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Author Topic: Minor cramps and stitches  (Read 3004 times)

Offline George

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Minor cramps and stitches
« on: August 13, 2007, 01:23:02 AM »
Hi Folks

Over the last few months I've been going more and more paleo, with very positive effects generally (alertness, fitness, weight etc.) However recently I've been suffering a few very minor aches and pains. These usually manifest as a very minor stitch on my right side during exercise, not nearly as painful as a typical heavy exercise-after-food type stitch, but enough to be noticed. I'm also slightly more prone to the onset of cramp during my Tai Chi (as I'm learning moves I tend to tense up). Again I catch it early and loosen my stance so it's not really interfering with my training, but annoying nonetheless.

I've read in a few places that Calcium (retention as well as quantity) may be the issue here, which would seem to tally with my complete cutting out of cheese. However targetting figs and almonds does not seem to have helped.

Has anyone here had similar symptoms? Any suggestions?

G
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Offline 21st-century caveman

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Re: Minor cramps and stitches
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2007, 09:11:10 AM »
George,

Are you drinking plenty of water, and/or a sports drink with electrolytes, before and during your exercise? 

I found this page, which may help.  It's for mountain bikers, but it's probably applicable to other forms of aerobic exercise.

http://www.active.com/mountainbiking/Articles/Dealing_with_side_stitches_and_muscle_cramps_on_the_trail.htm

I have only had mild stitches when they occur, which is seldom.  But when I go out wogging (walking & jogging), I usually go out in the morning, before I have had any food that day.  Maybe that's why I'm not getting more side stitches, I don't know.  How soon before your exercise do you eat?   

Also, when I do my gym workouts in the afternoon, I usually don't eat anything for about 4 or 5 hours before the workout.  Not that I get stitches, but I'm just more comfortable working out with an empty, or nearly empty, stomach.
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Offline kallyn

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Re: Minor cramps and stitches
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2007, 09:25:59 PM »
Usually when I cramp it is due to lack of magnesium, not calcium.
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Offline KP

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Re: Minor cramps and stitches
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2007, 11:24:13 AM »
I usually get it when I eat too close to exercise and only during hard workouts. Sometimes it helps to slow down and decrease your stride and push into the area with you fingers and hand. Come to think of it, I haven't been bothered with it so much since eating very paleo. Milk was a very big problem factor. How's the variety in the foods you eat? Since you posted this, have it gone away?
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Offline kallyn

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Re: Minor cramps and stitches
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2007, 11:33:11 AM »
Quote from: KP on September 21, 2007, 11:24:13 AM
Milk was a very big problem factor. How's the variety in the foods you eat?

That's actually related to magnesium too!  If you eat dairy, even if your magnesium intake is considered "adequate" by the RDA or whatever, the high levels of calcium in dairy can skew your body's ratio so that you have symptoms of magnesium deficiency (one of which is muscle cramps and twitches).
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-Elizabeth
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Offline George

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Re: Minor cramps and stitches
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2007, 08:21:50 AM »
Quote from: KP on September 21, 2007, 11:24:13 AM
I usually get it when I eat too close to exercise and only during hard workouts. Sometimes it helps to slow down and decrease your stride and push into the area with you fingers and hand. Come to think of it, I haven't been bothered with it so much since eating very paleo. Milk was a very big problem factor. How's the variety in the foods you eat? Since you posted this, have it gone away?

Hi folks, thanks for the replies... funny one this, it's either got rather better or I've got used to it, but anyway I still get the occasional 'pre-cramp', or a little stitch. My variety is pretty good I think, plenty of fresh veg, fresh & dried fruit, all kinds of meats, fish, nuts... no dairy, although I definitely subscribe to the view that acute stress is fine and even desirable for the body, so I'm not religious (I had a huge plate of nachos for lunch ;-) I'm a normal modern-paleo kinda guy.
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Re: Minor cramps and stitches
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2007, 08:21:50 AM »
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