thanks for bringing up this subject again.It reminded me of where I was 3 years ago, Trying like heck to figure out what I could do to help these awful strange & painful cramps I was having in my left foot every time I tried to exercise on the treadmil. This morning I took stalevo 100mg at 7:30am. Until about 9:45am, I was still stiff and uncomfortable. I didn't have breakfast so I would hopefully turn "on" quicker. At 9:25am the stiffness seemed less of a big deal, cause now the muscles of my legs had tightened so severely I could barely stand it. Finally though, I turned on. During these past 3 years the journey with this has caused the most challenging and painful experiences. The education I've gotten in what little the "experts" know about PD is astounding. My disapointment in certain professionals has at times made me furious and wondering if they really READ the hippocratic oath to "do no harm" On the otherhand, I have been truly blessed by people and yes, doctors, who do care and try very hard to help, but admit they don't have alot of the answers. Actually I think the real experts are we, the people who deal with this everyday. Next month I will hopefully have a decrease in all these symptoms with DBS surgery. Thankyou to all of you for your willingness to help me, your knowledge, your compassion, and for sharing your strength & hope at really horrendous times. I love you for it. Be encouraged! FG

I do not have parkinson's, though suffer from muscle cramping esp at night. I have found magnesium oil to help immensely (order it from internet; cannot find it in any health stores). If the cramp is esp. severe (ie lasting too long), I wrap a heating pad around my highly oiled leg also.

There is a difference in my life between the twistin restless feeling and foot cramps. When I have actual cramping, it seems to be because of mineral deficiency. I take Now Coloidal minerals ( a couple of doses ) and I am ok for several weeks without foot cramp. I have had my toes curl down/ other times they have culed up..mostly at night. but the minerals take care of it.

I get foot cramps also...there's a big difference between the twisting restless feeling of needing l-dopa supplementation and a real foot cramp (where the toes curl up or down, the pain is terrific and you have to get out of bed and try to walk to get it to go away) When that happens to me , I know I am short on minerals and take a dose of Now Coloidal Minerals right then and another dose in the daytime. That usually is enough to alleiviate them for a couple of weeks. I have used this for years and my father , who is 85 yrs young does too. Don't know what I'd do without the stuff!

Floridagal, we could practically be twins. Your experiances mirror mine nearly to a "T". I get foot cramps nearly every day and botox shots every 3 months. It helps alot but they are still a daily occurance. Last month I started going to an acupunturist and she told me to get off of wheat. The dyskenesia and cramps have lessened alot until today. I got a "wild hair" up...and had the worst day in months!! Foot cramps that lasted 2 hours and wild swinging dyskenesia this afternoon. Lesson learned.

I used to get foot cramps but rarely do now. Acupuncture seemed to solve the problem.

FG, Hi hope you are doing better. I had bad foot cramps and dystonia so bad in my right foot that it caused me to walk on the side of my foot, I could not plant my foot flat. I went to a podiatrist and got an orthotic type of brace that had velcro on it. It was a rigid type of splint that kept my foot from turning sidewayd. It was so severe that the bones in my foot are disformed and I had a huge tailor's bunion.

On another note you mentioned that you are having DBS next month! That is awesome. Where are you having it? I'd like to keep in touch with you post surgery if you'd like. Best wishes.

I get cramps in my right foot only yet my Parkinson's is worse on my left side... go figure. I get them so bad that my foot almost folds in half and it feels like the bones are going to break. A friend of mine with MS uses some cream that works for him. So I got some. It's supposed to be organic. All I know is as soon as I put some on my foot the cramp is gone. Its a company called Sootheen. I order off their internet site. I also get massive lower back cramps and thighs as my meds wear off and this stuff works good for that as well.