Cramps

[Humptulips]

Oh my gosh, I guess I found out how out of shape I've become. A fella that I worked for once upon a time called me up and asked me if I would come out and show his crew how to rig a tailtree and look over a show he was having trouble with and give him some advice.
Ended up rigging three tail trees and it was down right hot. When it came time to climb that hill at quiting time the cramps started. Man I was in misery before I got home. Tried all my usual remedies, hot shower, quinine, beer. As a last resort I tried something a guy told me about that stopped them. Sauerkraut juice, maybe just a coincidence as the other remedies might have just kicked in but it finally put the cramps to rest. Worth trying if you ever get cramps real bad.

 

[forestryworks]

Cramps are no fun. Take it easy in that heat, especially if it's humid.

 

[NCPABill]

If you think this will be reoccurring, try taking a potassium supplement every day during the hot months - does wonders for some

 

[dingeryote]

Sauerkraut juice eh?
I gotta remember that.

Here it was pickles from Freestones handed out when bailing hay.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[Jacob J.]

Sausage and sauerkraut is the traditional dinner the night after a long, hot day in the fields or on a fire here. I doubt it's coincidence.

 

[2dogs]

Bananas seem to help somewhat. The best thing I have found is taking vitamins as soon as the cramps start. I try to take vitamins every day at lunch.

Ice tea or cola drinks cause me to cramp whenever I'm working. I love ice tea.

 

[2dogs]

Sausage and sauerkraut is the traditional dinner the night after a long, hot day in the fields or on a fire here. I doubt it's coincidence.

Man I would hate to be sleeping near me after a long day followed by sausage and saurkraut.

 

[Jacob J.]

Man I would hate to be sleeping near me after a long day followed by sausage and saurkraut.

Fortunately we all have our own places so we're not "in the line of fire" of each other...

I love ice tea as well, it's death on staying hydrated for work though.

 

[hammerlogging]

I bet working rigging it can be harder to keep up with your water than falling- I keep 1/2 gal jugs clipped to my gas can which floats around with me all day.

yeah it can really suck. For me its always the inside the thigh cramp while driving home. Debilitating.

Coffee doesn't help either, but I still bring a little thermos with me for lunch time no matter what the season. Not to mention the drive to work and back home

I drank 3/4 gallon water before I started yesterday, 2 full gal. during the day (1 plain, 1/2 with propel mix, 1/2 with strawberry lemonade mix, mixed at 1/4 strength per package rec.) , and 1 gal. during my drive home. It was a yucky day but I didn't cramp.

I too have heard that it is the potassium- pickles, bananas. Glad to know about the sourkraut. I carry a few salt packs in my pack for if I feel a cramp coming on during the work day.

 

[floyd]

Green peppers have lot of K in them as well. Sometimes salt is needed. For a week or so this summer I was not eating green peppers & getting killer cramps when I stopped.

 

[slowp]

I haven't had much of a problem. I did when I was hiking back up the Grand Canyon. Some guy was trying to sell an electrolite product that came in little packages. I didn't buy any. My hiking friends did. I mooched it off them
(they offered it) and the leg cramps went away. I have some in the cupboard and carry the little packets during hot spells. I'll mix it up in my water if things get bad.

That reminds me, I need to get the Camelback out and going. Thanks for the reminder!

But rigging 3 trees after not doing that for a while? Hmmmmm...I need a finger wagging, not the bad finger, here to insert. Doesn't sound like you are out of shape by much.

 

[GASoline71]

Sausage and sauerkraut is the traditional dinner the night after a long, hot day in the fields or on a fire here. I doubt it's coincidence.

Whether we were comin' home from the bush or the farm during the summer; My Mom or my Grandmother would always have a bowl of 'kraut on the table for dinner.



Gary

 

[M.R.]

Pickles / Kraut is sounding like the vinegar is doing it, which I'll take a swallow of with a quick water chaser cause of its acid ph.

Years back when elk hunting would get charlie horses after going to bed...Quinine tablets helped but took awhile to take hold & work & the vinegar is almost instant. So now days will usually have the vinegar & a couple of bottles of tonic water handy for the days that have lots of push to them.

 

[Grace Tree]

if you think this will be reoccurring, try taking a potassium supplement every day during the hot months - does wonders for some

+1

 

[discounthunter]

fda recommends against quinine for leg cramps. but ive found tonic water(contains trace quinine) and vodka make mine feel better after work.

 

[flushcut]

Potassium pills, Electrolytes, Water, Gatorade, all work as a preventive but it's the vinegar in the kraut and pickles that neutralizes the lactic acid in your muscles that causes the cramps. So stay hydrated in a nutshell and drink some vinegar

 

[Ramblewood]

Oh my gosh, I guess I found out how out of shape I've become. A fella that I worked for once upon a time called me up and asked me if I would come out and show his crew how to rig a tailtree and look over a show he was having trouble with and give him some advice.
Ended up rigging three tail trees and it was down right hot. When it came time to climb that hill at quiting time the cramps started. Man I was in misery before I got home. Tried all my usual remedies, hot shower, quinine, beer. As a last resort I tried something a guy told me about that stopped them. Sauerkraut juice, maybe just a coincidence as the other remedies might have just kicked in but it finally put the cramps to rest. Worth trying if you ever get cramps real bad.

Cramps can be as much fun for your co - workers as they are for you ! I have gotten them while kneeling down bucking a log . The look on the other guys face when you are yelling, rolling on the ground, and grabbing your hamstring is priceless ! They settle down when no blood appears and they realize you didn't saw into your leg . I take potassium/magnesium three times a day, do a lot of exercise,drink water like it was my job, bike 75 miles a week in the hills and nothing seems to work . I plan to try everything I saw on this page although the sauerkraut/pickle juice may be the last on the list .

 

[Humptulips]

All the remedies

When I was working steady, in hot weather I was cursed with cramps. Not so much at work but after I was home and relaxed. I tried everything. The potassium supplements and eating high potassium foods like bananas did no good for me. I would drink lots of water like a couple gallons at work and more when home. Stil got cramps. I used to get good relief from quinine. The FDA took it off the market except by prescription and it is hard to get a scrip for it but I still have some and use it once in a while. Really works but the sauerkraut juice or vinegar looks to me to be a good alternative.
One thing I've learned anything with caffeine is a no no. A coke after work is instant cramps for me.
Hot shower really helps after work but if you can't make it home before they start oh oh.

 

[Ramblewood]

Cramps can be as much fun for your co - workers as they are for you ! I have gotten them while kneeling down bucking a log . The look on the other guys face when you are yelling, rolling on the ground, and grabbing your hamstring is priceless ! They settle down when no blood appears and they realize you didn't saw into your leg . I take potassium/magnesium three times a day, do a lot of exercise,drink water like it was my job, bike 75 miles a week in the hills and nothing seems to work . I plan to try everything I saw on this page although the sauerkraut/pickle juice may be the last on the list .

I have asked any Dr. that I get near, and all I hear is potassium, water, exercise so it's clear they know nothing . I heard that anti - spasm pills are supposed to work but that could make for groggy, slow reactions and that won't work on the job . Next trip to town will include sauerkraut . Errrp .

 

[John Ellison]

I am with the vinegar bunch for cramps. The first swallow actually tastes good, but the second..... It usually works pretty quick.