foot cramp

[reiddb]

I have had some of those in the past...calcium helps~but don't drink carbonated drinks because they inhibit your body from absorbing the calcium!

[bretay]

most definitely.Mine comes from when I cut out some salt..As long as I eat a little salt every day I have no problems.sometimes I skip salt and then I have some major cramps.

[dkanofsky]

I'll have my wife rub out the cramp or I'll extend my leg , pulling my foot backwards.  Then I'll start to walk on it.  That usually does the trick.

[mrisha]

I very rarely get foot cramps, but I do get leg cramps sometimes at night.  I massage the area until it goes away and then walk for a while until it completely goes away.

[cgilliland09]

Potassium helps some but it also depends on why you are getting the foot cramps in the first place. Do you wear shoes that properly support your feet and weight (not to be implied as I think you may be overweight) but we all have worn shoes that were not designed for our bodies. Do you stand on hard surfaces (wood, concrete) for long periods of time. Have your arches fallen? Lots of different factors can lead to this situation, so pinning down what will work to alleviate this discomfort are varied at best. I was born with flat feet and after over 35 yrs in the retail industry my feet are a mess. So I can well sympathize.

[sgluckadoo]

Potassium helps some but it also depends on why you are getting the foot cramps in the first place. Do you wear shoes that properly support your feet and weight (not to be implied as I think you may be overweight) but we all have worn shoes that were not designed for our bodies. Do you stand on hard surfaces (wood, concrete) for long periods of time. Have your arches fallen? Lots of different factors can lead to this situation, so pinning down what will work to alleviate this discomfort are varied at best. I was born with flat feet and after over 35 yrs in the retail industry my feet are a mess. So I can well sympathize.

Good points. I am overweight now, but have had foot cramps for years, even before the weight issue. I wear clarks, bare foot, crocs, etc- the comfort shoes. I used to wear cheap shoes, but no longer do.  The foot cramps almost always happen at night and sometimes involve toes, other times, just arch, etc.  I eat bananas quite often for the potassium and take a multivitamin. I think my feet are just conspiring against my sleep!

[sgluckadoo]

I'll have my wife rub out the cramp or I'll extend my leg , pulling my foot backwards.  Then I'll start to walk on it.  That usually does the trick.

same here. i get up and walk around on it, but i hate having to get out of bed in the middle of the night!

[mariek09]

Ohhh Yes, I hate it too! 
I remember a couple different times I'll be dreaming and I thought
I was shot and next thing you know I jump out of the bed and start stretching it out!
My hubby looked at me like I was crazy! He said I scared him
I hate Charley horses! I have been told to eat bananas not sure why though but they do help!

[Phx0808]

A bar of soap between the sheets works well. I rarely have leg / foot cramps now.

[BaudLight]

A bar of soap between the sheets works well. I rarely have leg / foot cramps now.

Could you explain just exactly how that would work?  I have heard a lot of remedies for cramps, but they are all related to ingesting something or an exercise.  Maybe you keep slipping on the bar of soap in your sleep, so that keeps your muscles active all night?

[Phx0808]

A bar of soap between the sheets works well. I rarely have leg / foot cramps now.

Could you explain just exactly how that would work?  I have heard a lot of remedies for cramps, but they are all related to ingesting something or an exercise.  Maybe you keep slipping on the bar of soap in your sleep, so that keeps your muscles active all night?

I wish I knew for certain. I just it know works. Since soap is absorbed through skin I am assuming there is something in the soap that helps the leg & foot cramps.  

Here is an interesting article about the subject

http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2012/07/22/why-does-soap-soothe-nighttime-leg-cramps/

[alice44]

Very interesting remedies.  I also occasionally suffer foot cramps.  Potassium (doctor's recommendation) seems to be the culprit.  Eat more bananas and potatoes 

[BlackSheepNY]

Anyone else suffer from frequent foot cramps at night? Like a charlie horse cramp in your arch. It is awful. Ideas?

Me, too.  I found taking 400mg Magnesium every day (gel caps) has helped a whole lot.  Believe it or not, I also found Absorbine Jr. to be really helpful.  I put some of that on and the cramp seems to just melt away.  It's a heckova lot better than trying to keep pressure on the foot with the cramp while burying your face in a pillow, screaming at 3 in the morning, LOL.

[billyb1024]

Water seems to help. I notice if I drink to much soda...they come on hard!! So I limit that and east lots of fruits and veggies too!

[keauhou]

I used to get them in my calves, especially when I ate a lot of red meat. Take a magnesium supplement and hold your legs up straight in the air while lying on your back for 30 secs before going to sleep.