lost due to cramping...should i have just retired? advice please.

eunjam · 02-03-2007, 09:33 PM

you know. i feel like total crap. i lost in the 1st round today due to cramping. i had 5-4 40-15 in the 3rd set and lost it because i couldn't move. i didn't know what to do and the umpire couldn't give me advice.

i took one 3 minute time out. and took a 2nd one blaming my other leg, even though the ump knew i was lying. the opponent was totally cool and felt really bad for me.

should i have just retired as i went on to lose every single point thereafter, except 1 due to opponent's double fault.

btw.....what are you supposed to do? i had no banana. i streched it (my calf muscle) which made it feel better temporarily, but any strain on it just brought back that knife stabbing pain.

i drank 1/2 gallon of gatorade. i thought gatorade had that sodium stuff in it to help prevent dehydration and cramping.

someone said to play through it. and i gave him that look of wanting to shove my racquet through his ear.

i literally almost started crying. 36 year old man crying is not a pretty sight. i was so upset and ****ed at the same time.

i never want to cramp ever again in my life.

Voltron · 02-03-2007, 09:39 PM

I would played with honor rather than retired. Eat carbs the day before, eat a banana/strawberry smoothie the day of, damn those are good though. I would not drink a half gallon of anything before my match, that alone could have caused it. Drinking anything with salt stuffs in it WILL make you cramp. Maybe bad water? Too much gatorade? Anyway you did the right thing, unless its a bad injury.

Voltron · 02-03-2007, 09:39 PM

Oh, the same thing happened to me in the finals of a recent tourny, I feel your pain.

Cruzer · 02-03-2007, 10:31 PM

Once I start getting cramps, generally in my calves during a match they only get worse if I try to continue to play. I have had cramps in my calves a couple of times when I literally could not move. By the time it gets to that point I was done.
If you are not properly prepared before you start playing drinking gatorade or eating bananas after you start getting cramps is too late.

Sagittar · 02-03-2007, 10:37 PM

i think you did the right thing , the match was already over and it would have been bad if you retired that late in the match ..
any way try stretching a lot and i think 2 gallons of gatorade are a lot ..

goober · 02-04-2007, 04:50 AM

Hey I didn't play you this weekend?

j/k

you did the right thing at the time. There's not much you could have done more to try to relieve your cramps

If you had two match points and you were in that bad of shape I would have went for ACEs and winners.

The only thing you can do in future is get in better shape

armand · 02-04-2007, 05:31 AM

I've never had a leg cramp, maybe once in my life. But I do get cramps in my side, which I think is called a 'stich'(no not the German proununciation). I wonder why that is...

rasajadad · 02-04-2007, 05:36 AM

Eunjam,
First of all, you did what you could. You played until you couldn't play any more. Despite my best efforts (Proper food, hydration, and training), I cramp occasionally. Sometimes in the leg, but sometimes in my right hand too.

J011yroger · 02-04-2007, 06:09 AM

Hydration is key. I drink constantly the entire day of a match not just during it, try not to drink any coffee (I do in the morning if the match is at night.). If you aren't peeing clear you are doing something wrong. If cramps are a constant problem for you then you can take a multi mineral type vitamin daily and it will help tremendously. Make sure you get a good vitamin from a reputable company like twinlab or something, you would be amazed how much junk is in some of those off brands.

J

migjam · 02-04-2007, 08:41 AM

I've gotten this info from two sources, one being a doctor. They both said drinking pickle juice can help when cramping. I haven't tried it yet, because the thought makes me sick, but supposedly it works.

Cindysphinx · 02-04-2007, 10:22 AM

I've never cramped.

I lose too fast for that.

rasajadad · 02-05-2007, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by migjam

I've gotten this info from two sources, one being a doctor. They both said drinking pickle juice can help when cramping. I haven't tried it yet, because the thought makes me sick, but supposedly it works.

Maybe vomiting wards off cramping?

Sakkijarvi · 02-06-2007, 11:37 PM

I keep a jar of my favorite cure-all in my bag: Mineral Ice. When a muscle starts acting funky, I smear a dollop of this blue gel on and all is well again. It's gotten me through some matches and I swear by it.

Sakki

ATXtennisaddict · 02-08-2007, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voltron

I would played with honor rather than retired. Eat carbs the day before, eat a banana/strawberry smoothie the day of, damn those are good though. I would not drink a half gallon of anything before my match, that alone could have caused it. Drinking anything with salt stuffs in it WILL make you cramp. Maybe bad water? Too much gatorade? Anyway you did the right thing, unless its a bad injury.

