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Hi Everyone: The info below was posted on a Prostate Cancer list and =
discusses various methods of alieviating leg muscle cramps induced by =
some of the drugs the guys have to take. I thought that some of these =
suggestions could prove helpful for TM'ers who have this painful symptom =
- read what is worth reading & delete the rest and please don't try any =
of the stretching exercises beyond your capabilities/safety -=20
hugs,
JanB
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Some guys who take Lupron, or Lupron/Caodex or Casodex/Proscar or PC =
SPES,=20
and probably other hormonal manipulation therapies as well, report =
muscle=20
cramps or charlie horses.
Here is an old post I wrote on possible solutions for PC SPES or Lupron=20
induced muscle cramps/charlie horses.=20
You may wish to run some of these ideas by your doctor. These ideas=20
were primarily taken from a book by Dr. Mary Eades, MD, She recommends =
first=20
that you make some important dietary modifications to make sure you are=20
getting adequate protein and then she said you should try to virtually=20
eliminate sugar (sugar, corn syrup, molasses, etc.) and starchy foods=20
(potatoes, white rice, white bread, corn, etc.) which will all increase =
your=20
insulin levels. Dr. Eades also recommends a number of different =
supplements=20
including: Riboflavin plus 50 mg. of B-complex, and/or supplement with=20
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and/or increase the Vit. E to 1200 IU taken =
three=20
times daily, and/or supplement with 99 mg of potassium gluconate two to =
three=20
times daily. She says phosphorus increases cramping and recommends=20
elimination of carbonated beverage soft drinks (as these are a major =
source=20
of phosphorus), and she recommends that you drink either water, tea =
without=20
sugar, and non-carbonated sugar free drinks. She did not specifically=20
mention elimination of fruit juices that are loaded with sugar (carrot,=20
orange and many others), but I suspect she did not think to include =
those in=20
her list since she recommends elimination of sugar and fructose type =
drinks. =20
She does allow sugar in whole fruits, particularly the low glycemic =
fruits=20
such as apples, cherries, peaches but not many bananas or raisins which =
are=20
loaded with sugar.=20
Here is the entire muscle cramping post, with a few updated additions =
added=20
here and there. I am cross posting my response to various lists as many =
guys=20
have muscle cramps when they take various hormonal manipulation drugs, =
and=20
many of us are doing just that as we take various PCa therapies, either=20
mainline or alternative therapies.
Hello to All:
Today, I answered an Australian guy's request for muscle spasms =
information. =20
He got muscle spasms after he had started taking Zoladex. I recently=20
corresponded with Dr. Macintosh of the Univ. of Utah and his Dad was =
also=20
getting severe muscle pain and cramps after taking Lupron for a few =
months.
Muscle spasms and muscle pain can the result from various interactions =
with=20
hormonal manipulation or hormonal suppression drugs, your food intake,=20
absorption or lack of absorption of certain, vitamins, etc., and =
insufficient=20
liquids, and electrolytes. =20
1.0 General Background on What May Cause Muscle Cramps
Muscles in your body move by getting a signal to either tighten or =
relax. It=20
is believed that this tightening or relaxing force happens in the =
muscles=20
when your body causes various mineral ions to flow into or out of the =
many=20
thousands of muscle fibers that make up your various body muscles. =
Mineral=20
ions are charged chemical species that result when minerals such as =
sodium=20
chloride, potassium chloride, calcium citrate, etc., dissolve in water =
or in=20
other liquids.
Muscle cramps (spasms) are believed to be caused by a deficiency of =
various=20
mineral ions thus interfering with the normal flow of these electrolytes =
(ions). This confuses the muscle and or the brain. According to Dr. =
Mary=20
Eades, MD, in the book, "The Complete Doctors Guide to Vitamins and=20
Minerals," (see page 395), any deficiency, such as a calcium, sodium, or =
potassium ion deficiency disrupts the flow of these mineral ions and can =
cause muscle tightening which we call cramps or spasms. Over use and =
muscle=20
fatigue can also cause cramping but so can a lack of the proper =
electrolytes,=20
vitamins and foods.=20
2.0 Recommendations For Reducing Muscle Cramps:
Here are some recommendations from Dr. Eades taken from the book cited =
above.
2.1. Many people with chronic muscle cramps get relief by eating a diet=20
sufficient in protein but free of sugar. She recommends you eat =
one-half=20
gram of a complete protein per pound of your lean body mass (LBM). If =
your=20
read my 'good eicosinoids" post of last week, you can learn how to =
calculate=20
your LBM. Eat a Zone type diet with 40% of calories coming from =
non-starch=20
low glycemic index type vegetables and fruits, 30% from good fats and =
oils,=20
and 30% from complete proteins. Try to eliminate table sugar, corn =
syrup,=20
high-fructose corn syrup
2.2 Take 20 mg of Riboflavin plus 50 mg. of B-complex (because the =
B-complex=20
likes to work together. This reduces many muscle spasms.
