Leg Cramps After Drumming

[DrumBob]

Lately, I've been experiencing very painful leg cramps after gigs, always while lying in bed. I have decided to start drinking plenty of water and perhaps eating a banana as a source of potassium before the gig to try and prevent these from happening again.

Has anyone else had a similar problem, and what did you do about it?

[O-Lugs]

Yep. Potassium deficiency. Bananas are good. Almost instant relief comes from drinking a bottle of tonic water. The quinine in it goes right to work to stop the cramps.

[JimmySticks]

Pickle juice is the newest rage for cramps. Very big in the cycling, running, triathlon world. Not sure if I could gag it down though, but they swear by it.

[salty 1322]

Originally Posted by O-Lugs

Yep. Potassium deficiency. Bananas are good. Almost instant relief comes from drinking a bottle of tonic water. The quinine in it goes right to work to stop the cramps.

Have to agree with O-Lugs for sure! I have been bodybuilding/weight lifting for my entire adult life yet, I still get cramps in my calf muscles occasionally after playing. Getting older doesn't help either! Quinine will do the trick. Potassium helps as well.
Brian

[O-Lugs]

Interesting....I was just reading about taking quinine for cramps....Many articles state that quinine can actually be bad for you if you use it too much. I can't imagine a bottle of tonic water being that bad, but....ever since I can remember, that's what I've always done. Of course, it's probably better to maybe stretch more before and after playing or something like that. They used to come and go for me, so it wasn't ever a constant thing. I have bouts with them on occasion.

The worst leg cramps I ever had was when I slipped a disc in my back. I had reached for something the wrong way....felt a *click* in my back....thought, "That was weird!"....a few minutes later, I could hardly walk....shooting electrical pain down my leg....muscles spasming...kill me! I was in a cold sweat from the pain. I had to go to the ER and get on a morphine drip! As soon as that morphine hit my brain, everything changed -instantly! The world was so lovely! HAHAHA! Oh , man...I digress....

[DrumBob]

Thanks all. I have gigs Wednesday and Friday nights this week and will take along a bottle of tonic water and some bananas. I'll also take my own bottles of water. The Wednesday night gig is in a place that is packed full of college kids home for Thanksgiving. You can't get near the bar!

[salty 1322]

Originally Posted by DrumBob

Thanks all. I have gigs Wednesday and Friday nights this week and will take along a bottle of tonic water and some bananas. I'll also take my own bottles of water. The Wednesday night gig is in a place that is packed full of college kids home for Thanksgiving. You can't get near the bar!

Good Lord, DrumBob! "You can't get to the bar!" What kind of gig from hell is this!? You're a musician, man! If you can't get to the bar, how will you get through the night!? Tonic water, bottled water and bananas is fine but,.....
Brian

[JimmySticks]

Originally Posted by DrumBob

Thanks all. I have gigs Wednesday and Friday nights this week and will take along a bottle of tonic water and some bananas. I'll also take my own bottles of water. The Wednesday night gig is in a place that is packed full of college kids home for Thanksgiving. You can't get near the bar!

What? No pickle juice? C'mon man, I swear, it works!

:

[DrumBob]

Originally Posted by JimmySticks

What? No pickle juice? C'mon man, I swear, it works!

:

I like pickles just fine; all kinds of pickles, sour, half sour, bread & butter, but the idea of drinking pickle juice isn't appealing.

I did buy bananas and tonic water today.

[DrumBob]

Originally Posted by salty 1322

Good Lord, DrumBob! "You can't get to the bar!" What kind of gig from hell is this!? You're a musician, man! If you can't get to the bar, how will you get through the night!? Tonic water, bottled water and bananas is fine but,.....
Brian

I know, you're right. Last year, I couldn't even get a beer at the bar. There was no way to get close enough to order one, so I'll bring my own drinks. Actually, it's a fun gig; a room full of drunk college kids. The girls like the band (a plus, as we are all in our 50's and 60's) and the guys go where the girls are.