Cramps during bug-in

[Doc13067]

Hey guys, very very often when I’m tying in to the utility lines my hands cramp up so bad that I have to put my tools down and use my other hand to pry open my fingers. This happens from holding the utility line while cutting it (sometimes with the hand that’s holding and sometimes with the hand that’s stripping insulation), holding a bug while torquing it, or just bending the wires where I need them.

I’m working with 12kv gloves that don’t fit great, very often a ladder that makes me have to reach a bit, and a good amount of time in the cold. I stretch beforehand a lot and drink lots of water and Powerade.

Is there anything I can buy to minimize this? If the ladder is taller or if gloves fit better can this be solved? I know this has happened to everyone so I’m curious what you guys did to solve it.

 

[ptonsparky]

Solved it by retiring. Mostly anyway. It still happens when I use my hands more than usual day to day life.

 

[jim dungar]

See a hand specialist.
I needed 'trigger finger' release surgery. Should have done it before the damage became so bad, but my fingers no longer lock in place.

 

[rambojoe]

Water. And potassium chelate.

 

[cadpoint]

If you research the ingredients between the differences in Powerade and gatorade, well powerade
has a lot more chemicals.

Powerade
Water, Glucose, Citric Acid, Acidity Regulators (Sodium Citrate, Potassium Citrate), Fructose, Stabilisers (Acacia Gum, Glycerol Esters of Wood Rosins), Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid), Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K), Flavourings, Colour (Carotenes), Vitamin B6. Contains a source of Phenylalanine.

gatorade -frost
Ingredients. Water, Sugar, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Modified Food Starch, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin.

Personally more daily bananas and fruit cups or real, Welsh Gummies, Multi Vitamin - daily, fruit bars (figs or berry),
I drink a water all day, my treat at lunch is a frost Gatorade, or a watermelon Lipton tea, I might even enjoy a coke.

Most people don't eat correctly. My hands up.
Man needs both B 6 and 12, Woman only need B6. For me, it helps me handle my own disposition.

 

[Hv&Lv]

FWIW, 25kV and 35kV gloves make my hands cramp also. Or at least used to.. havent had on gloves in quite a while.

 

[roger]

Heck, mine even does it around my steering wheel at times and I have an elevated level of potassium.

 

[Amps]

A short time ago I realized that I was not getting enough potassium. Most people don't get even close to the RDA amount of 4700 mg per day. I started getting bad leg cramps, wrist cramps and getting tired. Some of its old age, lol, but when I considered all the sweating I do, climbing ladders, up and down stairs, physical exertion each day and lack of potassium in my diet, it made sense to eat more. So I use coconut water, OJ, bananas and make a smoothie every day. Also I try eating some potatoes, dried apricots, nuts, etc. No more cramps and even common achy muscles became less. If you decide to increase potassium and are on blood pressure meds check with your doctor. I also use the small packet type hand warmers in my gloves. I get a box of them at Cabela's. If you are reaching out and / or working above your head, circulation can be an issue too. Magnesium supplements may help too. Cabela's Hand Warmers

 

[zbang]

Not just the right amount of potassium- pinching certain nerves in the neck (between c5 and c6?) will also cause hands to cramp or go numb. If this happens mostly when tilting the head back, it's more likely to be a nerve problem (it's manageable but ask your doctor about it).

 

[Amps]

Not just the right amount of potassium- pinching certain nerves in the neck (between c5 and c6?) will also cause hands to cramp or go numb. If this happens mostly when tilting the head back, it's more likely to be a nerve problem (it's manageable but ask your doctor about it).

I usually get tingling in my hand when it's aggravated. Never knew it could cause cramping. Also, tinnitus but that's for another post.

 

[LarryFine]

I have gotten hand cramps after a long day of using hand tools, which I can ease by flattening my fingers, but the worst cramps I have ever had were on the insides of both of my thighs after a long day of ladder climbing.

They start after I lie down, and hurt so much that I have to get up and limp around bow-legged, even though it doesn't seem to help, with real tears of pain on my face, lasting about 15 minutes before slowly subsiding.

