why do i get cramps....?

[yipman]

my band has just played 7 or 8 gigs after years of just mucking about, but almost everytime we play live i get really bad cramp in my feet and i have to jam my toes against the floor.... im not a great player and obviously having to concentrate on balancing as well as playing is tough.... and then using the footswitch....
but, why does this happen? it never ever happens at other times...
i read something about diuretics causing it... and i guess i do usually piss quite a few times before going on....
i do get nervous but not to the point that it stops me playing..

also the bass player gets a similar thing with his picking (right) hand seizing up.. and again it never happens during rehearsal.. whats going on? i dont think we are physically cut out for this!!

[paul74]

What are you drinking during the gig? My first thought would be dehydration.

[yipman]

id usually have a pint of ale and some water... but this never happens at any other time, whether im dehydrated or not.. only ever on stage.
always drink after, not before!! (learned that the hard way!)
can nerves cause dehydration?

[getbent]

the first time it happened was probably a little dehydration, not stretching and not being used to the prolonged activity... now, it may be a combination of those things and a little stage fright manifesting itself.

put on your stage clothes and have a rehearsal that is as long as the gig... if neither you nor the bass player have the problem, then you'll kind of know that it is nervousness for the most part.

if you have the problem at the long rehearsal (and play it just like a gig) then you know that you both need to start exercising and stretching and getting in shape to play a gig.... that may sound funny, but I find gigs to be very physical activities with load in, load out and a night of moving on stage... you need to be be able to play two gigs physically in order to play one comfortably.

it may also be your shoes... lots of guys wear boots with heels on gigs and arent used to that... practice like you play and you'll find your problem...

the bass player nervously is probably playing 'harder' at the gig than at practice... so, either he should turn up or work on his hand strength.

no magic here.

[yipman]

i think youre right about the bass player, i think hes trying to play harder.. but only he knows that..
we practise once a week and usually start with a random freak-out, then play our set (40minutes.) twice, and then work on new songs til the end.. so i dont think its physical fitness...
also, we are english, so we dont wear high heeled boots!
ive tried different shoes and trainers....
thanks a lot for your suggestions, i think i maybe need to cane the water and hope i dont need to go during the set!!
you are totally right about how draining a gig can be... it takes me a day to recover from the adrenalin rush... its almost like a come-down the next day

[muudcat]

Electrolytes can help if you sweat a lot or urinate a lot. Calcium, potassium,sodium. On the cheap a Tums ant acid will ward off cramps ( calcium) Sounds more like just relaxing while you play

[yipman]

cool. im sorry this is more of a medicine/doctors thread! but this is why this is the best forum around... i did have kidney stones a few years ago, in my early 20s, so maybe thats a calcium thing thats related... i might try one of these things next gig..
ps i used my new tele for the first time at the gig on saturday.. pretty happy with it!! (just so we arent too off topic!)
pps fountain city sounds like an amazing place...

[jefrs]

Salt.

Taking salt will ward off cramps. It allows you to take in more water. That part of the problem is all to do with electrolyte levels and hydration.
Nanny says salt is bad for you, Nanny is probably right, but if you are getting cramp try putting some on your food before the gig. Eating an hour or so before playing will also help calm the nerves if it is that.
Beer is isotonic, balanced electrolytes, but is also makes you want the potty.

[Frontier9]

Magnesium tablets can help with cramping - I take 1 300mg tablet a day for 4-5 days to relieve cramping in my calves whenever the problem arises. Works for me.

[Martin R]

Originally Posted by getbent

it may also be your shoes... lots of guys wear boots with heels on gigs and arent used to that... practice like you play and you'll find your problem...
.

You're right about that. The first gig with pointy-toed high-heeled boots just about did me in. So I started wearing them at rehearsals.

Not only did the pain stop, but I could actually hit the pedals without falling down. (It did take a certain amount of drama out of the shows, though.)

[paul74]

Hot stage lights, adrenalin, jumping about, these things don't usually cause problems at rehearsals but when it comes to gig time...

[czook]

Potassium levels could be low and it is an easy fix with a potassium supplement. If you are dehydrating you lose sodium and potassium. Salt tablets have been used for years when you are sweating heavily to ward off cramps.

If you are peeing a lot that is one of the symptoms of untreated diabetes.

[Mike Bruce]

In my case it was a manifestation of nervousness. Even when I told myself I wasn't nervous, the muscle tension belied that. Initially I used alcohol to ease the nerves, but gradually I admitted I had a problem with that. Confidence, stretches, water, etc all help, but experience has been the biggest solution.

[guitarbiker]

In a peformance situation you're probably clenching your toes and feet. It's stress, the down side other than your pain is your band will sound very tight and not nice to listen too. Too many bands I hear are over rehearsed, not enough looseness, following arrangements exactly all the time. Nothing more boring to watch a band trying so hard to remember exactly how they did stuff in rehearsal with no spontaneous interaction.

[charliebrown]

Good suggestions above...I'll just say that getting old isn't for wimps (speaking for myself only) ;-)

[Paul in Colorado]

I bounce on my feet when I play standing up and do the pedal dance a lot and often get ankle cramps the next morning or the middle of the night. Stretching helps. Eating bananas is supposted to be good for you, too.

[jguitarman]

I had a gig once where I spent the entire day of playing guitar and drinking coffee-all day. That night my ring finger on my fretting hand locked itself against my palm. I immediately downed a ton of water and it got better.
Since then I drink lots of water and not too much coffee (dirhretic). I also take potassium tablets. I have not had my fingers lock up much more but occasionally I can feel them starting too.
My band is very busy and sometimes we play three gigs over the weekend. A lot of our gigs require driving of an hour or so each way. After the gig when I'm laying in bed I get some nasty foot cramps. I think it's the result of loading in, standing for 3-4 hours , loadingup and driving home. All of this on an overweight body gets to the feet. Being 57 doesn't help either. I try to be conscious of what I'm standing on during the gig. If its concrete I might bring a rug.

[jefrs]

Rug = type of blanket (travel rug), or possibly a wig

[Boblets]

Perhaps you could see your doctor to see if you have a medical condition that needs treatment. Maybe some blood tests to see how things are balanced in your body. As suggested above you might need a magnesium supplement or something similar. As you get older remember that fish oil is your friend.

[StoogeSurfer]

Originally Posted by jguitarman

I had a gig once where I spent the entire day of playing guitar and drinking coffee-all day. That night my ring finger on my fretting hand locked itself against my palm. .

I'm 55 and recently had the same issue, but on my left index finger. It is no fun as you know. Beer and coffee are no longer on the gig night menu, but Gatorade is. Things are much better now.

Drinking just water won't help, and it may actually hurt because it will flush out the minerals you need in your muscles.