Hand Cramps

elugar
elugar Member Posts: 1
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi all, I've just completed my 2nd round of Folfox and in addition to the neuropathies have also been experiencing hand/finger cramps. Is this normal? Any ideas of how to treat/prevent? Thank you!

Comments

  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #2
    Talk with your ONC about the
    Talk with your ONC about the side affects. My hands did get cramps, I ate a banana a day to help with it. My hands also turned purple. Which is another side affect of FOLFOX.
  • peterz54
    peterz54 Member Posts: 341
    #3
    oxaliplatin
    I believe, but you should verfy, that this is a side effect of oxaliplatin. I have seen quite a lot of research suggesting that calcium/magnesium supplements might help if it is neuropathy related. My wife's onc was not enthusiastic when I mentioned calcium and magnesium infusions as there was one study, since discredited, which indicated problem with infusions. my wife takes Cal/Mag supplements at the RDA level as an extra precaution. there are also studies which suggest using glutamine, a cheap amino acid available at vitamin shops, can help. Other forum members have suggested other supplmemts as well - you might do a search.
  • k1
    k1 Member Posts: 220 Member
    #4
    Foot cramps
    I did not get hand cramps but nearly every treatment had excruciating cramps in my feet. Sometimes they would wake me in the night and I would be screaming in pain. They were always on the side of my foot, and more often on the left foot although sometimes on the right. My husband could ease or stop them by massaging them if he could get to them early on, but he was only here on weekends so that was not so often.

    K1
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #5
    Hi
    I have no experience with chemo but definately have experience with hand cramps.

    Another poster indicated that massage helps, so I will offer what I do for hand cramps when I over do...I dip my hands in a warm parafin (wax) bath about 5 times each to get the wax built up...it makes the hands warm and tingle...I assume from the increased flow of blood. After it cools (just a few minutes) I remove the wax and lightly massage my hands. It is amazing how good it feels.

    If this is something you want to consider, check with a local shop that does acrylic finger nails and manicures. Some have the wax submersion and massage as a service they sell. If you find that it helps, you can purchase your own wax bath heater and the wax on the internet.

    Hope you find something which helps.

    Marie who loves kitties
  • Matta
    Matta Member Posts: 39
    #6
    Cramps
    I had cramps when I had the chemo, my doctor gave me Quinine Sulphate Tablets 200mg and told me to use one tablet on the same day I had the oxelaplatin and another tablet the day after, I did that for the rest of my treatment and never got the cramps again.

    Matta
  • seek@light
    seek@light Member Posts: 26
    #7
    yes
    My mom got both hand and foot cramps after cycle 6 of folfox. For somehow, now she is getting better after cycle 8.
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #8
    Hand cramps
    I would have them for a couple of days after Oxi and then they would go away. I had the cal/mag Infusions with my oxi, but that didn't prevent it from happening in my case (although it seems to have in quite a few others, so maybe mine would have been worse without it). Strange little buggers (the fingers) moving in different directions then you want them to. I didn't find it too annoying, rather kind of fascinating what the body will do to you sometimes.
    I would ask the onc if anything in particular that they have to help counteract it, because they probably do, I just never thought to ask.
    Winter Marie
  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    #9
    Bananas, Gatoraid, and
    Bananas, Gatoraid, and Ginger (candy, dried, and cookies) is how I survived chemo! Lomotil was a huge help also! (Better then immodium because it did not dry my eyes out as much.)

    Tingling, numbness, lack of taste, upset stomach, headaches and cold things felt like they were freezer burning me. Those are most of the symptoms that you are about to have. It will be the new normal for a few months. I purchased Oven Gloves to get things out of the refridgerator. I walked as fast as possible through the grocery store deli and freezer aisles. I wore a fleece jacket every where. (In SoCal I wore shorts and a polo all year long.)

    It is 10 months after chemo and I have regained most of my tactile senses. I still do not warm up like I used to, and my hand strength is not quite back.

    Best Always, mike

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