When I was young in sports football and wrestling, I was excellent shape for motocross and could race fast all day long.
I stopped riding in 1995 because I had all my large colon removed and left with ostomy bag. Chrones disease and ulceritive colitis issues. This caused me to dehydrate and pass out when I tried to ride again, so I quit the sport.
30 years later I am trying to ride MX tracks again, but I have severe cramping that forces me to stop riding. My legs from top to foot all can cramp bad and my fingers and hands lock up unable to move fingers.
I pushed myself riding four days in a row. I get cramping spasm locking up of some sort during end of each ride day. On day four I could barely make one lap before left leg cramp wouldn't let me grip tight and put pressure on foot peg in corner. At this point I can't recover for the day. Have to stop riding for the day.
I usually eat healthy and only drink plenty of water. I used all these pill and supplements... 3 per day ic cyclobenzaprine 5mg, ryno power mana gel three times per day, ryno motivation pill two times per day, magnesium l-threonate 2000mg pill, one ibuprofen, probably 8x 28fl.oz. water with nuun hydration tablets, and probably 8 more just water. had some bites of bannanas, orange apple. That was my best effort.
I think I do everything wrong. I could be locking up my system by too much water and stuff possibly, but with my large colon being gone I feel like I can't injest too much but I don't know.
I'm age 52 , I ask my doctor same questions but most all responses nowadays seem to just claim age related, but thats wrong. I could be in excellent shape if I would of known then.
I also tried the rub on skin muscle cooling gel coated legs and arms. Made me feel chilly cold, might help some. and I used full leg compression sleeves.
I just hope you proffessionals out there in this sport can help me overcome my physical disability so I can moto exercise, rip turns and go for big jumps.
Can you help me figure out how to overcome my health issues?
Severe leg cramping I have to straighten leg and foot and hold to try to stop spasm cramping foot and leg different times.in multiple locations and fingers lock up won't move can't open fingers to grab lever controls. This makes me weak unable to ride.
I remember also as a kid the fingers would lock up and I couldn't open them to grab levers, I think thats just dehydration.
Thank you all for any helpful advise.
Consult another physician or two, I think you’d be much better off getting the information you’re looking for from them. With your prior medical history I think this is above vital’s pay grade.
So, you're telling me you drank 8 x 28oz with Nuun (1.75 gallons) and another 1.75 gallons of straight water in a day?
I could not drink 3.5 gal in a day if you told me you'd give me a factory ride to do it. And if I did, riding would be impossible because I'd never leave the toilet.
I'm not positive but I think it's in the range. I don't drink anything but water and if I'm sweating at the track, I drink non stop. I pee often when not exercise but I think the supplements retain and I rarely pee during exercise, so maybe I need more water still.
You're drinking 8 Nuun tablets in one day????? That is WAY too much sodium dude.
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Cut-out all the supplements, drink straight water, establish a baseline before adding unnaturals levels of things to your diet. Start with a 1 a day supplement, and fruits and vegetables to boost vitamins. Try sipping pickle brine throughout the day riding.
Ricky is spot on. I came in ready to give some tips but saw the ostomy issues and can’t in good conscience try to lecture you with bro science. See the doc. Maybe see if they’ll give a referral to a dietitian.
This is the way. Try and see a sports med doctor.
That is WAY too much water. The gels should only be used right before a ride or during if a long ride as they are very sugar heavy. The cramping you are experiencing seems to be something more than hydration related. Get a FULL blood panel done and that will tell your doctor what supplements you need.
In the meantime, drink 50% of your body weight in ounces of water daily. This does not include other drinks or drinks while exercising. Eat a strong mix of veggies, fruits, protein, and good carbs avoiding processed foods.
Potassium. Coconut water and sweet potatoes is my go to. That was a game changer when I got into endurance sports.
but Ricky is right, talk to a sports medicine doctor.
My first thought is too much water and not enough potassium but I have no idea what is in all the stuff you are drinking/taking. I cramp up when I don't get enough potassium but as others have said, talk to your Dr. I used to drink Gatorade a long time ago but switched to Body Armor Lyte as it's got way more K+ and less sugar and that really helped me with cramping. Hope you get things sorted out!
I’d try less supplements, regular water, eat well and some light exercise off the bike. Something in the combination of all those supplements might be doing you more harm than good.
I’ve found no matter what I take, if I’m not physically ready to ride, you can’t just get on the bike and do 20 minute Motos. Maybe you need more stretching, 2 mile walk, spin bike, etc.
Could even be bike set up making you grip too hard or feel uncomfortable.
