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Cramps in Toes
Last night, i was attempting the scorpio= fail! But not giving up. I noticed i was getting cramps in my toes. The kinds of cramps where it seem they lock up if that make sense. Ive heard two things, lack of stretching and maybe low potassium. I stretch before and after i work out. Any ideas or has anyone had this issue?
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17 Replies
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Hey. Could you be squiezing your toes and feet really tightly when you are pointing them. I haven’t had this problem in pole, but I did when I first started surfing. I just had to learn to relax them more, and no more cramping. Thinking about pole, I think I point my toes by squeezing my legs and straightening my feet, but not squiezing them, if that makes sense. But I’ve only been poling for a year, so I’m no expert and my legs and feet could still be a lot prettier.
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Whoops, don’t mind the weird autocorrect.
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No, im not squeezing them tight. I noticed it when i was trying to do the scorpio and when i was trying to lock my leg onto the pole. I just asked this guy at my job whose a health nut. He said its similar to when some people work out and after they may get a cramp in the arm, etc. He said to keep a banana nearby and when it happens eat it or some of it, the potassium makes the cramp go away. Think ill try that.
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Sounds like something worth trying. If it’s a lack of potassium, could you eat the banana beforehand? Being well hydrated is probably good too.
This doesn’t happen to you on any other moves, just Scorpio?
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Ive noticed it from time to time when im doing a move like the Gemini or Scorpio but not as bad..lol. When i put my calf on the pole and try to hold on, thats when it happened. I dont know it was weird Plus i was coming out of a week pole funk and havent done much excercising etc so that may have been th culprit as well but im buying some banana’s today!
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Speaking of cramps…..if anyone can solve this riddle I would be sooooo very grateful. I have had leg cramps (mine are seriously like Charlie horses on steroids! I could never begin to exaggerate how awful they are) since I was a kid. Through the years they have gotten worse and more often. I’ve had my potassium checked, magnesium checked, circulation checked and no doctor can figure it out. Oh yeah and I’m not dehydrated either. I get them at night a lot only sleeping less than an hour at a time. They’re in different places and different legs, feet, you name it. I’ve had them in the day, I’ve had to get out of my car while driving somewhere. I’ve gone hoarse from screaming, sweating and almost vomiting from the pain and have had bruises as a result. I have tried every remedy known to man. Lately I have even got to where my stomach cramps up an I have to lean back to get it to stop and feel a huge knot where it is cramped up. Oh and it’s not restless leg syndrome either. My brother told me he has had the same thing too and no doctor can find what’s causing it either. I do worry it will happen when I’m on the pole and I’ll get hurt or while I’m in the pool and I’ll drown. My daughter fished me out of pool once already (thank God she was there) and it happened twice while inverting that my toes completely curled up and trying to get down was not so easy. Anyone with any experience with this and found relief please share. This can be very debilitating. I would love to sleep like a normal person and go through the days like everyone else. I’m no sissy and have a high threshold to pain. I had both kids with no medication at all. I honesty thought in the heat of the pain just shooting my leg off just to stop the pain! Of course I didnt lol I was just that desperate at the time. Sorry for writing a nicely on here, I just wanted to explain the severnes of my problem.
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PamHolderman, are you hypermobile? Can you bend your thumbs back to touch your forearm with no pain, can you easily bend from waist with straight legs and put palms flat on floor, do your elbows or knees overextend and start to bend back on themselves, do you bruise easily and have super soft skin?
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Pam that sounds horrible! It’s very difficult not knowing what’s wrong and trying to get a doctor to listen. There are many rare pain syndromes that exist. Was wondering if you have seen a rheumatologist and/or a neurologist. Although I know first hand some doctors are just no help. I hope you find answers.
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Emagyne, I used to get a lot of toe and calf cramps from poling when I started out. For me, those muscles were just really weak and not used to doing so much. It got better with time. I wasn’t dehydrated and it wasn’t lack of stretching for me. It was just from contracting those muscles a lot harder than they were used to
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Tropicalvertical I’m not any of those except super soft skin and bruise fairly easy. 🙁
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Pam, complex regional pain syndrome is one of the syndromes I have heard of where a limb can be affected. though you may not have this it could be something similar or damage to a nerve.
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I would love to find out what it is and if something could be done to treat it. Living a normal life is but a mere dream right now. I’m going to do a little more research on complex regional pain syndrome. Thank you Phoenix Hunter!
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Pam
This condition that you described is associated with spontaneous depolarization of the motor neurones that supply muscle tissues, could be skeletal or even main organ muscles such as cardiac.
Majority of causes are benign. For example, slight insufficiency of magnesium that cannot be determined by electrolytes test could hardly be the answer but combined with large amount of caffeine, caffeine hidden products under the name guarana, mate, anti-cellulite creams etc. could be enough to cause it. Also use of over the counter sleeping aid, anti-nauseants, various stimulants in natural products such as bitter orange or orange peel… watch for those. Some medications also have tendency to deplete or disturb the mineral balance.
When exercise we all lose magnesium usually replenish proteins but not everyone takes Magnesium enough. Everyone especially athletes should maintain their magnesium balance. Do not take it on an empty stomach or in excess bc it will cause diarrhea.
Stress and anxiety should be reduced to a minimum.
If you are the type to experience this on a pole your warmup should be a sufficient one with intense stretches for splits at least 30-45 min before you approach the pole. Get foam rollers, rollers with ridges and follow Veena’s preps for splits.
Yoga is of a great benefit to this condition especially poses sitting and standing pike, standing bow and eagle. -
Okay I just started researching what you just sent me. My brother and both have asthma. We have both outgrown it for the most part, unless we get sick or its cold an we over do it. It said stimulants can cause it such as proventil. We both had many trips to the ER getting shot with epenepherin and adrenaline. I wonder if it’s from that? But I rarely use my inhaler, maybe a few times a year. So, would I need to see a neurologist to have tests? I might switch to decaf coffee for awhile and take some magnesium too. If you figured this out…..you are an angel! My brother and I have been dealing with this for over 40 years now.
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No Pam
Medications such as Proventil (Ventolin) is a bronchodialator, also epinephrine shots when used as prescribed at the time when needed shouldn’t be the cause of it. Both of these leave you system pretty quick without residual side effect over time. Its more of the habitual use of caffeine products not only coffee but soft drinks as well and sports nutrition and supplements even weight loss products. Watch for those. Seeing a doctor especially specialists is always a good idea. May be ask for referral to see physiotherapist for massage as well. But doing your own part by taking magnesium supplement is a good start. There is this particular Electrolyte Hydrator from Vega Sport has very good balanced mineral content including magnesium. It comes in raspberry flavour but taste still horrible. if you can tolerate the taste use 1-2 packets a day. You can take tablets as well up to 500mg a day but liquid form is more absorbable
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