Hi ladies. Well l have come through my surgery well. The pain was actually minimal and l am down to only one drain left. But the most difficult thing has been aching legs. Actually only my right leg and last night the cramps were horrible. I have never had such bad cramps. They were on my thigh and when l tried to stretch it would cramp in my calf. Has anyone else had this or have any suggestions. Fancy having major surgery and then having cramps bring me to tears.

@Karma03, I have incredibly painful cramps in my legs and feet, especially my right side. The surgery was on my right breast.....the cramps can go on for hours. I often wake up from sleep in the middle of the night with them. This all started in May after my surgery so I thought it was connected to that but my Breast Surgeon said no it isn't. I have PN from chemo, which has improved thank goodness, I only have a few numb toes now and hands are good.I asked everyone if it could be from PN, they ALL kept saying no not related and it would get better? It hasn't though.If you find a solution let me know :D

Most peripheral neuropathy improves/disappears relatively quickly after chemo is finished but not all! Mine improves at a glacial speed but I reckon at the present rate it’ll take about another 30 years (had it for seven) to get back to normal so I am not sitting waiting! Doesn’t affect too many things and I can work round most, but my cramps are specifically in the toes (the worst affected area) and started at the same time as the PN. Not frequent but I am certain they are related.

You could try magnesium for cramps. Bananas or kiwifruit can be good for it. If you were at home I'd suggest a 20 min soak in a warm salt bath, but that's probably not a good idea after surgery :smile:

Thank you for your feedback everyone. Seems completely unfair doesn't it to go through all we do and then get hit with excruciating cramps. I will try your suggestions. If l find a miracle cure l will let you know.

You can also try spray on magnesium oil, spray on skin over cramping muscle and rub in, it just absorbs quickly into the area that is cramping, and is not sticky or oily.

Cramps 😩😩 | BCNA Online Network

17 Replies

Nefertari
Member
6 years ago
Thanks ladies, I will bring it up again to the eye rolling experts, fortunately they are not daily anymore or I may have to get the cannabis oil @Blossom1961

I have rarely had a cramp in my life so I was convinced that the PN or the operation or both triggered them. Im relieved to find others have them too.

@cranky_granny, the mental image of you munching chips and walking up and down your driveway in the middle of the night was hilarious, I hope you were appropriately dressed haha
cranky_granny
Member
6 years ago
I never thought about the cramps i get as being related to my PN. To me it makes sense Nerves trigger muscle movement our nerves have being knocked out by Our treatment we’ve have so why wouldn’t the muscles get the wrong signal from the damaged nerves
When the cramps were at their worst i went by my mothers old wives Reason and treatment. (Im either not drinking enough Or your low on salt)
So in the middle of the night I’d munch on chips with my drink bottle trying to walk them off on a cold surface like the cold concrete driveway
Must have looked a sight doing all that on the shared driveway in the middle of the night. Don’t know If it worked for real or they just lasted as long as they were going to last anyway.
Still get them but nowhere near as bad or as often And still using the same old remedy.
Blossom1961
Member
6 years ago
The cramps in my legs were not PN. I ended up in hospital twice and the doctors just shrugged their shoulders. I don’t know what it was or what caused it, but excruciating doesn’t begin to describe it. Magnesium did nothing. Ibuprofen helped and helped me to combat the tears but nothing made it disappear. They tried tramadol, Endone and morphine to no avail. I now take a glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM mix which is holding it back. I stopped taking them two days running by accident and the pain started back. Not sure if they are truly helping but I am not brave enough to go off them again.
Bon_Bon
Member
6 years ago
I have never known such cramps in my toes and feet!! I have tried everything
Afraser
Member
6 years ago
PN is tricky stuff, I had a lot of pain in my feet to begin with but that passed. They just feel odd now - differently odd from week to week but not painful. The cramps are also of short duration. I’m grateful for that!
Blossom1961
Member
6 years ago
@ Nefertari I haven’t met anyone who had them as bad so I really feel for you. The doctors just shrugged their shoulders. I was at the point of accessing illegal cannibis which for me is not normal but I would have done just about anything.
Blossom1961
Member
6 years ago
@Nefertari I think so. I had the ibuprofen during treatment much to my Onco’s disgust. Try two next time you get the cramps. If they work, ask the doctor. If not, no harm done.
Nefertari
Member
6 years ago
Thanks all, I have been taking magnesium since May but it hasn't helped. I will see if I can get the sprayTinks, it may be better.

@Afraser, interesting that you think the PN and cramps are related. I did too, every medico said no.
I finished chemo in April with PN, had a few cramps in legs, feet/toes, mostly pain though. I had surgery in May and then the constant cramps started from then on. I was walking around the family room crying the other night as it went on for hours, I could not sit / lie down and it was excrutiating.

@Blossom1961 poor you, am I allowed to take Ibuprofen now that my treatment has finished?
This morning I woke up at 5am with them, I leapt out of bed so fast that I caught the kitty in a scissor head lock!
Karma03
Member
6 years ago
Thanks Tinks. I will give that a go.
Tinks
Member
6 years ago
You can also try spray on magnesium oil, spray on skin over cramping muscle and rub in, it just absorbs quickly into the area that is cramping, and is not sticky or oily.