Cramping in foot - MS thing?
 

I'm going to see my neuro this week and will ask him but wanted to ask the experts -- all of you! -- if you have any idea if this is an MS thing. I have been having cramping in the arch of my feet especially at night. I was dx'd with bursitis in my feet and after I finally started to get relief from that by taking my extra strong anti-inflamatory meds this cramping started. I started taking potassium and it seemed to help for a while but now the cramping is back. I know it's a small thing, it could be so much worse, and I hate to whine about but ignoring it doesn't seem to be helping this time. :p Anyone have any ideas or suggestions??

No advise to the foot cramps just :hug:

Voltaren is an NSAID that has worked wonders for my joint pain, and the muscle cramps have eased up with it too. I hear they make a gel, it might help.

Hey, K,

Foot and leg spasticity often feels like, or is, cramping. I get it a lot and it's common to experience it more just as you're nodding off. Definitely mention it to your neuro, it might be the charming spasticity some of us enjoy so much.

Foot Cramps
 

I dont know what meds you are on but some can deplete the body of essential nutrients because they block the absorption or just change the way the body uses it. Calcium/magnesium supplements are enough for me to ease mild cramping and when I get that funny tingly numb foot falling asleep thing I make sure I've had my B12/folic acid. I found out I don't absorb and use the more commonly sold B12 with the cyanocobalamin(sp?). I take the Methyl formula and I see a huge difference in energy and tingly stuff. All this helps, but Im not saying I have left conventional medicine behind me, I just pay attention to my nutrition before I ask for dose changes or different meds altogether. Hope it helps.

I'm sorry you are experiencing this. :hug: As soon as I feel like my foot is going to cramp I get up (if I am not already standing) and start my stretching exercises - stepping on the ball of my foot and then pushing my heel back down and then up again and down again. I also stretching out the calf muscles. It doesn't always help but many times it will stop the spasm from spreading right up my leg to my butt - which happens quite often - and locking my leg up.

Rubbing the ball of your foot with your hands - massage like - helps as well.

If the blankets are tight on my feet (when lying on my back) my feet/ankles will cramp. Talk about your rude awakening. Feels like they're clenching like fists. The first thing I do when I (used to) stay in a hotel is yank the blankets out from under the mattress.

Everyone had great prospective and advise, K....just adding..:hug::hug::hug:

The spazzes usually try to get going when I am just starting to fall asleep. My feet try to point in the opposite direction of normal and if I let it go it will lock up a leg and I will be out of bed, screaming and jumping around the room. The old man hates when I do that, regardless of whether he is sleeping or awake...LOL

I take 4 mg. of tizanidine at bedtime. It holds them at bay. I also wear socks to make sure my feet are warm because it seems that the cold makes the spasms/cramps worse.

Oh yes, cramps here too. MS, I think so, but I'm not a Dr nor have I addressed it with one. I had not put it together till I saw Riverwind's post, but I also think socks help. I was having terrible cramps a few months back, then I started sleeping in socks (just because I was cold) and they went away. I'm still in socks and with no cramps. I think I'll keep sleeping in socks when summer comes. Better safe then sorry. Good Luck :hug:

Thank you everyone for your input! I loving being able to ask all of you about things since I know I'll get good responses that will help me. I think I'll try some of the stretches and see if that helps. I do sleep with socks but sometimes that is what starts the cramping - and that will be something to mention to the neuro when I tell him about the cramping. I think I'll hold off on seeing my foot doctor until I see my neuro, I'm sure it's an MS thing.

Magnesium chelate
 

I had the same problem and I solved it by taking some Magnesium chelate.

It is Magnesium bound to amino acids for easy assimilation and utilization. I do NOT recommend you take Magnesium Oxide. Magnesium citrate works but you will soon get a huge increase in your toliet paper bill if you take even a normal amount of this form.

I know Magnesium chelate works for other things also because when the ambulance took me to the hospital and parked me in front of the operating room while they did some required quick blood work, I heard my surgeon say "we will not need a magnesium drip for this guy" as he read the results. It helps stop arterial spasms which is not wanted when they operate on the heart.

jackD

It is rather cheap stuff.

http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/e...jsp?id=SR-2028

Thanks, Jack for the link. I gotta get some of that stuff. :)

Thanks, Jack. Sal, I found an interesting little explanation of magnesium's role in the body, here is a short excerpt that I found very intriguing:

"The symptoms of magnesium deficiency are irritability, tantrums, seizures, insomnia, muscle cramps/twitching, hyperactivity and poor digestion among others. Magnesium is needed for proper electrolyte function, over 300 enzyme functions, and calcium absorbtion.

I also found it very interested to read that one of the primary sources of dietary magnesium is whole grains and cereals. If one goes 100% gluten free, you may be losing a main source of magnesium, and could go deficient especially if you are also supplementing with extra calcium to make up for the casein free part.

