Cramps

[fleo]

I have been on PD dialysis for eight months now and have acclimated to the daily challenges except for one: cramping. I get cramps in my feet, calves, thighs and abdomen. I'm careful with diet and water restrictions. Cramps come at night and in the morning, sometime mild, sometime quite severe. I take magnesium, Vit E, and neurotin. I maintain my target weight. BP is good. Lately the cramps are severe enough I cant sleep with sore muscles the next day. I read quinine might help, will ask doctor. Does anyone have nonmedical tips that might help? Starting to cramp during the day now.

Thanks, Fleo

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Hi Fleo,

You should tell your doctor. You might be draining off too much fluid. Or is can be a chemical imbalance requiring your doctor to give you a supplement. Have then check your acid levels as well as electrolytes and potassium.

[Hidden]

What is your urine PH? It should be 7.0. I had a lot of cramps until I remembered to check my PH and fix it

[curiousmind2019 in reply to Hidden]

When I had cramps, my blood ph was also off. I remember doc prescribed sodium bicarbonate tablets and gradually got better.

[curiousmind2019]

Hi fleo.. how’s ur blood work.. around potassium.. sodium.. and others? Sounds like something is off balance. The doc should be able to tell what is off . Then you know how to adjust ur diet accordingly.

I had cramps before dialysis when my levels were more off.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

I agree with everyone's suggestions, specifically sodium bicarbonate tablets IF your levels warrant this.

In the meantime short term help can often be found in a few sips of dill pickle juice. I like it cold. I use about 1 good mouth full and let it swirl around and absorb into the system. The sodium should be enough to calm the cramping muscles. I rarely need this but it works great when I do. Hope this helps. Blessings

[TaffyTwoshoes27]

From time to time (and not quite as often as before I got on PD) I get terrible cramping in my feet. It is so painful it feels like my toes are getting deformed! The best (and quickest) thing I have found to combat this is "TheraWorx". It works on calves too. I think it is now sold in drug stores or Wal-Mart. I bought mine from Amazon. It is in a pump bottle and comes out as a foam. I put on one of my surgical gloves and rub in. It almost instantly removes the cramp.

I was told early in my CKD journey that cramps can also be caused by too much Phosphorus. Are you on binders?

[fleo in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Thanks for the tip. My labs are all in range with the exception of phosphorus which was 7.0 this last month and I was put on a more effective phosphorus binder. My cramps tend to get much worse when my UF is 1,600 or above and less if below 1,200. I never seem to get a straight answer on the PD target UF rate. I alternate between 2.5%,2..5%, 1.5% and 2.5%, 1.5%, 1.5%.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to fleo]

I was taken to the ER two weeks ago with electrolyte, Afib and dehydration issues caused by weeks of vomiting, chronic constipation (those damn binders do that to me) and then diarrhea (after a fleet enema and a week later -- more constipation -- and then a suppository). My Pulse was going from 160 to 80. My potassium was 2.8; sodium 126. I was admitted to hospital for 3 days. My Neph put me on all 1.5% manuals, 4 times per day. I was used to 2.5% on a cycler, but such low potassium & sodium, he put me on the low solution.

I am serious about looking for the TheraWorx. Great stuff. Instantly eases the cramps.

My renal nurse has been changing my treatment prescription too much lately. From 6 nights a week treatment to 7 nights. Four cycles at night to five. Two 2.5% 5L bags to two 2.5 5L plus a 3 L 2.5%. It takes 10 hours now. I don't have a lot of respect or confidence in her abilities.

I would talk to your Renal Nurse's Supervisor or to your Neph and voice your concerns.

My script has been changed 4 times since May b/c my Kt/V has been decreasing. I don't believe it is 100% related to solutions, cycles and number of bags. I was going through a great deal of stress for a couple months and had backed off my phos binders b/c the clinic changed my Fosrenol to the generic -- which tasted gross and made me throw up.

Good luck.