0.5 gallon per day in pure water, in addition to some meal drinks (soda or milk) should be a good baseline if you at the same time eat at least 3 regular meals of some variation so you get minerals and salt. This should be in at least 3 days (including day you ride, if you start late).
That's for a normal person and it might not be optimal, but it wil take you to 85-90% capacity no matter what.
If that doesn't work for you, you need someone knowledgeable to help you. Might be your are not able to pick up some things that we other can.
LOL. My prostate just seized up reading that.
Good luck OP. Kudos to you for trying to ride despite some limitations.
Do the research on Sea Salt! This is a game changer. I started drinking water with Sea Salt and solved lots of issues. I cook with Sea Salt only.
The biggest issue for me was High Blood Presure Meds, on them since 2001 or so. 100% off them now - How? Our bodies get used to the meds so one must wean themselves off them over time. I cut them in half and then added days between taking them. I started drinking Sea Salt (1/2 tablespoon to 8 oz)and 6 months later no HP Meds at all. It has been over a year now. I drink water with Sea Salt in it daily and some times only a few times a week. Don't use Corporate Salt that is in every store in the world as it is not good for us.
One does not need to drink XX glasses or OZ of water a day. Stay away from Gatoraid and other BS....
I also quit alcohol and all processed foods that I can. Yes there is no perfect diet as the foods as a whole are shit. However every step one takes in planning a good diet helps.
No more heart burn, unless I cave and eat or drink something that is not natural or that the body can assimilate.
The best thing for heart burn is baking soda, not any of the over the counter crap!
Its your body and you have freewill and choice, so do what pleases you!
Do the researh if you choose.......or don't if you choose
Hyponytremia should be a part if any hydration discussion. It is less common than dehydration but Ive seen it in action and its nasty
Too much straight water can be a problem. You can flush the electrolytes from your system. I don't ride Moto anymore but race XC MTB and this was the hardest piece of the puzzle for me. I am a very salty sweater. The night before a 3+ hour ride I preload about 1000mg of sodium via LMNT. I do the same the first thing in the morning and add 500mg sodium tablets from Precise Nutrition to my bottles. That is to prevent cramping after 2 hours of intensity, Moto is such a sprint I can't imagine your situation is solely hydration.
A little off topic but yall should try Gatorlyte, it’s essentially a toned down pedialyte and keeps me feeling fresh at the track
As stated above sea salt mixed with water is a game changer! Sip on that throughout the day along with clean water and personally I sip on an organic coconut water. One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is I think 4 days straight riding is asking too much of yourself, let your body recover. 2 days of quality riding will get you closer to your goal than over doing it and being tired/sore.
Pit Row
Agreed with all, one day riding two days light cardio / recovery then would Be recovered for a good ride or workout
I drink Tonic water at the races, helps with arm pump as it has Quinine in it.
The Ryno motivation has 136 MG of caffeine in it per serving. That will for sure dry you out. I'd check the other products as well.
Regarding hydration, drink lots of water 2-3 days before you ride. Including something like Skratch Labs hydration mix. Hydrating the day of isn't enough.
I try an increase my water intake by 1/3 starting on Wednesday when I know I am going to ride on Saturday out here in the Vegas desert. A normal day of water intake should be half your body weight in ounces.
Awesome help. Thanks everyone. This helps motivate to keep trying .
Salt and bananas
I won't go so far as to say most supplements are worthless, but for most people, most supplements are worthless. Don't even worry about them until you've got yourself in great shape without them and feel like you've plateaued.
You need to consider that your body isn't nearly ready for what you're asking it to do, and you might be far more deconditioned than you want to admit. Slow and steady. Forget the supplements and salt tabs and replace some of the water with low calorie sports drink for some electrolyte replacement during workouts.
If you're really taking in that much water, I'd be curious if you're having way more ostony output than you should be.
Lot to consider, but first thing to do is stop complicating things with all the extra junk.
Add celtic sea salt to all your water until you can taste it, if you can taste it, its too much. If that doesn't fix it I would try an anti inflammatory diet.
Leg cramps from hylands is the best for calf & feet cramps. My left calf& foot cramps bad since my 02 back surgery. A couple kinds of hydration powder from Walmart , works a little . Make water tastes better to drink more. I think I drink 1 to 1 1/2 gal of water mixed with the powder in the trk daily. Physical work & 180 degrees in a trl. Liquid magnesium is cheap that works too. I had women tell me that yellow mustard works for leg cramps. I only like to ride when it’s hot & muggy . Riding don’t c ramp me up at all. But I drink after a 4-5 lap heater.
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