Right Toe Contortions

I have been having odd cramping in my right foot/toes.  The toes contort and/or cramp.  Example: while the neuro was setting up my feet for an EMG he asked me to relax my toes so I did.  Then he asked me again, and apparently I couldn’t relax them so he bent them back himself.  

With my legs straight out in front of me, I cannot bring my right toes forward like I can with my left foot, but when the toes cramp they are pulled forward and contorted.  

That’s the best way I can explain it.  Does anyone know what this is?  Sound familiar?

[Want to feel well!!!]

The pull toward the top of my foot (up) and toward the big toe.

[Quixotic1]

Do they pull up toward the top of your foot or pull under (curling down)?

I get cramps in my muscles which aren't completely neurological.  It helps if I take extra potassium gluconate for it.  This is totallysafe if you do not have kidney disease or are not on medications for heart rhythm or do not take a "potassium-sparing" diuretic (water pill).

For people with cramps I recommend taking potassium gluconate 98mg (elemental K)/tab.  You can find this info in the ingredients section.  This is 3% of the daily need per tablet, so you can see that they are very, very weak.  I take 3 or 4 tablets about 3 times a day.  Max - this would be about 36% of my overall need.  You could start with 2 or 3 tabs once a day, then twice and then up it if it helped.  The tabs can sometimes upset the stomach, so eat a little something with the tablets.  There is also a tablet OTC with a little less.  I know, I accidentally just bought them, so I have to take more.

Also for muscle spasm you should take a good quality of magnesium supplement.  The common form you find in the drugstore is magnesium oxide - not effective with neurological and metabolic needs because it isn't not very "bioavailable", that is it doesn't get into the body very well.  It's used in Most over the counter preparations because it is CHEAP.  I recommend one of, or a mixture of, the following:

magnesium orotate
mag arginate
mag succinate
mag taurate
mag glycinate

These are easy things to try.  If they don't work, you'll have to talk with your Super Hero Neuro.  Quix

[pennst8r]

Spasms have been my worst issue for quite a while now - lower legs, neck, left abdomen, fingers - you name it. I do get them in my feet frequently - had been only left, now both. My toes will go rigid, but not all in the same direction - big toe up, second toe down, foot arched like a letter "C". They cramp quite a bit as well, especially right where the toes meet the ball of the foot. Taking baclofen with some, but not alot, of results. I'm actually afraid to try too much more right now, because I don't want to "mask the symptoms" or have them be gone when I see my new (and hopefully improved) neuro. Then she'll think I'm nuts too:)

Spasms are awful. Hang in there - I feel your pain (literally).

Penn

[Want to feel well!!!]

Thanks for your input.  Right now I am not takng any medication at all...like you I don't want to mask any symptoms.  I will be happy to finally get on something to help with some symptoms if and when I get a diagnosis.

Sorry your spaams are so widespread.  Good luck with your new neuro.  Hope you get relief soon.

Wanna
  

[uk2]

Hi,
Just read your posting, I get muscle spasms too but all this started with crippling ones all over my body in may they lasted for a week i could not walk or even feed myself after, seeing my consultant he gave me some medication but by then it had already started to get better to the point i could walk it happened again two weeks after and my medication was changed to lyrica 300mg and since then its been less just a few times a day not sure thats the medication or just coming out of it now, i still get bad cramps in my feet mostly my left one and i cant walk on it fully without it going into cramp it goes numb alot too. I feel for you its not nice!!

Iv taken Quix advise and started some magnesium tablets and i already drink tonic water i hope this all helps.
I hope you feel well soon and get some answers from your new neuro.

[doni54]

I feel your pain!  A couple of months ago the tops of both my feet including my toes went into a muscle spasm/cramp and felt like the tops of my feet were going to touch the front of my calves.  I couldn't do anything, cause I couldn't stand up, the spasmcramp was so bad.  Lasted about 15 minutes and finally went away.  Have them all the time, at least 3 or 4 times a week, in feet, hands, arms, shoulders, back, legs. Some are severe and some just an annoyance.

I haven't tried the magnesium, but will buy some and see if it helps.

Feel Well
Doni