evans@mhuxt.UUCP (crandall) (09/07/85)
I'd like to see more discussion on the physiology of muscle cramping
too, but you've got to remember that there are multiple causes of these
monsters. Some are from nutrition problems, others from illnesses or
irritations of muscles and/or nerves. There are other possible soft and
hard tissue origins. I wouldn't worry about your cramps if they are only
occassional and not severe. About seven years ago I managed to pick up a
nasty in Surinam which has taught me that a person can live with alot of
bad cramping and still live a real life. If you've got serious cramping and
you've seen good orthopedists and neurologists who have done what they can
insist on getting physical therapy; traction,braces, special exercises,
electrical exhaustion of the muscles, etc. may help. A reliable teacher of selfhypnosis can teach you to relax tight muscles. Most of all, if you're doing
something which causes you to cramp -- DON'T DO IT. ( p.s. asprin will reduce
swelling and help ).
Sukie Crandalljcp@osiris.UUCP (Jody Patilla) (09/10/85)
> > I'd like to see more discussion on the physiology of muscle cramping > too, but you've got to remember that there are multiple causes of these > monsters. Note that some muscle cramps can be caused by heat stroke and dehydration/salts deficiency. they can be dealt with quickly by taking RAPID measures to rehydrate, lower the body temperature and (temporarily) increase salt intake. (Don't do this by taking salt tablets unless you really LIKE getting sick - eat salty foods and drink LOTS of fresh water) -- jcpatilla "At night, the ice weasels come."
ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (09/10/85)
> > > > I'd like to see more discussion on the physiology of muscle cramping > > too, but you've got to remember that there are multiple causes of these > > monsters. > > Note that some muscle cramps can be caused by heat stroke and > dehydration/salts deficiency. they can be dealt with quickly by taking > RAPID measures to rehydrate, lower the body temperature and (temporarily) > increase salt intake. (Don't do this by taking salt tablets unless you > really LIKE getting sick - eat salty foods and drink LOTS of fresh water) > > -- Careful, rapid cooling of the body core temperature (even though required in some cases of hyperthermia) causes a whole new set of signs: shakes, seizures, and shits (as we say in the paramedical community). -Ron
slb@drutx.UUCP (Sue Brezden) (02/24/86)
> Does anyone know what causes muscle cramps? I frequently get > muscle cramps in my feet (my toes get all kinked up and won't > spread apart), even when I'm just lying around relaxing or watching TV. > Does this happen to anyone else? > Does it have anything to do with a vitamin deficiency? You might try taking some calcium. I had leg cramps during my first pregnancy. Later I learned that calcium deficiency can cause this. When I started getting them during my second pregnancy, I took calcium and they went away. I find now that I can get cramps when stretching or doing yoga if I haven't taken my calcium for a few weeks to a month. I'm a >35 year old woman who isn't much into milk--so I usually have to suppliment. I use it as a way to judge whether I'm eating enough yogurt and also need to take my pills. -- Sue Brezden ihnp4!drutx!slb ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nirvana? That's a place where the powers that be and their friends hang out. --Zonker Harris ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
grass@uiucdcsb.CS.UIUC.EDU (03/03/86)
<>
Re: cramps and calcium...
I used to get terrible cramps in my calves in the middle of the night. I
attributed it to the stress put on them by horseback riding. I asked
my doctor about this, she said try a calcium supplement. Since I started
taking a supplement (Two TUMS every night...) I don't get them any more.
And its been a couple of years now.
- Judy Grass, University of Illinois - Urbana
{ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}!uiucdcs!grass grass%uiuc.arpa