I'm new but looking for the person suffering from Leg cramps who is taking Prednisone.

[Gladrags]

I wrote to someone who was having leg cramps while taking Prednisone. I believe this person had been diagnosed with PMR. That was before I signed up, now I'm signed up and would like to get back to the thread of side effects of Pred. But being new not quite sure where I was but would like to read any comments on this subject. Sorry I'm a bit lost!

[markbenjamin57]

Greetings and welcome Gladrags.

Well, if it helps, I'm 2 years into PMR and tapering Pred medication, and remember regularly having cramps in my calf muscles early-on in the process when on a higher dosage (30mgpd) and in bed at night - not a common occurrence for me otherwise.

Sorry I can't offer an 'expert' explanation for this, other than it is maybe due to altered blood chemistry due to a combination of the PMR inflammatory process combined with the Preds?

I'm sure some of the experts here will throw some light on this for you - fingers crossed!

MB

[Gladrags in reply to markbenjamin57]

Hello Mark, thank you for replying. I had been told to try Zinc tablets along with the Mag and Potassium and have found these to be quite helpful. However, for the past few nights the darn cramps came back and I had to wiggle around to get the blood flowing again. I'm tapering down from 20 mg and presently at 7mg. So far so good! Except for the wretched cramps. But I must admit I've always been a crampy Person! So why am I surprised?

Good luck and thanks again for taking the time to reply to a newbie. GLadrags

[markbenjamin57 in reply to Gladrags]

No worry Gladrags, all part of the service here!

Interesting that you mention being a 'crampy' person! I've also experienced leg (calf muscle?) cramps occasionally over the years (pre-PMR / steroids) and have never got to the bottom of why.

Although, at the time, the pain is excruciating, leg cramps usually pass quite quickly and don't seem to be dangerous (as far as I know!).

That said, no doubt you'll get some more informed input from others here. This forum is a goldmine of trusted knowledge, expertise and support, make the most of it!

Best wishes and try to keep smiling on the Journey...

MB

[JoanJo]

Hello Gladrags-

Diagnosed with PMR this past March, I had terrible cramps in calves and feet even on my pred, and first took powdered magnesium at night (before bed) which helped immensely but created loose bowels (in the states, there's a Brand --"Calm" powder --one mixes with water).

Now, to combat cramps but get back to my usual more formed bowel movements, I switched to apple cider vinegar (ACV) capsules. Drinking actual liquid ACV made me nauseated, and upset my stomach, so was thrilled to find ACV capsules, which I only take with food. No cramping whatsoever since the switch. I do consume a small amt if Mag with my calcium pill each day (part of the actual pill itself) so I'm sure that is contributing to my anti-cramping success as well.

You may be looking for a more in-depth explanation of the "why's" --which I can't supply, but this has been my experience thus far, for what it's worth. Best of luck to you. Cramping can be so very painful!

JoanJo

[Gladrags in reply to JoanJo]

Hello Joanjo, thanks for your reply. Yes, I too couldn't stomach the ACV. It made me feel queasy but the idea of a capsule is a good suggestion. I'll try anything as the night cramps spoil a good night's sleep. I too was diagnosed with PMR this year... January and the Pred 20mg was like a magic pill. Dissolved all my extremely achy legs and arms, couldn't lift my arms to brush my hair etc. gave me tremendous energy. However, glad to say I'm tapering down to a level my Rheumy said I will find my level but believes I'll be on Pred for the rest of my life. I'd like to prove her wrong but we shall see! If needs be I'll take my Pred to stay active! Good luck with your tapering and thanks again for taking time this newbie.

[polkadotcom]

I am definitely on Prednisolone for life as I have secondary adrenal insufficiency. I take magnesium on a daily basis for cramps, together with a little bit of added potassium now and again. My GP's surgery are very good at picking up such problems.

I find the magnesium to be efficient at controlling cramps and muscle spasms but we are now in the warmer weather here and I've had mild foot cramps for the past week - always at night, not enough to be a major problem but enough to remind me why I take the magnesium!

[HeronNS]

I believe I read somewhere recently, perhaps on Patient forum, that prednisone actually causes body to lose magnesium, so as with calcium it's a good idea for us to be getting a bit extra.

[JoanJo]

Hello again Gladrags-

Our situations are very similar. In retrospect, I believe my PMR was starting in January as well , but back then I honestly thought it was neck/back pain from my receptionist job. The full-body pain came on in February --"couldn't get out of bed, stiff, shuffle walking, no stairs, husband had to dress me, etc etc" . My rheumy also started me on 20 mg once diagnosed, and, yes! , like you, I suddenly had a life again! As you stated "dissolved the pain " --how true! My Rheumy hasn't handed me a "life sentence" to pred, which, in your case, you are wise to challenge. With so many variables, how can she possibly know this for sure?? Mine said she'd like to see me off pred in 8 months to a year's time. That's the low end of what I'm hearing from so many people in this blog. But like you, I am staying optimistic and positive that I will beat this thing! I find courage and the will to persevere from yours and others' stories.

