Do the elderely get cramp?

[RATTER15]

It has occurred to me that none of the elderly that I work with get any cramps, In 6 years of working at the home I have never known anyone get cramp and none of them are on medication for cramp.

Why is this?

[rowanwitch]

they do....

but probably just live with the discomfort

[Sqad]

Yes, RATTER they do.

How many elderly do you work with? Population of UK about 60 million......not all elderly....although millions look it.

[RATTER15]

Most adults I know get cramps at some stage but none of the elderly I know, maybe the pain level and frequency decrease with age.

Rowan, could you get a cramp and just live with it, when I get cramp it is agony and im hoping around the place like a man demented.

[rowanwitch]

just looked on a couple of websites and both indicate prevalence actually increases with age

[rowanwitch]

Thats because we are wussie youngsters ratter

[RATTER15]

mmm, not totally convinced. maybe they just dont feel the intense pain, pain receptors dying off maybe?

I know that their taste buds must die off when I see them chewing on paracetamol for a few minutes.

[woofgang]

Ratter don't you work with folk who have alzheimers? They do seem to have an altered perception of pain, will walk on a broken leg for instance.

[RATTER15]

Woofgang, that could be something to do with it and yes we did have a lady walking on a broken femur.

[jno]

I perhaps don'tmeet yoru definition of elderly, being some way short of 70, but boy do I get cramp.

[RATTER15]

jno, you are still a youngster, let me know if you are still getting them at 80 please.

[mrs_overall]

Just make sure the old folks don't trip over Frou Frou if you take her to work

[emmie]

tend to agree with rowan, they just may not let on. I get it so badly at times, that i am woken up by it.

[boxtops]

how old is elderly, ratter?

[jno]

I don't know how you can not let on, em - when I get cramp the whole street knows about it.

[jno]

incidentally, em, if I've had it I usually take a Crampex pill for the next couple of nights, just to discourage it from happening again - it seems to work. You just get it from the chemist.

[mojay]

rapidly approaching 77 and yes cramp seems to come in spasms every few weeks - incredibly painful but yelling'd not help as I'm home alone :)

[RATTER15]

Mts O, we do have a Frou Frou actually, ok so he is a little Shi-tzu called Sammy that does get taken to work sometimes. We also take the Wolfies but the trouble with them is if they make a sudden move they could knock someone over but they have all been in work at times, we have lots of pics of the hounds with residents but obviously cant put them on here.

[RATTER15]

Mojay, I reckon your cramps will stop at 80.

[mojay]

yayyy - thank you Ratt .... I wonder if I'll remember this discussion ?

[RATTER15]

boxtops, I would say 80 is elderly!