Foot cramps?

[LisaM46]

My right foot started "humming" or, vibrating a few days ago, and starting yesterday, both of my feet and my right hand have been cramping up.  My calves have cramped up off & on for a couple of months, but I thought it was just because I haven't been to the gym since mid-April.  

Does anyone else get this?  Could it be the start of mobility issues?  Thoughts?

Lisa

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

May I ask, were u dx'd with Chiari? This thread is in the Chiari forum, and those posting to it do have Chiari and related issues...some may have additional dx'd that can add to the pains like Ehlers-Danlos, even low levels of vitamins and minerals can cause cramping, and muscle pains and numbness.

Have u been to a Dr and had ne testing? Do u have ne other symptoms?

[salemfl]

I have pain in my legs like growing pains,I stopped growing years ago.I had my muscles in my stomach it felt like they locked up so much pain I couldn't move,I haven't had that again but my legs hurt everyday I have pain in my hips,I can;t lay on sides.My lower back sometimes hurt,my toes get pains in them my fingers also,my calves get cramps my thighs cramp at night .My fingers have twisted into horrible shapes it horrible,my toes to the same,I don't have the pain expect in my legs daily but the toes fingers or stomach only at times,what is this pain.I have always been healthy,sometimes if I walk a short distance my legs get heavy ,I can't enjoy walking through the mall or just walking anymore!what is this?

[LisaM46]

I will try to get my vitamin/mineral levels checked.

I thought the scan that was ordered was a CINE, but turns out it's a Cardiac Gated CSF flow study.  Not sure how different they are.  My NS did tell me that sometimes insurance deny it, and that if we couldn't get it approved, he would still recommend surgery for me.  I asked his assistant if I should start the appeal, and she said he's still working with the Radiology Dept to try to make it happen for me & to wait for him to call me.  

The NS assistant replied to my e-mail about the cramping, and my NS was in the OR all day today, so she said she'd print my e-mail and have him look at it first thing in the morning.

Thanks for all the input.

Lisa

[kricklekrin]

Hi Lisa,
I wasn't sure if my foot cramps were related and why they were happening, but now you have me thinking.  I noticed it a lot when we were in California recently especially after I would get out of the water from swimming.  Very painful.  During this time, the same foot was full of pins and needles the entire time we were on vacation.  Since we've come home, I have not had this issue.  I thought maybe it was the drastic temperature change.  I did have cramping in my buttocks and legs earlier in the year.  I remember running around my house like a crazy lady trying praying it would stop.  After this, I could not sit or lay without sever cramping and pain in my left buttock and down my left leg.  I'm beginning to think that those of us who suffer from this malformation have the CM specialists confused.  All I can say, is that we live it and know our bodies better than any person or doctor.  Didn't have any of these problems before all of these symptoms started.  

[Jennyfoo]

I get pretty bad cramping and spacticity in my rt leg and foot. It sometimes gets so bad that I can't lift my rt leg or push it forward to walk. Thankfully this hasn't ever lasted more than a day at a time for me. My rt calf constantly feels like it's going to Charlie horse cramp. Nothing helps it. I also have weird, random twitches and jerks in legs, feet, hands, arms, even torso and neck. Once in the ER, a few months ago, and twice by different pcps, I was noted to have rt side weakness.

Oh, but I only have migraines or stress headaches per neurologist. Idiot!

[*Stormy*]

I really hope this will get your the CINE MRI approved...the way you are describing the cramping is progressing, you need to get it done! I would definitely talk about it with your NS and put an emphasis on it!! Mine got so bad by the end that it was extremely difficult to walk.

Someone posted this on another post and I read it and it was very interesting. Take a look when you have a moment: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2146789/pdf/canfamphys00077-0094.pdf

Seems all of us should get our magnesium checked, to make sure that it isn't adding to the problem! But for me, the CM was definitely causing the spastic muscles...my legs are 80% better than they were and now I just mainly have twitches, spasms in my neck and shoulders, with the occasional cramping in my legs. But I can walk!!!!

If the insurance won't do the CINE..if your NS is content that the CM is causing this, then couldn't they just go ahead with the surgery? Where I live, there is no CINE but my NS was convinced just by the MRI and the crowding near my foramen magnum...and he was right!

GOOD LUCK
Carolyn

[selmaS]

My PCP did the labs for the vitamin D levels...u can have him check foe potassium, and magnesium as well as B12....and while at it the TSH, free T3 and free T4 and TPO antibodies....as many of us do have this autoimmune thyroid condition Hashimoto's.

These can explain some of our symptoms, but not all, and may not take the symptoms away...it can however show it is the chiari causing the symptoms and not the low levels of these minerals and vitamins. But is is also best to have the right levels.


Along with the vitamin D levels being low, I was put on a supplement and told to get 15 minutes of sun a day with no burn.

"selma"

[LisaM46]

Thanks.  No, I don't think I've had vitamins & mineral levels checked.  I went through so much blood work with the parvovirus, once the blood panel came back clean for the first time about three years ago - I was just so relieved.

I've always tried to cook healthy for my family & read all I could to be aware of what that entails.  I just assumed that it all equates to good levels of everything.  I thought I was on top of it until I got hit with THIS this year.  I know I've always run borderline on iron, but that's about all that stood out, outside of the parvovirus nonsense.

Did you have your pcp do the labs on this, or request from ns or na?

Thanks.

Lisa

[selmaS]

No worries...wish I had something to offer in the way of a suggestion....

