Muscle Cramps

I have been having muscle cramps in my biceps and forearms since my surgery 3 weeks ago.  I am not lifting anything, being that I am following the doctors orders.  Is this normal?

 I've always heard that muscle cramps can indicate low potassium. 

Thanks.  I should have remembered that from "American Dad" that I recently watched. 

Yea, low potassium can be the culprit but there might be some other simple causes.

Are you using a walker?  I doubt it but I'm checking.
Are you using your arms to get up and down when you didn't before?  This one might not be noticeable even though you are doing it.
Think hard about if you are using your arms in any way that you haven't before.

Dehydration is a huge cause of cramps, so are a lack of electrolytes (Thus the potassium)
Along with the potassium your calcium and magnesium could be low, as well as,  deficiencies of thiamine (B1), pantothenic acid (B5), and pyridoxine (B6).

I hope you talk to your doctor, I suspect if it isn't that you are using those muscles in a way you haven't been then it is either your electrolytes or the B vitamins.

Good luck!

-Jaime

No, I am not using a walker.
Yes, I am using my arms to get up and down when I didn't before, but it is really minimal lately. (Since the pain in my stomach has just about gone away.)

Dehydration could be reason.  I am only getting in 40oz of protein supplement (milk+dry milk) and 20oz of water w/crystal light a day. 

Calcium has been a problem for me.  I can't stand the orange flavor. I asked the NUT if I could start the Citracal Petites and she said not yet.  I do have a schedule now that helps me get most of them in.  Not sure about the Magnesium, B5 or B6.  I am taking 1 B1 per week.  I did have a B12 shot in the hospital on the 12th.

Thanks for the reply.

Dehydration hit me hard the second week or so.  It really farkled me up too.  I thought I was going to die, literally.  It was rough, not being able to drink.  I remember telling my wife and people that if I knew I couldn't drink water I would have never had surgery.

Anyway, I hope you figure out what it is and I know I wanted to reach through the computer and choke the crap out of the people that kept telling me this but... sip, sip, sip water.

-Jaime

My old coach used to blame dehydration.  Would make us drink water  till we puked.

Thanks.  As I just responded above, it very well could be dehydration.  I often feel queezy and it turns me off from drinking. 

Try Gatorade G2 to get the electrolytes.  My NUT had me dilute it 50/50 early on.

Forgot about the G2.  My wife drank that when she had her surgery. Thanks for the reminder.