Little things that willl stop you in the bush
Submitted: Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 15:53
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Member - Kim M (VIC)
I was out in the bush recently are started to experience severe cramps in the lower right leg.
Finally got the leg straight, but it still played up every time I attempted to bend it (for driving).
Like all
First Aid kits, there was nothing to fix the problem.
Hobbled around for a while, then decided to sit down and rest the leg. Sitting there I remembered something the old man use to do for a similar condition:
Lit a fire and filled the Billy up with mud. As the
water evaporates it's necessary to add a bit more until it's heated up and ready for application. The mud pack was then applied to the leg. Within 10 minutes the cramp had gone and I was able to drive home.
Some times little things will stop you in your tracks. They can't be planned for, but can be overcome with a bit of clear thinking.
Regards
Kim
Reply By: Member - Debbie R (SA) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 17:14
Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 17:14
Kim,
My Dad told me a good dose of old fashion (plain no alcohol) added SODA
WATER also helps
Regards
Debbie
AnswerID:
261233
Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 18:18
Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 18:18
Debbie
Is that before or after?
LOL
Regards
Kim
FollowupID:
522575
Follow Up By: Member - Debbie R (SA) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 19:12
Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 19:12
Kim,
If you suffer from cramps often, drinking Soda
Water helps, but does also help for one off bouts. There is an ingredient in Soda
Water that starts with 'Q' sorry can't remember the name but you can get tablets from the chemist (not sure if you need a prescription from your GP) short of having these tablets in
First Aid that's where the Soda
Water comes into play, and it does work!! But I will remember your mud trick.
Debbie
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 20:12
Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 20:12
Quinine?
Indian soda
water?
FollowupID:
522604
Follow Up By: Gerhardp1 - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 16:06
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 16:06
I don't think soda
water has quinine - Tonic
Water does.
Cramps are common in older people, especially in the lower limbs.
You should drink lots of
water, in fact the
water you added to the mud may have been better in your mouth :) , unless of course it was waste
water.
Too much coffee, tea, red wine, beer, lack of exercise, all contribute to the dehydration most of us run around with all the time. Sitting for hours driving doesn't help, especially in the northern states.
FollowupID:
522736
Follow Up By: TD100 - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 20:36
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 20:36
Bitter Lemon mixers do too!cheers Paul
FollowupID:
522798
Reply By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 18:46
Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 18:46
Had an "error of judgement" out bush around the campfire after way to many VBs and ended up with broken glasses. it was difficult to tape them up and my massive prescription mean good viewing is esential.
if that wasnt enough the next day was hotter than hot and the next morning i got up to find the film on my glasses had crazed and wrinkled. started heading home and got a flat - longest tyre change I ever did.
The drive home from Mt elvire to Kalgoorlie took forever.
Made me think I was able to get some use out of my glasses but without them I wouldnt fancy my chances
AnswerID:
261241
Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 20:40
Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 20:40
Davoe
That almost happened to me last year in the Pilbura. I tossed the glasses down on the ground whilst changing a tyre.
A mate queried why I was cranking the new tyre down onto the glasses.
We'd had a difficult day, and I was in no mood for smart arse comments.
However, when I returned to normality I thanked him for saving the glasses.
Regards
Kim
FollowupID:
522608
Reply By: Philip A - Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 19:57
Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 19:57
Quinine is an ingredient of TONIC
water. Quinine is an old treatment for Malaria. One reson the old Raj poms liked their Gin and Tonics.
Water and Co2 are the ingredients of soda
water.
Regards Philip A
AnswerID:
261260
Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 20:13
Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 20:13
If it is a calf muscle cramp, pull on the toes and stretch the muscles.
Yes, it does hurt to start with, but the cramp will go.
AnswerID:
261264
Reply By: Willem - Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 23:20
Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 23:20
Kim
I have heat bags.
Called a Super Heater. It is a little sealed plastic bag with some liquid in it. It also has a small metal button that drifts around in the liquid. When the button is pressed a chemical reaction occurs. During this reaction the little bag gets very hot and eventually solidifies. The heat process is good for leg cramps. To make the solid mass liquid again you boil it in
water for about 10 minutes and then leave to cool for the next use.
Manufactured by Shin's Bio-Health Products Pty Ltd. Try Googling it. I obtained
mine through a friend, in your village. The product is available in
Melbourne.
Cheers
AnswerID:
261296
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 13:13
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 13:13
Also try an adventure outdoor store for "hand warmers".....Kathmandu sells them.