Higher amount of magnesium may cause a laxative effect (milk of magnesium, epsom salts)."

The whole article can be read here: http://www.enzymestuff.com/magnesium.htm

OK, so I want all of you spastic pain sufferers, to get on this Magnisium Chelate stuff and see how it works for you. Then report back here, to us....OK? :cool::)

I have read that PWMS are low on magnesium and most need to supplement. My neruo agrees, she said it's like being low on B-12. When you need it, you know it.

I take a lot, 3 tablets of 250 mgs of Magnesium Oxide, and there is other 400 mgs in my Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc tablet, which I take two of, so that's a total of 1550 mgs a day and have no problem with it. If I don't take this amount I get constipated and muscle cramps of the leg calves, toes, arch and spasms of some odd muscles.

My Gastro doc said this was a lot, but he looked on his computer and then said if it doesn't give you diarrhea, then it is fine with him.

If I do get any looseness, I cut back the next day. If I don't take it at times I get blockage of solid, yet water comes thru so you think you have diarrhea but you don't. The fluid is just going around and out passed a solid that got too large to exit or from lack of motility. This was discussed with my Gastro doc, after my recent colonoscopy.

Muscle cramps and spasms are indeed helped by magnesium, you just have to find the right dosage that works for you. Magnesium citrate was too harsh on my stomach. It seemed too acidity or something, for me. It may be fine for others, we all have our own little problems with foods or vitamins in certain forms. JMO

Are we just not processing or absorbing it properly? I mean 1 cup of cooked spinach gives ample amounts of magnesium (about 700 mg) which is more than enough for a person of my size/activity level. Many veggies are a great source of magnesium. I have been tracking my diet for several weeks so it can be analyzed by a nurse/nutritionist and I am getting plenty of magnesium as well as other nutrients and vitamins. Currently, I don't take vitamins/supplements as my diet is well balanced with a variety of foods. I still suffer from spasms. :confused:

So, I guess I am back to the question of are we not absorbing it properly or utilizing it properly? Does anyone have an explanation for this?

OOPS! Sorry I read the wrong line from my SIL's (nurse/nutritionist) e-mail. 1 cup of spinach = 157 mg of magnesium.

Wow I could have written this myself. I have all of these issues.

This morning I drank a full 10 oz of magnesium citrate and 12 hours later I have no results.

My son has taken magnesium glycerinate for years. I'm going to have to do some research to see what is the best kind for both of us. Most recently I started taking slomag and find I feel more peaceful.

As for the cramps they not only happen to me at night but also when I am out and about. I can be walking thru the grocery store an all of a sudden get an awful cramp in my foot. What I normally have to do is whip my shoe off and put my foot down on something cold.

Hi MsBees,
Welcome to NT. I am glad you found a thread that you can relate to. I was thinking that if you get these spasms, while out walking it, it may be the shoes you have on.

I find if I change from my house slippers to my stiffer sneakers with high arches (which I need) I get that foot spasms that makes me take off my sneaker and rub that foot and my toes so hard to make it stop spasming.:(

I think we are stretching the foot muscles when we walk in different shoes or sneakers. It may not just be Magnesium, it may be the change in shoes.

When I was younger and wore high heels, than went to flats, oh boy! Major foot cramps. The higher the heel the shorter the muscle, then change to a flat or slipper that muscle, tendons, try to stretch out and cause spasms. At least that is what happened to me.

Yes, in the house, a cold tile floor in the middle of the night works out the spasm. :eek:
Nice to meet you. Please join in wherever you want.:)

Hello MsBees!
 

:) Welcome to this fantastic forum!!

I was astonished at the wealth of information here at NT!

There is a GOLDMINE of information on supplements, etc...

Here is the direct link to the vitamin/supplement forum:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum49.html

Some very in depth discussion on Magnesium and the others
you've mentioned!

Good to Have you!
:hug:

sandpaper?
 

I just LOVE Magnesium Oxide sandpaper. It does a great job on even the hardest woods. I even use it wet because I know it will NEVER dissolve.

jackD

Lady & Rrae thank you so much for the welcome.

I will have to introduce myself in the newbies forum when I have a bit more time.

Sadly my cramps can happen no matter what shoes I am wearing and even when I am bare footed.

One of the type of cramps I get is also very weird in that it is at the top of the foot and seems to be effecting the tendons. It is very painful and not easily resolved.

Jack you crack me up. Lol So then you can use Mag O for fiber if it doesn't dissolve well. My levels are fine now, and so are my bones.

We all can't benefit from the same drug, vitamin, mineral or other supplement. We are all unique, even you my friend.;)

If a vitamin or supplement hurts the stomach for some of us, we have to use an alternative. No one size fits all.:)

How is your HBP behaving?

.

I have the same type of foot cramp - top of my foot, quite painful and not easily resolved. It becomes almost impossible to move the foot as that only creates more pain and cramping.

Welcome to NeuroTalk MsBees :)