What would be the cause of cramps in my feet?

I do not have all my labs.  Please advise what I might be low in to cause muscle cramping so I can supplement I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you

Donna

muscle cramping generally comes from one of four sources:

1.  insufficient hydration - drink more water!  

2.  low potassium. Your labs will tell yu if you need an Rx.  The over the counter potassium is very low dose - if you are low, you need the Rx.  Bananas can help, but you will use valuable tummy room with a high sugar/low protein fruit

3.  low magnesium.  You should be taking magnesium citrate (not oxide) at a rate of half of your calcium supplementation, along with every calcium dose.  ie if you take 500 mg calcium, then take 250 mag citrate.  (Vitalady has a cal-mag capsule that has both.)  The blood test for magnesium is transitory so may not give a true picture of your deficiency.

4.  muscle use - have you started any newer exercise or activity that uses muscles that have been dormant while you were obese?  I found that while I lost weight, the changing centre of gravity in my body caused me to use my feet and leg muscles differently to keep my balance, which sometimes resulted in cramping.

hope you get to the root of your problem

my feet cramp really bad when I am low in magnesium. For some reason I have a hard time with this particular mineral- I am always deficient in magnesium. I boost my levels up then get lazy about taking it for awhile. I take the magnesium citrate and get immediate results.

Good luck!

While bananas help so do fluids with potassium in them. Sports drinks, V8, etc...ask your pharmacist.

I was just in the hospital unrelated to DS.  Old stroke and having problems with tingling on my lower left lip and upper left arm.  MRI just showed an angioma which does not sound like an issue but I meet with neuro on 3/4.  The labs they did draw while I was in the hospital included sodium 139 pot 4.3 chloride 104 calcium 8.2 low nl 9-10.5 total protein of 5.8 low normal 6-8.5 albumin 3.1 again low normal 3.5-5 phosphorus 4.3 normal magnesium 2.2 which is normal or at least according to this blood test.  Iron 18 which is very low and they did give me an iron infusion twice.  28 years ago I remember reading when I was pg to put you foot down on a cookie sheet you were supposed to keep under your bed:)  I live in AZ and my home is all tile.  Thankfully standing on the cold tile eliminates the pain but I am worried.  I am on the vita lady suggested vits for beginners.  Since I have been out of the hospital I have not played games I am taking every thing I am supposed to including upping my protein shakes.  I worry because a cramp may seem simple but was ever I am low on I would imagine could become a large problem if I do not take care of it. 

Thanks

Donna

I agree with the Potassium issue.  I take a water pill in conjunction with my blood pressure pills (prescribed), and my potassium gets low sometimes... hence the cramps.  I eat bananas and drink orange juice a bit more frequently and it helps with the lower leg cramps.

Good luck.

Potassium, Magnesium and Calcium.  You have to tease it out to see if it is one of them or the wrong combo of them.  Dehydration causes terrible cramps for me.  Low potassium does too and it is nearly impossible to get a script for potassium especially if your labs are within normal limits.  OTC potassium is 99 units which isn't enough to do anything.  Salt substitute is made totally of potassium and that is what I use to get enough potassium to end the awful cramps.  Watch for dehydration too.  Sodas cause it for me.

Edited to add:  Bananas are a poor source of potassium.  I think sweet potatos are higher.  Google to find out what foods are high in potassium.

`Becky

Coconu****er and V-8 are also very good potassium sources. I've been low on that one often and just had  a prescription short term  recently. It was Potassium CL ER 10MEQ. I remember taking Klor Kon in the past for it too. I use the morton salt substittute instead of salt for that purpose too. I also add Smar****er with electrolytes which helps too.It seems whenever someone is posting about cramping it ends up being they need more magnesium in what I read here. I buy the Vitacost 250 mg Magnesium citrate as they were a little smaller than the VL ones which it was hard for me to swallow.

It's time for you to do labs dear. I have a new lab request sheet to use that is from Dina McBride if you want it. Let me know.