Random cramps, muscle spasms...

[T-AD]

Throwing this in here due to traffic, and I trust y'all...

For the past few weeks, I've been experiencing some really weird and painful cramping and I have no idea why. My diet isn't all that bad, and I definitely stay hydrated. Due to family, work, and such, I haven't even been in the gym that much lately to work or overwork anything. It seems to happen a lot while I'm out riding the bike (motorcycle). I do sit slightly hunched over and reclined, but I get the worst ab cramps. By no means do I have a 6-pack, but when one starts, I can tell exactly which ab muscle it is, and it usually cascades to others in the area. It's happened at some very inopportune times, too - like an 11-mile stretch of twisties along a canyon road where I was forced to sit upright and bear the pain the entire way.

Lately they've been popping up at random intervals. Sitting at my desk yesterday, I sneezed a few times and it started. I stood up to stretch as much as possible, almost passed out due to lack of O2, and fought it for about 10 minutes till they subsided.

Although most prevelant in my midsection, I've also noted them to take place in my hips, inner thighs, and even a few times inside my neck - like the muscle near where my tongue is rooted in my throat cramps up on one side. That one sucks.

I've started to double-dose my multi-vitamin, eat more bananas for the potassium, and am really watching that I'm drinking a lot of water. My sodium intake is modest, as salty food tends to just give me heartburn anyway.

So... anybody have any clues here? Any causes, or any fixes? It's got me puzzled to the point where I'm almost thinking of seeing a doctor about it. I don't like doctors (no offense).

All thoughts are appreciated.

 

[bluehealer]

Throwing this in here due to traffic, and I trust y'all...

For the past few weeks, I've been experiencing some really weird and painful cramping and I have no idea why. My diet isn't all that bad, and I definitely stay hydrated. Due to family, work, and such, I haven't even been in the gym that much lately to work or overwork anything. It seems to happen a lot while I'm out riding the bike (motorcycle). I do sit slightly hunched over and reclined, but I get the worst ab cramps. By no means do I have a 6-pack, but when one starts, I can tell exactly which ab muscle it is, and it usually cascades to others in the area. It's happened at some very inopportune times, too - like an 11-mile stretch of twisties along a canyon road where I was forced to sit upright and bear the pain the entire way.

Lately they've been popping up at random intervals. Sitting at my desk yesterday, I sneezed a few times and it started. I stood up to stretch as much as possible, almost passed out due to lack of O2, and fought it for about 10 minutes till they subsided.

Although most prevelant in my midsection, I've also noted them to take place in my hips, inner thighs, and even a few times inside my neck - like the muscle near where my tongue is rooted in my throat cramps up on one side. That one sucks.

I've started to double-dose my multi-vitamin, eat more bananas for the potassium, and am really watching that I'm drinking a lot of water. My sodium intake is modest, as salty food tends to just give me heartburn anyway.

So... anybody have any clues here? Any causes, or any fixes? It's got me puzzled to the point where I'm almost thinking of seeing a doctor about it. I don't like doctors (no offense).

All thoughts are appreciated.

A zinc/ magnesium supplement may help.

 

[DBinMD]

Some of your symptoms sound a little like mine. I’ve always had a tendency to get abdominal cramps after doing squats, worse when cycling. Since you’re looking for any thoughts here’s a few .
1) Over training
2) Something you’re taking
If not, then:
Get a blood test (basic metabolic, I think) . Look especially at your potassium and cholesterol
About a year ago my cramps got really bad. Tried some potassium. Didn’t help. Started getting tired, figured it was my job. October my cardio got a little difficult. In January I had an emergency quadruple bypass. Was benching twice my bodyweight and doing cardio up to that very day. You’re kind of young, so maybe it’s not that, but it does happen. But if you haven’t had one, then do it.

Look especially at your potassium and cholesterol. Mine was hdl/25 ldl 185. Not good but I had no other risk factors. (weights, cardio, ate really well, not much extra bf (probably 10lbs) , took 3 gms of Omega’s a day). Family history is unknown. I had no other symptoms.

 

[T-AD]

Some of your symptoms sound a little like mine. I’ve always had a tendency to get abdominal cramps after doing squats, worse when cycling. Since you’re looking for any thoughts here’s a few .
1) Over training
2) Something you’re taking
If not, then:
Get a blood test (basic metabolic, I think) . Look especially at your potassium and cholesterol
About a year ago my cramps got really bad. Tried some potassium. Didn’t help. Started getting tired, figured it was my job. October my cardio got a little difficult. In January I had an emergency quadruple bypass. Was benching twice my bodyweight and doing cardio up to that very day. You’re kind of young, so maybe it’s not that, but it does happen. But if you haven’t had one, then do it.

Look especially at your potassium and cholesterol. Mine was hdl/25 ldl 185. Not good but I had no other risk factors. (weights, cardio, ate really well, not much extra bf (probably 10lbs) , took 3 gms of Omega’s a day). Family history is unknown. I had no other symptoms.

Thanks for that input, I really appreciate it. I'm not one to run to the doc for "minor" problems, but this one causes me pain and inconvenience, particularly when doing something that I love. Debilitating cramps while on a motorcycle at high speed is NOT really a minor thing. I may have to make that appointment afterall.

In the past week or so, I have not been training at all. (Family and time issues prevent me right now from doing much of anything serious.) I have increased my water intake, watched my diet a bit better, and have been using a generic multi, taking twice the daily dose. (Figure I'll just piss out the excess anyway.) So far in the past week, nothing major to report. I've also stopped nearly all supplements, with the exception of the multi and my normal morning stim. Time will tell, but if I have some BW done, I'll try to post results in here. If it helps someone else, then I'm all for it.

Thanks again. :cheers:

 

[RoadBlocK]

Let us know what you find out.

No chance of a hernia or anything torn is there?

 

[T-AD]

Doesn't feel like anything torn in there, and never had a hernia so don't know what that's like.

Other than diet, the only thing that i could think of was possibly a spinal issue. I have one vert between my shoulder blades that is pushed in a little bit. Haven't been able to see the chiro since Fall, but he was working on it. I'm slumped in a chair all dang day long and I'm sure that has something, if not everything, to do with it. Likewise, I'm slightly hunched over when I ride. Got my seat redone this year to alleviate some of that, and it has been better on my back and butt. (Still could use some risers and forwards, though.) Finding time right now to go to the doctor... not as easy as I'd like. But like I said, I will update when I have something.

Thanks.