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Re: Muscle cramps
Good tip on the bromelain. The mustard worked well, but she got her nosebleed again and we think it may be from the vinegar and turmeric in the mustard, as they are natural blood thinners. We'll try bromelain and/or the soda water with quinine.
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royjulius - Who do you know with myeloma?: My girlfriend of 10 years, Alma
- When were you/they diagnosed?: About 5 years ago
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Muscle cramps
Funny this thread popped up.
I am suffering leg pains right now! Started noticing them coming back when I was working out (squats) for the last few weeks, but nothing major.
Last night in bed (early morning), woke up to a double charlie horse, both legs! All day my right leg has been aching quite a lot, as once they cramp badly at night, the spasm goes away but I am left with pain.
Can't wait to go home and put a heating pad on my leg.
I've been eating bananas, I take a multi, not on treatment right now, but plagued with these pesky cramps.
I have heard there is a connection to the thyroid, and I was recently diagnosed with a thyroid condition, so that might explain it in my case. They just showed up out of the blue last spring.
I am suffering leg pains right now! Started noticing them coming back when I was working out (squats) for the last few weeks, but nothing major.
Last night in bed (early morning), woke up to a double charlie horse, both legs! All day my right leg has been aching quite a lot, as once they cramp badly at night, the spasm goes away but I am left with pain.
Can't wait to go home and put a heating pad on my leg.
I've been eating bananas, I take a multi, not on treatment right now, but plagued with these pesky cramps.
I have heard there is a connection to the thyroid, and I was recently diagnosed with a thyroid condition, so that might explain it in my case. They just showed up out of the blue last spring.
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lys2012 - Name: Alyssa
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2010, Toronto, Canada
- Age at diagnosis: 32
Re: Muscle cramps
Cramps assocaited with IMIds (thalidomide, pomalidomide, lenalidomide [Revlimid]) are not uncommon events. There is no magic trick, but I have found that some individuals response well to an amino acid supplement, L-glutamine, taken 500mg by mouth 3 times a day. You can find it at local pharmacy as an over the counter medication.
Tonic water, because of the low levels of quinine, is reasonable. Pickle juice has worked for some individuals.
The caveat here: there is a science to medicine and an art to medicine. These fall into the art of medicine approach, meaning no clinical data, just experience and word of mouth. Staying hydrated, electrolyte balance, stretching and trying to remain active are also an important components, as has already been posted.
The mustard is interesting and I have never heard of the use of bromelain before. I will have to look in to that.
Tonic water, because of the low levels of quinine, is reasonable. Pickle juice has worked for some individuals.
The caveat here: there is a science to medicine and an art to medicine. These fall into the art of medicine approach, meaning no clinical data, just experience and word of mouth. Staying hydrated, electrolyte balance, stretching and trying to remain active are also an important components, as has already been posted.
The mustard is interesting and I have never heard of the use of bromelain before. I will have to look in to that.
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Dr. Ken Shain - Name: Ken Shain, M.D., Ph.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Muscle cramps
Please see the link below to MedlinesPlus NIH supplement guidelines for bromelain. Just as an example to be careful and let your physicians know and discuss with them before initiating supplements (i.e. an open dialogue). Each supplement will have known and unknown side effects. These biochemical effects can be deleterious or lead to drug-drug interactions.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/895.html (link no active)
http://archive.is/I9R4 (archive of original link)
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/895.html (link no active)
http://archive.is/I9R4 (archive of original link)
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Dr. Ken Shain - Name: Ken Shain, M.D., Ph.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Muscle cramps
I, too, have been a muscle cramp victim while on Revlimid and dex.
The first time I was on the combination I would get 10/10 pain in the middle of the night in feet, legs, abdomen, and back that lasted 10 to 15 minutes at a time. I made sure that I was well hydrated, stretched before bed and drank a tonic of cider vinegar, honey and water before bed. That helped some, but not completely. I also was getting hand cramps during the day. I had tried tonic water in the past with no luck.
When I stopped the Revlimid / dex, the cramping began to go away except for the occasional cramps in my feet, which I've had as long as I can remember.
When I restarted Revlimid / dex a few months ago, the cramping came back, but not as badly. It seemed to escalate as the number of days into the Revlimid cycle increased. Some nights, I would be awakened by them on an hourly basis throughout the night.
