So my left foot CONSTANTLY cramps up. It's mostly when I'm laying still, but has happened on occassion when I've been up walking about. It's like the middle of my arch that cramps. And when it cramps it causes my big toe to bend this weird way and I can't move it at all until my food uncramps. And trying to rub or massage it only makes it worse. I've woken up in the middle of the night screaming from the pain when it happens.
Is it common for foot cramps to only occur in one foot and always occur in the same foot? I've never had a problem with cramps in my other foot or anything like that. What can I do to stop it, or at least make it feel better quicker when it does happen? It usually only lasts a few minutes (though seems like longer with the pain!) but I've had it last as long as 15 minutes straight before.
If you get rid of the pain before you have answered its questions, you get rid of the self along with it.
--Carl Jung
Do you tend to kick a football with your right foot by any chance? Also, what is your diet like and do you purge? How long has the cramps been frequent and have you started any new meds at about the time they started? The ones you get when you are walking, does it occur when you've been walking for a while/ walking quickly/ just been running?
May seem random questions but there are reasons! Cramping is horrible. I used to get it all the time but most have mine have settled down and I only get it in distinct muscles so I know exactly how you feel! The reason why it occurs is due to lactic acid building up in your muscle which causes pain and it to contract, depending on the muscle, it causes different things to occur. Yours sounds like it is mainly centred on one which flexes your big toes hence your toe bending a weird way.
I don't really kick footballs at all (I'm GREAT at anything requiring balance, but anything with hand-eye cordiation like throwing/catching/kicking a ball I suck at), but I guess if I did I'd kick it an equal amount of times with both my right and left foot (I tend to use both hands/feet fairly equally for things).
My diet... I haven't purged in a while. Haven't eaten in a while either though. When I do eat it's usually something small like a carrot or a few pieces of apple. I've been making sure to drink pleanty of water though.
I haven't started any new medications. I take concerta every morning, but I've been on that for ages now.
The cramps first started I guess maybe 3 or 4 months ago... I've gotten cramps in my feet from dancing before, but this is nothing like that... and I've gotten cramps in my legs before, but this feel different from that too... the other cramps I've had in the past have been painful, but more of a dull painful, where this is a sharp, burning painful.
The ones I've gotten when I've been walking haven't been right after I've been runing or anything like that. I'll just be walking normally and then sometimes my foot will cramp up. The worst ones have always been when I've just been lying down doing nothing though.
If you get rid of the pain before you have answered its questions, you get rid of the self along with it.
--Carl Jung
My right foot does that too I just keep poking it when it does >.<
I've tried poking it when it does, it makes it hurt even worse >.< There's one specific spot where if I push on it when it's cramped up it makes it REALLY bad.
If you get rid of the pain before you have answered its questions, you get rid of the self along with it.
--Carl Jung
First is diet. I have read that leg/foot cramps can be caused by a lack of calcuim/magnesium in the diet, and I have noticed when I take a multivitamin every day, my leg/foot muscle cramps go away completely. I get them too, and man, do they hurt! The muscle just balls in place and I can't move it. Mine are most always at night too, or after trying to rest. I don't know why I get them- my diet isn't bad, but still, the multivitamin trick works for me.
Second, if it's just one side, you may want to see a podiatrist. My sister has a foot that is slightly misshaped, and if she doesn't wear the correct foot support, she gets cramps in her foot. It's all in how her weight it distributed on that one foot, and if she doesn't have a supportive shoe, she has to wear in insert to correct the improper stand on that foot.
Try the multivitamin first- it's an inexpensive fix if you are deficient in one vitamin.
I think one of the main causes may well be your diet. If you're not taking in enough Sodium cramps are more likely and it could be that that part of your foot is already quite weak so the cramps affect it more. If possible, try and take foods that have got more salt in them/ take a more varied diet but I know this may be really hard and I appreciate that. If you can't then you can try a vit + mineral supplement but I don't know which have Sodium in; some do, some don't.
As mentioned above, you can go and see a Podiatrist (someone specialising in feet) see if they can help. For this you probably need a referral from your GP but I don't really know how the US system works. It may be that the GP refers you to a Podiatrist or to a Orthotics specialist, these are guys that design things to go in your shoes (as well as other things) to help with feet position and see if thats the problem. GPs can also give you medication to help with the cramps you are getting at night so I think these are probably your best bet.
yeh go and see a podiatist (me hehe) seriously tho, although it really hurts best thing to do when you got cramp is to walk around.
also some tonic water and diet tonic water contain quinine (check pack-some brands do some dont) which is used in the treatment of cramps and is very effective.
as well as your diet it could be something structural, so seeing a podiatrist they can do a biomechanical assessment(looking at your foot shape, how the muscles/ligaments are working etc) and check this out and manufacture insoles if necessary.
also with a cold can (coke etc) roll your foot over it forwars and back as this helps to reduce any inflammation and helps stretch the tendon on the base of your foot. also rotation your foot clockwise and anticlockwise , try doing this while sitting on computer cos i get alot of foot cramps (right foot only) when on laptop as i doesiflex my toes alot(point themm in the air) without really knowing it untill i get the cramp
good luck
this pic is so i can always remember jen who was my l'il sock monkey friend who has left ryl and i miss her!!!
this pic is so i can always remember jen who was my l'il sock monkey friend who has left ryl and i miss her!!! 