If I remember or find something I will let u know : )

I used to get a lot of cramping like that too....not sure if it was a combo of vitamins and mineral levels and chiari ...as many of us do have low vit D levels....

have u had these blood labs done?

"selma"

[LisaM46]

It's been pretty constant cramping.  It doesn't matter if I'm laying down, sitting, standing still, walking, barefoot, wearing shoes.  No change in the feeling at all today.  My calves are cramping up now & I just feel overall crappy today.  

I see what you're saying, but when I'm in bed, I'm limited to all of - left side or right side.  And, I can't sprawl out or throw one leg out any more like I used to - it puts pressure on the neck.  I have to keep my legs lined up to keep my spine in position for my neck not to pinch worse.

Takeout for dinner tonight :(  

Thank you.

Lisa

[selmaS]

Yup...me too!
But it does tend to happen when I change my footwear...I just started wearing my ugg boats as it is getting cooler...no more sandals...so, I am getting the cramps while lying in bed....



U may be lying in a position that is pinching a nerve or u may be lying on the side where ur herniation is more compressed...does that make sense?

Try different sleep positions

"selma"

[LisaM46]

I was getting the cramping while I was in bed doing nothing!  I'm getting it whether I'm barefoot or with sandals.  My hand was cramping while I was still in bed too.  It feels like the kind of cramp I would get from holding something too hard/long, but I wasn't holding anything in my sleep!

Thank you.

Lisa

[selmaS]

Hi...I still get the vibration and cramps in my foot...it always seemed to happen when I changed my shoes...one style to another.....

I am still having this issue...tho not like b4 as that is the case with many of my symptoms...but I had a month or more of the vibrating, now I have had a few nights of cramps in the arch of my feet.

My hands tend to cramp when I hold something  too long.....

Good Luck with the pinheads : )
"selma"

[LisaM46]

Shoot!  I hit the tab button by accident and lost my entire post!!!  Argh.  I have no idea where it went!

It seems like I'm having new symptoms every week.  My NS has recommended surgery for me, but he wanted to do the scan to check the CSF flow.  Insurance denied the scan, calling it  "experimental" and unnecessary.  Jerks.  My NS is still "working behind the scenes" to make it happen for me.   So I'm "on hold" at this point.  I plan on checking in with them tomorrow & will let them know the cramping issue.

I do get random twitches/spasms pretty much all over - hips, legs back, face...  I also  have ankle pain, but I've chalked that up to having human parvovirus b19 twelve years ago.  I suppose all my joint pain could be overlap between the parvo & chiari, but I'm so used to just blaming it on lingering parvo issues.  

I don't think diet is an issue.  I eat very well.  My tastes are changing though!  I'm craving spicier foods now.  Which is odd for this wimpy white girl!  

I was swimming four times a week until my symptoms kicked in before dx.  I stopped in April because my neck hurt too much.  Now, I'm just too tired all of the time.  I just don't have the energy.  I know I always feel better when I exercise, and I am known for my self-discipline.  I have always been very dedicated to taking care of myself so I can be there for my kids after THEY have kids (someday, years from now)!  I've always been able to drag my carcass to the gym even when I didn't want to.  Until now.

And, now that the day is progressing, my left hand is feeling the cramping too.  Great.  

Thank you all for your input.  I appreciate the insight.  Maybe this new symptom along with my increasing thought process problems will get the insurance pinheads to let me have my scan so I can move on!

Lisa

[niki3350]

Hi

Pain is my major issue at the moment 9 weeks non stop, yes have had odd cramps but not many, and at the moment It feels like my ankles more left that righ are seizing up im having difficulty rotating them both, and now my wrists are doing the same.

The painhas been more in both my legs going from tops at sides right down to behind knees, and now is in my lower back aswell as between shoulders.

Really feel like my mobility is getting worse and have noticed my gait is all wrong and my right foot now turns outwards.

Dont no if im a surgery candidate yet have more scans brain and cine on 29th.  Also forgot to mention loads of visual disturbance at present, stars, floaty things and huge red blobs.  This really is all getting to me now, but hey no i WILL GET ANSWERS SOON!!!!

[*Stormy*]

I used to get this ALL THE TIME and it was definitely a sign of mobility issues for me. It would start with the feet and after a few months I did have extreme mobility issues. This is also one thing that got much better after the surgery. Not to scare you...as others here have had this on and off for years with no progression. However, if you are finding that cramping in your legs is getting worse, I would definitely push to get your treatment pushed up. (Sorry I can't remember if you have been approved as a surgical candidate or not). Do you get constant muscle twitches? This was another sign for me of things to come.
Carolyn

[taylapj]

Ah The good old feet issues, i get really bad ankle pain, which can be cramp like, or radiating pain right from the ankle to the ends of my toes.

[jpurple]

This has been happening to me for the past few years.  my foot will start cramping up and I have to flex it for a while to get it to stop, just happens all of a sudden.  I'm not sure why, but i'm glad flexing it out helps for the time being anyways.  I have a well balanced diet so don't think its related to vitamin deficiency or anything like that.  It's weird.    I also haven't been to the gym since April.  I've just been really busy, but hope to get back this weekend.  We bought a golden puppy in April, so he has kept me busy/running:)  Now that he is a little older I can leave the house in mornings to get back to the gym.  It really is good to go, gets the endorphins flowing.  I just do the elliptical, will prob avoid the weights for a while d/t I have bilateral wrist tendinitis that is flaring, ugh.  So both of my hands are cramping up, at least that is what they say it is.  I have more questions and will be going to MDs within next couple weeks, ugh.