[pct-l] Re: hand cramps

["Mike Kemner" <mkemner@go-concepts.com>]

>Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 22:50:00 -0700
>From: "Joanne Lennox" <goforth@cio.net>
>Subject: [pct-l] hand cramps
>
>
>I went through periods on the trail, where one or the other hands would
>cramp, usually the first and/or second fingers, and once it started, I
>seemed to be able to do nothing about it. I usually had to hold the cramped
>figures back to try to loosen the cramping, and as soon as I tried to grab
>something the cramping would start again.  When this would happen, I would
>just have to hold the cramping hand in a flexed back position with the
>other hand -sometimes for 30 minutes.  Got to be down right inconvenient.
>
>It seemed to happen more often when I was not walking, like when I was
>fixing dinner at night, but sometimes it was in the morning or while I was
>walking.
>
>I have gotten the same thing on long climbing outings and always assumed it
>was from carrying an ice ax all the time, and wondered if it was not
>related to the use of trekking poles on this hike.
>
>Are there any folks out this with this problem, and swhat did they do to
>remedy the situation?  Cause?

>Goforth

I experience this sometimes to when I'm on an extended hike.  I've been told
it's a potassium deficency, perhaps you might invest in some daily vitamins
or potassium pills.  Fill up on those potassium rich foods when ever you
can.

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