Leg Cramps
 

I am having some issues with leg cramps after some 15-25 mile rides recently. Doesn't bother till after I go to bed, then when nature calls, I get up and bam, the cramps start up. Anyone have a remedy for this? I am certain I drink plenty of water, that's about all I drink. Cramps are a non-issue when I am up and around, just at night. Is there a supplement for this?
TIA
Pat

Lack of salts is one of the possible problems. Isotonic drinks help and I had a mate that used to cramp up badly. I used to use a brand called Isostar as a supplement in my bottles and one ride I had two bottles and my mate lost his bottle on the ride so I passed over one of mine.He did not cramp up on that ride and he started using Isostar on all his rides and no more cramps.

Another cause could be low calcium. I used to get leg cramps while I was sleeping, talk about a wake up call. I started drinking a glass of milk before bed and the problem went away.

High potassium drinks like orange juice and V8 work for me. I like the V8 better because his has less sugar and calories. A glass each morning with breakfast seems to prevent cramps.

Marc

I have also had many cramping issues - mostly in my thighs. I have tried everything I could get my hands on... potassium-rich foods, Gatorade and the like, Sports Legs and loads of water. Three weeks ago, we bought some essential oils from doTerra and I rubbed Peppermint oil on the main muscle culprits. It worked! No cramps that night. WooHoo! It has worked three times now.

+1 chocolate milk does it for me. I had the same problem lying in bed. My calves would cramp up bad.

I've done a lot of research on this because I have cramping issues several hours after extremely demanding rides. Screaming on the floor, muscle fluttering cramps. The research says to try potassium, magnesium, calcium, post-ride stretching, and voodoo, but in point of fact the sports-medical world does not know what brings on or cures cramping. There certainly is more than one cause of cramps and more than one kind. Some folks get them while riding, others, after exercise and the symptoms vary. Do some research and learn about the appropriate amount of supplements that can help. I found none of the above to be entirely effective and that's also not uncommon - that nothing really works. Hopefully you'll find something that works for you. I'd try potassium, magnesium and calcium supplements in appropriate amounts to start with.

Interesting. Maybe that's why I crave spicy V8 after riding without even
looking at the contents (I just saw a triathlete drinking it at work and
figured it's good for you.) I pack raisins on rides and eat the banana before
and after. I drink Gatorade after the V8. I drink chocolate milk throughout
the week. I use a rolling pin on my legs after eating after the ride. I'm going
to start taking a "Tum" or two on rides or taking one before. I'm going to look into electrolytes.

One or more of these seems to help me but I find that I have to care a lot more
about preventing cramps since I started back from an 11 year hiatus. I'm starting
to come to grips with the possibility that age might be a factor here :50:

I used to do the chocolate milk too at night but found out how bad high fructose corn syrup is for you and because chocolate mile contains it, I stopped drinking it. I cant beleave just how much food and drink now comes with that crap in it. My poor daughter started crying when she saw the first ingredient in her favorite BBQ sauce was hfcs. She refers to hfcs as the evil stuff.

Go to CVS and buy some over the counter meds called Leg Cramps.

When I started hitting an average ride of 20 miles, I had constant leg cramps that would almost make me cry from the pain. They always came at night while I was in bed and often woke me up. I started taking potassium supplements every day and have not had a leg cramp since. You can eat a lot of potassium rich foods, but you have to know just how much potassium you are getting from them for them to do you any good. The supplements are inexpensive, compared to the food and many of the drinks, and they build your potassium levels faster because they get absorbed into the body faster than the foods and drinks. With the supplements, you know exactly how much you are getting per day.

Many of the vitamin companies used to sell it as Potassium 99 mg. I have not seen that for several months now and it looks as if they are all selling it as Potassium Gluconate 540 mg. However, if you look at the active ingredients, it will say 99 mg Potassium. Lots of ideas posted here and none of them involve expensive prescription pharmaceuticals. I would try each of the suggestions that you think will work for you and stop at the one that works.

I said I already had Leg Cramps! LOL, I'll check into the over the counter stuff.

I assume that's "Hyland's Leg Cramps".

I'm obviously also going to have to check into potassium supplements (If that's not what this is).

Throw in a few short steep climbs on my longer weekend rides and I've still got crazy legs.

That's not the same at all as Crazy Arms

I went on my own search for a cure a few months ago. I found it first in a pill, 1000mg calcium and 500mg magnesium.

http://www.rainbowlight.com/calciumm...-calcium-.aspx


I later started using a organic dairy whey powder that has these same added minerals.

I also have varicose veins that were getting worse and started itching and burning so I got some compression stockings. I don't have problems with cramps or any leg muscle issues at this point and the legs feel cooler and fresh all day.

Major improvements all the way around.

I have about two weeks in the stockings so far and love them.

I don't believe that the cramps that I had had anything to do with riding a bike. If anything, riding eased the situation.

Why does reading this thread remind me of that scene in "The Godfather" where the women attempted to cure the infant Fredo Corleone of pneumonia using wasps in a mason jar?

The CVS pills, with quinine do it for me also. Alternately, gin and tonic as well as pickle juice are said to work also.

I've read a lot of bad things about quinine, so I'm a little skittish.

I did a 30+ ride yesterday in the heat, and last night both my inner thighs cramped. I've learned to deal with one or the other, but this was unbelievable. My wife was ready to dial 911. The first time this started about 5 years ago, after three days, my leg was black from my groin to my knee. Took three days to get to the surface. I think I did not hydrate enough yesterday...okay, I know I didn't. I only drank 1/2 my bottle of drink on the whole ride, and it was mostly up and down hills, and I was cranking pretty hard.

I was laying in bed, went to get up and wham, both went off. I'm starting to sweat just typing this.

Not sure if I'm going to ride tonight or give it a rest.

I've related this before here. Since I started taking Mg and K over-the-counter pills daily, I haven't cramped even once. There was a hint of my legs wanting to cramp a couple of times, but that was all. (disclaimer: I've never cramped when sleeping, only after extreme, prolonged exertion while cycling.)

I'm ready to try that too !

Bananas, Orange Juice, Grapes, Apples, Nuts, Pasta, some Fatty meats, repeat daily XD Also are you stretching AFTER the ride as you cool down ?? prolly not !

Endurolytes and Tums. You can carry em with you and take them if you need them.

Take a look at SILK Chocolate Soy milk. They use real cane sugar. There's also a lite version. http://silk.com/products/chocolate-s...Fe3m7Aod1D8Aaw

Thanks for the link to the list of hfcs free products, some of them I knew but most I didn't. I have gone threw every list when shopping and sometimes supprised what does contain it. The other day I was dieing for applesauce, I looked at every label and saw hfcs. Going to have to go to the big city to find applesauce with no junk. I will check out the silk and see if the store carries it or not. Been mixing my own lately, gotta have chocolate milk at bedtime. 53 and still a little kid at heart.