Old Wives' Tales wanted
Jul. 21st, 2003 12:23 pm(Or I suppose sensible medical advice will do)
The past three nights I've woken up repeatedly with really bad cramp in my legs. The sort where your muscles twist into an odd shape, and nothing you do will untwist them. This is painful, and has also left me with increasingly badly pulled muscles in my legs. I'm used to this happening occasionally, but three nights running is pushing it in my book.
Now. I would expect that my high evil-on-toast consumption rate would take care of the lack-of-salt problem. And I've been munching crisps just in case. I've also been drinking a lot of water recently.
What else... ?
The past three nights I've woken up repeatedly with really bad cramp in my legs. The sort where your muscles twist into an odd shape, and nothing you do will untwist them. This is painful, and has also left me with increasingly badly pulled muscles in my legs. I'm used to this happening occasionally, but three nights running is pushing it in my book.
Now. I would expect that my high evil-on-toast consumption rate would take care of the lack-of-salt problem. And I've been munching crisps just in case. I've also been drinking a lot of water recently.
What else... ?
no subject
Date: 2003-07-21 04:58 am (UTC)I seem to remember exercise-based cramps are caused by evilness of anaerobic respiration or something - whilst when you're alseep you're not pushing your muscles faster than your oxygen-intake can keep up with (which is what the exercise ones are from), you could well be sleeping awkwardly and cutting off blood supply, therefore forcing the anaerobic mechanism to be used.
I can't remember the exact mechanism or why I asked about calcium, because it was on the A-level biology syllabus and I only picked up bits from helping friends revise it - but lactic acid is produced, IIRC (it's what causes the pain)...
If it /is/ because you're sleeping funny & cutting off circulation, I'd blame the weather: try leaving the window ajar so you're getting more air circulating, try swapping to cooler bedding, etc.
If it continues to be a problem, it might be worth getting yourself checked out at the doctors - it could (she says, making a logical guess) be related to blood pressure of clotting or some such evilness?