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  • Foot cramps: Why they happen & what to do about them

    Posted by susana-m on July 19, 2024 at 5:24 pm

    For years I’ve asked doctors about these foot cramps that I’ve been getting once a month. I even asked MD doctors at one point and nothing.

    (An aside here. When I say cramps, I don’t mean some little Charlie horse, I mean a seizure painful enough to wake me from a dead sleep screaming. I’m not even exaggerating that. It’s always my foot and every time it happens I lose a little more sensation there. Cue the panic attack, I wasn’t prepared to lose sensation, too.)

    Casually mentioned it when I was at the MDA clinic and the doctor said, “oh yeah, I’ve seen that before with patients who had Harrington rods.” That was the only reason I could ever come up with, but to have a doctor confirm it was great.

    Sort of great.

    There’s nothing to do about it.

    It feels like a short circuit through my entire body when it happens. And, honestly, I get really fed up with this and have my moment of, “ENOUGH ALREADY!”

    Currently my solution includes taking 2 Gabapentin per hour until the cramps ease up. a TENS unit to overwhelm my sensations and a topical essential oil blend made for neurological pain.

    I know they’re not using Harrington Rods anymore but wanted to know if any of you had different ways of handling this. The pain is pretty shocking and exhausting.

    Whatcha got?

    susana-m replied 3 months, 2 weeks ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
  • 2 Replies
  • alyssa-silva

    Member
    July 22, 2024 at 11:00 am

    Hmm, I’m not sure what to tell you. My mom has experiences similar to yours, and her doctor mentioned dehydration. Do you think that could be the case with you? She doesn’t have SMA or Harrington Rods, so I’m sure it’s different, but she describes her cramps very similarly.

  • susana-m

    Member
    July 24, 2024 at 6:23 pm

    Not dehydration. This is the first time in my life that I have been fully hydrated and I’m still getting them. Someone once suggested potassium, didn’t help me, but her mileage may vary.

    I did notice that when I was having regular chiropractor appointments the amount of cramps and the pain levels were both less. It seems stretching my lower back helped take some of the pressure off my spinal column. She should try that for a couple weeks, see if it helps.

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