leg cramps

johnnybegood
johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
hello hope everyone is doing good,i am having some problems with my legs.the nurse did tell me when the chemo was over the side effects would get worse before getting better. i am 4 weeks out of chemo and having bad cramps in my calves,they feel as though they are cramping up when i walk and i cant hardly even walk because of this.i never had this leg cramp side effect until i was done with chemo.does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of these cramps.im going to try and eat some bananas to see if that would help.any suggestions out there that would help?thanks and Godbless........johnnybegood

Comments

  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #2
    Potassium
    Because my potassium was quite low once, and borderline twice, I printed out a list of high in potassium foods.

    You'd have to eat 9 medium bananas to get your MDR. O.J. is not much better.

    Eat beans. Ketchup. Potatoes. Raisins (1/2 cup has 18% of your MDR.

    Low potassium can make your legs cramp and feel heavy or rubbery. If too low, it affects your heart. If you haven't been eating well or having diarrhea, your potassium could well be off. Might want to call your onc and ask for a blood test. My onc gave me some horse pills to take once a day for 3 days to up my potassium when it was so low.

    Diane
  • mommyof2kds
    mommyof2kds Member Posts: 519
    #3
    Hope you feel better. those
    Hope you feel better. those cramps can be very uncomfortable.
  • johnnybegood
    johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member
    #4
    mommyof2kds said:

    Hope you feel better. those
    Hope you feel better. those cramps can be very uncomfortable.

    thanks
    for your input i will try the raisins if things dont get better i will call my onc.thanks again and Godbless.....johnnybegood
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #5
    johnnybegood said:

    thanks
    for your input i will try the raisins if things dont get better i will call my onc.thanks again and Godbless.....johnnybegood

    What can help
    Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes...........
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    #6
    johnnybegood said:

    thanks
    for your input i will try the raisins if things dont get better i will call my onc.thanks again and Godbless.....johnnybegood

    you can also try acupunture
    I also had cramps in my calves after ending chemo (May 10 09) and acupuncture has relieved that quite a bit. I still have tightness there. Interestingly most of the sensitive spots in my calve are along bladder meridian. Since most of the chemo drugs, especially oxaliplatin, are processed through the kidneys, it's another reason to drink lots of water. That seems to help as well for me.
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    #7
    johnnybegood said:

    thanks
    for your input i will try the raisins if things dont get better i will call my onc.thanks again and Godbless.....johnnybegood

    you can also try acupunture-oops a second post
    I also had cramps in my calves after ending chemo (May 10 09) and acupuncture has relieved that quite a bit. I still have tightness there. Interestingly most of the sensitive spots in my calve are along bladder meridian. Since most of the chemo drugs, especially oxaliplatin, are processed through the kidneys, it's another reason to drink lots of water. That seems to help as well for me.
  • PamPam2
    PamPam2 Member Posts: 370 Member
    #8
    cramps
    Quinine can help with cramps. Tonic water has it, I mix it with some pop or juice, you don't want huge amounts of it, just a small glass or two. Hope you get some relief soon.
    Pam
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #9
    We need 3,500 mgs a day of calcium
    HIGH potassium (more than 225 milligrams per serving)

    Apricots, avocado, banana, cantaloupe, fish, honeydew, kiwi, lima beans, meat, milk, oranges and orange juice, potatoes (can be reduced to moderate by soaking peeled, sliced potatoes overnight before cooking), poultry, prunes, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, vegetable juice, winter squash, yams.

    MODERATE potassium (125 - 225 mg per serving)

    Apple juice, asparagus, beets, blackberries, broccoli, carrots, cherries, corn, eggplant, grapefruit, green peas, loose-leaf lettuce, mushrooms, fresh onions, peach, pears, pineapple, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, including zucchini, tangerines, watermelon

    LOW potassium (less than 125 mg per serving)

    Apples, bell peppers, blueberries, cabbage, cranberries, cranberry juice, young cucumber, fruit cocktail, grapes, green beans, iceberg lettuce, canned mandarin oranges, mushrooms, peaches, canned, fresh pineapple, plums

    One serving is 1/2 a cup.
  • johnnybegood
    johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member
    #10
    dianetavegia said:

    We need 3,500 mgs a day of calcium
    HIGH potassium (more than 225 milligrams per serving)

    Apricots, avocado, banana, cantaloupe, fish, honeydew, kiwi, lima beans, meat, milk, oranges and orange juice, potatoes (can be reduced to moderate by soaking peeled, sliced potatoes overnight before cooking), poultry, prunes, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, vegetable juice, winter squash, yams.

    MODERATE potassium (125 - 225 mg per serving)

    Apple juice, asparagus, beets, blackberries, broccoli, carrots, cherries, corn, eggplant, grapefruit, green peas, loose-leaf lettuce, mushrooms, fresh onions, peach, pears, pineapple, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, including zucchini, tangerines, watermelon

    LOW potassium (less than 125 mg per serving)

    Apples, bell peppers, blueberries, cabbage, cranberries, cranberry juice, young cucumber, fruit cocktail, grapes, green beans, iceberg lettuce, canned mandarin oranges, mushrooms, peaches, canned, fresh pineapple, plums

    One serving is 1/2 a cup.

    thanks
    diane for the list of foods this will help and give me a variety also.hope you are feeling well.i am still not feeling my best even 4 weeks after chemo.i guess it will take time.Godbless....johnnybegood

Discussion Boards