I got my sleeve started yesterday and wanted to get 5 hours in, but my muscles started twitching after 3 1/2 hours and my artist said that was my body's way of telling me "Im done" for the day. The pain was fine and I wanted to finish alot more but I couldnt control my muscles twitching.
Anyone experience this or have a quick fix? I know muscle relaxers thin your blood out, is there something else?
2007-10-09 04:44:36 · 6 answers · asked by Face on Fire 5 in Beauty & Style ➔ Skin & Body ➔ Tattoos
I dont think the artist needed a break, he is attempting the World Record for the longest tattoo session. His name is Wade Darby and did a parctice run of 50 straight hours. Its on You Tube, his shop is called "Visions in Flesh"
2007-10-09 07:07:37 · update #1
In a sea of dumb questions, this is a very good one.
As I understand it, this kind of reaction is fairly typical for longer endurance sessions. I forget if Rider had this with his 9 hour marathon. I know with my longest of ~4 hours I got a similar reaction.
I don't think there is much you can do, to be honest, and certainly nothing pharmaceutical. I was able to stretch myself out to 4 hours - I started getting twitchy about 3 - with breaks, but that's about it. I'm not sure if that's the time the body usually runs out of endorphins, or even if that's possible (I'm not an MD).
Anyhow, it's likely you've just found your limit. I wonder if, like with exercise, you can't train it up. One artist said long distance runners tend to be able to last longer. Not precisely the easiest option, but perhaps the only one.
Best of luck to you.
Addendum: One thing I forgot to mention... it's also possible the artist just wanted a break. 5 hours is a bit of time to be inking someone, even if you're easy to work with. S/he might have been attempting to be polite & wanting a break themselves. The motive to keep the customer happy & profit motive sometimes means you don't say specifically what you need (ie, "My hand/back/whatever is killing me, I need to stop").
Addendum 2: Ah, okay, sorry... didn't mean to impugn the artist. I did chat with a nutritionist-type and they thought the potassium idea could be right on. Bananas or chocolate would indeed be a good solution if this is the case, so Wifeywifey, somebody & cait5156 probably got it right. I'd go for bananas, but that's just me (I'm a weirdo who really doesn't like chocolate).
2007-10-09 05:13:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I know exactly what your talking about. I had a sitting of ~4 hours and it happened to me too. i didn't want to stop though, so we took a small break and ate and talked and had a cig or 2. And went back at it. A little tense but not so twitchy. Try eating, and yea maybe pottasium will help. Bring some bananas. Good luck, what kinda tat r u getting?
2007-10-09 14:24:25 · answer #2 · answered by cait5156 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there really isn't anything you can do to stop involuntary muscle spasms... unless maybe you got a doctor to put a nerve block but that seems... questionable. the same thing happened to my dad when he got his last tattoo but his started twitching after about 6 hours and he had to get it finished because he was at a convention and the artist lives in new york. they just took a break and he ate and was able to continue.
good luck!
2007-10-09 13:38:18 · answer #3 · answered by somebody's a mom!! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
DONT DO ANYTHING T THIN YOUR BLOOD!!!! cause then you will bleed like crazy, and push the ink out. 3 1/2 hours is a long time to get needles driven into your skin. To can try deep breathing techniques, think about something else. Its really hard to stop though.
2007-10-09 11:57:52 · answer #4 · answered by crazyravysmom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More potassium! But seriously if they start twitching call it quits.
2007-10-09 12:16:58 · answer #5 · answered by ☆ღWifey Wifeyღ☆ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
aleve mabie? a hot bath? anything to relax yourself.
2007-10-09 11:49:30 · answer #6 · answered by 2/08 is the due date! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