A cramp in the foot can be a terrible pain. Why is this? In most cases, it comes on sudden and it can surprise the person who is experiencing the cramp.
There is no time in which a cramp cannot happen. For example, many people report having a foot cramp at night, while they are sleeping.
The crap is so great it awakes them immediately and they look for a way to stop this cramp. To learn what methods work for getting rid of these cramps, you must first examine just why these cramps happen.
The Causes of Cramps in the Foot
For those who do suffer with foot cramps, they are going to find that these are really nothing more than muscle cramps in their feet. For those who do have these cramps, these are most often caused by:
- Overuse of the muscle: such as if you had been walking more during the day than what you normally walk.
- Dehydration: not getting the right amount of water each day, and remember some medications may mean you need to drink more water to stay hydrated!
- Muscle strain: this can happen from overuse.
- Holding a Position for too long: This is often seen in those who are standing on their feet constantly or who sit in awkward positions throughout the day.
There are also times in which these cramps in the feet could be caused by an underlying medical issue. These medical issues include:
1- Having an inadequate blood supply. This often occurs when the delivery of blood to the legs is obstructed in some way. In most cases, this pain is going to happen when the person is exercising since blood flow is not getting all the way to the feet. This cramp often leaves once the person stops exercising.
2- Nerve Compression: There are several nerves throughout the body. When these nerves in the spine become compressed it is not uncommon for the person to develop cramps in the legs or feet. Walking often makes this pain worse since you are in a straight position for a long period of time.
3- Mineral depletion: For those who have cramps in their feet or their legs, they often find that certain minerals are missing from their body. For example, not having enough potassium, calcium or magnesium can cause these cramps to happen.
In most cases, however, the cause of the foot cramps that a person feels just happen, there is no real underlying cause behind these.
However, age, other medical conditions and the type of work in which a person does can play a huge factor in the cramps happening.
Getting Rid of Camps in the Foot
Getting rid of cramps felt in the foot can be easy or hard, depending upon the underlying reason for these cramps.
With this being said, here are a few methods that have been proven to work by those who have suffered with this pain in the past!
1- Eat a banana
Almost everyone as a child was told that they needed to eat more bananas. Cramps are common in children as they go through growth spurts, including those cramps in the feet.
Bananas are rich in potassium; thus, they can give the muscles the nutrients that they really need.
2- Heat and Cold Therapy
Utilizing heat and cold therapy is often a great option for overworked feet that are cramping up. With this approach consider alternating hot and cold packs every twenty or so minutes to get the full benefits.
3- Consider a new pair of shoes
For those who are having feet cramps constantly, they are going to find that a new pair of shoes is going to be a great investment.
In many cases, the arch support is not enough or too much resulting in cramps being felt throughout the feet upon wearing these.
4- Get a Massage
While you may not be able to afford going to a professional massage every day, there are tons of at home massage units on the market for your feet.
These massage units often offer water massage, vibration, and the like. These are rather affordable units that can offer amazing comfort, thus they are worth considering.
5- Stay Hydrated
Hydration is so important to those who are suffering with foot cramps, or cramps in other areas of their bodies as well. Those who are hydrated are less likely to have cramps bother them in the first place.
The rule of thumb is that everyone should strive for eight glasses of water each day. Of course, this is going to be more for those who are super active, working outside or who are sweating this water out of their bodies.
In extreme cases, when these cramps are not easily controlled with the ideas that you can use at home, a visit to the doctor may be required.
There are several ways in which a doctor may help you, especially if the cramps are due to nerve issues in the body. In these cases, a medication may be given to help block these overactive nerves throughout the body.
However, this is often a last result for those who have foot cramps. Doctors want patients to try to control this on their own before reaching for a new medication to take.
Foot cramps are not pleasant to experience. In fact, these cramps can become so painful that the person feels as though they cannot walk.
In extreme situations, these cramps can result in sleeping being lost, and the person feeling as though they cannot get through the next day.
The huge issue with cramps in the feet is that these do interfere with your everyday life. And when these cramps get to the point in which they are interfering with how you live, these need to be taken care of.
If the at home remedies are not working to stop these cramps, then talking to a doctor is a necessity for your peace of mind!
