I'm a teacher & stand / walk all day. When I get home & sit, I start to have horrible cramps in my.....?

Question

ankles, feet, shins, and calves. I can usually walk it off, but lately they have become very painful & I usually just cry! It almost feels like the bones are twisting everyway but the right way. I drink plenty of water & started eating a banana everyday (someone suggested that...). Any clues to what this could be? Fatigued muscles?

Thanks for the tips! Keep them coming...I do teach little ones (2nd grade) & your right...sitting down is pretty much a joke...I don't even have a desk b/c I don't have room for one :) I do have my reading group table though & can prop my feet up on that. I'm definitely going to make an appointment for spring break...Thanks again everyone!!!! All your tips are wonderful :)

Answer 1

It sounds like you need some Thrombo Embolic Device (TED) Stockings or Socks. These can be purchased at the pharmacy, or if you are in Australia, from the Diabetes Association.
The TEDS help promote circulation back up through the legs from toe to calf to groin areas, and alleviate the feelings you are experiencing. You can wear the all day long and just rest from them at night.
When you get home you can put your feet up on two pillows, elevate them higher than the point of your groin area, yet lower than the point of your heart.
Otherwise, seek medical attention, the doctors can do some tests to see what the root of the problem is.
It may be vascular, it maybe arthritic, it may just be due to being on your feet all day long. I am anurse, so I know that feeling :(
I wear TEDS, it helps, and elevating feet helps, and during breaks elevating feet.

Answer 2

First, look to see if there is any swelling or puffiness at the end fo the day, if so then part of the problem is with the circulatory system, so you need to visit a doctor. If there isn't any swelling or puffiness, here are a number of thing you can do:

Magnesium is what makes muscles relax, and sometimes (not always) muscles cramp because of a temporary shortage in magnesium. Try taking a magnesium supplement (around 250 - 350 mg) at breakfast and dinner. If the magnesium works for you, you will see results in 1-2 days, if you don't notice a difference within that time, then the problem is not a magnesium deficiency, so you can discontinue the supplements.

Shoe inserts - Where ever you find foot care products in the pharmacy, there are usually a variety of shoe inserts. A rigid arch support helps relieve foot fatigue by distributing your weight across the entire foot, there are also different types of gel inserts to reduce fatigue. Try a couple types of arch supports. They usually take a few days to get used to. You can take them out any time if they bother you or don't work.

Stretching - try out a bunch of different leg and foot stretches to see which ones provide relief - stretch the toes, arch of the foot, ankles, calf muscles and hamstrings and any other groups that are tight.

Exercise - walking (or cycling) is usually all that needed, but toe raises and ankle exercises might also help. Exercise will build up the muscles to reduce fatigue.

Answer 3

You should see your doctor because these symptoms could be serious. You are in a profession which does require a lot of standing. It could be that your doctor would want you to not stand anymore - in which case you may be looking at an illness leave or disability. To help yourself before you get to the doctor - make yourself sit for a good portion of the class. Tell the students your feet hurt and make them come to you. Use flip charts instead of blackboard and do it sitting on a stool. Buy or wear some shoes with a fat cushion - like really good walking trainers. Wear padded socks. Have a foot stool under your desk and put your legs up for at least ten minutes every hour. At lunch and on breaks raise your feet higher than your hips for at least twenty minutes.
Have your school buy you a padded rubber mat on which you can stand when you MUST be at the blackboard. Use a stool and podium for lectures. Hopefully you don't teach wee ones but if you do, move them to the floor in a circle and join them. Get a floor chair with a back for yourelf.

You could have varicose veins, circulatory problems, hypertension, etc. Again, this could be serious so take care of yourself.

Answer 4

You need to take the time to sit. I don't care what you do at school but make the time to raise your legs and get off them for at least 10 mins. every hour. I had this when I worked for a Dr. actually two and had to leave my job it got so bad. so, make the effort and let the kids figure out another way to relate to you...move their seats closer to your desk, sit whenever possible, you can't go on this way. Yes, take potassium and even calcium to help. But, it's the blood flowing down and not coming back up that is causing you pain. Get off the legs and feet...it is a must and don't allow the job to rob your health, talk to your boss and tell them why and make the arrangements needed to do this for your health, you are getting older, sorry but it is true and things happen. Good luck. you will feel better when you change your routine and make a new one to include sitting down, often.

Answer 5

Maybe you should get more comfortable shoes? I used to work for a chiropractor and they can have orthodic shoes made especially for you-the sole of the inside of the shoe is basically made from a mold of your feet. They start off at just under $100 but they last for years and are REALLY confortable. The pain from uncomfortable or uncushioned shoes often travels upward from the ankles. Good Luck.

Answer 6

Could be lots of things, I teach as well, the idea of sitting in a chair is a joke.

I wear a really good pair of shoes, put my feet up whenever I can and found that not standing still, but moving constantly helps, and it keeps the students wondering where I'll turn up next.

Good luck to you.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

well after you see your family physicain if he is not able to fix you up then you should really go see a foot doctor . everything you list off as pains is caused by poor feet and most often can be treated with custom made insoles for your shoes.
as you know there are two levels of training for a foot doctor. i have been to both and i was helped by both . i got the insoles from the less non md doctor.

Answer 9

same thing happens to me after a day of teaching skiing I usually just pop some advil and take a HOT bath as soon as I get home to avoid the cramping. if not than I place hot water bags on the most tender areas to stop the twitching and stinging.

Answer 10

It sounds exactly like fatigued muscles, i think you need to get a massage from a special someone (not one of thos massages, just a nice relaxing one) if you don't have a special someone i'm sure you could either do it yourself or get a professional to do it say once or twice a week.