Severe leg cramps

[sonycamera]

About two week ago very very painful leg cramps woke me and have been for some nights. . I’m on Ibrance and letrozol for 4 Months. The beginning of cramps began occurring during the day. However. Today I had a very severe episode from knee to feet during the day. . Then mild in thigh. anyone else experience this. Thanks. Complete surprise. Going to oncologist tomorrow. See what he says too.

[hopehope67]

I am on Ibrance and fulvestrant for 2 years but I have not painful leg cramps now. I had it in past. I think I relieve painful leg cramps by taking enough magnesium and potssium through food. I use a lot of green vegetables, fruits especially bananas, dried fruits especially dried figs, dark chocolate with more than 70% cocoa, nuts, etc. But that's definitely a question for your oncologist. In the meantime, you can find tips in old related posts ( Calf leg cramps? and others listed on the top right). Good luck

[sonycamera in reply to hopehope67]

Dear Hope and Lynn As the cramps came on suddenly and severely I jumped to the conclusion it was med side effect. My thinking will now look at deficiency and diet as well as meds. And look at potassium levels on blood tests. I’ll see my oncologist tomorrow and go from there So wonderful we are able to seek council with others on similar cancer path.

[Hidden]

Hi Sonycamera (photographer?)...

I've experienced bouts of leg cramps and, as hopehope67 notes, found that they were likely caused by deficiencies...In my case, Potassium. I have Rx potassium pills so I take one when I get the cramps, seems to resolve. Also, I can see on my labs report if my potassium is low...often it is, it's something related to the treatment, not sure what.

An avocado or banana each day might do the trick! No need to have this annoying but manageable side-effect!

Wishing you well,

Lynn

[sonycamera in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your response.

[13plus]

This happened to a friend of mine. If letrozole is new for you that might be the culprit. She switched to one of the other drugs that does the same and then she was fine. Perhaps your doctor needs to switch your drug. The other simplest consideration is if you are perhaps getting not nearly enough fluids?. It is essential to drink a LOT of water while taking iBrance. Your doctor should be able to determine if you are dehydrated. It’s good you’re visiting the doctor to check why this is happening

[wendle3007]

I agree with 13plus regarding hydration. I was getting leg cramps in the early hours of the morning. I started keeping a diary of when they happened and what I had had to eat or drink on the day before. I found if I had plenty of fluids in the evening then I had no cramp or if I did it was very mild. I had read the other posts about mineral levels so I also have at least one banana a day for potassium and nuts or seeds for magnesium- I really don't want to take supplements unless the doctors tell me to. Hope your oncologist has some suggestions

[Beryl71]

I am reading this with interest as I have recently had a leg problem. I think it's an injury from over exertion and uphill walking in muddy countryside. It started as a pain in buttock but moved into my calf like a sciatic pain, but now it has moved to feeling more like cramped muscles later in the day when I've been active. The hospital said soft tissue damage. But when I looked into possible links with ibrance letrozole combination it appears that blood deficiencies can restrict blood flow to muscles. So I'm wondering if that made it worse. I'll focus on sufficient water intake and magnesium, as mentioned in these replies, to see if this helps healing. Mine is better at night when I'm resting and the muscles are relaxed though. Hope you get it sorted as it's a horrible pain. X

[Chico64]

Sound like your Potassium is low!!

[Albert23]

Hi I too have cramps badly and take ibrance and Letrazole for 3 years now. My cramps are legs under my breast mainly, I don’t take supplements for it and drink loads of water especially now I’m allergic to dairy and it hasn’t helped. How do u know if your potassium or magnesium is low, is there a test?

[NPmary]

You can try wearing compression socks. I usually have a warning feelingsthat a severe cramp is coming g , l keep a pair of short compression socks at my bedside and put them on right away. I might have to get up and add pressure bystanding on my feet this can usually lessen the severity and often stop the cramping from progressing.

[Thatflowerlady]

Hi I also frequently have leg muscle cramps but sometimes torso( after coughing , sneezing or stretching ) & hand cramps . I have had my magnesium & potassium levels checked and both were fine . For relief I have taken Robaxin muscle relaxer and have also applied topical muscle relaxers to the area for immediate relief. I try to drink a lot of water . Recently I have started physiotherapy and I think it is helping with blood flow to my muscles . I find standing on cold cement floors the worse. I am on different treatment than you are but had the cramping when I was on the Ibrance also.

