hand and leg cramps at sea for old people

[bobconnie]

And my RN Connie says ZEE has it right!

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by zeehag

quinine water will not answer the problem. it will mask the symptoms. it is the easy answer catch all that does not work....

Off course, it's entirely possible the doctor checked these other factors at length first.

That was nearly 30 years ago. My father is now 88 and quite active. Still lives in his own home with his wife and works part time. Long hours a the easel no doubt irritated the problem, but that's his love.

Ken Frye - Artist

----

But yes, there are many basic things that need to be confirmed first. Others have listed many. And as zeehag noted, sedentary jobs cause much "illness."

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by tbodine88

Hello I am an old guy, but not as old as some on this list.

A thought or dream I have is once I retire 10 years hence, to try crewing on others boats in warmer climes or maybe braving such trips on my own boat as the captain.

Since I turned fifty some years ago, I have started having cramps in my extremities when they are hot or cold. For a while this was just my legs, but the other day I went for a day sail and a swim in a local lake, the lake water was just 80 degrees, which I recall was about the temperature of the water in the Caribbean and Near Hawaii. So I figure I might have problems in even these warmer climates.

So if some of you have this problem, have you found some ways to cope and still remain useful to yourself and the rest of the crew while at sea.

What did your doctor say?

[zeehag]

if the problem is not sudden onset,
if you sit a lot, and if you do not have any symptoms of dehydration and
if you are landbased and have access,
go to md,
you could well be experiencing claudication, a problem that is caused by clots in backs of legs, particularly behind knees. can be dangerous if you throw a clot. see an md immediately if this is the case.
gently feel backs of knees for localized warmth--redness and swelling at back of knee.
this is a kind of obscure problem, and doesnt come up unless you are sedentary and constantly at 90 degree angles, hips and knees, as in a chair at a desk. this is easily ruled out by ultrasound test. there are interventions able to be done to prevent problems, but this must be considered in a sedentary job situation.

[Geoduck]

Rum with your morning coffee, rum & coke for lunch, rum & oj for dinner, tequila or mescal before bed. Not necessarily in that order. Don't forget to smoke pot in between times. If this doesn't cure your cramps, nothing will!
This worked for my Dad - he lived to be 86 - his prostate got him.
Go figure!!
While we live, let's live in clover, for when we're dead, we're dead all over!

[tdominic_97]

Zeehag your going to scare him to death. Don't forget to tell him that tumors can cause those same symptoms, not just blood clots

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by tdominic_97

Zeehag your going to scare him to death. Don't forget to tell him that tumors can cause those same symptoms, not just blood clots

if i scare him half to death he will see his md. when he goes to check up he will learn what it is and save himself from doom and gloom of uncertainty.
tumors dont become emboli. blood clots(thrombi) do.

hopefully he has learned he may have more than merely dehydration, but will start the dehydration therapy then get a check up because of the anxiety of not knowing

[BMWshoe]

Any chance you're taking statins? Too long on this prescribed med often causes leg cramps. Been there.... Change in meds took care of the problem.