Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Cramp!!!

Yesterday morning I was woken at just after 4 a.m by the most excruciating cramp in my right leg, approximately two hours later worse cramp attacked my left leg. At seven o'clock when I would normally be listening to the Today programme and getting ready for work I was in bed unable to get up and put any weight on my left leg - I was still in the same position/situation five hours later, complete and total agony.

Prior to yesterday morning I had only suffered from cramp twice, the number of occasions so small I can remember them both and both occurred last year. The first time was during the first leg of our attempt at the South Downs Way, the second time was in the gym. All those years of playing football and running and not once did I succumb, but now three times in less than a year and each time more painful than the last.

By just after twelve o'clock I was able to get up. I don't know what caused the situation and there wasn't any easy way to find out, I couldn't walk far enough to contemplate driving to hospital, the alternatives: a taxi or ambulance both seemed slightly ridiculous, A & E for cramp!

Anyway the pain finally eased at a quarter to eleven last night and went completely at four thirty this afternoon. I put it down to being dehydrated, probably a result of a lot of walking last Saturday. At least it gave me the chance to watch the big event from Washington and I was impressed by the whole ceremony of it - although I have to say, and I know this is being churlish, that as a life long fan of Aretha Franklin I thought she was dreadful.

4 comments:

The Great Gildersleeve said...

That's horrible Paul,
I never had cramp until I went into hospital ten years ago with my condition...and strong codeine could take it away quickly but it would come on as I lay in bed and it was actually putting weight on my legs by putting them to the floor that would take the pain away. Staying laid on my back would make it worse.

Your theory about dehydration could be true or an imbalance of the chemicals in your body. So those products that put back what you have lost are a good idea...assuming that you can take them being diabetic.

Span Ows said...

Amputate!

Paul said...

Hi Gildy, I tried to put my weight on it (which is the textbook way of getting rid of cramp) but couldn't - I wimped out I think, because the pain was too much.

Thanks Span - from the neck would be a good idea!

The Great Gildersleeve said...

I didn't know that Paul but just found/find it works...the other cure is difficult to describe but lean at an angle against a wall.

It is a horrible pain.

The only tablet that took it away other than the suggestions made here was a couple of very strong codeine tablets but my Dr allows me some but nowhere near as strong as I was originally allowed.

I was given some when I was unable to move and spent days in bed when on holiday in Scotland I would guess approx 5 years ago.