They are usually just a super-saturated salt solution, with the clicky button tripping the solution to solidify and cause an exothermic reaction.....used to make them ourselves, just for the fun science experiment. You can even make the reaction with sugar and
water :-)
Andrew
FollowupID:
522691
Reply By: simple - Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 23:41
Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 at 23:41
my uncle had a cramp in his calf one night and lived with it for a few days but when he got around to seeing a doctor i turned out to be a thrombosis..... watch out.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Wizard1 - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 11:00
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 11:00
Cramps are usually a symptom of dehydration and/or lack of electrolyte or salt.
A decent drink of
water would probably have done the trick as
well.
Best treatment is prevention, drink plenty of
water during the day.
Carry a supply of powered electrolyte in your
first aid kit is if need be. Much nicer than a mud pack on your leg, unless your into that metrosexual sort of stuff....
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: handy - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 11:18
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 11:18
or you could try a pinch of salt in your skinny latte's kim. LOL
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - John L G - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 12:17
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 12:17
I was told recently that if you cramp often, bananas in the diet helps solve the problem...... and I dont mean sitting by the side of the raod eating a bunch of bananas if you get a sudden cramp...LOL :-)
Don't really know if it works, but they are generally a pretty good part of a diet anyway being high in potassium.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 13:26
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 13:26
I have also heard this and it relates to the calcium content of the bananas if I understand it correctly. It seems that calcium defisciency can also give you cramps - I hope someone will correct this if I'm wrong.
Kind regards
FollowupID:
522695
Follow Up By: Robnicko - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 13:36
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 13:36
I can second the Banana philosiphy!
As a trailbike / mountain bike rider I have always made sure to have a banana or two at the end of the ride to prevent cramping. It has always worked for me. Vitamin K or something.
Also, when driving I have found that wearing very flexible comfortable shoes, or even no shoes at all to be much more comfortable. I know that bare feet driving is not reccomended but shoes with big soles / heels make your lower leg stay at an uncomfortable angle thus making the cramp re-occur. Try shoes with a smaller heel possibly.
Rob
FollowupID:
522699
Follow Up By: Kev M (QLD Bound) - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 14:18
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 14:18
I also use the compression stockings that are knee length for any long distance travelling. You look like an idiot (but who looks at your legs when your driving) but haven't had any problems since I started using them.
Cheers Kev
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Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 14:25
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 14:25
OK you guys (?) I am getting a very disturbing picture here "high heels" and "stockings"! I am sure there is another
forum for that!
Kind regards
FollowupID:
522715
Follow Up By: Robnicko - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 14:31
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 14:31
Beatit!!!!!!!
It's not what you think!!!!!
In my case I am 196cm and even in an 80 series with the
seat all the way back more leg room would be welcome. I have found that I can get sore calf muscles if I have runners on that usually have a thick (not high) heels. Go bare foot and no sore calf muscles.
I also think that the elevated accelerator pedals that hang from above, as opposed to the old style that cam up from the floor are more uncomfortable.
Rob
FollowupID:
522716
Follow Up By: Kev M (QLD Bound) - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 14:35
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 14:35
Beatit,
I recommend that you don't use fishnets unless you wax your legs LOL
Kev
| Russell Coight:
He was presented with a difficult decision: push on into the stretching deserts, or return home to his wife.Lifetime Member
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FollowupID:
522717
Follow Up By: taps - Thursday, Sep 13, 2007 at 10:20
Thursday, Sep 13, 2007 at 10:20
Bananas are high in Potassium.
You often see cricket players eating a banana or two during drinks breaks. Gilchrist swears by them for keeping cramps away....apparently.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 18:29
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 18:29
Thanks for the advice guys.
Regards
Kim
AnswerID:
261403
Reply By: Member - Hairy (NT) - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 19:06
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 19:06
Gday Kim,
I once run out of
beer out bush, ( well we would have if we kept going)
Stoped us in our tracks,
Lucky there was a pub a couple of hours back, pitty about the
camping trip though. ( we didnt even get there)
Cheers
AnswerID:
261417
Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 20:02
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 at 20:02
Hairy
That's the saddest story I've ever heard. Here's me carrying on about a few cramps.....!
LOL
Regards
Kim
FollowupID:
522785
Reply By: Member - RockyOne - Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007 at 16:25
Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007 at 16:25
I like the mud trick.. In my caase I will put any left over on my 'kisser' and possibly improve the view for others..Give it a 'tecky' name and sell it on eBay?
AnswerID:
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