the weight/strength to work the knots out of me. She basically did shiatsu (I didn't request that - I just told her what hurt/riding specific soreness in legs and lower back, etc) and while it didn't feel particularly relaxing while she did it, it didn't hurt either. Because of that, I kinda felt like I'd wasted my dough, but when I got off the table I was full of energy....and that feeling lasted for several weeks.

Swedish massage for me feels good during and immediately after (if they don't do to much deep tissue pain sadism therapy) but the next day the buzz is all gone. Shiatsu done by a good therapist can work wonders...basically pressure points being manipulated.

The next time we went to that spa I requested her again - and she was gone - the owner told me she'd married a doctor and given up doing massage....shame!

Skinny, congrats on your first massage! They only get better, I promise!

Shiatsu, as pgoat mentioned, is a great option. Acupuncture may help, as well.

Soak in a hot bath with epsom salts and baking soda and do some VERY light stretches on your calf. Rinse off with a quick shower as cold you can stand.

If it's still achy in a few days, gently wrap it in an ACE bandage for a few hours to a day to take the pressure off the muscle. Sometimes that'll fix it right up.

Potassium, calcium, magnesium. Supplements or a steady routine of calcium fortified orange juice and lots of nuts. You may still need to supplement on the magnesium.

Oh, and some analgesic muscle rub. Gotta love that great aspercream smell!