Muscle cramps?

[Taylmarl]

Hi I am new to the group and pretty sure I have lupus. I have a positive ANA with a speckled blood pattern and have been quite symptomatic over the last few months. Wait list to see a specialist is almost a year . My question is can lupus cause excessive sweating and painful muscle cramps? My muscles are cramping up multiple times per day and are getting more and more painful. Please help. Not sure what to do.

[MarsBarKid]

Arthritis i was told in 2005 for a stabbing pain in left thigh and burning pain in heel, big toe too and foot swelled up and painful to touch, right then joined in. GP said diabetes. Blood test - NOT. Gave me Moderetic for swelling. No other help there so searched the net.

Told B12 low maybe take daily RD. And also eat daily blackberries, and blueberries, add strawberries for sweetness. Try no sugar or start off 1/2 tsp sugar then less - then none, can add bit of milk. Plus daily B12.

Try this and see if it helps. have told others and written it on forums an have been told it helps them. And one other thing is helped me.

An American doc told me re arthritis and pain generally in nerves to stop eating all of the Deadly Nightshade family of veggies. So said goodbye to my favourite chips. As potatoes out as well as tomato and Chile etc. I was getting fingers starting to curl up like RA - had the test - said no- but still there and stopping potato within 3 weeks uncurled and fingers straitened out. Could make a fist so another thing to try. Worked for me.

Hope that helps nerve pain.

[MargaretGail]

I have SLE and often have quite dramatic changes in temperature I can go from frozen to sweating in minutes. I also used to suffer from severe cramping before I started treatment it could last 10 minutes and I would be crying with the pain.

[Tiras]

Hi TaylmarI;

have SLE lupus, I cramp at times especially Lower legs and feet. My doctor has told me that my cramps are a side effect of some of the medications I take. I take 23 tablets, capsules, and inhalers per day. Not only do I have Lupus but, I have COPD and malignant hypertension. Some of the medication I take depletes my body of potassium. I have blood test 3 times a month to check. If my potassium is low, I get more medication to take to bring it up. Thus I have been told by my doctor, that my low potassium is what causes my cramps. Yes I also can be hot one minute and cold the next. I know it is not menopause, because I am a guy.

I hope you get some help from your doctors soon. Please keep us (the lupus group) updated.

There are a lot of good people here who can help and give you advice from our past and present experience.

Hope you feel better soon!

Tiras

[Taylmarl in reply to Tiras]

Hi Tiras. I had all of my enzymes tested because I have had so much fatigue and weAkness ( literally my legs feel like they are going to give out sometimes). My potassium levels are completely normal. I am anemic and B12 and iron deficient but that's the extent of abnormalities in my blood work. I am currently not taking any medications that would contribute to these muscle cramps. All of these symptoms developed a few months back. I am in Canada and apparently have to wait a year for any kind of guidance.

Marlo

[Tiras in reply to Taylmarl]

I am so sorry you will have to wait a year. I am in the southeastern part of the U.S. In the state of Alabama. I hope you get some relief soon!

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi Taylmarl , waiting a year to see a specialist is incredible. You have the legal right to be seen by an NHS consultant within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral, unless you choose to wait longer or it is clinically appropriate that you wait longer. I would recommend that you go back to your GP so that they can investigate this for you and ensure that you are seen sooner.

Sweating is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. SLE can affect the autonomic nerves, but usually not significantly in the vast majority of people. If these nerves are affected it can lead to constipation, dizziness when standing up and excessive sweating, among other difficulties. These problems can also be seen due to various medications as well as other medical problems, which makes a proper diagnosis challenging. If a problem is found to be due to SLE, the person is treated with steroids. Muscle cramps can also potentially be a symptom of lupus.

If you need more information about lupus and how it is diagnosed, you can request or download a free information pack from our website at lupusuk.org.uk/request-info...

[Taylmarl]

Thank you Paul. You are a wealth of information!! My symptoms are endless to be honest. The fatigue is overwhelming, weakness in my legs, nausea, dizziness, migraines, and lots of muscle cramps (my jaw, my eyelid, everywhere really). The only joint that hurts is my right hip joint. In March my blood pressure skyrocketed for no reason so I am on anti hypertensives to bring it down. The excessive sweating is awful and embarrassing - it seems like the cherry on the cake. My blood tests indicated that I am anemic, iron deficient, B12 deficient - this has never been an issue for me before. I am also ANA positive with a speckled blood pattern. My C reactive protein is also elevated. Auto immune diseases run in my family. My 3 year old daughter has rheumatoid arthritis. I live in Canada so I am not sure what regulations are in place to see a specialist but day to day functioning is very difficult. I work full time and have 4 kids. I can't live like this for a year. Sorry my sob story is over :(.

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK in reply to Taylmarl]

Hi Taylmarl,

I didn't realise you weren't in the UK. It may be worth contacting Lupus Canada to see if they can offer any advice? Their website is lupuscanada.org/