Why do my feet cramp up so bad?

kristinaohno
kristinaohno Posts: 113 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
Usually when I walk my feet cramp up really bad, mostly my left foot which I've had a lot of medical problems with and it's usually in my arch. Today when i tried to work out my feet were cramping up so bad I couldn't continue. I was almost in tears. I do stretch them but, am I supposed to do something else?

Replies

  • Edestiny7
    Edestiny7 Posts: 730 Member
    Possibly up your potassium intake? Bananas are once source. Pretty much all fresh vegetables and fruit contain it.
  • cutierozie
    cutierozie Posts: 35 Member
    I used to have that issue. My cramp was due to being in heels all the time. Now I wear flats and heels throughout the week and it has minimized my cramp in my arch.
  • Yeah, I was gonna say potassium too. When I'm severely potassium deprived, my feet will start to claw up. I can uncurl them manually, but it hurts, and they try to curl up again.

    Eat a banana, and take a multivitamin. And get plenty of water.
  • kristinaohno
    kristinaohno Posts: 113 Member
    i eat a ton of fruit everyday, including bananas. and i don't wear heels. i can't. MS kind of prevents you from doing that, my balance is so wonky.
  • CathVan
    CathVan Posts: 36 Member
    That happened to me too - turned out it was my shoes. Once I got a pair of good quality walking shoes, the cramping stopped. Good luck!
  • kdchick99
    kdchick99 Posts: 104 Member
    I have a different spin on this issue. When my feet would do this is was due to poor support in my shoes. I went out and bought walking shoes and made sure they support my arch and feet correctly. BUT try the banana too!
  • u2fergus
    u2fergus Posts: 422 Member
    I have that problem, too, and it's because I have high arches and I was exercising in shoes that were best suited to low arches. My husband has the opposite problem, but it hurts just the same either way. Before you buy exercise shoes, do a bit of research and find out if they're best suited to high arches or low arches, and I promise it will make a world of difference.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    It could be your potassium, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, shoes that don't provide you with the proper support,or a combination of these. Have you asked your doctor? Maybe it could be related to a medication you are taking as well.
  • That happened to me too - turned out it was my shoes. Once I got a pair of good quality walking shoes, the cramping stopped. Good luck!
    Another good point, especially since the pain is in your arch. Even if you are wearing flats, your arch may not be properly supported. If your shoes' insoles are lower than your arches (mine often are because my arches are high), try getting some Dr. Scholl's insets for more support.
  • kristinaohno
    kristinaohno Posts: 113 Member
    i have a pair of Adidas exercise shoes along with some other pairs. but i can't afford new sneakers. i'm unemployed and that unemployment check is so tiny, it doesn't even last me 2 weeks. bah. stupid feet. i've always always always had this problem. i had to stop skateboarding years ago because my foot would cramp up so badly.i've always taken a multivitamin, i've always eaten bananas and tons of fruit. i don't understandddddd.
  • Y2KBABE
    Y2KBABE Posts: 14 Member
    I get this also.

    I have bananas every single day.

    I get my cramps mainly when I do lunges. My advice is to walk it out and to work out how to exercise without over stretching your feet, or even (and this may sound odd) your calves. When I pull my calves in a particular way it effects my foot cramps.

    No more advice than that really. I've been to the foot doctor and he had no remedy either :(
  • You have MS it may have something to do with the tendon tightening in the back of the heel from the MS. Also sometimes at night when you are sleeping and totally unaware you may have your feet in a more pointed toe position especially if you are a stomach sleeper but you may also do this while sleeping or your sides. I tend to have my feet in a pointed toe position for much of the night. When they are held in this position for such a long period of time the tendon in the back of the ankle and heel may tighten in the shortened position, this also causes cramping in the arch. When I first wake up, I can hardly step down on my feet and the first few steps are usually painful. This can also cause discomfort through out the day sometimes. I know there are special socks or straps that you can put on your feet at night to prevent this positioning of your feet if it is causing you too much discomfort. You may want to look into these and see if they help.
  • kristinaohno
    kristinaohno Posts: 113 Member
    You have MS it may have something to do with the tendon tightening in the back of the heel from the MS. Also sometimes at night when you are sleeping and totally unaware you may have your feet in a more pointed toe position especially if you are a stomach sleeper but you may also do this while sleeping or your sides. I tend to have my feet in a pointed toe position for much of the night. When they are held in this position for such a long period of time the tendon in the back of the ankle and heel may tighten in the shortened position, this also causes cramping in the arch. When I first wake up, I can hardly step down on my feet and the first few steps are usually painful. This can also cause discomfort through out the day sometimes. I know there are special socks or straps that you can put on your feet at night to prevent this positioning of your feet if it is causing you too much discomfort. You may want to look into these and see if they help.

    yeah i just googled foot cramps and multiple sclerosis and it seems to be a problem with a lot of people. i have been noticing my calves cramping up a lot too, mostly when it's really hot out or my body temp has gone up. kind of why i only do my exercising outside when it's cool out. my body can't handle the heat.
  • I have been battling MS symptoms for 5 years now, no lesions, no diagnoses: therefore , I have a neurological CONDITION, not MS. BUt many of the symptoms and difficulties I get are very similar . I have been battling it with vitamins, eating right and just these past few months -exercise. I am feeling so strong and good. I know how you must feel exercising helps make you feel healthier and it's a bummer when something hinders it. I had to stop doing push ups and weights for a little while because the tendon in my arm tightened up and caused tennis elbow..urgghh...keep going, alter your workout to a more low impact one for the time being..eventually the MS will move away from that bothersome symptom and go pick on something else for a while..it's a bummer...do the best you can. BUT still try the socks....are you taking the vit B shots?
  • kristinaohno
    kristinaohno Posts: 113 Member
    no, not vitamin b shots. i already have to do inject myself 3 times a week as it is, i'd prefer no more shots! haha.
    the last time i went to the neuro they told me i have new lesions but they aren't active but i do have new symptoms. it's my bladder now but they think that has something to do with my cervical spine and i go for an MRI in september. today is one of those days. my body hurts beyond belief and i feel pretty depressed. but i can't, i have a job interview later :/ i'll have to put on my game face for that and then sulk afterwards.
  • LooseWheel
    LooseWheel Posts: 211 Member
    can try arch supports as shoe inserts. hubby had lowered arch's or flater type feet and put the arch supports in that you can swap from shoe to shoe. chemist here in australia sells various length, sports, work boot and half sized arch supports. can try maybe. new sneakers/sports shoes also really can make the difference as you can used to older shoes where the support flattens and wears out. good luck
  • ChristyP0303
    ChristyP0303 Posts: 212 Member
    I had the same problem! The outside area of my right foot would cramp up so bad! I couldn't afford a $100 pair of new shoes either. The ones I have were brand new. What I found to work were athletic socks. Some that have some nice cushion in them. Worked like a charm!
  • I get an MRI every year and so far never a lesion that's why no MS diagnosis. I have also had the bladder thing..it's soooo annoying. When that happens, I tend to go go go go...some people have the opposite. I can't go anywhere on days when I'm feeling like that. I have had to stop at a fast food restaurant every few miles to use the rest room if I'm traveling any sort of distance. And then it will go away, and pop up occasionally- crazy! I found with me- and I have read also with some people with MS, cutting back on food with anything processed or added chemicals and also watching environmental chemicals helps a little. When you have so many obstacles you can get to feeling down. Just keep a positive mind and fight through it the best that you can. Good luck with the job interview!
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