I have a killer leg cramp and I have a track meet tom.! Please Help!!!?

Question

Today at school I went to track practice and pushed myself a little- my leg was a little sore but it was nothing to worry about

Then at swim practice my coach wanted me to work harder and I pushed myself 100%. At the last lap of practice I get this KILLER leg cramp. I couldn't even get up and walk around...I had to hop out of the pool and to the showers on one leg!

I wouldn't really care about this normally, but I have a TRACK MEET tommorrow and it is my first one. I want to do well, but I can't run with such a bad cramp.

I have already tried stretching it out. It got a little better, but I still cannot walk without it hurting. I'm planning on putting Bengay cream on it and a heating pad. Then I'm gonna take some advils and hope for the best tommorrow.

Please help me. I need some miracle medicine or advice on what to do. Any quick fixes for leg cramps?

Oh my goodness!!! Dulcrayon...I think I love you. I just tried your method and it worked great! I can walk, and do everything now!! Thank you so much. I will stretch like this before my track meet tommorrow.

Oh, and right now I am drinking milk while eating a bannanna. I also put my leg in a hot water bath. Maybe that is also why I feel better? ^_^

Answer 1

You need to use SCS that stands for "strain counterstrain" It is a technique developed in the 1940's for this problem.
this is to be used whenever you get a cramp
1. stretch the leg until it tightens up
2. flex the muscle-like you're trying to push the leg back the way it was (you're stretching the leg up-then you would exert pressure (muscles) to try to push the leg back down)
3. exert this pressure for a slow count of 10
4. totally relax the leg and continue to stretch it in the direction you started at first
5. go til it tightens up again
6. repeat this process.

I have gotten athletes to increase ROM range of motion by as much as 150% in as little as 30 seconds.
this exercise is designed to restore mobility to a cramped muscle quickly during a competition. THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX-IT ALLOWS YOU TO, THROUGH EXERCISE, TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
heat is the correct fix. Assuming you did not injure the muscle, it has a build up of lactic acid (this is the by-product of exercise-it's what causes your muscles to get sore when you stop working out)
heat will increase circulation which will help flush the lactic acid out of the muscle.

Answer 2

You need potassium, calcium, and water. Gatorade and Tums will do it. Ice it down now and take the advil to break the inflammation. Use heat before you start stretching for the track meet tomorrow.

Answer 3

If it still hurts it's probably an injury and not a cramp. If its just soreness left over from an extreme cramp, then jog a little an hour before your meet. Make sure to drink enough water before going to bed.

Answer 4

Sometimes leg cramps are caused by a potassium deficiency. Try eating some bananas. Good luck!

Answer 5

Calcium with vitimen D of course is a natural muscle relaxer. You'll need to take at least 2000 mg.

Answer 6

Go take some potassium. If you don't have any get some Gator aid or Power drink, they have plenty of potassium in them. Also bananas is a great source.
Drink plenty of water.

Answer 7

Bannanas for the potasium nad hot soaks help alot.

Answer 8

Ow indeed! take a bath with Epson salt. totally works.

Answer 9

try elevating your feet with pillows whiole sleeping to have a good blood circulation, :)

Answer 10

Lots of liquids!