Leg Cramps.

fatrooster · Mar 15, 2011

For the past few years I've had problems with leg cramps. Anytime I did any hiking I was sure to have cramps in the middle of the night. I looked it upn the internet and learned that dehydration was the culprit and drinking more water was the answer. To make a long story short and after some experimentation I found that 2 glasses of water before going to bed solves my problems. Sure, I get up to pee more often but its way better than the excrutiating pain from leg cramps. Try it out, fatrooster.

Devlin · Mar 15, 2011

I've had that happen a few times and it's very painful,thanks for the info.

bamacpl · Mar 15, 2011

Alot of athletes drink pickle juice.....

Feleno · Mar 16, 2011

I use to have the same problem. Solution was to drink a lot of water right before bedtime.... and always wear Depends? just in case you don't wake up.

beavis14 · Mar 16, 2011

sounds sick but molassas and banana combo works very well. gatorade helps too.

TOPGUN · Mar 16, 2011

One thing besides dehydration itself that causes that is loss of potassium in the muscles. Bananas and potatoes are good sources of potassium, while sports drinks generally aren't.

Ticks N Tines · Mar 16, 2011

Make sure you do a real good stretch before and after you hike. That should help a ton.

TOPGUN · Mar 16, 2011

I should also have mentioned that drinking the water during your hiking and continuing to do so after will probably be better than a bunch at betime to try and catch up on what you lost druing the day. I have found those Camelbak bladders to be great because I was not getting enough moisture out on my hunts in Wyoming until I started using them.

hank4elk · Mar 16, 2011

I found drinking water and chewing a Tums w/potassium helps,bananas too.

kingfish · Mar 16, 2011

Your low on potassium ( bananas) and drink drinks that have electrolytes in them, Smart water, Gatorade, Pedialite. Water is fine but you need electrolites after working out or hiking. I always take Gatorade with me hunting. It has more sugar then I normally like but it also gives me energy and electrolites so I don't cramp.

liecabucks · Mar 16, 2011

AND.....get some amino acids into your system they are a must must must during and after a strenuous workout, gives you soooo much more energy and helps bring vital nutrients to your muscle tissue. Glutamine, BCAA's all good stuff!

Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high, keep your eyes fixed to where the trail meets the sky...

RV · Mar 16, 2011

We use emergen-c packets in water before bed. They work great and are easy to pack. Joe

DoeNob · Mar 17, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Mar-17-11 AT 08:50AM (MST)[p]Another great source of Potassium is Avacados. I don't eat bananas, but try and make sure I throw sliced avacados on tacos and burgers and have some guacamole when its around to get my potassium.

http://www.pamf.org/patients/pdf/potassium_count.pdf