2.3 Take 400 IU of Vitamin E two to three times per day for a minimum =
of six=20
weeks
Then reduce your dose to 400 IU as symptoms improve. She warns that =
Vit. E=20
can cause elevation of blood pressure in some people and that you should =
monitor your blood pressure on these high doses.
2.4 Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) helps relieve night time leg cramping and =
carpal=20
tunnel syndrome. She recommends 50 mg. of B6 daily for 4 to 6 weeks and =
if=20
improvements result continue on a 25 to 50 mg. dose thereafter. She =
cautions=20
against a dose in excess of 150 mg. per day as permanent nerve injury =
may=20
result.
2.5 Deficiencies of calcium and magnesium can cause cramps. When you =
take=20
Ca and Mg, the ratio of these two is very important to their proper=20
absorption. You should take 2 milligrams of Calcium for every 1 =
milligram of=20
Magnesium. She says typical adults take 1,000 mg Calcium and 500 mg=20
Magnesium daily. (Note: this Ca/Mg ratio precaution of 2/1 should also =
be=20
observed by all, including those who do not have muscle cramps).
2.6. A deficiency of potassium can cause muscle cramping particularly =
if you=20
are taking diuretics (fluid pills). Sometimes dieting, exercising on =
hot=20
days, illness, etc., can lead to potassium deficiency. She recommends =
99 mg=20
of potassium gluconate two to three times daily.=20
2.8 Sodium deficiency can occur (but in my opinion this is not as =
likely in=20
the American diet) and for that she recommends a glass of Gatorade =
Light, or=20
a glass or two of bouillon soup just prior to bedtime, or some salt =
tablets.=20
(I also drink one or two glasses of V-8 juice daily when I have leg or =
back=20
cramps, and at least one per day when I don't get any cramping)
3.0 What makes muscle cramping Worse. Dr. Eades says:
3.1 Increased intake of phosphorus can deplete your body fluids of =
calcium=20
and may contribute to muscle cramping. She recommends elimination of=20
carbonated beverage soft drinks as these are a major source of =
phosphorus.=20
She recommends you drink water, tea without sugar, and non-carbonated =
sugar=20
free drinks.
4.0 Some Physical Manipulations That May Help Ease the Pain
4.1 Try this accupressure technique says editors of the Prevention =
Magazine,=20
to get instant pain relief:
"Grab Your upper lip between your thumb and index finger and squeeze for =
about 30 seconds." They say its hard to believe but it works. This=20
technique is used by Pat Morency, a sports injury specialist who works =
with=20
Olympic hopefuls.
BTW, for possible migraine headache pain relief, grab your nostril in =
the=20
lower nose, where it attaches to skin above your lips and pinch the =
nostril=20
hard for a minute or so. Sometimes this will work. If not call your =
doctor.
4.2 For Severe Leg Cramps contract and relax opposing muscles.
Prevention Magazine editor's recommend for calf cramps that you flex =
your=20
shin muscle by pulling your toes toward your knee. Better yet have a =
friend=20
push the top of your foot the other way as you pull your toes toward =
your=20
knee which maxes out the tension on your shin muscle which causes the =
calf=20
cramp to be released.
4.3 After cramps stretch the muscle, begin slowly and do not bounce.=20
Try this stretch: sit on the floor with leg extended and pull your toes =
back=20
toward your knees for a minute or so.=20
Also Prevention says some have good luck with this technique: grab the=20
cramped muscle, digging your fingers into the cramped muscle as far as=20
possible holding the position for 10 to 20 seconds, and then release the =
hold. Repeat this several times as long as the pain continues. If you =
rub a=20
muscle rub up or down the muscle and not across it. For example rub you =
calf=20
muscle toward your heel.
Another good way to stretch your calf muscle, which I learned from my=20
physical therapist, is to stand on some stairs with only the front half =
of=20
your foot, and then holding on to the bannister slowly lower your heels =
and=20
hold them in a stretched position for 30 seconds to a minute. Don't =
bounce up=20
and down.
Also you can lean forward against a wall, and move your feet far away =
from=20
the wall until you are standing on your toes; then slowly lower your =
heels=20
while still keeping your hands on the wall. Hold this position on the =
down=20
stroke for 30 seconds or more and this will stretch your calf and =
Achilles=20
tendon. Sometimes thorough stretching prevents or reduces the pain =
severity=20
of cramping.
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