Nocturnal foot cramps (always left foot)

[mhswarriors]

It's been a long time since I posted here. Quick recap. Been having bodywide twitching for over 2.5 years. My big concern is for the last year I have had a more focal "hotspot" in my left foot. The middle couple of toes twitch, but more concerning are the cramps. They hit usually as I am falling asleep, and rarely sometimes in the middle of the night. About 2 weeks ago I went a week straight with them every night, then for 1 week they left. Then last night again. It's a quick painful cramp. It pulls my toes down. The shock of it usually wakes me and before I have a change to think I will press my foot down on the bed and it stops. It isn't sore, and never happens again the rest of the night. Always just once.

Of course my concern is that cramping in your hands and feet can be bad. Bigger conern is it is always my left foot. Never any place else with the cramps. No weakness to note. I can carry both my 3 and 6 year old around. Walk on my toes and heals. Just concerned about the focal foot cramps.

 

[Tokahfang]

Have you tried increasing your potassium? Changing your sleeping position?

 

[mhswarriors]

I haven't tried anything at this point. Just wondering if a should be concerned enough about this to make a return trip to the Neuro. Didn't have cramps when I went to him 2.5 years ago. And that fact that they are localized worries me. Or is it possible that I just have BCFS, and all is good. Again I don't have any weakness, and these cramps have happened on and off for over 1 year......same foot....always at night.

 

[Rami]

Personally, I wouldn't even think about going to see a doctor, it would not even concern me, if this was how frequently it was occuring, particulary if it is happening whilst slept. The fact that it is one foot could actually be seen as reassuring in some ways.

 

[mhswarriors]

Really? I thought that it being in one foot was a bad thing. I figured it was a sign of nerve problems in that area, and most places warn of cramps in hands and feet as a bad thing (especially if accompanied by twitching). I would love to know what this should be reassuring. It would be great if I am looking at this the wrong way.

 

[rose]

There's nothing wrong with going to the doctor. In fact, this is the most common advise given here on the forum. Much better to have someone qualified examine you in person, and it is logical to seek out an opinion firsthand as you are seeing a change.

In my opinion, a cramp in the same spot isn't heralding something ominous, it probably is something as simple as a pinched (entrapped) nerve.

Its preferable to go find out what's causing it, than have a nagging fear always there, messing with your head.

 

[mhswarriors]

I guess what I am asking is would it be rare (almost never happens) to have bodywide twitching for 2.5+ years, then cramping in one foot for 1 year, with no weakness, progress to something more ominous.

 

[Tokahfang]

I would ask you to consider why you would assume that if you ever do contract something more ominous, it would be a progression. Most people's medical problems don't all neatly fit under one heading, nor does having one make you immune to another. So look up the frequency of the ominous disease in question, for instance ALS is about 1/50,000.

Rose is right, though. If it causes you worry, or if it negatively impacts your life by hurting how much sleep you get, and you have the ability to see a doctor easily, why not? At worst, he seems uninterested and has no symptomatic relief for you. I think I'd go to my PCP before a specialist, but that's definitely a personal decision. If you feel more comfortable not going, that's ok, too. Just don't stay home and worry about it constantly. Run the cost benefit ratio, only you know all your personal variables.