Muscular cramps in back when lying down.

[lucanus15]

Good evening all. Just a quickie. I know that I should not ask this here and would be better to ask a doctor but I just don't want to go there with every little symptom. I had a back xray two weeks ago due to doing my back in, and don't want to have xrays all the time for no reason. I am due a check up CT scan next month which will be a relief but until then I'm wondering, has anyone ever come across muscular cramps in the back when lying down as any kind of lung cancer symptom?

Thanks in advance. All the best xx

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear Lucanus15

Sorry to hear you have injured your back, your muscle ache may simply be a symptom of this, especially if it is only there when you lay down, however if it is new or worsening do go and see about this.

No -one would be able to say what it is as you know and it would be best to have a doctor examine you and put your mind at rest.

If there is anything else you would like to discuss you can either email us at [e-mail] or call our freephone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[JanetteR57]

Have you done anything unusual recently like gardening or lifting heavy things? sometimes we link any symptom, ache or pain to our previous condition when it might be completely unrelated. I found the book 'cancer is a word not a sentence' by Dr Rob Buckman helped me not to think this way..... but worth looking back through recent activities and noting anything unusual which may have strained the muscles.... if you have a back x-ray recently and also your check up CT next month, so doubt if you'd get any quicker action. Presumably you see somebody at your hospital or clinic? You could always call them or email them or make a note for when you next contact somebody in a clinical appointment and note in your diary any pain/anxiety increases..... good luck.

[lucanus15 in reply to JanetteR57]

Hi Janette, thanks for finding the time to reply to my post. Yes I did injury my back picking up my huge 3 year old a few weeks ago and that's why the doctor sent me for an x-ray to be on the safe side. IThe cramps though started before that. The x-ray showed osteoporosis and I'll be having a bone density scan this Friday. Does everyone get osteoporosis after chemotherapy do you know? It also showed arthritis fairly well advanced for my 43 years. Anyway so I suppose the cramps could be mineral deficiency. I had lots of cramps in my feet and legs before I was diagnosed and now it's extended to my back I understand why I make the link.

I will buy myself the book you mentioned, thanks for that, I think it will be helpful.

All the best, many thanks xx

[JanetteR57 in reply to lucanus15]

I didn't have chemo (only major surgery) but I had a bone cyst many years ago whilst doing a 26 mile challenge walk and had been doing high impact aerobics. I stopped the high impact workouts but 25 or so years on, my consultant is now going to send me for a bone scan due to the amount of steroids I've been on in recent years. My mum has osteoporosis which was found after she broke her wrist some years ago and it wouldn't heal properly. Cramps as you say can be caused by mineral deficiency and I know when I was in for surgery was told to drink tonic water for the quinine to reduce leg cramps. hope you get some answers soon. good luck.