[LadyLib]

Muscle spasms - need guidance

by LadyLib on Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:40 pm

My husband is on Dex/Velcade/Cytoxan for his multiple myeloma. He is in his 3rd cycle of treatment. His Light Chains have went from 500 from diagnosis to 28 now. Lately after his treatment, he has been complaining about muscle spasms in his face, neck, toes, and fingers. He says it is not "pins and needles" like neuropathy, but it feels like Charlie Horses...any idea what is going on? What could be causing this?

[Ron Harvot]

Re: Muscle spasms - need guidance

by Ron Harvot on Mon Oct 07, 2013 12:07 am

I occasionally get the same symptoms. With me it is cramping in my calfsm and usually only occurs the fist night after receiving a treatment. I take the dex at the same time I get the Velcade so I am not sure which one is causing the symptoms. However, it is gone within 24 hours and doesn't occur every time.

How often does he get cramps? How long before they fade?

[h2omaker]

Re: Muscle spasms - need guidance

by h2omaker on Mon Oct 07, 2013 8:04 am

I've been on Val, Rev, and Dex for forty-eight weeks. I started getting "Charlie Horses" in my right leg. When I told the Dr. his response was almost, "really?"

[NStewart]

Re: Muscle spasms - need guidance

by NStewart on Tue Oct 08, 2013 11:17 am

During my induction treatment of Rev 15 mg and Dex 40 mg I experienced crippling muscle spasms at night in my feet, legs, thighs, abdomen, and back. Often I would get spasms in my hands during the day. I tried all kinds of things for the spasms - tonic water, a vinegar tonic made with cider vinegar, honey and water, stretching prior to bed, etc. None of them really helped. My oncologist kind of blew them off as did every other oncologist that I asked about them. I guess they don't really think of the spasms as a problem. But, when you are awakened every hour throughout the night with crippling spasms that can last 5-10 minutes at a time, this is a problem.

After my ASCT, when I was no longer on Rev or Dex, the spasms began to disappear. When I started treatment again last year with Rev 15 mg and Dex 20 mg I developed milder spasms on the night after taking the Dex. I asked my oncologist for a prescription of Valium 5mg which seems to solve the problem. I only take it on that one night and not every week. I do occasionally get spasms in my hands when I am using them a lot, but they don't last long.

I think that it is the Dex that causes the spasms. Good luck in managing them and continue to speak up to your doctor about them.

Nancy in Phila

[Beacon Staff]

Re: Muscle spasms - need guidance

by Beacon Staff on Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:50 pm

In case some of the readers of this thread are not aware of it, there was a discussion of muscle cramps (link to discussion), and how to deal with them, a while back here in the forum.

Some of the advice and experiences in that discussion may be helpful to those with spasms that regularly lead to cramping.

[genk]

Re: Muscle spasms - need guidance

by genk on Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:26 am

I get the cramps on or about Dex day but drink gator aide and it seems to relieve them for me. No guarantees.