If the following are questions you're willing to answer, I'm grateful to hear more. If not, I totally understand one's need for privacy. I'm just curious what your initial "inflammatory " (ESR) number was? Mine was 82 at first, then 45 a month later, and now is 19. And wonder what dose of pred you are taking? Currently I'm on 13 mg pred --to lower next week to 12 if body handles 13 ok till then. I had a set-back "flare" mid-April so upped it back to 15 for 3 weeks. My rheumatologist had wanted me to jump up to 20 at that time, but 15 brought me "back to normal" (relatively speaking!😊) And my 19 ESR a week later confirmed that 15mg was the right choice (thanks to the wise advice of many on this site).

So, if you are so inclined to share more info, I'm just wanting to compare notes on what is happening with your levels right now.

JoanJo

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to JoanJo]

"Mine said she'd like to see me off pred in 8 months to a year's time. That's the low end of what I'm hearing from so many people in this blog."

In 8 years and on 3 (and more now defunct) forums The shortest pred management I have met amongst hundreds of patients has been 2 years. A lot of experts think that if you get off pred in under a year it was highly unlikely to be the PMR we discuss here - and you are at a higher risk of a relapse later.

[piglette]

I have leg cramps as a side effect of pred. My doctor gave me quinine sulphate which is brilliant.

[SheffieldJane]

hiandri started a thread on leg cramps with 18 replies 19 days ago. Good luck doing a search. My IT skills run out quite quickly.

[Rose54]

Hi Gladrags

If you look to the side where it says related post and click you are most likely to find the post you are looking for.

Rose

[mepoly20]

Leg cramps can be due to low iron or calcium, which could be a result of taking prednisolone for a long time

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you go to the top of the pace to the fixed banner with your User name/My communities/a bell/help and then click on the box with the downward pointing arrow next to your user name you will get a menu box. Go to Profile and you can select to see all your posts or all your replies to other people's posts. You can find your message by scrolling through.

Below someone's post starting a new thread you will see a box saying Follow - click on that to get notifications for every new message on it.

[Klah]

I don't know if it's the PMR or the prednisone..?...but I have had PMR For 3-1/2 years and started the leg cramps about the second year. For me it was an extremely tight peritoneal tibial tendon (spelling?), caused by I don't know what. The "fix" for me was about a year ago when I went to a physical therapist and had the "dry needling"....basically the acupuncture needles pushed all the way to the nerves, at intervals all the way down my calves and even in my foot & arch. The treatment took about an hour and was not expensive. What relief😊 He gave me some regular exercises to do to keep those tendons stretched and I stay on top of it. I just have a tendency towards tight leg tendons I guess. I also take magnesium & potassium...but, no doubt, the dry needling relieved the pain and cramping! At the very least, look up how to stretch those calf muscles. I could not "find" the tightness with my hands, but if I sat on the floor and rolled a tennis ball under my calves it was excruciating. Hope you can find relief!

[GCA1947]

Dear Gladrags

I've only got GCA-but get leg cramps spasmodically. They were worse when I was on a higher dose around 10 to 15mgs a day but have eased off now I'm down to 4.5mgs.

My wife was more affected she was on Prednisolone as well for Auto Immune Hepatitis and was prescribed Diazepam in addition to ease the cramps. Unfortunately Diazepam has worse side effects than Prednisolone.

Mine come occasionally now and seem to last for smaller periods of time, but still enough to get me out of my chair and shouting at the room. One can swear vociferously when one is alone.

Hope yours clears up soon

Colin

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GCA1947]

Swearing roundly has been shown to improve pain tolerance...

[nymima01]

I have PMR and anemia. I also have other health issues that I feel are irrelevant to the muscle cramps in my legs and feet. I do recommend stretching exercises before bedtime and even in the middle of the night if I get up to use the bathroom. I take magnesium and I eat a banana, plus a half a banana before bed everyday to cut down on the episodes. The cramps started just prior to my diagnosis of PMR and anemia and continue even on the prednisone. I am being treated for the anemia, as it is not iron-deficient anemia. It has more to do with my red blood cells. I still get the cramps at times during the night, but then I do the stretching exercise before getting back in bed.

[TooSore]

I make sure I eat food rich in magnesium- spinach, almonds, pumpkin seeds, avocado. You can also do a bath with Epson salt. Seemed to help