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Cramps + COPD

Will57 profile image
33 Replies

Does anyone else with COPD suffer from cramps (Hands, Legs, Feet). It can be quite painfull

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Will57 profile image
Will57
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33 Replies
Alice70 profile image
Alice70

Yes I do will,I have had to have my inhalers change in the past because of severe cramps ,still get a touch of cramp ,nothing I carnt deal with now ,spiriva gave me the worse cramp ever

Damon1864 profile image
Damon1864Volunteer

Yes I do in my hands it can be so painful. Have a good day and take care of yourself 😊 Bernadette xx

CDPO16 profile image
CDPO16

Yes, mainly feet and legs and usually in an evening. Annoying if I have just got comfortable as the only way to ease it is to get up and move.

soulboy118 profile image
soulboy118

Oh yes , in my feet ,hands and sides , usually when ive befn on a course of steroids though , i usually eat a banana or two a day these days to stop or greatly alleviate the cramps , they are unpleasant though aren't they

Too much ventolin inhaler can cause cramps (and shakes) so does the formeterol fumerate med inhaler (this sometimes is one of the combined inhaler meds). I have my inhalers separate because of this so I can control better how much I take. Chat with your doctor if this is causing you a lot of problems.

Make sure you are drinking enough water and maybe supplement with Magnesium. Also if I have had cramps in the night or even day time, I tend to rub vics vapo rub on to the cramping muscle and do so again before bed the next night. I find this helps.

Boeta profile image
Boeta in reply to

Agree...

kpm346 profile image
kpm346

Yes magnesium is a great help for sure it works for me. No harm in trying.

syntax profile image
syntax

I think you are far from alone with cramps.And l notice people get it with different inhalers ,myself it is the Symbicort 400. Really bad in the calves at night,not much in day.

Have tried Quinine tablets to no avail,now told l am not using enough salt ?? Although

that may be right,as do not use in cooking now,rarely put on food after.

For all the cramps though,l can still breath a bit and walk 15 meters which is the

main thing.And soon when had cataracts done,will be back to driving. Hooray !!!!

granny49 profile image
granny49

Drink Tonic Water it works for me

Will57 profile image
Will57 in reply togranny49

Can i throw in a bit of gin and lemon slice

Boeta profile image
Boeta in reply toWill57

You bet i will, and have a bit of fun...the only trouble is too much gin makes me pee a lot...

AKDellitt profile image
AKDellitt

I take 400 mg. of magnesium daily. For me it helps keep muscle cramps at bay; otherwise, I often suffer with them. I noticed the difference almost immediately upon taking it. I hope you find relief.

Anneh3 profile image
Anneh3 in reply toAKDellitt

What sort of magnesium do you take? There seem to be many different types. I am getting leg pains all the time and sometimes leg cramps early mornings usually and also later in the day restless legs when I sit in the evening and am tired. I have mild to moderate copd and just take spiriva inhaler. Never use the ventolin blue inhaler. My osteopath (for my disc problems) reckons a mixed type of high strength magnesium containing glycinate among other things would help me and want to buy some today. Just wondering which sort to get. Thank you. Do you take it in the evening or morning.

AKDellitt profile image
AKDellitt in reply toAnneh3

Hi! I take Magnesium Glycinate - usually Doctor's Best. A nurse friend recommended it to me for muscle cramps in my feet and legs - she takes it for the same thing. I was shocked at how quickly it worked. It also helped my husband. I take it at night before going to bed since that is when I normally get cramps. Her husband has restless legs syndrome & it helps him, as well. Another surprise element to taking it is that my blood pressure lowered! The doctor looked at my list of meds and said, "Ah, you take magnesium. That's why it's lower." Who knew? Several people I know take it for stress...it calms them & helps them sleep. I would first try 200 mg and see if that works for you, then up it if you need more. Good luck! I hope it helps.

