I’ve just had a nightmare walk. Was about a mile and a half from home when I got cramp in my right calf. Soon after my left calf joined in. I’ve finally made it home in absolute agony.

Any tips on what I could have done to help?

Stretch them calves before you walk next time. Put both hands against the wall and step back so it looks like you are trying to push the wall over. Have one leg slightly bent and the other straight but behind the other one. Now press your rear heel into the ground. You should feel it pull and stretch the calf.

Tony
Cramp happens when your dehydrated
Are you drinking enough water?
Not saying this is your problem but keeping hydrated will help

I do that before and after a long run. It'll get some blood into the calves.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 4:12 pm

I’ve just had a nightmare walk. Was about a mile and a half from home when I got cramp in my right calf. Soon after my left calf joined in. I’ve finally made it home in absolute agony.

Any tips on what I could have done to help?

Leg cramps can be caused by various things - you could have overstretched your muscle and caused it to tighten and that can cause cramps. Or you could be dehydrated and that can cause cramp if you exercise. Old age unfortunately to say is another reason you can get muscle cramps.
There’s other more serious stuff that can cause cramp but if this is a one off it’s extremely unlikely to be any of them. If it starts happening more frequently you should go to your GP.

Stretching beforehand and drinking water could have prevented it.
If it’s still hurting now you can massage it yourself or apply heat or ice and it should start to get better.

California Colner wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 4:20 pm

Tony
Cramp happens when your dehydrated
Are you drinking enough water?
Not saying this is your problem but keeping hydrated will help

I was certainly dehydrated by the time I got home

For a calf cramp, put your weight on your cramped leg and bend your knee slightly. If you're unable to stand, sit on the floor with your affected leg extended.
Try pulling the top of your foot on the affected leg toward your head while your leg remains in a straightened position.

ClaretAL wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 4:22 pm

Try pulling the top of your foot on the affected leg toward your head while your leg remains in a straightened position

that used to be a regular sight at Wembley Cup Finals!

ClaretAL wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 4:22 pm

Try pulling the top of your foot on the affected leg toward your head while your leg remains in a straightened position

that used to be a regular sight at Wembley Cup Finals!

Apart from occasionally first thing in a morning I’ve never suffered with cramp and I’ve definitely not had it as bad as this and in both legs. Horrendous coming back down the hill to get home.

Both legs sounds like dehydration CT.

Have a large drink of water before walking and take a bottle with you in a rucksack or carry it depending on how far you are walking ..

Whenever I've had cramp (generally calf's) I've found that giving the muscle in question a good stretch relieves things almost instantly. It's probably not the recommended way to deal with it, but it works for me.

Its bloody painful anyhow, so I'm glad you've had some relief.

Our rugby physio used to say it was due to a lack of salt in your diet, but i haven't seen a read any proof in to that.

All good advice so far. Straighten your leg and curl your toes up will ease it. Liquid is a must.
The Russians had a theory back in the 80s it was an excess of oxygen. They got their athletes to breath through a paper bag until their levels had stabilised. I’ll not recommend that in Burnley, they might think your pulling a job.

Wait for a passing footballer. They always know what to do!
Involves a twisting method on the leg, of which Mick McManus would have been proud!

Nasty thing cramp.

Some great advice given although I will add that if you do get cramp, I find that Tonic Water immediately gives me relief and the Cramp disappears as quickly as it came. I was told this many years ago when I was fit and healthy playing football, try it, it works for me Tony.

It’s an hour since I posted but the pain is just as bad. Wouldn’t be quite so bad if I had one leg working.

Tonic water is a great shout for easing cramp

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:13 pm

It’s an hour since I posted but the pain is just as bad. Wouldn’t be quite so bad if I had one leg working.

Are you sure it’s just a cramp? Strange to have one for so long. Much longer I’d be contacting NHS phoneline.

Apply some heat CT - try a hot bath initially and carry on drinking water.
If it persists then you should ring your GP.

You've done to much.

Just googled it and all the suggestions above are good CT.
Once it dies down it will probably be tender for 24hrs so perhaps take some painkillers if you are able. Good luck.

To help in future, put a raised insole in the heel of your shoes as that'll reduce any stress on your calf muscles.

Aclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:22 pm

Just googled it and all the suggestions above are good CT.
Once it dies down it will probably be tender for 24hrs so perhaps take some painkillers if you are able. Good luck.

I think that’s where I am now - thanks everyone for the advice. Never suffered like that before and never cramped in both legs.

TVC15 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:19 pm

Apply some heat CT - try a hot bath initially and carry on drinking water.
If it persists then you should ring your GP.

I think if it's a fresh injury which suggesting it could be, he's never experienced pain like it or something along them lines, applying heat straightaway is not advisable.

https://www.painscience.com/articles/heating.php

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:27 pm

I think that’s where I am now - thanks everyone for the advice. Never suffered like that before and never cramped in both legs.

