Who gets these things after a long day of hunting or walking? I often get them in my quad and/or hamstring and the pain is sometimes so intolerable I almost pass out. I’ve been trying to stay super hydrated while pheasant hunting but it doesn’t seem to be helping much. So who gets em, where do you get them, and how to you reduce the chances of getting them?
Those sound more painful than the norm.
If they make you want to pass out, I think you should be asking a doctor not a bunch of fishing and hunting junkies 
I get those a lot after walking long distances or cutting wood all day when I am not used to that type of work out.
I use Hylands leg cramp pills and they are very effective and work within minutes,especially if you crush them up and mix them with a small glass of water.
I also mix a shot of vinegar with water or drink pickle juice when the pills arent close by,either way it doesnt take long to get rid of them.
nothing worse than waking up with one or both legs trying to cramp up so severely you cant walk and your back feels like its going to snap in two when you try to straighten up.
Some of the soccer players I coached used to cramp up. Most found that eating a banana in the morning helped. Always had a hard time getting those guys to drink enough water.
Three bananas a day doesn’t do anything to stop mine. They are by far the most painful thing I have ever experienced, and I’ve had three fingers cut off.
Those sound more painful than the norm.
If they make you want to pass out, I think you should be asking a doctor not a bunch of fishing and hunting junkies
I used to laugh and make fun of my Father when he would get one. It ain’t funny anymore!
My first encounter with a charlie was one of the star bball players at my high school freaked out in middle of religion class and started withering around on the ground, everyone was like WTF but the teacher said oh just all you wait your turn.
Never got them for years, maybe in my 30’s started to get 1-2 per year. No rhyme or reason. Worst dammed things in the world. Always in my calf, and it will be sore AF minimum 3 days after.
Cruel cruel afflictions they are, brutal. Good luck
Along with hydration. Potassium, magnesium, and other minerals/ nutrients help, little Gatorade, juice, banana, something else besides just water, but staying hydrated is key. Heat pads can help once you have one if you can stand waiting for it to warm up.
For sure like previously mentioned bananas for potassium. Magnesium also helps. This year 2 days before grandmas in Duluth my calf locked up like a brake caliper stuck locked. Weirdest thing. Called my buddy who is a fitness guru and trainer he said to take magnesium pills. It was still tight but helped a lot. Sounds like Iowa boy has experience and a good solution also.
Tonic with quinine works miracles for me.
In addition to the tips above, I would also recommend stretching. Stretching is very important to do before AND after exercise, including pheasant hunting or going for walks. More stretching could help lessen the frequency and severity of cramping and charlie horses. Billy used to get bad ones in his legs that would wake him in the night and he’d have to walk around to lossen the muscle back up. I felt so bad, as they sounded really painful. But after some repetitive guidance to drink more water and stretch daily, his occurrences did seem to lessen over the years.
You need potassium and salt. Water will only help so much.
I used to get them training for long distance races and staying on top of electrolytes including salt is key.
Go to a running store or somewhere that sells supplements and get some salt tabs. Someone also mentioned pickle juice. That works wonders and you can get it in concentrated form at supplement stores.
Sharon mentioned stretching, too. Get a foam roller or use a tennis ball and really work those muscles out. It hurts real good!
I get those a lot after walking long distances or cutting wood all day when I am not used to that type of work out.
I use Hylands leg cramp pills and they are very effective and work within minutes,especially if you crush them up and mix them with a small glass of water.
I also mix a shot of vinegar with water or drink pickle juice when the pills arent close by,either way it doesnt take long to get rid of them.nothing worse than waking up with one or both legs trying to cramp up so severely you cant walk and your back feels like its going to snap in two when you try to straighten up.
Happens to me the first trout fishing trip in the spring. Walk a lot more than I’m conditioned for, wearing waders so not drinking anything so I don’t have to pee, stepping over logs and weeds, etc. too much of a workout.
Get back to the truck and lay down on my bed in the truck topper. Almost instantly hit with a cramp that brings tears to my eyes and will not go away. If I can manage to get my body out of the truck topper, I might be able to work it out. Still about the most painful thing I don’t want to experience.
I’d get them when training for marathons in hot weather. Found that gatorade and bananas were helpful in prevention.
I often get them in my quad and/or hamstring and the pain is sometimes so intolerable
I get those a lot after walking long distances or cutting wood all day
I’d get them when training for marathons in hot weather.
Geez you guys, I’m in pain just reading this post!
Three bananas a day doesn’t do anything to stop mine. They are by far the most painful thing I have ever experienced, and I’ve had three fingers cut off.
First, see your doctor and make sure there isn’t something more serious going on.
