Severe Foot Cramps?

Hi all,

In the past 2 days I have experiences the most painful and uncomfortable cramps in the bottom of my foot, my toes are curling up and are stiff. They are coming about 4 times per day and lasting 30-40 minutes of agony each time. Any ideas of what this is????

Sharon

[coco31]

Forgot to mention that I can even walk when this occurs. Because it has become so constant in the past 2 days should I mention to Nuerology nurse or see GP? Could this be significant - have tried benzodiazipam with no relief...... Its even effecting me when I am driving to a point when I have to pull over and walk around like a crazy women on my tip toes until it subsides. Is This a symptom of MS - never had it before - all new to me.

[daisy.girl]

I would definitely mention it to your neuro nurse and see what she says.

I too have had something similar....when I go up on my toes to reach for something, I have gotten the worse cramp/extreme pain in my big toe on my right foot. It doesn't stay around like yours....but boy does it hurt for those few minutes.

[jensequitur]

Sharon, have you had an injury to your foot recently?  When I broke my toe last year, I got the worst cramps in my calf muscle.

I would definitely call the neurologist, as this is a neurological symptom.  It usually means that there's some damage to the spinal cord.  

I think they usually prescribe baclofen for spasticity and spasms.  My neuro prescribed flexaril for me, which is a cheap muscle relaxer - it's mild enough that I can take one at work if I need it.  

I would also think about stretching that foot out.  Usually a calf stretch will do the trick.  When I got similar spasms in my foot, I would have to take my shoe off and massage the bottom of my foot, and manually pull those toes up.  

When things were really bad, my hubby would massage my feet for me - that really helped, although sometimes it would set off a spasm!

[Zacksmomi]

I was going through this just last night.  Mine happens when I bend my toes either way, and I have to pull my toes in the opposite direction to release it.  I can usually get it out with a good stretch, but last night it was happening almost every time I put my foot on the floor.  

I would say it is a symptom of spasticity.  I am on 20mg of baclofen 3x a day and it helps tremendously.  That is a really high dose though.

I would mention it to your Dr for sure.

Wishing you well
D

[doublevision1]

This used to happen to me a lot more often than it does now, I think because of stretching.  I don't do yoga but do 20 mins of stretching all over, in the morning and before bed.  It's helped with other things, esp back and neck tension, but also I noticed less foot cramping.  Calf stretches as Jen suggests and also stretching out the foot itself, as far as you can, holding it as long as you can, without overdoing it.  A physio could probably show you the best way to do these.  Drugs might help, but if you can avoid them and get relief naturally, this is IMO the better route to go.  Obviously if you can't get relief from anything else and the symptom is debilitating, drugs may be exactly what you need.  It's all trial and error and what works for each of us is different.  I seem to recall someone saying that this type of cramping can also be a symptom of some kind of deficiency, but I can't remember what?  Anyone?

[supermum_ms]

I've been having foot cramps for years, i always thought everybody got them, just something normal, I am constantly being woken up in the middle of the night with the shock of my foot or feet twisted and locked up. No one has every said to me that foot cramp was a neurological sign, though i think i've been told my mother a thousand times or more that its caused by low magnesium (sp), and potasium. I couldnt tell you how many bananas i've eaten (i hate bananas yuk) to try and stop my foot cramps but it makes no difference lol.

This is a pretty good informative site:

http://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/article.htm

Has a list of drugs that are known to cause the different type of cramps, also some helpful tips that might be worth having a go at.

Cheers........JJ
  

[coco31]

Thanks guys,

I have just noticed that the cramping seems to be mostly in the evening. I'll hold off another few days before seeing a GP. I just had a holiday and came back Wednesday - the flight was really long and I am still really exhausted. I find symptoms of my MS tend to increase when I've over done it or I am really tired. Thank goodness its the weekend - time to rest!

[bunbun52]

I have very severe foot cramps also.my toes curl and twist around and the pain is terrible.I was told its a symptom of ms.But i would ask your doctor as i am going to also.I cant do any standing or walking for long.at night when i relax its worse.or if i stand on my tip toes or bend them they go into cramp mode real fast.i cry every time.

[kwarendorf]

Hi Bunbun -  Welcome to our little group.

This thread is 2 1/2 years old. Many of the original posters may no longer be around. You might think about posting a new question about your foot issues.

As for me, I had pretty annoying foot pain. I take 3600mg gabapentin (Neurontin) and 50mg amitriptilyne (Elavil) daily. My foot pain has disappeared completely.

Kyle