Anneh3 profile image
Anneh3 in reply toAKDellitt

Hi there. Thank you and i will see how I get on with the magnesium. Think the leg pains have improved very slightly since I cut right down on wheat and gluten products in the last two weeks, although I haven’t cut them out. Just not had bread or cereal in last couple of weeks on advice of osteopath who thinks wheat etc increases inflammation which often causes aches and pains. Be good if the magnesium helps with sleep too.

GrannaOnTheFarm1 profile image
GrannaOnTheFarm1 in reply toAnneh3

Magnesium Citrate is the least expensive where I live BUT large doses cause loose stools. It’s what they give you to take as a colonoscopy prep! Magnesium gluconate works best for me. Doc wants me on 1000 mg. but 500 seems to work for my leg, calf and intercostal muscle cramps.

Lorre profile image
Lorre

Yes I get cramps in hands & feet but was told when I went on Bendroflumethiazide it was a side effect with them, never had it before with any inhalers so I’m guessing it is these that have caused it, painful, only thing I find eases it is getting up & walking.

Sandyeggo profile image
Sandyeggo in reply toLorre

You made me laugh, waking me up in pain in middle of night thinking I’m gonna “walk it off” I’d fall on my ass before I got to the end of my bed🤣

ross-35_ profile image
ross-35_

I get cramp a lot in my legs feet and hands. I used to use inhalers, however I have been very lucky to have a double lung transplant...and I am still getting cramp!! Perhaps its not the inhalers as I don't use them now. Try the Magnesium that should help, I will get some too,

Sandyeggo profile image
Sandyeggo in reply toross-35_

My point exactly. I think they’re mystery cramps. I ve noticed getting them for no valid reason in the world. Drank too much water, worked out too hard at the gym. Personally I’m gonna blame circulation since I don’t have the best an I get a lot of bruises

toerag profile image
toerag in reply toSandyeggo

I got my intercostal cramps from doing martial arts...too many kicks and bruising prob ripped the muscle when younger....

toerag profile image
toerag

Indian tonic water works. I get mine in all the usual places plus in the Intercostal region. Quinine sulphate available from GP, or Indian tonic water ( with occasional Gin, ice n slice ).

Keep your fluid levels up as that can also cause cramps. Good advice from everybody here...

terry.

Sandyeggo profile image
Sandyeggo in reply totoerag

Hi just wondering what exactly do you consider to be Indian tonic water and from what type of Indian? Thanks

toerag profile image
toerag in reply toSandyeggo

He he...Schweppes brand Indian tonic water I was thinking of as it seems to have the highest quinine level so far...

24cc profile image
24cc

Hi. I'm on Fostair NEXThaler and get the most awful cramps out of the blue, particularly in my feet. I find it helps to keep well hydrated. If I'm going through a bad few days I try to remember to take a bottle of frozen water to my bedroom at bedtime, which I use if cramp strikes in the middle of the night by rolling it on the affected area.

DeanneQ profile image
DeanneQ

I do. I used to think it was from my taking a diuretic for hypertension. But my hypertension is gone now and I still get those cramps. I take potassium and magnesium supplements for them.

Sandyeggo profile image
Sandyeggo

Wow what a coincidence, I get cramps in my calves so bad when I’m sleeping it shoots down the arch of my foot but never thought to blame my CoPD. I think I blame some other broken part of myself just don’t remember what part🤣

Will57 profile image
Will57

After asking about cramps im now in hospital with a severe infection of the right lung and a very high pulse rate. The HPR can contribute to cramps and also causes insufficient oxygen to the heart. Ill be here for a couple of days. Thanks to all for sharing their stories

ross-35_ profile image
ross-35_

Hope you feel brighter soon.

toerag profile image
toerag

What bad luck...Hope you get better soon, they have the best intravenous antibiotics which will clear that infection rapidly.

Boeta profile image
Boeta

Yes...i think it is the side-effects of meds...

Ergendl profile image
Ergendl

Yes. I'm trying magnesium baths and Floiadox Magnesium supplement to see if that helps.

hallentine47 profile image
hallentine47

I cured mine by drinking a lot of water through out the day.

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