Grouse
I also mix a shot of vinegar with water or drink pickle juice when the pills arent close by,either way it doesnt take long to get rid of them.
This is a trend with hockey players.
You might have a magnesium deficiency. Pretty dangerous if it’s true.
You need potassium and salt. Water will only help so much.
I used to get them training for long distance races and staying on top of electrolytes including salt is key.
Was going to say this as well. By just drinking excessive amounts of water you are just flushing out the minerals in your body. Are you on a low sodium diet by chance?
Something like coconut water may actually help.
Do some training in advance of hunting season, or better yet… stay in shape and workout year round. Even if it is something little that keeps you moving.
Food is nothing more than fuel. Make sure to get proper nutrition in the days leading up to the hunt, during the hunt, and post hunt. If you are on a multi-day pheasant hunt, they can be very grueling and exhausting depending on the type of terrain and miles walked. Ideally, have proper nutrition year round…
Stretch before and after the hunt. Stay loose. Foam roll or tennis ball. Ideally, stretch year round…
Hydrate, nothing is better for your body than pure water. That saying of 8 8oz cups a day (64 oz) is pure BS. That is so low. At a minimum, you should aim for more along the lines of half your body weight (lbs) in oz. So 200 lbs = 100 oz. Lightly salting foods leading up to your trip and during your trip will also help with water retention. Sports drinks with electrolytes are okay during days like this too, however a lot of them are very unhealthy. Read the labels.
At the end of a day on a multi day trip while your body is trying to recover from one day and refuel for the next day, try to keep in mind a 3:1 carb to protein ratio to refuel your body.
Always amazes me how much time and effort people put into making sure their dogs are in shape, healthy, hyrdated, etc for their hunting trips, but they fail to neglect their own body.
And finally, it’s possible that you simply have a deficiency in some sort of mineral. If you only get them around pheasant hunting, I would chalk it up to you are just simply working hard. Random times year round, probably see a doctor for blood work.
A little info from the Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscle-cramp/symptoms-causes/syc-20350820
Here’s the important part because potassium and sodium are critical to hydration. Also, if you are on diuretics it can increase you risk.
Mineral depletion. Too little potassium, calcium or magnesium in your diet can contribute to leg cramps. Diuretics — medications often prescribed for high blood pressure — also can deplete these minerals.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>sji wrote:</div>
Three bananas a day doesn’t do anything to stop mine. They are by far the most painful thing I have ever experienced, and I’ve had three fingers cut off.First, see your doctor and make sure there isn’t something more serious going on.
Grouse
Thanks for your concern Grouse. This has been going on my entire adult life. Doc says overuse. My dad had the same problem. Always the middle of the night. It feels like a knife being twisted in your leg, cold sweat. Its a thing alright.
I had a banana today bc of this thread.
I take hunts tomato sauce dillute it 3parts water 1 1/2 part tomato sauce add celery salt,Tabasco sauce pickle juice to taste. Works wonders for cramps and hydration.
I take hunts tomato sauce dillute it 3parts water 1 1/2 part tomato sauce add celery salt,Tabasco sauce pickle juice to taste. Works wonders for cramps and hydration.
I do the same except dilute it with half vodka, for hydration purposes of course….
That’s why I bring salted almonds and munch on them. Part of the good trail mix.
I get them every now and then. BG posted something about diuretics being a contributor and he is 100% spot on. I really began getting them when I began taking BP meds. CMP(Calcium/Magnesium/Potassium) vitamins will really help, it’s also great for BP. It’s best to get Magnesium through food, but vitamin supplements are good in addition if a diuretic is prescribed.
It’s best to get Magnesium through food, but vitamin supplements are good in addition if a diuretic is prescribed.
And I 100% agree with this. People, including myself, vastly underestimate how many cruciferous vegetables they should be eating. We eat far too many nutrient deficient foods like grains, potatoes and sugar leading to what else, nutrient deficiency.
I guarantee if you increase your vegetable intake this problem goes away. Unless of course you’re on meds, then all bets are off. Supplementation might be the only way.
Cramps are a sign of a problem. If you get them you’re not just unlucky, your body is telling you something.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>1hl&sinker wrote:</div>
I take hunts tomato sauce dillute it 3parts water 1 1/2 part tomato sauce add celery salt,Tabasco sauce pickle juice to taste. Works wonders for cramps and hydration.I do the same except dilute it with half vodka, for hydration purposes of course….
Yeah something was missing from his ingredients.
I’m sure he simply overlooked it and it was a mistake
Yeah something was missing from his ingredients.
I’m sure he simply overlooked it and it was a mistake
It’s called vitamin V.
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