OW! Cramp! OW! Cramp!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Waaaaahhh!! for the second time this week, I've had a couple hours of much-needed sleep, only to be woken up out of a sound sleep with cramps in my feet!! Could not get them gone for more than a half-hour. Was up all night. Went to work on 3 hours of sleep. :o

Thinking the problem was a lack of K, I had a nice big baked potato tonight with supper.

(As I've whined to you all before, I'm still taking that prednisone.)

Any ideas for a remedy??? I"m fresh out, and I can't pick my foot up or it'll contort. OW~ :bluecry1: how annoying!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sleepyeyes,

I have in the past also had cramps in foot and calf. To make them stop I bring my toes up as far up as I can bend them and my ankle I bend up also. As close to my knee as i can bring up my foot. It hurts to move it like this but it ALWAYS stops it. It has never failed for me.

Then to prevent it from happening again - Just before bed I eat a banana. I continue to eat a banana just before bed for about one week.

I have always found this strange because I have never had labs out of normal.

I don't know how I got this but this is my system. Try it hope it works for you.

Cali

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Once I stopped wearing tennis shoes and nursing shoes and started wearing the Dansko Professional type clogs (with the back part), I stopped having foot and calf cramps at night after work. It did me wonders. My back also feels better come to think of it. Hope the bananas work for you.

BTW, I think prednisone causes muscle cramps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks Cali== I can usually straighten it out by walking on it, but it's only temporary--contorts as soon's I think it's safe and I'm back to bed.

My labs are always normal too, though I've been plagued with foot cramps at different times in my life, then they just as mysteriously stop. Weird, isn't it?

Well, anyhow, I feel comforted by your response; at least I'm not as alone as it feels like here with everyone snoring happily around me. ok. so i'll stop whining.

Hmmm...it's 1:40 am here, and no bananas....

maybe a vitamin??? a bowl of cereal??

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ps, Sharann, I've been on the prednisone since the beginning of September and I think prednisone causes just about every s/e I've ever heard of in my life! :chuckle but I'm stuck on it for the next 4 weeks to treat my sarcoidosis.

At least now we're on the tapering side.... 40 mgs for 2 weeks now..... :rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma acute surgery, surgical ICU, PACU.

Have you tried going to a podiatrist to see if you need some kind of orthotic device to help your feet?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, hospice, family practice.

This might sound kind of weird, but I read it a long time ago, and when I get foot/leg cramps I do it - pinch together that little area of skin between the top of your lip and the bottom of your nose. It's supposed to be an accupressure thing I guess. It doesn't hurt and it may even help. For me, it hasn't had miraculous results, but the pain (which might just have well gone away on its own) does seem to subside.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

pinch.jpg

Like that???

:lol2: well, doggone, at least I gotta giggle. thanks, mary!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sleepyeyes,

Do you have any orange juice? hmmmmm.... I wonder if potato chips would work? :>

Sharann thanks for the info on the shoes. Are the Dansko Professional type clogs available at uniform shops? I haven't heard of them before.

Take care,

Cali

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just chewed up an MVI in desperation....

mr-yuk.gif

Up Vote Up Vote ×

*sigh* yeah.....something seems to be working.... i don't notice the foot cramp as much :lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Seems to me that K isn`t the only reason for cramps. Doesn`t Mg. and Ca. hace something to do with them, also? Worth a try.....Glass of milk? At this hour can`t think of what has Mag in it, sorry

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment