I'm just about one year into swimming since stopping after college thirty years ago. I always retained great leg strength though biking but seven years ago I developed very bad sciatica at disc L5-S1, and pain down my left leg was excruciating. Three years ago I had a 2nd surgery and finally began recovery. The problem that remains is a tendency (actually more of a certainty) of getting bad cramps in my left calf and both arches in my feet. The chiropractors we get at big swim meets all say any nerve damage would be healed by now and I simply need to strengthen my calf muscle. Using fins will guarantee a cramp in seconds and actually so will a pull-buoy.
Anybody else every had this dilemma?
Former Member
Make sure you go to a sports related doc. & tell him/her what your goals are. Good luck.
+1
Also physical therapists tend to be knowledgable and helpful.
I heard someone mention recently that drinking half a glass of tonic water before swimming totally took care of his foot/leg cramping problems. I haven't tried this myself because I haven't had much trouble with cramping lately, and I've never heard this solution before - but it sounds pretty simple to test out.:anim_coffee:
One banana doesn't do it..
I have hypothyroidism and cramp
To avoid cramping I ritualistically consume..
2v8 low sodium during the day....gives me 2400 mg of potassium and 2 cal/mag/zinc at 500mg each at dinner...I sleep like a baby and no more cramping....also I use tyr ebp burner fins, they are soft rubber and shorter...
Good luck, it'll get better!
I'm just about one year into swimming since stopping after college thirty years ago. I always retained great leg strength though biking but seven years ago I developed very bad sciatica at disc L5-S1, and pain down my left leg was excruciating. Three years ago I had a 2nd surgery and finally began recovery. The problem that remains is a tendency (actually more of a certainty) of getting bad cramps in my left calf and both arches in my feet. The chiropractors we get at big swim meets all say any nerve damage would be healed by now and I simply need to strengthen my calf muscle. Using fins will guarantee a cramp in seconds and actually so will a pull-buoy.
Anybody else every had this dilemma?
I came here looking for the relationship between sodium/potassium and high hematocrit levels. I had dynesys done on L4-L5. Pro firefighter/ medic, and roofing company owner for 25 years. Back is fantastic, recommend looking into it if you have no relief. And, yes I swim like a fish!
I have a very extensive running background and used to own a tech running store. Your symptoms sound similar to plantar fasciitis. I know your problem is probably related to your sciatica but maybe your symptoms could be helped using the same measures we use to help folks with the other problem.
Try wearing shoes with a firm mid-sole and a good heel counter all day long. Add a 1/4 inch heel lift to your shoes; if you can find a simple sorbathane heel lift they seem to work very well. Never wear flip-flops, Toms, or shoes with negative heel lift.
They make night time braces for plantar fasciitis but I've never known anyone who had much success with them. The ice massages can give some temporary relief too.
Darkthirty.... thanks for dredging up this conversation from a year ago -I've had limited success with a few stretching and massage techniques but I will look into your advice, as well as Bobinator's and the story link from Jim. Jim-we throw just about anything into our juicer to see what sort of magic serums we can create but haven't thought of pickles. Cucumbers yes.
