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What Causes Leg Cramps?
About a year ago I began to have foot (arch and bridge) and some occasional lower leg cramps most pronounced when at rest in bed. This has been accompanied with a tightness and pain over the bridge of the feet when moving them from side to side. The problem is of variable intensity from hour to hour or day to day and does not significantly impair the ability to walk. I eat a lot of salmon, sparingly of red meat but no pork--lots of vegetables and fruit. Had open heart surgery a few months before the problem emerged. Now taking ASA 81, Candesartan 16mg, Flomax 0.4mg and assorted vitamin supplements including C, D, Fish Oil, CoQ10, multi, CA-MG, veg. silica and Super Vision, all in moderate amounts.
I notice that when I squeeze the sides of my foot over the bridge this seems to relieve the symptoms. I am 79 and active. Have tried some physic with limited results. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Wally
I notice that when I squeeze the sides of my foot over the bridge this seems to relieve the symptoms. I am 79 and active. Have tried some physic with limited results. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Wally
Mon, 8 Dec 2014
User's Response
Dear Wally.
I am really happy that you try to take care for yourself as good as you can, specially after a great surgery. Cramps, Cramps with simply words are suddenly involuntary contractions of one or more muscles that become hard, tight, and extremely painful. Muscle cramps can have many possible causes starting from poor circulation in your muscles, change of temperature( high local temperature during night), dehydration, muscle fatigue, changes in the potassium level or medication (some of yours can give cramp due to changes in the water balane in the body). What we can do? the most important is to remove the pain during the episode: When muscle cramps occur, there are several things you can do to help ease them, such as massaging, stretching, or icing the muscle, warming the muscle, or taking a bath with salt.
To help reduce the risk of cramps in the future, try the following:
Eat more foods high in vitamins and magnesium and calcium. (Bananas can help),Stay well hydrated, Stretch before exercising.
If you experience them frequently or for no apparent reason, you should speak to your doctor.
Get Well Soon
Dr. Gjonaj.E
I am really happy that you try to take care for yourself as good as you can, specially after a great surgery. Cramps, Cramps with simply words are suddenly involuntary contractions of one or more muscles that become hard, tight, and extremely painful. Muscle cramps can have many possible causes starting from poor circulation in your muscles, change of temperature( high local temperature during night), dehydration, muscle fatigue, changes in the potassium level or medication (some of yours can give cramp due to changes in the water balane in the body). What we can do? the most important is to remove the pain during the episode: When muscle cramps occur, there are several things you can do to help ease them, such as massaging, stretching, or icing the muscle, warming the muscle, or taking a bath with salt.
To help reduce the risk of cramps in the future, try the following:
Eat more foods high in vitamins and magnesium and calcium. (Bananas can help),Stay well hydrated, Stretch before exercising.
If you experience them frequently or for no apparent reason, you should speak to your doctor.
Get Well Soon
Dr. Gjonaj.E
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