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

[eunjam]

Originally Posted by sureshs

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

sorry, but i was doing everything to try to continue my match and win.

my opponent was cool about it and felt really bad.

Originally Posted by dacrymn

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.

and you....yeah, i was lying. limping around, screaming in pain. not being able to put pressure at all on my right leg.

i was definitely lying.

especially considering i went to lose the next 2 1/2 games straight to lose the match.

i was lying. you caught me.

is there a priest in tt forum so i can do an online confession?

[Raiden.Kaminari]

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.

Yes, it's true. And yes, you have to love the alkaline taste.

Back to the original post ... I would play until I couldn't. If I felt that my cramp would lead to yet another injury (rupture another muscle), I would retire immediately.

I recently had a bad cramp and had to retire. It felt like it took me an hour to get off the court. The next group of players came on court before I could vacate it, so I had to get help from some spectators to carry my bag, and lend me their shoulder as I limped off court. Then I had to hire a massage therapist at the club so that the muscle would relax. Luckily, the club had a jacuzzi, so I took a shower and went in there for another hour ... but at night, my body reminded me that I should have retired a lot sooner since I cramped again. Ah well ... I need to be in better shape.

[update: It turns out that I really injured myself by trying to play through my cramp. The cramp was my body saying to me to stop abusing myself. However, I have to agree with Tennezsport that your scenario was "nervous" cramp since you were so close to match point.]

[10sfreak]

Originally Posted by eunjam

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.

Buddy, I feel your pain. You may be like me, in that you need LOTS of extra salt in your diet (provided it doesn't affect your blood pressure!). I used to be real bad about cramping up (hell, even laughing could cause me to cramp up real bad!). One day, I stayed cramped up, with every muscle in my body cramping, for over 14 hours straight! I actually went to sleep with my muscles still cramped up. The next morning, I did some research, and found out about hyponatremia (low blood sodium) and hypokalemia (low blood potassium). If you're sweating very heavily, and drinking lots of plain water, it can lead to those two conditions. Symptoms include severe cramping. So now, before I play tennis, I dissolve about 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a 12 oz. glass and down it. Also, I take 2 salt tablets every hour of play. I use Thermotabs I get from the Kroger pharmacy (you've got to ask for them - they're not prescription, but they still keep them behind the pharmacy counter). They've got 287mg of Chloride, 180mg of Sodium, and 15mg of Potassium per tablet. This regimen has virtually eliminated my cramping. I need to reemphasize how badly I used to be about cramping - I mean, I cramped a LOT!! One more thing: be sure to keep an eye on your blood pressure if you try this regimen. As I stated earlier, it didn't affect mine, but your body may react differently. Good luck, and if you do try my method, please come back and let us know how it works for you.

[TennezSport]

Eunjam,

Sounds like you may have been hydrated enough, but suffered the infamous Match Point Jitters; which has been known to make the best players severly cramp. You stated that you were at 5/4 and 40-15, so double match point, and maybe you started thinking about winning before it happened. Then when things don't go right, it makes the cramps feel worse and it can easily spiral out of control.

When you start thinking this way it's best to focus on what got you here and as Billy Jean King has always said, "stay in the moment" and just play the point like all of the others that got you there. Don't let yourself drift into thinking I am about to win this match. Takes practice but it really works.

Best of luck with your matches.

TennezSport