Painful legs and feet

[Jojotay]

I am currently reducing from 10 to 9 preds. At the time of diagnosis I had swollen and painful feet although after 3 days of predisolone my feet and ankles returned to normal I then started to get cramps every morning which would last at least 2 hours I noticed they would start a approx. 2 hours after taking the predisolone. The intensity of the cramps was lessened when on 10 but now I have been on 9mgs.pred for a week and I still get cramps and stiffening down sides of legs and I sometimes have trouble walking my legs muscles seem to go into spasms Has anyone else had this problem?

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hello Jojotay, my leg and foot cramps started during my Pred days, and I still get them from time to time. It can be a sign of a magnesium deficiency. You could ask your GP if he could get your magnesium levels checked via a blood test but even if results are normal (mine were) it does not necessarily mean that you are not losing magnesium. Many people have found that the quinine in tonic water helps. Meanwhile, try and up your intake of magnesium-rich foods, particularly bananas, avocados, dried apricots to name just a few - my favourite is dark chocolate!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred makes some people lose more magnesium through the kidneys and taking a magnesium supplement often helps - that would be what my GP here in Italy would ask first "Have you tried magnesium supplements?". If that helped - problem solved, if not she'd look further.

Some people find Epsom salts in a foot bath (or even the big bath if you can get in and out OK) will also do the trick.

[galp]

I take a supplement that also has calcium and zinc in it

I find that foods high in mag , are also high in sugars and carbs..

Magnesium also helps keep things " regular" in a gentle way.

When I miss doses I find the leg / feet cramps return at night.,

Hope it gets better

Gina

[Jojotay in reply to galp]

I have also had stenosis in my back in the past ALTHOUGH the MRI says everything is ok the fact remains I can not walk for more than a couple of mins and then get cramps. THANK YOU ALL for your tips I have asked my doctor for some blood tests including magnesium deficiency.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jojotay]

Bloods honestly don't tell you a lot with magnesium - or if they are low, that means you are desperately low! The blood magnesium level stays in a fairly normal range by taking it from muscles - they can be low and the blood look fine. And it is in the muscles you need it.

[nuigini in reply to Jojotay]

As PMRpro has said, blood tests may not help here. Even though I never showed low magnesium I've taken 100 mg magnesium daily long before PMR to relieve leg and foot cramping. When I first started prednisone I stopped taking it and the cramps were back within days. I quickly returned to the 100mg and actually increased to 250 mg a few months ago after reading an article on supplements and prednisone. Here's the link. Not sure if it will work.

uofmhealth.org/health-libra...

[Flygirls]

Sounds also like gout, you should investigate, it's another form of painful RA I finally went off prednisone ( very difficult to do) but am on a better and safer med that is helping my pain

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Flygirls]

If you have PMR or GCA there is no "better or safer med" that works. Getting off pred is not that difficult - unless you still have PMR or GCA and then they will flare up. So you take the hint and stay on pred.