Cramps

[casapp]

I've been getting terrible cramps in my toes They only last a few seconds but arr awful, my gt toe seems to go sideways and I can't move it until the cramp subsides. Is this from my RA ? Does any one else get them and is there any way of lessening them? Thank in advance

[Trish53]

Yes I get these too, but I don't know if it's to do with the RA. Try standing up and pushing your toes hard into the ground, or massaging the toe firmly (especially the joint at the base of the toe) with your thumb at the front and your fingers at the back. This is what I do and it seems to help. Trish x

[Beth58]

I get something similar when I've been on my feet for a while, the toes and bottom of my foot seem to cramp, it's excruciatingly painful and my foot won't bend at all, the only way I find relief is to take my shoes off and stay go bare foot.

I'm not sure if it's RA or my AS, my doctor just looked at me as if I'm mad. Needless to say he didn't offer any solution either.

[Philip]

This is something I have had twice and if I d had an axe I would have chopped the bleedin things off, at the time the pain was that bad, If you do find out I would love to know.

[Hidden]

I went through a long spell of getting locking of joints - mainly at night. This was like cramp and would make me cry out in agony - but would go away as soon as I moved it about a bit. It used to affect my fingers suddenly - then happened to my knees for ages, then shoulders, then feet and toes. Now it sometimes happens with my wrists and fingers but not as extremely. My GP told me this is due to RA inflammation in the joints and prescribed ibuprofen max dose regularly each day. It has happened much since I've been taking that. hope this helps? TildaT

[Hidden]

Oops I meant it hasn't happened as much...!

[casapp]

thanks, I ended up wrapping my feet in a cold compress last night after the cramp they were so painful and burning, it was dreadful. Also i've woken to big sore (but not exactly painful) swellings on the base of my thumbs, don't want to play this RA game any more

[Hidden]

I've had that exact same thing! Have had to put a bag of ice on the soles of my feet and wrap in a towel and pin to keep on all night.

Doc suggests few things to explain, low Potassium level, over use during the day, or, even a mild case of gout.

Best treatment for the cramping is to stand on the toes and push into the floor. Hurts like hades, but it usually gets them settled. Loret

[avjh]

Yes I've had the same thing.It usually happens when I've done extra walking.As soon as I get back into the car my feet cramp.It sometimes spreads to my shins.It usually eases of once I get home and put my comfy slippers on.I also get it in my left thumb which locks my hand into one position for a minute or so.Very disconcerting.xxx

[Hidden]

I have had this too and even had quinine prescribed for a while, but my hydrotherapy helped stop it xx

[Treesha]

oh yes me too and when i mentioned it at the rheumy clinic you would have thought i had asked if i could pee on their children! why oh why if we all relate to this they have no notion of it at all. where i work we have heard evey complaint ,problem and joke relating to eyes. i find it puzzling they have not heard of cramps. xxx

[casapp]

My RA nurse sent me to doctor who has heard of it, he said quinine prob wouldn't work, but to drink a glass of tonic water at night to try, he prescribed me amitryptilyne (scuse spelling) 25mgs, said to take it a couple of hours before I want to go to bed and to take an anti-inflammatory, and do you know, it actually helps a lot, had a couple of minutes when I thought I was going to cramp but it didn't happen!! knock on side effect, they help me sleep too!!! negative side effect, it makes me feel a little groggy on a morning, but work soon knocks groggyness off!!

[MEMA]

Have you tried eating a banana a day? It really worked for me and now I only have cramps if I forget to eat them.

[casapp]

that's worth a try Mema and no side effects, will get some, healthy too

[antibes]

Thank you everyone for your comments I shall try them all xx