Problems with cramping in my feet

Crysta1976
Crysta1976 Posts: 184 Member
edited September 21 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everybody...

I recently started roller derby and am having horrible issues with getting charlie horse cramps in my feet...and my toes are going numb. I stretch my feet and my toes, I have insoles in my skates, I have adjusted how tight or loose I am tying my skates. Nothing seems to be helping.

I also have this problem in other shoes when I'm walking (for fitness) or working out. I've tried different kinds of shoes, and adjusted how tight or loose I am tying those too.

This a painful issue, and is putting a major damper on my skating progress! Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Replies

  • feisma
    feisma Posts: 213 Member
    You might be dehydrated...whenever I don't get enough water and/or have too much caffeine, I get very painful leg cramps...Try upping your water intake and see if it helps.
  • tessb84
    tessb84 Posts: 98 Member
    you might not be getting enough Potassium. I would recommend seeing a dr if you havent already, just to make sure everything is ok. Hope it stops soon :happy:
  • NYM1129
    NYM1129 Posts: 16
    sounds like you aren't getting enough potassium
  • vickiele1
    vickiele1 Posts: 394 Member
    I don't do roller derby, so can't answer to that particular exercise, but I too was getting foot cramps when I was walking. I had gotten the Sketcher Shape ups because they are reported to increase the effectiveness of your walking routine. The burning started and then the cramps were soon to follow (only in my left foot). I did tolerate this for well over a month). I did research on the topic and thought a couple of things could be happening. First, my feet could be getting too hot - new shoes, heavier, etc - over heating could be occurring as a result. 2nd, I could be experiencing something that frequently occurs with women my age when they walk - the foot burn is apparently more common in women 40 and older - weight seems to be a contributing factor. 3rd, I have arthritic knees with my left knee (the foot that was getting the cramps) being the worst - so I could have been favoring that leg thus creating an uneven balance in my gait and causing undue and unbalanced effort for my left foot. I decided to go back to my regular Nike's that I had used before I bought the Skechers. The same thing happened with the Nike's. The Nike's are still a pretty solid shoe, so thought maybe my feet are still too hot. I went through my shoes and found my Avia's which this pair is really designed for running or varied type of exercise - but thought - they are light weight, made of a mesh fabric instead of the solid fabric - so will try them. No foot burn and no cramps - amazing. I still think I am favoring my left leg, which will probably not ever go away until I have surgery on my knee, but hey at least my foot doesn't hurt. I would also suggest seeing a foot specialist who could help with diagnosing any medical issues too.

    Vickie
  • Crysta1976
    Crysta1976 Posts: 184 Member
    @tsydow.... I can't believe I didn't even think of dehydration! That is a very good possibility! Not only do I not drink enough...I hardly drink at all. I seriously go days (up to a week), with little more than a sip of water. Usually when I drink something, it's soda. I know, I know...BAD!!! It's a serious addiction. I do well at not drinking it for a month or so, then fall back. Pathetic...

    @tess and nikki .... I just had blood work about 2 months ago. My levels were all normal. But potassium is always a good thing to make sure you are getting enough of. I will definitely pay more attention to that.

    @Vickie.... Never thought about being over-heated. Skates certainly don't breathe! Maybe the type of socks are a contributor as well? I have the same issues in both feet, but more severely in my left. I also favor my left leg. I have muscle and nerve weakness in my lower back and right hip, so my balance and stability on the right is a little lacking.

    Maybe a visit to my Chiropractor would be a good start as well!?!?!

    Thanks everybody!
  • totallizaster
    totallizaster Posts: 4
    Crysta any update?? I play roller derby too and have been having foot problems. I drink a lot of water but haven't checked my potassium levels. Just wanted to check in and see if you found something that worked for you. Also what kind of skates are you on?
  • chloebethparks
    chloebethparks Posts: 2
    Would love to hear an update on this. I've been skating since last July and always get charlie horses in the toes of my right foot. I thought it was my skates at first, Reidell R3's pretty cheap but still good when you pair them up with Poison wheels and Bones bearings, but I thought the boot just didn't fit me right. This may be the problem, though! I'm going to try drinking more water (because I know I don't get enough), and testing out some foods with more potassium, magnesium, and balancing out my electrolytes.
    Thanks for the post!
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