Originally Posted by
SethAZ
I know there are many different causes of leg cramps, and those causes will have different treatments.
That's what I've found. I'm not even sure all of my cramps have the same cause. Since I started getting them about 5 years ago, I've been quite methodical in keeping notes on what works & what doesn't.
Hasn't worked for me:
- mustard
- pickle juice
Works for a short period (10-20 min):
- Hotshot (commercial concoction guaranteed to make a difference)
Has made a difference:
- magnesium supplementation
- electrolyte supplementation ('Electrolyte Stamina' tabs on Amazon)
- Pedialyte electrolyte powder
- hydration (this has been critical for me & probably deserves it's own section)
- keeping ahead of both hydration & electrolyte deficiencies (using more than I think I need & before I actually need it). Trying to recover after going in a hole is rough & sometimes impossible
- conditioning/training
- hot shower with freezing cold water finish (freezing water on cramp-prone muscles)
- alcohol reduction/elimination after intense workouts
Originally Posted by
SethAZ
Throughout my life I've had occasional episodes of massive cramps where I'd wake up in the middle of the night in total agony with massive charlie horses and had to jump out of bed and try to stretch out of it and make it stop.
Yup - these are horrible. I actually got to where I was scared to go to sleep. I found that by hydrating** after a ride, I've been able to halt 98% of these episodes.
** by 'hydrating', I mentally think of over-hydrating. After long, intense rides, I've got to make myself keep pounding fluids - much more than my rational mind thinks I need. I also must allow time for my body to absorb these fluids. If I exercise too late & go to bed without several hours of absorption time, I'm toast. The freezing shower water finish has also appeared to help.