rituxen therapy and horrible leg cramps?

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nhldaughter
nhldaughter Member Posts: 67
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
I hope everyone is doing okay. I haven't been here in a while, but everyone on this site (whether I've conversed with them or not) is in my prayers all the time!
My mom was diagnosed with NHL 3A last year, did 4 cycles of B-R and is now on her 2nd cycle of rituxen therapy. She has horrible leg/body/joint pain. I hear that happens with this disease and chemo effects. But, lately she is getting unbearable leg cramps in the middle of the night. She wakes up and ends up crying because it jerks her awake from sleep and she can't take it anymore. She has tried magnesium pills and tonic water, but nothing really works.
Does anyone else experience this? If yes, PLEASE tell me if you have any tips on what we can do...
Thank you,
Roya

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  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #2
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    Leg cramps
    Roya,
    Same here. I can;t tell you how many times I have jumped up in the middle of the night with bad leg cramps. Mostly in the lower leg. It has gotten better over time,but now it seems to have moved to my toes. John
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #3
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    cramps
    I use to get them horrible, I always had them, even before chemo, what helped me is to drink plenty of water, and sounds weird, pickle juice. The Eagle's football team gives it to there player's before games on hot days to avoid cramping. Good luck and God bless Vinny
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #4
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    vinny59 said:

    cramps
    I use to get them horrible, I always had them, even before chemo, what helped me is to drink plenty of water, and sounds weird, pickle juice. The Eagle's football team gives it to there player's before games on hot days to avoid cramping. Good luck and God bless Vinny

    leg cramps..
    My legs cramped the most when I was doing my CVP-R chemo. I had it off and on after I finished the chemo and every so often now. I'm doing Rituxan maint for the next 2 years and it feels like my body aches more now than with the combination of the CVP-with R. My knees ache and my shoulders feel sore and achey come evening. The only thing I take for discomfort is Anacin which does give me some relief. Hey Vinny...I use pickle juice to get rid of hiccups, but didn't know it also helped for leg cramps..."thanks" for sharing that info.
    Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)
  • JoanieP
    JoanieP Member Posts: 573
    #5
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    allmost60 said:

    leg cramps..
    My legs cramped the most when I was doing my CVP-R chemo. I had it off and on after I finished the chemo and every so often now. I'm doing Rituxan maint for the next 2 years and it feels like my body aches more now than with the combination of the CVP-with R. My knees ache and my shoulders feel sore and achey come evening. The only thing I take for discomfort is Anacin which does give me some relief. Hey Vinny...I use pickle juice to get rid of hiccups, but didn't know it also helped for leg cramps..."thanks" for sharing that info.
    Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

    Yuck
    How can anyone drink pickle juice?????????? :)
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #6
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    JoanieP said:

    Yuck
    How can anyone drink pickle juice?????????? :)

    haha!
    Hi Joanie,
    I know..it sounds really dredful, but actually it only takes about 2 tbls full to get rid of my hiccups. I think the sour taste must have something to do with it..?? I sure couldn't swallow a big glass of it, but a few tbls isn't so bad.
    Sue (FNHL-2-3a-6/10)
  • CountryGal7557
    CountryGal7557 Member Posts: 164 Member
    #7
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    my aching knees, ankles and
    my aching knees, ankles and feet got so bad, that a Rheumatologist doctor prescribed Flexeril and that helped relax my muscles so much that I could fall asleep and stay asleep. but I wasn't having charlie horses or leg cramps, as much as just tight muscles and achyness. during the day I will take a prescription similar to Aleve for the pain.
    hope this helps!
    Hugs
    Janelle
  • forme
    forme Member Posts: 1,161 Member
    #8
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    leg cramps and soap
    Hi Roya,

    As I read your post I remembered reading about this topic. The women in the breast cancer group have this issue a lot.

    Many of the women said that they put bars of Ivory Soap between the sheet and the mattress pad and that it really works to prevent the horrible leg cramps. If I ever get leg cramps again, I will try this.

    You can read what other tips they have used. There are a number of suggestions.

    Go to the Breast cancer board and then in the little box in the upper right corner type in leg cramps and soap. Many posts will pop up. I read through a few and found a lot of valuable info.

    I sure hope you are able to find some relief for your mom.

    Let us know what you try and what helps.
    Lisha
  • scuttlebug11
    scuttlebug11 Member Posts: 175
    #9
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    forme said:

    leg cramps and soap
    Hi Roya,

    As I read your post I remembered reading about this topic. The women in the breast cancer group have this issue a lot.

    Many of the women said that they put bars of Ivory Soap between the sheet and the mattress pad and that it really works to prevent the horrible leg cramps. If I ever get leg cramps again, I will try this.

    You can read what other tips they have used. There are a number of suggestions.

    Go to the Breast cancer board and then in the little box in the upper right corner type in leg cramps and soap. Many posts will pop up. I read through a few and found a lot of valuable info.

    I sure hope you are able to find some relief for your mom.

    Let us know what you try and what helps.
    Lisha

    ieg cramps
    i had horrible leg cramps when i went through retuxin for two years, it was so bad my feet and toes would draw in, but a few months after i finished the treatment they stopped blessings denise
  • onlytoday
    onlytoday Member Posts: 609 Member
    #10
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    Leg cramps with Rituxan
    When I had Rituxan last year I started having the terrible leg cramps. They continued for awhile after the treatment ended and then finally went away. I think it took about 2 months after the end of treatment for the cramps to stop.

    I have heard about the bar of soap under the sheet working. I didn't do it only because mine happened anytime- while I was standing or sitting or whatever...

    I hope you find relief soon!

    Prayers,
    Donna

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