Fortunately, I haven't had them in several years.

 

[ptonsparky]

Once I stretch whatever is cramping I'm usually good for a bit.

 

[cadpoint]

In VA Beach, a God fearing man named Edgar Cayce came to town and tried to start a hospital for Healing, I want to say in the 30's. The VA Medical Board would have nothing of it. I've frankly forgotten all the aspects of what he was trying to do. His Research and Enlightenment
Center is still there. Many books have been written on Cayce, I read his Biography when I was a pup in my late teens.
The books covered the many aspects of healing and health that he spoke of, which were documented while he was in a trance.

His prognostications are profound. Your miles may vary,

If you have neck problems don't do this.

Not just the right amount of potassium- pinching certain nerves in the neck (between c5 and c6?) will also cause hands to cramp or go numb. If this happens mostly when tilting the head back, it's more likely to be a nerve problem (it's manageable but ask your doctor about it).

Neck and eye exercising was one thing I do remember. Daily, one is to tilt their head to the left and the right, and back and forward three times
each. With your head still direct your eyes, up and down and right and left three times each. These exercises relieve neck and eye stress .

No different than what employers want in having a morning stretch. I can hear the necks cracking.

 

[Amps]

I have gotten hand cramps after a long day of using hand tools, which I can ease by flattening my fingers, but the worst cramps I have ever had were on the insides of both of my thighs after a long day of ladder climbing.

They start after I lie down, and hurt so much that I have to get up and limp around bow-legged, even though it doesn't seem to help, with real tears of pain on my face, lasting about 15 minutes before slowly subsiding.

Fortunately, I haven't had them in several years.

That sort of thing gets scary, especially when it comes out of nowhere and being woken at night.

 

[Hv&Lv]

I have gotten hand cramps after a long day of using hand tools, which I can ease by flattening my fingers, but the worst cramps I have ever had were on the insides of both of my thighs after a long day of ladder climbing.

They start after I lie down, and hurt so much that I have to get up and limp around bow-legged, even though it doesn't seem to help, with real tears of pain on my face, lasting about 15 minutes before slowly subsiding.

week before last I had these. Probably the worst pain I have felt in quite some time.
And I agree you feel like crying when they hit.

 

[busman]

We just call it "the Claw". I get it most often when doing heavy-ups and doing a few hundred wire nuts in a row.

 

[rambojoe]

I hate to admit it, but those now required morning stretches help more than anything...
Apart from the usual finger, leg and core Charlie horses, I've always get the toe curling ones too.. at around 12:30 at night.
The word from many sports nutritionist is Gatorade is only for after activity recovery. For me it's just overly sweet crap.
What does work is unsweetened coconut water- pulp free please.

 

[GoldDigger]

I hate to admit it, but those now required morning stretches help more than anything...
Apart from the usual finger, leg and core Charlie horses, I've always get the toe curling ones too.. at around 12:30 at night.
The word from many sports nutritionist is Gatorade is only for after activity recovery. For me it's just overly sweet crap.
What does work is unsweetened coconut water- pulp free please.

Many recommend a 50-50 mixture of electrolyte replacement and flavored water for all but endurance athletes.

 

[ATSman]

I will refer you to this other thread: https://forums.mikeholt.com/threads/carpal-tunnel.2568193/
I will also report after taking HA for the past year the pain in my hands have gone away. I ran out of the HA pills around 2 mos. ago and have stopped them since. Also my work that involved manually switching of ATS (transfer switches) has slowed down considerably may be related to the pain going away. You did not state your age but that may be a consideration re: arthritis, CTS, bone problems, etc.

 

[kwired]

My son played football in college, a small NCAA division 3 school, back in 2007-2010. I noticed especially in early season games when weather was hotter they had big jars of pickles on the sidelines, I presume for electrolyte replacement. I do know Gatorade has a lot of sugar in it compared to when it first came out and was mostly only used for electrolyte replacement for athletes - which is what it originally was created for. And from what I understand it was called Gator aide because it was initially developed at or for the University of Florida Gators.