# What is the best remedy for foot cramps? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030 "2012-01-19T16:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/1 "2012-01-19T16:42:20Z")
My feet are SORE…sore to the point I don’t feel like going to work later… How can I make them feel better? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/2 "2012-01-19T16:52:23Z")
Sore feet (usually from lots of walking and/or ill-fitting shoes) and foot cramps (painful spasms of muscles pulling on the toes) are two different things, unless your feet are sore from having been cramp for a long time. Elaborate, please. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/3 "2012-01-19T16:57:59Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Sore feet (usually from lots of walking and/or ill-fitting shoes) and foot cramps (painful spasms of muscles pulling on the toes) are two different things, unless your feet are sore from having been cramp for a long time. Elaborate, please. Sore feet. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/4 "2012-01-19T17:02:13Z")
Massage? Soak in hot water? ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/5 "2012-01-19T17:04:42Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Massage? Soak in hot water? Ok thanks I’m going to try both. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/6 "2012-01-19T17:09:17Z")
Moved GQ --\> IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/7 "2012-01-19T20:19:56Z")
Increase the calcium in your diet to avoid the cramps. If you’ve got the type that wake you up in the middle of the night while your foot tries to fold itself in half, you need more calcium. Tums or the generic are a cheap source. Viactiv Calcium Chews come in neat flavors. Or you can buy the big, honkin’ horse pills that usually comprise calcium supplements. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/8 "2012-01-19T21:53:49Z")
> [@slm2955](#): > > Sore feet. If you are going to soak them, I’d also add epsom salts. But you may want to look into _Plantar fasciitis_, which may be the cause. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/9 "2012-01-19T22:03:43Z")
If you have a job standing on your feet all day, you should have a good supportive floormat under your work area. If you don’t, talk to your manager. Everyone who has standing jobs gets foot pain by the end of their shift, but it’s a matter of degree. If it’s increasing or becoming unbearable, see a doctor and see if there isn’t something more serious going on. You might also consider investing in a more comfortable pair of shoes (or buy some Dr. Scholl’s insoles, those are nice). A doctor could tell you if you need orthotics or a special kind of shoe–like if you’re flat-footed or have exceptionally high arches. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/10 "2012-01-19T22:15:57Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Increase the calcium in your diet to avoid the cramps. If you’ve got the type that wake you up in the middle of the night while your foot tries to fold itself in half, you need more calcium. > > ~VOW That’s really interesting. I get horrible foot cramps of exactly that kind - the foot actually looks deformed due to the shape it twists into -but haven’t had one since I’ve been pregnant. I’ve been craving milk throughout the pregnancy and drinking it by the gallon. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/11 "2012-01-19T23:08:39Z")
Thanks everyone, I soaked them and they are feeling much better! ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/12 "2012-01-19T23:09:39Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Increase the calcium in your diet to avoid the cramps. If you’ve got the type that wake you up in the middle of the night while your foot tries to fold itself in half, you need more calcium. > > Tums or the generic are a cheap source. Viactiv Calcium Chews come in neat flavors. Or you can buy the big, honkin’ horse pills that usually comprise calcium supplements. > ~VOW My calcium intake is pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/13 "2012-01-20T00:12:11Z")
I thought it was deficiency in potassium, not calcium, that’s responsible for cramps … though I understand that they work together in metabolism and nutrition. Anyway, glad your tootsies are happier. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-remedy-for-foot-cramps/610030/14 "2012-01-20T18:25:24Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I thought it was deficiency in potassium, not calcium, that’s responsible for cramps .. though I understand that they work together in metabolism and nutrition. > > Anyway, glad your tootsies are happier. 🙂 Thanks, love:)