Random foot cramps that will hit, usually if feet get cold or after doing work

[Red Squirrel]

Every now and then if I go in a lake, or even just after doing some work on my feet, I will go to move, I don't know if it's always the same movement or not since the pain basically makes me forget the last few moments before it happened, but it will just randomly trigger a very massive foot cramp, it feels like my toes want to turn the other way and like my foot is in a vice along the sides being squeezed. It will start with one foot for about 15 minutes to half an hour of excruciating pain, then move to the other foot.

I've mentioned this to my doctor as well as a foot specialist but they have no answers. I'm getting one now for the first time in probably a year, I was just doing electrical so lot of up and down on the ladder and wearing shoes while doing it. I have orthotics since I also had some mild morton neuroma but I managed to fix that with a cortizone shot so the orthotics are mostly precautionary. I have good shoes that I bought right from the foot specialist office.

Anyone have any idea what could cause this sort of cramps, any nutrient I should be trying to get more of, or certain exercises I should try doing?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Copilot says -

"Frequent foot cramps can have various causes. Some common factors include muscle fatigue or overuse, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances (such as low levels of potassium, magnesium, or calcium), inadequate stretching before physical activity, poor circulation, nerve damage, certain medications, and underlying medical conditions like peripheral artery disease or diabetes. Additionally, certain lifestyle factors such as wearing ill-fitting shoes or standing for long periods can contribute to foot cramps."

Stretching, first dynamic then static, will address the circulation issue too. Seems like you have your shoe situation on point, so maybe address the electrolytes; it's what plants crave.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I occasionally experienced something like this after sleeping or reclining on my sofa. It seemed that it emerged from pointing my foot like you'd expect a ballet dancer to do. It would be terrible and immobilizing, but what I needed to do was let my leg and foot relax, and it would go away.

 

[pmv]

Copilot says -

"Frequent foot cramps can have various causes. Some common factors include muscle fatigue or overuse, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances (such as low levels of potassium, magnesium, or calcium), inadequate stretching before physical activity, poor circulation, nerve damage, certain medications, and underlying medical conditions like peripheral artery disease or diabetes. Additionally, certain lifestyle factors such as wearing ill-fitting shoes or standing for long periods can contribute to foot cramps."

Stretching, first dynamic then static, will address the circulation issue too. Seems like you have your shoe situation on point, so maybe address the electrolytes; it's what plants crave.

I've had a few of these recently - wouldn't say "frequent", so I'm not that worried/bothered by them, but they seem very extreme and it's not something I ever had before (smaller toes just curl up uncontrollably, and it's quite painful).

In general though I am constantly frustrated with the way almost any symptom one might experience always turns out to have an enormously-long list of possible causes. At least this one doesn't feature "anxiety" in the list - almost every symptom I ever get seems to include that in the list of possible causes. Anxiety is clearly the most powerful force in the universe, as it can apparently do almost anything.

 

[Stiff Clamp]

Take this magnesium + calcium + D3 blend early in the day . . . https://www.amazon.com/BlueBonnet-Calcium-Magnesium-Citrate-Blueberry/dp/B000BD2KN6/.

Then, hours later, take Taurine.

Also, ingest a food that's high in potassium.

What could go wrong?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Given the rampant reports of counterfeits on Amazon that's the last place I'd buy them. Much better off eating foods high in them. Especially since almost 90% of random tested samples of supplements have fungal or bacterial contamination. And most have either too much or too little of the active ingredient. If it even contains it.

TED talk over. There will be no Q&A.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I do take magnesium and D3 regularly along with a few other multi vitamins, although not every day, maybe I should try to make it more a habit to do it every day.

 

[mindless1]

You need to cut a banana lengthwise, and put crunchy peanut butter in the middle, like a sandwich.

Put this in your shoes. ... or eat daily, your call. Do not eat if you are allergic to shoes. After not eating long enough, that's less weight on your feet.

Kidding aside, I think you need different shoes and yes you could try food exercises (though initially, it could make cramping happen as a result), and foods rich in minerals are part of a healthy diet anyway.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Talked to my foot specialist about it again since I went to get a 2nd set of orthotics since it's been 2 years so my work plan will cover them, and they gave me a bunch of exercises so will keep doing those. Is the banana reference some weird joke or can eating bananas and peanut butter actually help? I tend to eat bananas fairly regularly already but could look at eating more.

I already tried different shoes, these are the ones I have now. Can't keep blindly buying more, it kind of gets expensive. These were bought from the foot specialist and have orthotics fitted in them.

 

[WilliamM2]

Talked to my foot specialist about it again since I went to get a 2nd set of orthotics since it's been 2 years so my work plan will cover them, and they gave me a bunch of exercises so will keep doing those. Is the banana reference some weird joke or can eating bananas and peanut butter actually help? I tend to eat bananas fairly regularly already but could look at eating more.

I already tried different shoes, these are the ones I have now. Can't keep blindly buying more, it kind of gets expensive. These were bought from the foot specialist and have orthotics fitted in them.

Low pottasium can cause muscle cramps. But usually has to be real low. Bananas have pottasium.

I had low pottasium. I take 4 20meq of Klor-Con, 2 with each meal. Thats about 10 bananas a day. Does your doctor do blood tests for electrolytes? He should.