Question:
Seekihg Advice About Foot and Ankle Cramps

What causes horrible leg cramps? I got one on the top of my left foot and ankle last night. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do to relieve it? I have had cramps in my calf before but never on the top of my foot. I am post op open rny, down 81lbs in 14 weeks.    — Ann B. (posted on June 27, 2003)

June 27, 2003
Low calcium, magnesium, potassium + make sure you're hydrated.
   — ZZ S.

June 27, 2003
I'm 10 weeks out and down 50lbs. I've been exercising a lot. I thought at first that was the problem, but I've always walked a lot. I had never experienced foot and ankle cramps like this. It wakes me out of a dead sleep at night. I don't have them during the day. What I've done to help. I always take my vitamins but that doesn't help. I started eating a 1/2 of a banana a day. I know they say that bananas are not the best fruit for us to eat, but they give you potassium and keep me from having cramps. I've also started eating about a 1/2 of a protein bar a day that has lots of good vitamins and nutrients in them. It has made my cramps go away. I hope this helps.
   — Lisa C.

June 27, 2003
I know when I was pregnant, my OB said that if I was getting leg cramps, it probably meant I needed more calcium. I can't see it being much different in this situation:) He told me to just chew tums. I know now that there is a difference between calcium carbonate (tums) and calcium citrate.
   — kathy B.

June 27, 2003
hiya...am echoing everyone else pretty much. i had the same thing happen and the cramps were excruiating! i added 1/2 to 1 banana a day, made sure i was getting minimum 60 oz water and all my calcium and that helped. i was already getting the water & calcium so really i just added the banana.. good luck! kate
   — jkb

June 27, 2003
yes they are all right. cramps are usually caused by a build of lactic acid in your muscles. magnesium and calcium can help reduce the ammout of lactic acid in your system, all keeping hydrated will also help this. just read what they wrote.
   — Mr. K

June 28, 2003
I agree with the others...most likely a low calcium issue. I was also getting the most excruciating leg, ankle and feet cramps at night. They would wake me up out of a sound sleep, several times a night, almost every night. At first, I thought it was low potassium, but my blood work had come back fine. I did some research and discovered that low calcium will cause muscle cramps/spasms. I had become very lax in taking my calcium supplements. I immediately started taking my supplements, and within 3 nights, the cramps stopped. It's also interesting to note that I recently had an endoscopy, and my doctor insisted I take NO vitamins/supplements at all for 7 days prior. By the seventh night, I was up all night with cramps again. As soon as I started taking them again, they went away.
   — Cyndie K.

June 28, 2003
Leg and foot cramps is also a classic early sign of potassium deficiency, which can be very serious if it gets out of hand. Potassium is washed out of the body through the kidneys. One of the results of a diet based on protein (rather than carbohydrates)is a signal to the kidneys to not retain water (that's one of the reasons why we need to drink so much). Under these circumstances, it is entirely possible that you need to up your potassium intake. However, too much potassium can also be dangerous (be careful if you're on meds for high blood pressure because certain types of HBP medications can cause you to retain potassium). I think you'd be wise to check with your doc before you self-medicate this.
   — Vespa R.

June 29, 2003
I get horrible leg cramps when my potassium levels get too low. My doctor quadrupled my potassium intake after the surgery. Pre-surgery, I ate a lot of fruit and potassium- rich food. Post-surgery, I ate mainly protein. The change made my potassium levels drop to an almost dangerous level. I now take daily prescribed supplements to prevent this from happening. You should have your doc check you blood levels to see if you need a supplement.
   — kararuck