OK, I know this is a wierd one but I've been wondering and I thought I'd just ask. Ever since treatment last year, I have had very crampy feet. I get foot/leg cramps badly enough at night sometime that it wakes me up and I have to jump out of bed and hop up and down on the foot until it (and sometimes my lower leg as well) uncramps. I am now supposed to do a PT exercise that starts with kneeling then stitting back on my heels and that alone will cause my feet to cramp sometimes. I NEVER had this problem before. I actually asked my MO back when the foot cramps at night were more common (they seem to have gotten less frequent lately) and he said it could be a nutritional thing--I think he said a shortage of magnesium--so he tested for that in my blood and I never heard more so I assume it came out OK. I'm not wearing any wierd kind of new shoes or anything.

In the grand scheme of things it's a very minor annoyance but I just thought I'd ask--because not all the side effects of chemo are common ones--has anyone else experienced this?

Nelie

It can also be that you need a little more potassium (bananas are a great source) - or that you are dehydrated. Either one can cause the cramps. I'm not sure what else causes them.

Nelie, I echo what Amy M. suggested. I have muscle cramps in the middle of the night or early in the morning. If I eat bananas regularly, they go away. From what I know, it is a potassium shortage that usually causes them. Amy

Nelie, potassium is something I have recently learned about, because a serious lack of it due to strenuous, prolonged exercise was a contributing factor to my husband's cardiac arrest (he's fine now.) So, with no further ado:

The best dietary sources of potassium are fresh unprocessed foods, including meats, fish, vegetables (especially potatoes), fruits (especially avocados, dried apricots, and bananas), citrus juices (such as orange juice), dairy products, and whole grains. Most potassium needs can be met by eating a varied diet with adequate intake of milk, meats, cereals, vegetables, and fruits.

Dried dates are also very high in potassium, but are most commonly only available around the holiday season.

Finally, I can bring on dandy cramps by pointing my toes. If I stretch by pointing my heels and pointing my toes toward my body (when lying down), no cramps.

Thanks for the tips about potassium! Unfortunately, I am pretty much getting everything through the PEG right now (until I get my throat stretched) so most of those things I can't have--except the fruits and I do have some juice each day. But that jevity I use, as well as the veg and fruit juices I also pour down the tube, should give me enough potassium (and I've also been grinding up a very complete women's multivitamin and washing it down the tube too). Any chance you could also get foot cramps with too MUCH potassium--that I think would be more likely to be the case? I'm not sure but I think my MO said he checked potassium too when he sent my bloodwork out. But I'll have to ask on my next appt., which is coming up the week after next.

Actually, I'm wondering if the cramps are dehydration. Although I work to keep hydrated, they do normally hit at night or in the morning (times I probably am the least hydrated).

Nelie,

I've occasionally had problems with cramps that seemed to be related to mild dehydration. It has caused me to be fairly careful about getting plenty of water in the evening before going to bed.

Cathy

Nelie - I experience cramps in my neck when I am dehydrated. It took a while to make the correlation, but its surely there. See if you notice your hydration levels by the moisture in your eyes, mouth or nose. I notice my eyes being a bit drier than usual, and/or my saliva being thicker than usual. The 'spider-web spit' is a sure sign for me that I am under hydrated.

I too am completely dependent upon my peg. Sports drinks often have loads of potasium (and lots of electrolytes) in them if you ever need a quick fix. Tom

Okay, Nelie, here is where I risk whatever credibility I may have. In our paper there is a syndicated column by a Dr. Gott, a physician. Several years ago he passed along a home remedy for night leg cramps and since then letters have been pouring in about how well it works. Simply put an unwrapped bar of soap, not DOVE, under the bottom sheet in the area of your feet. Lately, the letters have said how well it also works to calm Restless Leg Syndrome. Lest you think I have been smoking funny stuff, you can also find this info on the net, by searching for Dr. Gott.

Nelie,
I have also heard that they are brought on by wearing high healed shoes for long periods of time. I get leg cramps and toe cramps frequently.
They happen more frequently since I was pregnant. They often wake me in the middle of the night and I wish there was something I could do to stop them too.

Yeah, Dani, I stopped wearing high heels several years ago because they were bothering my feet more and more, so that's not it. Joanna--a bar of soap, huh? OK. I can't imagine WHY that would work but it can't hurt to try I guess!!!!


Nelie