Wednesday 10 October 2007

Pic of the day: It was indeed all "EEK!", and not in a good way either. The facial expression seems fairly accurate.

Short: Leg cramp

The left calf, as it is about two times out of three. As always for me, it happened right as I woke up - within seconds after waking up, but definitely after - but it is so far the only one not in the summer, I think. This goes a good way toward ruling out dehydration as was my doctor's theory. (Always been in the summer before.) I think we can also rule out the "not enough exercise" theory since I have now increased the amount of exercise bike to 20 minutes. Not blood clot since it stops after a few seconds.

I did pressure the upper part of the muscle immediately afterwards, which seemed to take away the pain as long as I kept pressing my palm against the right point. Later I took a half tablet of acetylsalisylic acid which I have for those occasions. (I don't normally use it because I tend toward stomach ulcers. It is supposed to be excessively healthy in moderation, though. Or was that last year?) In any case, it is very good at preventing stiffness after exercise, even in smaller quantities than used for painkiller.

Even so, I think we can rule out going to work today, and any leg-based exercise for a couple more days. We shall see. Normally after an hour or so I can barely hobble across the floor, preferably supoorting myself on the furniture or walls.

From a scientific magazine, I learn that these leg cramps are not unique to me - they seem to be quite common, although no numbers were given, it was discussed as a general problem not attributed to any particular disease. The prevailing theory is that the bed leg cramp comes from an imbalance of electrolytes, but this is not much better than "witches did it" when it comes to predictive power. Who among us can claim to have perfectly balanced electrolytes? Most of us don't even have the faintest idea what our current electrolyte balance is.

I can however rule out potassium deficit, since few living humans over the age of three has a higher percentage of milk in their diet than I. And milk is rich in potassium.

More if I ever know more, and live to tell the tale!