My oncologist gave me a prescription for Valium which helped some. During my annual visit with my PCP I had my vitamin D levels checked. The levels were extremely low. The PCP prescribed high dose vitamin D for 8 weeks and now a daily dose of vitamin D. Since starting the vitamin D supplement, the cramps have all but disappeared.
I wonder if that was the problem or just a coincidence. Whatever, I'm glad to not have the cramping any more.
The first time I was on the combination I would get 10/10 pain in the middle of the night in feet, legs, abdomen, and back that lasted 10 to 15 minutes at a time. I made sure that I was well hydrated, stretched before bed and drank a tonic of cider vinegar, honey and water before bed. That helped some, but not completely. I also was getting hand cramps during the day. I had tried tonic water in the past with no luck.
When I stopped the Revlimid / dex, the cramping began to go away except for the occasional cramps in my feet, which I've had as long as I can remember.
When I restarted Revlimid / dex a few months ago, the cramping came back, but not as badly. It seemed to escalate as the number of days into the Revlimid cycle increased. Some nights, I would be awakened by them on an hourly basis throughout the night.
My oncologist gave me a prescription for Valium which helped some. During my annual visit with my PCP I had my vitamin D levels checked. The levels were extremely low. The PCP prescribed high dose vitamin D for 8 weeks and now a daily dose of vitamin D. Since starting the vitamin D supplement, the cramps have all but disappeared.
I wonder if that was the problem or just a coincidence. Whatever, I'm glad to not have the cramping any more.
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Muscle cramps
Intereting observation regarding Vitamin D deficiency and muscle cramps. It is not something that I personally have looked into in the past. However a quick Pubmed search revealed a recent report correlating vitamin D deficiency, decreased mitochondrial function, and muscle fatigue (see below). Cramping was not commented on specifically. Therefore, I am not stating that this is the rationale for your improvement on vitamin D, but it does raise an interesting question.
R Bouillon and A Verstuyf, "Vitamin D, Mitochondria, and Muscle," Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, March 2013, 98(3):961-3
R Bouillon and A Verstuyf, "Vitamin D, Mitochondria, and Muscle," Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, March 2013, 98(3):961-3
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Dr. Ken Shain - Name: Ken Shain, M.D., Ph.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Muscle cramps
Wow, I have been stricken with a debilitating back and diaphragm pain that drove me to the emergency room on a sales trip recently. The symptoms were unusual, a mid back localized pain that felt like a muscle group starved of blood, and a diaphragm under constant flex. I am suffering right now.
Well, I should have realized the connection between Revlimid and this. I just started Revlimid again after the 7 day rest and, wham! I get hand cramping and calf cramping now as well. 20 months into Revlimid with very stable numbers, but I do hate this stuff.
I'm on Revlimid, vitamin D, baby aspirin, and Zometa monthly.
I'm kicking myself now for not keeping up attendance on this fine forum.
Well, I should have realized the connection between Revlimid and this. I just started Revlimid again after the 7 day rest and, wham! I get hand cramping and calf cramping now as well. 20 months into Revlimid with very stable numbers, but I do hate this stuff.
I'm on Revlimid, vitamin D, baby aspirin, and Zometa monthly.
I'm kicking myself now for not keeping up attendance on this fine forum.
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Canuck Bob - Name: Bob
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb. 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Muscle cramps
I have also had muscle cramps toward the end of the two week RVD [Revlimid, Velcade, dex] cycle. I also get Zometa every five weeks. I tried a lot of water and stretching and that didn't help. Simultaneously I noticed low calcium in my blood tests. Both the Zometa literature and the doc recommended 500 mg of calcium ( i.e., Tums tablets) and vitamin D daily. I watch the calcium weekly on my blood tests to assure that it is within the recommended normal range. This appears to solved the cramping problem for me for now .
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Pjorg45 - Name: Paul Jorgensen
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 1013
- Age at diagnosis: 68
Re: Muscle cramps
My doc recommended drinking tonic water for muscle cramps. Tonic water contains quinine which helps alleviate the cramping. Drink two 12 ounce [355 ml] glasses each day.
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Larry Gaito
Re: Muscle cramps
I mix diet tonic water with Gatorade. I drink three or four glasses a day.
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Jhkahuna
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