cramps

[Nastynav000]

hi, i recently went to beach on saturday and when i woke up sunday morning my right foot toes were cramped! i figured it not to be a problem, ate a bananna and called it a morning! but 3 full days later my toes still feel like its cramped up! i have complete feeling in my toes except the cramps. i spent much of saturday in flip flops walking and running around and i also have bad feet. My feet are flat and do hurt after a long time of standing! can anyone explain what is happening? am i beocming diabetic? i have increased my sodium intake and started taking
q-12 supplement!

[Vizigoth]

Being short on potassium or magnesium is not the only possible cause of your malady. You say that you have bad feet and that you spent a day in flip flops. That alone would be enough to leave me hobbling for weeks. See a podiatrist. They are MDs that specialize in foot problems. Be sure to check with your health insurance company first. Podiatrists are specialists and most HMOs require a referral from your GP before they will pay for your visits.

You may need orthotics (arch supports). If you feet are flat, I would certainly think that would be a contributing problem. Long term effects of flat feet are problems in the lower back and knees. Anything happening there? Orthotics are not the only possible answer. A cyst in your foot could be pressing on a nerve. A soft tissue injury could cause the same issue. Your problem may be a nerve in the lumbar region of the spine. Orthotics might help that issue. Does diabetes run in your family? It tends to be an inherited disorder. Be sure to let the doctor know your family's medical history.

On a different note, acupuncture may fix your problem with a single treatment. With flat feet, I am betting on orthotics as being your solution. Good luck!

[dazzler]

seem to be following vizigoth a fair bit lately, but its all sound advice!
When you walk in flip flops you tend to grip them with your toes...otherwise they fall off - obviously. When you walk on the beach, same applies, you tend to grip with your toes, but due to the softness of the sand, your toes go through a bigger range of motion, ie past what is normally a hard floor. It could be the combination of these, plus your already dodgy feet creating this situation. Stretch the toes out by doing a calf/soleus stretch - foot at 45degrees to a wall, push the toes down and try to bring the knee towards the wall. It'll also stretch achilles and plantar fascia in your foot... a 4 in 1 stretch, brilliant. And make sure you do see a decent podiatrist, video analysis of walking and running - barefoot and in trainers required. Good luck.

[Sidewinder]

I take creatine and I find if I flex too hard after taking it Im prone to cramping.

[Sidewinder]

About your toes, you might want to just do some toe excercises in the morning to get any kinks out.

[Riddle]

Originally Posted by Sidewinder

I take creatine and I find if I flex too hard after taking it Im prone to cramping.

That means you are not drinking enough water. When you are on creatine you need to up your water intake alot. Considering most people don't drink enough water as it is (not necessarily saying you don't), this can be a real problem when someone gets on creatine. Make sure you drinks lots of water and this problem should go away.

[ted_maul]

Sounds like you may be straining yourself. You probably already know this but stretching prior to excercise is not recommended as it causes strains. A gentle warm up is best, with stretches after.

Sodium helps too. Also, it sounds like you may be over-pronating. Flip flops won't help. You need a good sports shoe with arch support. Asics are probably the best for this.

[ted_maul]

Any decent serious sports shop will help you with chosing the proper footwear. Ask for a "gait analysys".

[ted_maul]

Or even a "gait analysis"!