Good luck with this , I feel your pain it hurts so much .

I hope you find some relief .

Luann

[TwithBC]

… I have been on Letrozole only since 11/2017; in the first 6 months I experienced the craziest random cramps Amd muscle spasms in legs mostly…over the years arthritic pains/stiffness and night feet/thigh cramps hit me … but vary rarely now. Hardly ever —-I hope the same for you (that you outgrow this side effect).

[PJBinMI]

When I read your note, the first thing I thought was"low potassium." For some increasing potassium in diet works well and others need the kind of dose that OTC potassium pills will "fix." Letrozole was my first med for MBC and I got nearly five years from it. Hot flashes were the only real side effect I had, a sign that it's working, lol. I told my onc how much the hot flashes were interfering with my quality of life and she prescribed the long acting type of Effexor for me. 75 mg, 2 inmorning and one at night. There have been summers when the dose had been increased to 150 mg twice a day. It's pretty individual. I hope Letrozole will work as well for you as it did for me and that you can find a way to end those cramps!

[LadyKatarina]

I have read that most of us do not get enough magnesium. Read up on muscle cramps. It is important to take a mag supplement that can be absorbed--such as magnesium glycinate. I have also read to take 400 to 600 mg before bed--which is what I do. Helps with sleep and the muscle cramps. Some say that the foam magnesium (Theraworx) applied directly to the muscles also helps. I have been using that before bed too. Now I am sleeping through the night with no cramps or jerks. I also eat lots of nuts and a banana before bed. These drugs cause all sorts of side effects that we never had before. These are just the ideas I have tried--I have seen ladies on FaceBook post many more! Best to you! Kay

[Andersl]

I'm not on your treatment regime but I used to get terrible cramps in both legs at night.

They disappeared a few months after starting magnesium.

[EvaL]

Well I take Letrozole but not ibrance. I have had bad cramps in different areas of my body. At times I probably don’t getting enough water but I drink poweraide or Gatorade daily along with water. I also take a potassium vitamin daily as well as eating almonds and cashews to help with cramps. I don’t get them as bad but still get cramps. My blood levels show that my potassium levels are fine. I often wondered if it was the Letrozole so at my appointment tomorrow I will ask my doctor. Thank you

[Figletf]

Mine stopped after a magnesium supplement also.

[Dflur]

Sonycamera, take a good supplement combination with calcium,potassium,magnesium,D&c, zinc , your body is lacking a nutrient. This supplement, I take before bedtime,you can take any time, but my legs only cramped in the night, so I took before bed. I have been on Ibrance and Anestrosol since the fall of 2019.

[Gmaoftriplets]

I also get severe leg and feet cramps, they can come out of nowhere. My potassium and magnesium levels were normal I try to drink a lot of water but it’s not always easy. I got a referral for acupuncture and have had 6 sessions all consertrating on my feet and calf’s were the cramps are, I am happy to say it has helped and they are no longer waking me up at night.

[SusieIM]

Sorry to hear of your bad bout with leg cramps. I suffer with this also, the ladies have given very good advise here.

[LadyC-Mtl]

Hello. I am on the same meds as you and also experience cramping in legs; sometimes they stay cramped for several days. I have found a lot of relief with rubbing magnesium gel on my muscles that you can find in health food stores. Also, I started drinking water with electrolyte powder containing magnesium, potassium and it has significantly reduced my cramping. My potassium and magnesium levels are lowish but nothing drastic. My oncologist says that for some of us even though the levels are not alarming, we still need to supplement a little due to the meds. I hope you find some relief soon🌸

[viennagirl]

I am also taking Letrozole and Ibrance and I have experienced very bad leg cramps at night and the cramps go into my feet. I have lately been drinking Blue Monkey ORGANIC coconut water. It seems to be helping. I also drink organic hot chocolate made with plant based milks and monk sugar and erythritol sugar. Make sure you take quality chocolate - best to buy it from the health food store. These things seem all might be helping me because my legs cramps are far and few between now. All the best. Marlene