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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!convex!trsvax!kasey
From: kasey@trsvax
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: FOOT CRAMPS
Message-ID: <38100010@trsvax>
Date: Tue, 25-Feb-86 18:08:00 EST
Article-I.D.: trsvax.38100010
Posted: Tue Feb 25 18:08:00 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Feb-86 22:29:58 EST
References: <464@houem.UUCP>
Lines: 20
Nf-ID: #R:houem.UUCP:464:trsvax:38100010:000:985
Nf-From: trsvax!kasey    Feb 25 17:08:00 1986


>> Does anyone know what causes muscle cramps?  I frequently get 
>> muscle cramps in my feet (my toes get all kinked up and won't
>> spread apart), even when I'm just lying around relaxing or watching TV.  
>> Does this happen to anyone else?
>> Does it have anything to do with a vitamin deficiency?

>You could have a potassium deficiency, especially if you consume a lot
>of sodium.

Megadoses of vitamin C and the use of diuretics can also lead to potassium
deficiency.

I was hospitalized once for surgery.  Before the surgery I had horrible leg
and foot cramps every night.  Sometimes they were so bad that I had to walk
for 30 minutes to get rid of them.  Since I was in already in the hospital, my
doctor decided to run blood tests to see if I had some deficiency that was
causing my cramps.  I had a potassium and calcium deficiency.  I've been taking
supplements of both ever since.  The only time I get cramps is if I miss the
supplements for a day or two.  I'm convinced!