I keep getting pins and needles in my left hand... do you reckon drinking tonic water mixed with gin would help this? 

If you suffer with cramp a lot Pooly, you could ask your GP to send you to see someone at the Bio Mechanic dept of the hospital as it could mean that you are walking wrongly and straining the muscles in a way that is causing cramp
They sorted my cramp problem out.


Saz - I shall ask them the G & T question when I next go

I just did a bit more delving into the matter, and apparently I need to start eating more things that contain Potassium in them, like bananas and grapes and dates, I have no problem with that, in fact I don't eat enough fruit as it is.

I like gin and tonic - but I still get cramp.
If you get dehydrated it can bring on cramp.
One exercise which I have seen is to stand 2 or 3 feet away from a wall. Place hands on the wall and - without moving your feet - move your top half into the wall leaving your feet where they are.
This stretches the calf muscles which can help.
Quinine is in tonic water, and many people (especially elderly) are prescribed Quinine Sulphate tablets to take at night. But unfortunately they can cause constipation (and make your stoold black.)

I think drinking enough water and adapting your diet sound like good ideas to me Pooly

If my MIL was on here, she'd tell you to put a cork under your pillow.


Honestly!

You need to discuss this with your doctor as this can be the symptoms of various conditions unless it's just first thing when you wake up and it's caused by you sleeping with your hand beneath you. Read this if you want further info.

I bet they appreciate it I dunno whether I should see the doc about the pins and needles... doesn't seem right

I prefer to mix vodka with the tonic water, it really does help to take a lot of pain away.

Eat Bananas. They have mini anti-cramp warriors within them. Does the job good and proper, also cut down on your salt in take.

Dr Roo, here at your service.

If you have been getting pins and needles in your hand for some time for no obvious reason, you should talk to your doctor. The doctor will either be able to reassure you that there is nothing wrong or will be able to help you, but you are not wasting your time and you are not wasting the doctor's time by seeing him or her - that is what they are there for.

Pins and needles in themselves are just an irritant, but they can be the symptoms of something else. If you look at that link I posted, you will see that there are several things which can cause this. Don't panic, they are treatable, but the article does make the point that the sooner it is dealt with, the better. The one thing which is certain is that if (and it is an if, not a definite) something needs to be done, it's not going to get better by itself.

The range of possible ailments is too wide for anyone other than a doctor to be able to diagnose, so I am not going to try and speculate.

I am on the wonderful Quinine Sulphate tablets (and I'm not THAT old) and they little miracles for cramp. Fortunately, my stools are still pine coloured.
If you go for the tonic water, drink Diet Tonic Water as it has an extra ingredient that helps the cramp.

I also have pins & needles down my arms (and up my legs to my knees) so if you have this you should mention it to your GP.
God, I'm a flipping wreck!!!!