Cramps

[Gr8bawana]

My wife gets leg cramps at night and drinks dill pickle juice. Knocks it right out.

My son who runs and rides his bike A LOT swears by dill pickle juice.

 

[BackofBeyond]

Add another one for pickle juice and bananas. They were a main stay for me back in my running days.

Now while backpacking I pack along some salt tablets, plenty of jerky (all about the salt) and Nuun tablets for my water. I remember reading somewhere (no idea where) that dehydrating bananas degrades the potassium... which is what I'd be looking for. If I'm going in for a week or so, I will eat as many bananas as I can, which is hard for me because I hate bananas, trying to get as much potassium in me as I can. I have no idea if it actually helps, or is just a placebo effect - either way, it seems to help.

 

[JLS]

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[MO Betta]

Almonds, cranberries, instant potatoes, carrots all have somewhat decent potassium levels and will last a little better than bananas on a backpacking trip. Unfortunately the oxalates in some foods like almonds and cranberries give me kidney stones. Keeps me from enjoying my favorite beverage (sweet tea) as well.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Another vote for dill pickle juice. I get them in bed after a day's work and not enough water. The trip to the refrigerator is agony but the juice knocks them out. Tonic water also works for me.

 

[SO7mm]

During back hunts I use Nuun and Wilderness Athlete, Hydrate and Recover. I've found I need to keep loaded up on those to keep from cramping. I've started taking a magnesium supplement at home this year. I'll see how it does.

 

[3855WIN]

I’ve always gotten bad cramps. Son was the same way, at least during his football days. He got full body cramps a couple of times.

We had a running back who rushed for 2,000 yards one season. He insisted that the concession stand keep the giant pickle jar full of juice when they sold all the pickles. That was his postgame drink.

 

[TwistedSage]

I get some bad leg cramps, and always have a few single serve electrolyte packs with me. I actually like the propel packs pretty well.

Propel packs and a bundle of bananas. Good to go.

 

[one ate E grain]

I cut out the statins. Used to get cramps all the time, now rarely and nowhere near as severe. Besides that my cholesterol is now in a great place the doc tells me. Someone told me about it online so I asked doc, got permission.

 

[diamond hitch]

I get severe hamstring and the muscle on the inside of the thighs. I've tried them all without much success. They usually come back three times. Then I am good for a while. Thera Works relief cuts the severity and the duration but they still show up after a hard day. My father had the same cramps.

In a couple of times where I pushed myself well beyond the normal limits, I have had body cramps by muscle groups for 5-7 hours once I laid down.

I work at being hydrated - water and gatoraid. I'm on a potassium citrate prescription for chronic kidney stones(11 so far). Have contemplated giving my left kidney to someone I hated since all of the stones come from there.

I just keep pushing it and accept that there will be pain. I stuck my truck today and walked out 7 miles. There will be pain.

 

[Jc2020]

My son who runs and rides his bike A LOT swears by dill pickle juice.

I get cramps also and started drinking pickle juice it worked wonders for me now I drink a little bit twice a day when I’m going to be putting a lot of miles on and no longer get them

 

[NEW PA MT MN]

I have gotten leg cramps after working too hard my whole life and I have tried the soap in the bed,pinch your lip,apple cider vinegar and a bunch of others I can't remember. They don't work for me.
Wish they did.
I have been using Hylands leg cramps pills for years now and they work fast.
I tried the pickle juice and it works if it's a mild cramp. So I do start with that.
I really hate taking the Hylands cause they have quinine in it.
The good thing is I'm retired and lazy so I hardly ever get the anymore.

 

[dgc1963]

I always have a protien powder with me when hunting and my vitamins the powder is in small single serv bags so im getting a good dose of vits and minerals helps with lots of issues and helps recover from a day of hiking just add it to my water bottle not my bladder and drink through the morning. It doesnt add much weight and I think it helps me with energy also

 

[marshman]

I've gotten em in the legs for sure after grueling days. But since I have gotten older and really keep better track of my hydration the cramps do not come often anymore. After reading all these posts I guess i should consider myself lucky!
Man there's a lotta pain going on here.

 

[88man]

Gotta have pickles as part of camp meals> Homemade are best.
If you are prone to cramping I would do epsom salt feet/ankle soaks before the hunt starts and during if possible. The mg will absorb thru your skin.

 

[jryoung]

If you are prone to cramping I would do epsom salt feet/ankle soaks before the hunt starts and during if possible. The mg will absorb thru your skin.

Transdermal absorption doesn't happen with magnesium, oral or intravenous supplementation is recommended if you need it.

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In the following review, we evaluated the current literature and evidence-based data on transdermal magnesium application and show that the propagation of transdermal magnesium is scientifically unsupported. The importance of magnesium and the positive effects of magnesium supplementation are...

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[redhub1]

I ran into this issue last year for the first time. Leg cramps are caused by a loss of salt through sweating from intense physical exertion. Cramps are also one of the symptoms of heat stroke. I talked with a pharmacist about it and he recommended electrolytes to replenish the salt loss while sweating. Also he recommended "Thermotabs" which are small tablets that replace electrolytes. I have supplemented my water and sports drinks with the Thermotabs on hot days and when I have hiked a lot during the day. So far, I have eliminated cramps since starting this regimen.

 

[Gary]

The Hyland Leg Cramp pills have worked for me for a long time. They knock out most leg cramps very quickly. Staying hydrated is the best "cure", but its easier to say than to do.

 

[Goatshoes]

Thanks guys lots of good ideas. Many have been tried some not. I will keep doing what I'm doing (Water and electrolytes) and add some of the other things to the menu. Only problem I see for me is the beef base. The salt aggravates the BP.

Thanks guys.

Pickle juice and mustard banana split coming up.

 

[Goatshoes]

Not to be a wise guy, but my cramps laugh at water and electrolytes and apparently they communicate with my prostate. The end result is both legs cramping up severely in the middle of the night when I have to pee so bad, but I can't bend my legs enough to get out of my sleeping bag and forget about bending the legs enough to get into a standing position to pee or walk it off.