I sometimes get it behind both knees at the same time, I know what you mean with the pain, it's horrendous. I think I just try stretching but mostly try to wait for the pain to go. Its up there with bad toothache.

Aclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:36 pm

I sometimes get it behind both knees at the same time, I know what you mean with the pain, it's horrendous. I think I just try stretching but mostly try to wait for the pain to go. Its up there with bad toothache.

You havent had toothache then..

A good rub down with a hot woman used to help me after a match.

A gang of us used to go to the cinema, with girlfriends, after our Saturday match. I would cramp up every week. Brought great pleasure to the rest of the guys seeing me in agony.

Jakubclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:31 pm

I think if it's a fresh injury which suggesting it could be, he's never experienced pain like it or something along them lines, applying heat straightaway is not advisable.

https://www.painscience.com/articles/heating.php

Would be unusual to have a fresh injury in both legs.
If it is cramp and there is no reason to suggest it isn’t then heat is generally recommended...alongside all the other suggestions above.
But if in doubt ring the GP.

I’m just around the corner from you Tony and I have an unopened bottle of tonic water.Would you like me to leave it on your doorstep?

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:49 pm

A gang of us used to go to the cinema, with girlfriends, after our Saturday match. I would cramp up every week. Brought great pleasure to the rest of the guys seeing me in agony.

What the hell was your girlfriend doing to you in the cinema.

giveusaB wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:54 pm

I’m just around the corner from you Tony and I have an unopened bottle of tonic water.Would you like me to leave it on your doorstep?

That would be fantastic. Thanks.

On my way

tim_noone wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 5:38 pm

You havent had toothache then..

Oh ive had toothache alright, also went to Goodison on Boxing Day, not sure which was worse.

Pickle juice. Seriously. Just take a swig from a jar of pickles. Trust me - try it - my wife swears by it and after years, finally convinced me to try it. Works every time - I'm a believer.

ClaretAL wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 4:44 pm

Our rugby physio used to say it was due to a lack of salt in your diet, but i haven't seen a read any proof in to that.

I used the ketone diet where you reduce the amount of carbohydrate you eat. You need to drink more as you adapt to this diet and as a result salts are said to be washed out of your system. I suffered a lot of calf and toe cramps as a result. Adding more salts - often called electrolytes (not just sodium chloride but magnesium too) alleviated this. I started the day with a stock cube in boiling water for example.

Best of course to check with a medical expert as cramps can be caused by other things too.

Lord_Bob wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:51 pm

Pickle juice. Seriously. Just take a swig from a jar of pickles. Trust me - try it - my wife swears by it and after years, finally convinced me to try it. Works every time - I'm a believer.

Imagine going on a 1st Date and your womans drinking pickle juice.

Tony all suggestions above are helpful.
The pain though can last well into the next day, do not be alarmed as it will pass. Hydration is key, the other thing I would suggest is check any medication for side effects.

MrTopTier wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:57 pm

Tony all suggestions above are helpful.
The pain though can last well into the next day, do not be alarmed as it will pass. Hydration is key, the other thing I would suggest is check any medication for side effects.

Lot of water since I got home plus the tonic water. Still very painful but it couldn’t have helped having to walk about a mile and a half with it.

All/any of the above.

A magnesium supplement can also help with cramp. I used to get 'early morning cramps' in my legs. Since taking a magnesium supplement I don't get them any more.

Foods that are rich in magnesium are green veg, fruit (particularly bananas), seafood, dark chocolate and baked beans.

We've made a note to take you off, before extra time is needed!

A Tomato with a good sprinkle of salt works for me.

I don’t want to cause unnecessary alarm, but could you be diabetic? A work colleague had a similar issue (repeatedly though!)which eventually led to the diagnosis. Might be worth seeking some proper medical advice, especially if it happens again.

How do you relieve the pain with cramp ?

Is this a trick question or shall we throw suffered in the middle and answer plenty of stretching and you can try the old tonic without gin if you like.

I rarely suffered from cramp until I was diagnosed with diabetes now I often wake up with cramp in both calves. Haven't experienced it whilst exercising now but did when I first started. Might be worth checking blood sugar levels when it starts...if you can manage it. (I know you're diabetic CT )

I still get them ocassionaly but I find when it gets bad if I take a small glass of warm water with salt added it does the trick. Not the nicest taste but worth it.

Stanbill05 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 15, 2020 7:17 am

I don’t want to cause unnecessary alarm, but could you be diabetic? A work colleague had a similar issue (repeatedly though!)which eventually led to the diagnosis. Might be worth seeking some proper medical advice, especially if it happens again.

There's no could be Stanbill05, I am diabetic.

This morning's report - was still horrendous when I went to bed but this morning there is quite a bit of improvement in the right calf, still a bit tender but not too bad. The left calf is possibly slightly improved but still not good and still difficult to walk on. I won't be venturing out for my daily walk today, that's for sure.

I rested it up last night and had the tonic water kindly brought up by giveusaB - so another day of rest on them today.