# Toe spasm,s dammit--little toe & "ring" toe-help **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 19, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895 "2014-08-19T13:22:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/1 "2014-08-19T13:22:39Z")
I get these sometimes, you know if you’ve ever had them, your toes kind of lock up and deform your foot, I swear and it hurts. But now I am having them almost constantly for 3 days, and esp. when I am driving (right foot, thank god) So why am I getting this and what can help or prevent it? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/2 "2014-08-19T13:41:07Z")
I’ve been wondering about this too, as I get this, cramps in my toes whenever I’m extending my foot and pointing my toes. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/3 "2014-08-19T14:07:52Z")
Dollars to doughnuts says you both have lower back problems, yes? This is probably a disk bulge impinging on the nerve running down to your toes; those two toes have the same nerve (which is why you can’t wiggle them independently). ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/4 "2014-08-19T14:14:33Z")
Occasional sciatic pain, that’s it AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/5 "2014-08-19T14:17:58Z")
I get leg cramps, which are linked to a chronic imbalance of electrolytes instead. My sciatica does not appear to cause any spasms. AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/6 "2014-08-19T14:41:38Z")
IANAD. After a bit of research, the outlook doesn’t look [good](http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-08/fyi-there-any-way-prevent-toe-cramps). > [@](#): > > Toe cramps, like their more painful analogues in the calf, are associated with conditions other than aging as well. Yet despite their prevalence, few successful remedies have been found. “A lot of treatments have been used in the past,” says Stanford University neurologist Yuen So. Among the oldest is quinine, the malaria-fighting drug that gives tonic water its bite. A tablet before bed can have a small effect on nighttime cramping—however, the FDA now discourages its use because of rare, but very serious, side effects, such as low blood platelet counts. Other options include vitamin B complex and magnesium, but nothing has been proven effective. “There isn’t a gold standard out there,” So says. Try the old standbys of stretching, hydration and potassium. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/7 "2014-08-19T14:50:00Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > I get leg cramps, which are linked to a chronic imbalance of electrolytes instead. > [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Try the old standbys of stretching, hydration and potassium. Yes, wouldn’t Gatorade or something similar be a good thing to try initially to see if that offered some relief? ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/8 "2014-08-19T15:31:52Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Yes, wouldn’t Gatorade or something similar be a good thing to try initially to see if that offered some relief? I take magnesium tablets twice a day. No issues with sodium or potassium. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/9 "2014-08-19T16:45:31Z")
> [@](#): > > Toe spasms, dammit–little toe & “ring” toe-help I can’t help with the spasms, but we should at least use the traditional naming convention for toes; those would be “had none” and “wheeeee, whee, whee all the way home”. You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/10 "2014-08-19T20:54:55Z")
A banana a day keeps my toe cramps away. (also the leg cramps I was getting) Mine were usually Stayed Home and Had Roast Beef, sometimes Had Roast Beef and Had None. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toe-spasm-s-dammit-little-toe-ring-toe-help/695895/11 "2014-08-20T08:50:28Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > Occasional sciatic pain, that’s it AFAIK. Bingo. I’d suggest you get some scans down there then. It might just take some anti-inflammatories, and/or physio, or surgery. But don’t wait, it will only get worse.