Last night I was awakened as I have been several times over the last few months by the most agonizing pain in my left calf. This little shit is stealthy as hell and only strikes when I am SLEEPING...bogus right? I have described this pain to a few people at the box and received mixed ideas on what it is and how to stop it.
To explain it a little more, I think I set off the process when I stretch my legs in my sleep. I am not sure if I somehow flex my calf while stretching, but basically once my calf is in the flexed position it will not un-flex for about a minute. It gets hard as a rock and will not relax for the entire minute which seems long as hell because it hurts so bad. The only thing that seems to remotely help is if I squeeze it with all my might, which is sometimes hard because I am literally awakened from a deep slumber with this pain.
It's a good thing I do not have a boo here, because I get super dramatic...I scream like a girl for my Mommy....roll off my bed onto the floor and roll around some more. Lol, but I'm serious. This must be what child birth feels like. j/k
I have been told to put heat on it....maybe you need more electrolytes (Gatorade, yuck)....eat some bananas...etc. I have literally been sleeping with my legs on a heating pad every night (and burning up!) and the stealthy little f-er still attacks.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this or know what it might be? Any ideas on how to make it better? I would go to the doctor, but I kind of feel stupid because it is not like it will be doing this in the doctor's office so that she can see what I am talking about. Any advice would be very much appreciated.
***Welcome back Thom! We missed you!***
***Also, the photos have shit crap to do with the post....they are just pics that I chortle at:)***
First Yatta, I like that you used the word chortle. It is just a funny word...looks funny, sounds funny.
ReplyDeleteAnyways.... I had something similar happen when I was running a lot last year. It happened twice when I was stretching. The second time it was so bad I actually pulled something and hobbled around for a few days. WHA?!?!?!? It prevented me from running in the Shamrock Shuffle last year. Or maybe I just didn't want to run in the ugly weather. ;)
My guesses are that I was not stretching enough before and after running and that I was dehydrated. I do have a really good way to roll out that area. Involves a tennis ball or lacrosse ball. Rudy showed it to me and warned me that it would be painful. And it is! He was a little too happy that it hurt as much as it did though. :|
So you're saying it is:
ReplyDelete-agonizing pain in your calf when you're in bed
-muscle tightens up hard as a rock
Sounds like a run-of-the-mill calf cramp. I get these while I'm lying in bed...when I'm hung over as fuck. Cramps are cause by potassium or sodium deficiency. I know lots of people who get these for the same reasons I do (drinking somehow takes potassium and sodium out of you).
But if you're not binge drinking during the week, then the only other explanation is a mix of (1) your workouts are burning up a lot of potassium / electrolytes and (2) you're not consuming enough to make up for it. Thus, when you're in bed a few hours later, you cramp up.
Add more potassium (bananas) and salt into your diet. If you're still on the strict paleo thing where you don't eat salt, time to give that shit up.
@Camey...I am glad you like the word chortle too:) I like to say it, but everyone is not receptive to its cuteness:) I would love for you to show me the stretches. The only calf stretch I know is to put my foot against the wall and flex or to get in the runner's stance. Obviously not doing it for me.
ReplyDelete@Drywall...I definitely do not keep up with you in the drinking area. So it has to be the lack of potassium. I eat tons of salt on the millions of sunflower seeds I eat throughout the work day, so that probably is not it. Do you take potassium supplements? There are only so many bananas that a girl can stand in a day:( Also, are electrolytes in any other drinks other than Gatorade as I was told? I am not a Gatorade fan at all. Btw, Paleo living at 100% has been long gone. lol. I have been keeping a food diary the last couple of weeks for Derek. He is going to review it for me. I am so ashamed of the random shit he will see on it:( lol.
Also, do you two know if there is a difference between a muscle spasm and a muscle cramp? I have heard spasm thrown around too.
yatta...clarification...electrolytes are salt. it sounds as if you are getting too much salt. try less salt, more water. it is not humid as all hell right now in chitown and our box is usually cold, at least in the evenings, so i have noticed i sweat a lot less during the winter months. electrolytes are in everything...coconut water has a shit ton of potassium as well, yet i hate the taste. u dont need a potassium supplement. spasms and cramps are the same thing.
ReplyDeletethe diary will be a phenomenal asset to you. track the days you get the cramp and try to correlate with salt/water intake. adjust accordingly.
cheers.
There may be a slight difference, but using the power of Google, it appears that those terms are frequently used interchangeably. Dr. Tom may be able to enlighten us.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I forgot to mention simple dehydration, so it may just be that you're not getting enough water.
Lots of people eat a banana after a workout, I know John G usually does that. Maybe skip on them earlier in the day and just have one then. I'm sure there are potassium supplements, but I'm not a fan of taking extra pills unless you're sure that you really need them. Electrolytes are everywhere, every meal of the day.
If I were you, I would do some calf stretches, eat a banana post workout, and make a point to drink a little more water between the time that you finish the workout and go to bed. See if that solves it. If not, then ask a real expert, not just us clowns.
Thanks for the awesome feedback Thom and Drywall:) You guys are far from clowns. I am going to try your suggestions and hopefully that nips the little f-er in the bud. I do usually eat the banana earlier in the day, so after the workout may make the difference. I am eating sunflower seeds as I talk right now. I am addicted and they keep me awake while doing some of my more boring work. I will try to find a low cal and less salty substitute, but until then I will double my water intake:)
ReplyDeleteWhile I can't validate the authenticity, if you go to the mailbag post on my blog, there's a chance that Rob Wolf just posted to the comments.
ReplyDeleteThere is actually a legit name for this (at least according to Google & the Mayo Clinic):
ReplyDeleteNocturnal Leg Cramps: Night-time Calf Muscle Pain
I did not see heat as a relief but I did see ice and flexing your foot upward. Calf cramps are the worst!
Drywall! That is hilarious. I thought he recommended tequila though?
ReplyDeleteYatta, are you going to be at the box today or tomorrow?
oh man. that single line just made my day.
ReplyDelete@Drywall I think it is for real, unless someone has the skills to link the post directly back to his site. How cool!
ReplyDelete@Camey...I plan on coming tonight. It has been almost a week since I last came:( I went home for a wedding this past weekend and work has been murderous this week! :0(
@Rae...thanks:) It feels good to know that I am not the only one getting stealth late night leg cramps:) lol. I have not tried ice at all, so that is on the list of things to try next.
ReplyDeleteI was getting tired of my gross callouses. So finally gave in and purchased a razor thingie. I held off for so long because the thought of using a razor on my hands really grossed me out.But it actually works. Too bad I am obsessed now and and taking care of my callouses at my desk at work. :|
ReplyDelete@Yatta I've had those cramps, usually in the morning too, especially at the 6am when I go unless I hydrate...Tom is right, more water less salt.
ReplyDeleteBtw did anybody see the paleo/cf lifestyle feature on nightline last night? Nothing new, but interesting to see the media jump on things.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch2NeVmausk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Don't take too much off, Camey. If you shave too close and don't leave any protection, you'll be in pain anytime you try pull ups or ttb/kte for several weeks.
ReplyDelete@Yatta - your posts always get the most comments!!
ReplyDeleteahhhhh. i get these. not as much any more as i used too...definitely drink more water. other than that, no need to writhe in pain, i used to wake up in serious pain and the best way to get it to go away quick is to stand on it!! try it out, its quick and such a relief. its just too bad that you had to get out of bed to do it :(
ReplyDelete