Wait, how does drinking Gatorade (to replenish sodium) make you cramp? I thought it's the other way round. Lack of sodium = cramp?

sureshs · 02-08-2007, 12:48 PM

So, people here fake injuries too? I thought it was done only at the higher levels.

adlis · 02-08-2007, 02:19 PM

looking at your symptoms i am sure this is result of creatine use

Voltron · 02-08-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATXtennisaddict

Wait, how does drinking Gatorade (to replenish sodium) make you cramp? I thought it's the other way round. Lack of sodium = cramp?

I think TOO MUCH gatorade can make you cramp. As far as I know TOO MUCH sodium will also cause cramps. A full gallon before a match is WAY TOO MUCH. AM I USING TO MANY CAPITAL LETTERS????

serveitup911 · 02-08-2007, 02:25 PM

Trade Secret for cramps = drink a can of Coca-Cola. The Caffeine and sugar will hold off the cramps temporarily. After the match, be sure to rehydrate.

dacrymn · 02-08-2007, 02:42 PM

But you know, if not for the all-important honor thing, retiring would have confirmed that you were not lying. I dunno, whatever you wanted to do.
________
marijuana strain strawberry cough

retrowagen · 02-08-2007, 03:12 PM

I think it's fairly well-known that once cramping, any amount of water or Gatorade (water is better) can't help much. The lot is already cast, so to speak. If you have a longer match and a track record of having muscle cramps, just drink enough water through the course of the match, where it can be metabolized properly. Also, bring along a banana. The potassium inside the banana will help stave off cramping, but then again, it must be eaten before the cramping begins. So for your next match, if it goes to three, eat that banana on a changeover between the second and third sets, and drink water on every changeover.

02-03-2007, 09:33 PM	#1
eunjam Rookie Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 322	lost due to cramping...should i have just retired? advice please. you know. i feel like total crap. i lost in the 1st round today due to cramping. i had 5-4 40-15 in the 3rd set and lost it because i couldn't move. i didn't know what to do and the umpire couldn't give me advice. i took one 3 minute time out. and took a 2nd one blaming my other leg, even though the ump knew i was lying. the opponent was totally cool and felt really bad for me. should i have just retired as i went on to lose every single point thereafter, except 1 due to opponent's double fault. btw.....what are you supposed to do? i had no banana. i streched it (my calf muscle) which made it feel better temporarily, but any strain on it just brought back that knife stabbing pain. i drank 1/2 gallon of gatorade. i thought gatorade had that sodium stuff in it to help prevent dehydration and cramping. someone said to play through it. and i gave him that look of wanting to shove my racquet through his ear. i literally almost started crying. 36 year old man crying is not a pretty sight. i was so upset and ****ed at the same time. i never want to cramp ever again in my life.

02-03-2007, 09:39 PM	#2
Voltron Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pffft, like I'd know Posts: 3,906	I would played with honor rather than retired. Eat carbs the day before, eat a banana/strawberry smoothie the day of, damn those are good though. I would not drink a half gallon of anything before my match, that alone could have caused it. Drinking anything with salt stuffs in it WILL make you cramp. Maybe bad water? Too much gatorade? Anyway you did the right thing, unless its a bad injury. __________________ Bread slice x 2 with peanut butter and jelly @ 5 lbs

02-03-2007, 09:39 PM	#3
Voltron Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pffft, like I'd know Posts: 3,906	Oh, the same thing happened to me in the finals of a recent tourny, I feel your pain. __________________ Bread slice x 2 with peanut butter and jelly @ 5 lbs

02-03-2007, 10:37 PM	#5
Sagittar Hall Of Fame Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: center of the world Posts: 1,692	i think you did the right thing , the match was already over and it would have been bad if you retired that late in the match .. any way try stretching a lot and i think 2 gallons of gatorade are a lot .. __________________ How stupid to live as an angel among humans !!

02-04-2007, 05:36 AM	#8
rasajadad Hall Of Fame Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Western MA Posts: 1,994	Eunjam, First of all, you did what you could. You played until you couldn't play any more. Despite my best efforts (Proper food, hydration, and training), I cramp occasionally. Sometimes in the leg, but sometimes in my right hand too. __________________ Redondo MP / BB 11 / Yonex RDS 001 MP