Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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ncgranny62 10/17/2011

Yesterday I felt pretty good all day until about 4 PM when the muscles in my calves started burning and hurting. I tried everything, ie., heat, cold, muscle pain ointment with massage, tramadol. I don't want to take my Flexeril because it will knock me out for 24 hours (even at 1/2 the dose). I can't have Ibuprofen because my liver and kidney function numbers are not good. It's 6 AM and the pain is still there. I have muscle pain with this RA a lot. Also, the Remicade infusions cause me to have muscle pain in my legs. I'm due for an infusion this week and I sure hope this latest bout goes away before the infusion.

What do you do for muscle pain? Any suggestions other than what I have tried?

deleted_user 10/17/2011

Hi ncgranny,
Magnesium is a lifeline for me when I get calf and quad muscle cramp/burning . You might also check that you're getting enough potassium and sodium. Also a low carbohydrate diet can eventuate in cramping in the calves.

Gentle stretching and gentle massage that open out the muscle work well. For cramping calves stretch the affected leg out behind you, put your weight on the toes then push the heel flat to the floor. Repeat until the cramping subsides then walk normally for a few minutes.

For quad cramping raise the knee up as high as you can to stretch the muscle out. Massage firmly to open out the muscle then again walk normally for a few minutes.

I also massage with Deep Heat. Do you have this in America? If not this brand i'm sure you have many similar products. I keep a tube beside my bed.

I hope you get major relief. There's enough pain without this little treat on top of the icing on top of the RA cake.

Take good care
Vicky

deleted_user 10/17/2011

I'm sorry to hear your hurting so much. The only thing I can offer is when my muscles are hurting bad I heat them then do very slow, gentle stretches.

deleted_user 10/17/2011

I had a lot of muscle pain in my legs, along with that wonderful restless feeling. I dealt with it for what felt like forever. A few months ago, after routine blood work, the Rheumy discovered that my Hemoglobin was dangerously low. He wanted to do a transfusion. Turns out that it, and my Iron, had always been on the low side, but they didn't worry about it because it was low enough to cause alarm.

I refused the transfusion since it wasn't a dire situation and started taking Integra Plus. It's Iron plus B-12, folic acid and vitamin C. My levels rose, and surprisingly, I no longer have the problems with my legs. I later found out that low Iron can cause those symptoms. Anemia is very common with RA.

I'm saying that's what it is, but it is certainly worth looking into.

ncgranny62 10/17/2011

Thanks all. I will see my rheumy this week when I have my infusion. I'll see what my labs are showing. They watch my potassium and sodium levels because I have had so much trouble with muscle pain. Last month, both levels were good. I'll have the rheumy check my hemoglobin also. I'll tell you this pain makes you want to cry "Mommy."

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