epic@houem.UUCP (SJS) (02/21/86)
Does anyone know what causes muscle cramps? I frequently get muscle cramps in my feet (my toes get all kinked up and won't spread apart), even when I'm just lying around relaxing or watching TV. Does this happen to anyone else? Does it have anything to do with a vitamin deficiency?
djb@riccb.UUCP (Dave J. Burris ) (02/22/86)
> > > Does anyone know what causes muscle cramps? I frequently get > muscle cramps in my feet (my toes get all kinked up and won't > spread apart), even when I'm just lying around relaxing or watching TV. > Does this happen to anyone else? > Does it have anything to do with a vitamin deficiency? You could have a potassium deficiency, especially if you consume a lot of sodium. -- Dave Burris ..!ihnp4!ihopa!riccb!djb Rockwell Switching Systems, Downers Grove, Il.
tif@gamma.UUCP (Barbara Charles) (02/24/86)
Foot cramps can be caused by alot of things. I can only tell you what I know. I teach childbirth classes and most pregnat women get foot cramps from lack of calcium and poor circulation. One of the things I tell the mothers-to-be to do (and I don't see why these things wouldn't help non-pregnant people) is to try calcium supplements (check with your doctor first). They are easy to get in any drugstore or shop-rite. Poor circulation: Walk. Increases circulation. Also, tailor sitting (sitting indian style) usually on a hard surface. Also helps increase circulation. If you get a foot cramp, stand up on the offending foot. Make sure foot is placed completely flat on floor. It takes a few seconds for it to go away but at least you do not have to suffer. Also, someone else can point your toe toward your head. It's hard to describe over the net.
kasey@trsvax (02/26/86)
>> Does anyone know what causes muscle cramps? I frequently get >> muscle cramps in my feet (my toes get all kinked up and won't >> spread apart), even when I'm just lying around relaxing or watching TV. >> Does this happen to anyone else? >> Does it have anything to do with a vitamin deficiency? >You could have a potassium deficiency, especially if you consume a lot >of sodium. Megadoses of vitamin C and the use of diuretics can also lead to potassium deficiency. I was hospitalized once for surgery. Before the surgery I had horrible leg and foot cramps every night. Sometimes they were so bad that I had to walk for 30 minutes to get rid of them. Since I was in already in the hospital, my doctor decided to run blood tests to see if I had some deficiency that was causing my cramps. I had a potassium and calcium deficiency. I've been taking supplements of both ever since. The only time I get cramps is if I miss the supplements for a day or two. I'm convinced!
hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) (02/26/86)
In article <464@houem.UUCP> epic@houem.UUCP (SJS) writes: >Does anyone know what causes muscle cramps? I frequently get >muscle cramps in my feet (my toes get all kinked up and won't >spread apart), even when I'm just lying around relaxing or watching TV. >Does this happen to anyone else? >Does it have anything to do with a vitamin deficiency? I used to get hand cramps similar to what you describe. I eventually traced them to a sodium deficiency. Adding a little salt to my food cleared them up immediately. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe) Citicorp(+)TTI 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. Geniuses are people so lazy they Santa Monica, CA 90405 do everything right the first time. (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 {philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe
djb@riccb.UUCP (Dave J. Burris ) (03/04/86)
> > I used to get hand cramps similar to what you describe. I eventually > traced them to a sodium deficiency. Adding a little salt to my food > cleared them up immediately. > The problem here is that there must be a balance of sodium and potassium. There seem to be a few enlightened individuals in this group who may be able to provide more details. -- Dave Burris ..!ihnp4!ihopa!riccb!djb Rockwell Switching Systems, Downers Grove, Il.